Mysterious Visconti Opera Fountain Pen

[tjt7a]

Hello Everyone,

 

I recently purchased this Visconti Opera fountain pen on ebay. The former owner said that it was likely an Opera Prototype, and I wanted to see if anyone on the forums knew anything more about it. It's the green + black fountain pen on the left in my photos. I've put it next to a Visconti Opera Elements Sky for comparison.

 

Differences:

The cap is a screw type, instead of the quarter-turn of the elements.

The nib is the old style nib; gold, not Paladium.

The section appears to be slightly smaller and more golden than the elements.

 

Any thoughts? Do you think its a prototype or limited release, or maybe a counterfeit?

 

Tom

 

[zaddick]

Probably a prototype. Visconti did try out a bunch of materials. I don't see any signs that scream fake to me.

[RocketRyan]

Lovely pen.

[tjt7a]

Thank you, it is nice pen, but I prefer the brown body of the elements, so I will be selling the green and black one. If not on the forums, maybe at the DC pen show next week. Just wanted to know more about it.

 

Tom

[Uncial]

Might be a special edition. My Opera Cherry Blossom has a screw cap and a gold nib. I just assumed it was an older model.

[tjt7a]

Interesting! Didn't know that about the cherry blossom.

[fabri00]

I really do not espect that a pen like this one, with a very limited market, could he counterfitted.

Just the clip will be a nightmare to be counterfit....immagine all the rest ....

[s_t_e_v_e]

Certainly genuine! I have the same model in black guilloche and chrome trim, screw cap, section is same as yours. But mine has a Pd nib. Not sure how or why. I bought mine from Chatterley Luxuries.

[RocketRyan]

Any idea on price?

[tjt7a]

PM sent to RocketRyan.

 

Tom

[tjt7a]

I contacted Coles of London and got the following response:

 

Good afternoon Tom,

 

I was told by Visconti that the green pen you asked about is an opera, they described it as a special project. It sounds like you got a pen from a limited run. Thanks!

 

Kind regards,

 

XXXXXXXX

Coles of London LLC

[jl63_penguy]

I remember that pen at a couple of trunk shows and it looks genuine. Dante was known to pull older and small quantities of rods out for special editions.

Hello Everyone,

 

I recently purchased this Visconti Opera fountain pen on ebay. The former owner said that it was likely an Opera Prototype, and I wanted to see if anyone on the forums knew anything more about it. It's the green + black fountain pen on the left in my photos. I've put it next to a Visconti Opera Elements Sky for comparison.

 

Differences:

The cap is a screw type, instead of the quarter-turn of the elements.

The nib is the old style nib; gold, not Paladium.

The section appears to be slightly smaller and more golden than the elements.

 

Any thoughts? Do you think its a prototype or limited release, or maybe a counterfeit?

 

Tom