Platinum Century 3776 Nice Pur

[Miles R.]

I hope readers understand that the word "Nice" in the name of this model of pen is not the common English adjective that rhymes with "rice" but rather the name of a city in the South of France, pronounced like the English word "niece." That said, the name of this model always makes me think of a line of Shemp Howard's in Who Done It? When he meets the character played by Christine McIntyre, who introduces herself as the niece of Mr. Goodrich, the man who has hired him and the other two Stooges, Shemp eagerly exclaims: "The niece is nice!"

 

 

And so is this pen.

 

 

I was already the owner of a Platinum 3776 Century in Bourgogne (red) when I decided to acquire this pen. My Bourgogne has a fine-point nib, which is in effect extra-fine by Western standards. (Platinum also makes the pen available with an EF nib: I tried one out, and could not distinguish the line it made from the one made by the F nib.) I use it mainly for writing on paper that is unfriendly to fountain pens, such as my check register, where a thicker line would spread and bleed through. For most uses, I prefer a medium-point nib, although the size of the point of the F nib on this one made me suspect that the Platinum M nib would be too fine for my tastes, and that only the B nib would suit me.

 

 

When it comes to pens that are not near the bottom of the price scale, I rarely get multiple pens of the same model. But this pen is such a bargain if you buy it from a vendor in Japan that the temptation is stronger than in other cases. It is less than $100 for a pen with a gold nib (14k) if you get the blue, red, or black; a bit more for the demonstrators, and much more for the celluloid models. I decided to venture up the scale a bit to get the Nice Pur demonstrator with a B nib.

 

 

Having done so, I can report that the Nice is indeed, like Mr. Goodrich's niece, nice. First of all, the B nib is a perfect medium point by Western standards—for me, just the right line width for most writing. Though I would not describe it as flexible, it has an agreeable springiness to it. Further, it travels over the paper with what, again for my tastes, is just the right degree of resistance: not glassy-smooth, but rather like the feeling of easy friction that one gets with a felt-tip marker.

 

The pen can be used unposted:

 

 

but balance and weight are best when the cap is posted:

 

 

The appearance of this pen has two remarkable features. First, the nib and the trim are in rose gold. I don't believe that there is anything intrinsically more beautiful about this color of metal finish than there is about plain old gold, but its comparative rarity and unfamiliarity seem to give it a peculiar attraction. Notice that the color has been applied not only to the nib, the cap band, the clip, the base of the grip section, and the metal ring near the tail, but even to the metal pieces inside the top of the cap. The only visible pieces of metal in the pen that are not of this color are the little spring in the cap (part of the mechanism that gives this pen its airtight seal) and the handle of the convertor. If the convertor handle could have been plated in that color, it would have raised the appearance of this pen to an even higher degree of coolness. But that one piece of silvery glitter, being on the inside of the barrel, is not enough to detract from the prevailing elegance of the rose gold.

 

 

Second, the body and cap of the pen are of a material that is transparent and colorless but of a matte finish. This finish affects not only its visual appearance but also its feel. With this finish, you don't get the feeling of handling your own skin oils that you commonly do with ordinary smooth resin finishes. In addition, the body and the cap have a series of little grooves running along them. Thus, instead of the usual effect of colorless transparent pen bodies, which starkly reveal the inner parts of the pen, this pen's body reveals the interior in a slightly fuzzy way and through a bit of a geometric pattern. The effect seems to me quite elegant to behold, and also adds to the distinctive feel of the pen, though perhaps not altogether agreeably.

 

The grip section is of smooth transparent plastic. The feed is of common black plastic: a pity that Platinum could not have made it of transparent material. If you grip your pen well above the nib, you will find it comfortable to close your fingers on the threads of the barrel: they are not sharp.

 

 

 

 

I am very glad that I bought this pen. It is one of those pens that are so enjoyable to handle that you look for excuses for writing something just so that you can use them.

 

Measurements:

 

Length: capped, 140 mm; uncapped, 120 mm; posted, 155 mm.

 

Diameter: I don't have the means of measuring this precisely, but according to Goulet Pens (no affiliation), that of the grip section is 10 mm, the body 13 mm, the cap without the clip 15 mm, the cap with the clip 17 mm.

 

Weight (with convertor inked): 24 grams; body alone, 14 grams; cap alone, 10 grams.

 

Edited April 8, 2016 by Miles R.

[TheRealMikeDr]

Thanks for the nice review!

 

I've had my 3776 (fine) for a couple weeks and am quite fond of it.

 

Have you tried the soft fine nib by Platinum? I'm leaning towards a Nakaya with a SF nib but not sure how soft the soft would be.

[Miles R.]

Thanks for the nice review!

 

I've had my 3776 (fine) for a couple weeks and am quite fond of it.

 

Have you tried the soft fine nib by Platinum? I'm leaning towards a Nakaya with a SF nib but not sure how soft the soft would be.

 

No, I have not tried the soft nib. There are several reviews of it on the site, though.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/291490-platinum-3776-century-chartres-blue-soft-fine-nib/

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/267030-platinum-3776-black-w-soft-fine/

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/249202-review-platinum-3776-century-sf-soft-fine-versus-a-field-of-flex-comparison/

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/207070-platinum-3776-soft-fine-nib/

[Pensei]

Very good review of a very attractive pen. I have the Chartres and like it a lot, and I agree with your remark about how you could rationalize getting a second color, (or a second nib size). Mine happens to be a SF, and my brief reply to the question above is to suggest thinking of it as a very nice nib, but not really very bouncy or prone to line variation, but smooth and nice. I love it, but it is only "soft" in a very relative sense.

[Drone]

Nice review - thanks. I wonder why Platinum decided not to gold plate the converter and liner spring? They look out of place. But Platinum did go through the trouble of gold plating the finial screw and nut parts! Weird.

 

I have a Century 3776 in black/gold with an SF nib. You can get a little line variation out of the nib if you really lean on it, but it is not a flexible (or even semi-flexible) nib. There's a bit of springiness to the nib though. The SF nib was not aligned properly out of the box and even when it was aligned, it needed smoothing. Now the nib is smooth, provided you use good (preferably coated) paper. Remember, the SF nib is a Japanese Fine, which is very much like a Western Extra Fine. The nib is quite sharp.

[Miles R.]

Nice review - thanks. I wonder why Platinum decided not to gold plate the converter and liner spring? They look out of place. But Platinum did go through the trouble of gold plating the finial screw and nut parts! Weird.

 

I have a Century 3776 in black/gold with an SF nib. You can get a little line variation out of the nib if you really lean on it, but it is not a flexible (or even semi-flexible) nib. There's a bit of springiness to the nib though. The SF nib was not aligned properly out of the box and even when it was aligned, it needed smoothing. Now the nib is smooth, provided you use good (preferably coated) paper. Remember, the SF nib is a Japanese Fine, which is very much like a Western Extra Fine. The nib is quite sharp.

 

I don't think it is feasible to plate a spring, especially a small one. As for the convertor knob, since part of the economic point of a convertor is the potential to use it in different pens, to make a special one just for this pen would have defeated that.

 

I suspect that there is not much difference in flexibility between the regular F and the soft F, just as there is little if any difference in line width between the F and the EF. The F nib of my 3776 Bourgogne was also scratchy and required smoothing. But the B nib of my 3776 Nice Pur worked perfectly out of the box.

Edited April 10, 2016 by Miles R.

[bobje]

A literary reference to 'The Three Stooges' in an American review of a Japanese pen themed on a beach town in France. Hilarious! This is what defines the outstanding level of contributions on the Fountain Pen Network! Great review.

 

You know, I think Platinum makes those converters in both gold-plated and silver-colored. But probably not rose-gold-plated.

[graystranger]

Wonderful review, detailed with great photos. I love my 3776 Century Bourgogne. It has a F nib and is a wonderful writer. Mine needed no adjustment, is perfect and feels magnificent to write with.

 

Goulet pens does sell the Platinum converter with gold plated trim: http://www.gouletpens.com/plat-converter-500/p/Plat-Converter-500

 

I know I would love the longitudinal grooved in the barrel and cap. You've gotten me thinking about adding a second 3776, and I would probably go with the B nib like you did.

[Miles R.]

Now I find that the convertor that I got for my first 3776, the Bourgogne, has the gold color. I had to buy it separately, as the pen came without one.

 

But my 3776 Nice Pur came with a convertor, with the silver color. I think it looks much better with that color than it would look with the gold color. The latter would clash most unpleasantly with the rose gold of the other parts.

[Miles R.]

For those who just have to have uniform finish on all the metal parts: a rose-gold plating kit for only $399!

 

http://www.caswellplating.com/electroplating-anodizing/brush-plating-products/plug-n-plate-kits/plug-n-plater-rose-gold-kit.html

Edited April 10, 2016 by Miles R.

[Drone]

 

I don't think it is feasible to plate a spring, especially a small one. As for the convertor knob, since part of the economic point of a convertor is the potential to use it in different pens, to make a special one just for this pen would have defeated that.

 

If you're reading this in an Email digest, open the full post on the FPN to get all the points in this reply:

 

I've railed against Platinum and their Nice Pur before - but it seems I'll have to make my case again...

 

Using inexpensive techniques such as Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) etc., a spring can take a thin but resilient plating of gold (or other metal alloy) just fine. Case in-point; flexible finger contacts, brushes, and plug/sockets used in billions of electro-mechanical components every year. Almost nothing special should be required for Platinum to simply include the springs and converter collars in the batch of parts that are being rose-gold plated for this model pen. Nothing of-course besides the will to do so.

 

The small additional cost and effort for Platinum to create this pen with all matching rose-gold color parts would be negligible. Platinum is ALREADY making rose-gold parts for this pen. So including the spring and the converter collar in the process would be trivial - if they were willing to pay attention to the quality and detail of the product.

 

The fact that Platinum already makes a gold-tone (not rose-gold) colored converter in addition to its ubiquitous chrome-tone converter is another telling thing - it's telling us just how easy it would be for Platinum to make a matching rose-gold converter for the Nice Pur. But they just don't want to be bothered - even at a 100% price increase for this pen.

 

Remember: 1) Platinum charges DOUBLE for the Nice Pur over the other Century 3776 models, which are identical except for the color (Japan direct prices on 12 Apr. 2015: 3776C ~$75, Nice Pur ~$150 USD ea.) This MORE than justifies the minimal added cost & effort to finish the parts so that they match. 2) Rose gold is MUCH cheaper than regular gold alloy. This is because to get the rose color the amount of gold is (significantly) reduced and the amount of other metals in the alloy (such as copper) is increased. In-fact, there are many instances of so-called "Rose-Gold" that don't contain ANY gold at all! These imposters are alloys of mostly brass and copper. People wonder why rose-gold is so "popular" in Chinese made jewellery - that's easy, it's much cheaper.

 

Shame on you Platinum for not finishing this pen properly, then charging double for it...

Edited April 13, 2016 by Drone

[bobje]

Drone, I didn't realize rose gold was so much cheaper than other gold, but that makes sense. I suspect that beyond the manufacturing costs, Platinum would need to bear the logistics and handling costs of these parts. Another SKU for the rose gold converter, ensuring the availability of these additional parts for what I assume to be a lower volume pen, etc. I agree, that kind of price difference requires additional attention to more details.

[graystranger]

 

2) Rose gold is MUCH cheaper than regular gold alloy. This is because to get the rose color the amount of gold is (significantly) reduced and the amount of other metals in the alloy (such as copper) is increased. In-fact, there are many instances of so-called "Rose-Gold" that don't contain ANY gold at all! These imposters are alloys of mostly brass and copper. People wonder why rose-gold is so "popular" in Chinese made jewellery - that's easy, it's much cheaper.

 

Absolutely not true, the rose gold nibs from Platinum are 14k gold the same as their other nibs. There are all kinds of alloys that look like the different colors of gold, including rose gold. But the Platinum rose gold nibs are 14k gold. Which means they contain 14/24 pure gold, 58.3% by weight. The same as their rhodium plated 14k gold nibs. Only 24k gold is 100% pure gold.

 

The rose gold could be a plating, just like used on the trim. But the nib is 14k gold which has the same gold content as all 14k gold alloys, 58.3% pure gold. There may also be rose gold alloys that are 14k gold, I don't know. Gold alloys below 24k are alloyed with many other metals to get the color or property needed. They include white gold, yellow gold, pink gold, green gold - these can be 14k alloy. All 14k alloys contain the same amount of gold.

 

It is most likely that plating a 14k gold nib is a bit more expensive than non-plated gold nibs. But to say it is much cheaper because it does not have the same amount of gold is not true.

[zchen]

 

2) Rose gold is MUCH cheaper than regular gold alloy. This is because to get the rose color the amount of gold is (significantly) reduced and the amount of other metals in the alloy (such as copper) is increased. In-fact, there are many instances of so-called "Rose-Gold" that don't contain ANY gold at all! These imposters are alloys of mostly brass and copper. People wonder why rose-gold is so "popular" in Chinese made jewellery - that's easy, it's much cheaper.

 

Shame on you Platinum for not finishing this pen properly, then charging double for it...

 

1. The nib on the Nice is 14K gold with Pink Gold finish as stated on Platinum's website, whether that justifies the extra price I think is really up to the buyer. The manufacturer can charge whatever they feel the market will bear.

2. I take major issues with the next part of the statement, I have no idea why you felt the need to bring in Chinese made jewellery as a justification to make your point without actual data points. Are you just another person that like to bash on Chinese people for no reason? That any thing Chinese made must be cheap and fake?

Edited April 24, 2016 by zchen

[Drone]

 

1. The nib on the Nice is 14K gold with Pink Gold finish as stated on Platinum's website, whether that justifies the extra price I think is really up to the buyer. The manufacturer can charge whatever they feel the market will bear.

 

2. I take major issues with the next part of the statement, I have no idea why you felt the need to bring in Chinese made jewellery as a justification to make your point without actual data points. Are you just another person that like to bash on Chinese people for no reason? That any thing Chinese made must be cheap and fake?

 

1. I have seen no evidence the nib on the Pur is rose gold plated or solid rose gold alloy. So unless you can provide evidence to back up your claim the nib is plated, my assumption that the nib is solid rose gold is as valid as any.

 

Rose gold plating is known to cause problems if great care is not taken to ensure there will be no interaction of dissimilar non-gold metals in the two alloys. As Platinum manufactures their nibs from scratch, I expect Platinum knows this and is casting the nibs entirely from rose gold alloy - not plating them.

 

Of-course a manufacturer may choose to do whatever he or she wishes with their products. I don't understand why you bother to state the obvious.

 

2. If I get a consistently poor quality products from a particular place or manufacturer, be it China or Chicago, I will call it like I see it, pure and simple. You have every right to disagree with my opinion. However, your implying that there is some sort of bias on my part is not only a completely without evidence, it is inappropriate.

[zchen]

 

1. I have seen no evidence the nib on the Pur is rose gold plated or solid rose gold alloy. So unless you can provide evidence to back up your claim the nib is plated, my assumption that the nib is solid rose gold is as valid as any.

 

Rose gold plating is known to cause problems if great care is not taken to ensure there will be no interaction of dissimilar non-gold metals in the two alloys. As Platinum manufactures their nibs from scratch, I expect Platinum knows this and is casting the nibs entirely from rose gold alloy - not plating them.

 

Of-course a manufacturer may choose to do whatever he or she wishes with their products. I don't understand why you bother to state the obvious.

 

2. If I get a consistently poor quality products from a particular place or manufacturer, be it China or Chicago, I will call it like I see it, pure and simple. You have every right to disagree with my opinion. However, your implying that there is some sort of bias on my part is not only a completely without evidence, it is inappropriate.

 

1. As I stated, Platinum states pink gold finish right on their website

 

● Nib

14K Gold with pink gold finish

 

So I don't know who is making assumptions, but it certainly wasn't me. Unless you are claiming that Platinum is making a false claim to misguide consumers on their own website?

 

as for point 2. reread what you originally wrote "In-fact, there are many instances of so-called "Rose-Gold" that don't contain ANY gold at all! These imposters are alloys of mostly brass and copper. People wonder why rose-gold is so "popular" in Chinese made jewellery - that's easy, it's much cheaper."

 

and tell me where is the statement of regarding personal experiences? and why was this necessary to back up your claim about Platinum using rose gold alloy and not plating.

 

If I see unsubstantiated bias, I will call it like I see it.

Edited April 25, 2016 by zchen

[JonSzanto]

Yeesh, what a lot of misinformation!

 

• It's a 14k nib that is plated in rose gold. I purchased mine in a B to have Mike Masuyama (who, yeah, knows his nibs) grind to an italic. Before he did it (at the SF Pen Show 1.6 years ago) he said "sometimes rose gold plating can be problematic and flake - you still want to go?". I said yes, he did a beautiful job, and the nib has shown no problems in regular use.
• I think we need to get something straight, starting with the OP: the Nice and the Pur are two different models. There is no "Nice Pur". While they share the same faceted, frosted transparent body, the Nice has the rose gold hardware, while the Pur comes with rhodium plated hardware.
• I popped a Platinum convertor in mine that has a gold-toned... you know, the metal part that the piston threads in! While not identical in tone to the RG hardware, due to the frosted barrel it is much less of visual distraction.

These are great pens. After living with the Nice for over a year and being beyond happy with both the writing performance AND the fact that they NEVER dry out, I jumped at a trade for a Pur, which now houses... a Nakaya nib. This had been in a Nakaya/Platinum briarwood body, but it was a snap-cap design, and would continually dry out. No more. Perfect solution.

[Drone]

 

1. As I stated, Platinum states pink gold finish right on their website

 

● Nib

14K Gold with pink gold finish

 

So I don't know who is making assumptions, but it certainly wasn't me. Unless you are claiming that Platinum is making a false claim to misguide consumers on their own website?

 

as for point 2. reread what you originally wrote "In-fact, there are many instances of so-called "Rose-Gold" that don't contain ANY gold at all! These imposters are alloys of mostly brass and copper. People wonder why rose-gold is so "popular" in Chinese made jewellery - that's easy, it's much cheaper."

 

and tell me where is the statement of regarding personal experiences? and why was this necessary to back up your claim about Platinum using rose gold alloy and not plating.

 

If I see unsubstantiated bias, I will call it like I see it.

 

I visited the link in your reply. I have been to the Platinum Nice page a few times but I must admit, I missed the detail you point out: "pink gold finish". The word "finish" does strongly suggest the nib is plated, not solid colored gold alloy. So I stand corrected on Item-1. My apologies.

 

I'm going to stand by what I said for Item-2. I have personally purchased both gold-tone and rose-gold (or pink-gold) tone items that were made in China and claimed to be either gold alloy or gold plated in advertising and/or by hallmark. The pieces amost always eventually corroded and/or brassed. When tested with an acid test kit, no gold persistence was indicated either with abrasion sampling or direct application destructive testing. I used to routinely test gold-tone pieces that corrode; mostly pen furniture and nibs, mostly from in China. I rarely found gold indicated. Now I rarely buy the products in the first place.

 

Modern real gold PVD plating is not only inexpensive to do for commodity volume products, it is surprisingly robust under use. But most items purchased from China didn't seem to bother making an effort. Which is fine - that's their choice.

[Miles R.]

 

• I think we need to get something straight, starting with the OP: the Nice and the Pur are two different models. There is no "Nice Pur". While they share the same faceted, frosted transparent body, the Nice has the rose gold hardware, while the Pur comes with rhodium plated hardware.

 

Well, that's embarrassing. Unfortunately, I can't change the title. But the important thing is that I can keep the Three Stooges reference.

 

Also: "frosted"--that's the word I needed and couldn't think of to describe the material of the body of the pen.

Edited April 25, 2016 by Miles R.

[JonSzanto]

Well, that's embarrassing. Unfortunately, I can't change the title. But the important thing is that I can keep the Three Stooges reference. Also: "frosted"--that's the word I needed and couldn't think of to describe the material of the body of the pen.

 

No worries. However, the penalty accorded to you is that you must now purchase yourself a Pur.