Platinum Izumo Aurora Raden Maki-E

[jandrese]

This is my new Platinum Izumo Aurora raden maki-e with broad nib. This pen was released in 2016 officially named the Hon-urushi Raden Maki-e Aurora with magnificence of natural phenomenon drawn on the body in traditional maki-e style. Link to the press release. The raden work on this pen is amazing and dazzling in equal measure. The large size of the inlay and the large size of the pen ensure this blazes from across the room. There are several shell colors including yellow that for some reason I find really appealing probably because it seems less common. As we know the pen is large and does not post but there is no need to post. The grip section is smartly designed for writing comfort and the weight is moderated by the ebonite construction. The President nib is a very good and consistent writer. There is no line variation, no flex, and the ink flow is steadily sufficient. This pen just writes a nice line the first time every time; how boring :-). Some people evidently think the nib is undersized for the pen. Well, perhaps, unless you really consider the grip section and writing comfort. I didn't realize before that fountain pen peeps were such size queens.

 

_DSC3219 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

_DSC3220 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

_DSC3222 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

_DSC3226 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

_DSC3227 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

 

I found a pen with a similar Aizu urushi raden maki-e in the book Fountain Pens of Japan so it seems this design is either common, traditional, or an homage. The pen is signed but Platinum does not make it easy to know just who the artist was, but I would like to know. There is a nice wooden box, a pen sleeve, some ink cartridges, and a bottle of ink in the package. It's a nice presentation for what is an expensive pen.

 

IMG_1687 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

_DSC3223 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

_DSC3225 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

 

My other Izumo is the Kurikara-ken Maki-e. Both are spectacular works of art. Both are comfortable to hold and use. Both have broad nibs that always work without fuss or flourish. Compared to other urushi pens the Izumo prices range from good value for the money (eg the tamenuri pens) to questionable (my Raden model). Generally, however, compared to other urushi works the Izumo is less expensive but just as good. In terms of writing quality these are Platinum, which means the just write. No flex, nothing fancy, they just work, which is as undervalued as it is reassuring. In my opinion not all the Izumo maki-e models are worthwhile but most are and the tamenuri models are a very good value.

 

_DSC3228 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

_DSC3229 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

writing sample by Ja Ja, on Flickr

[zaddick]

Lovely pen. Your photos make it look quite appealing.

 

I agree on the vLue of the Izumo modems, especially the basic urushi. If you can find one used you can sometimes get an amazing price.

[Lloyd]

What a beaut! How do the President nibs compare in performance/feel to the 3776 nibs?

[jandrese]

What a beaut! How do the President nibs compare in performance/feel to the 3776 nibs?

The 3776, 3776 Century, and President nibs are all different. The 3776 are made from thinner stock than the rest and so can have a bit of spring, but that is being somewhat generous. The 3776 Century nibs are thicker and have feeds that supply lots of ink. So, they are stiff and wet. The President is more tubular in shape than the others and is of thicker stock. There really is no spring and the feed supplies enough ink not a lot of it like the Century feed. This is my experience.

[Honeybadgers]

Dayum. That's purty.

[ridiculopathy]

Beautiful! The #3776 version was [one of] my grail pens because of the interesting yellow shells too. Platinum describes it as an Aizu maki-e, but I still don't know whether it refers to a signature technique or a general category of maki-e originating from the Aizu region. Russ Stutler's oldie but goodie website has a description of a visit to Aizu with Platinum (https://www.stutler.cc/pens/aizu_makie/index.html) that includes pictures of the #3776 version being made!

 

Edit to add a picture of the #3776 version. Same artist signature as yours (not shown).

 

Edited May 10, 2019 by ridiculopathy

[jandrese]

Beautiful! The #3776 version was [one of] my grail pens because of the interesting yellow shells too. Platinum describes it as an Aizu maki-e, but I still don't know whether it refers to a signature technique or a general category of maki-e originating from the Aizu region. Russ Stutler's oldie but goodie website has a description of a visit to Aizu with Platinum (https://www.stutler.cc/pens/aizu_makie/index.html) that includes pictures of the #3776 version being made!

 

Edit to add a picture of the #3776 version. Same artist signature as yours (not shown).

 

 

Oh, that is nice, thanks for sharing. I'd like to get that version too! Now I know what pen they were making on that website.

[A Smug Dill]

You have a lovely-looking pen there.

 

The 3776, 3776 Century, and President nibs are all different. The 3776 are made from thinner stock than the rest and so can have a bit of spring, but that is being somewhat generous. The 3776 Century nibs are thicker and have feeds that supply lots of ink.

Um, I have several Platinum #3776 not-Century models with wooden barrels and snap caps, and I see no evidence that the nibs on them are different in thickness from that on the Platinum #3776 Century Bourgogne.

[jandrese]

You have a lovely-looking pen there.

 

 

Um, I have several Platinum #3776 not-Century models with wooden barrels and snap caps, and I see no evidence that the nibs on them are different in thickness from that on the Platinum #3776 Century Bourgogne.

Century nibs measure about twice as thick on my calipers.

[Lloyd]

I find it interesting that several people have compared the non-elastic Nakaya nibs to the 3776 nibs. However, Platinum opts to use the stiffer President nib in their upper end (Izumo) pens.

[jandrese]

I find it interesting that several people have compared the non-elastic Nakaya nibs to the 3776 nibs. However, Platinum opts to use the stiffer President nib in their upper end (Izumo) pens.

Nakaya (non-elastic) nibs are very similar in shape, feel, and thickness to the 3776 nibs. I dare say identical but I don't really know. There is a strong family resemblance let's say.

[stan]

Since the introduction of the 3776, Platinum has used three bais models for the nib. The original is curved around the feed. The other two are flatter and for different diameter feeds. Whether Platinum began using the larger nib and feed with the Century would take much more research.

 

However, over the years the inscriptions on the nibs have changed. Also, feeds that were originally ebonite and are now plastic. I believe this preceded the Century. My experience is the pens with ebonite feeds write better.

 

Some Platinum nibs are more flexible than others. No idea why or how. Maybe it is one in a hundred. Manufacturung defect, perhaps. Assuming the Nakaya nib is a Platinum clone, the nib can be flexible.

 

My presidents are very similar to the 3776. There is little flexiness.

 

All are smooth writers.

[mongrelnomad]

I think the President nib on my Izumo is my favourite Platinum (or Nakaya) nib...

[ridiculopathy]

I find it interesting that several people have compared the non-elastic Nakaya nibs to the 3776 nibs. However, Platinum opts to use the stiffer President nib in their upper end (Izumo) pens.

 

 

President nibs are 18K, which I suppose fits in with the higher end image.

[Lloyd]

I think the President nib on my Izumo is my favourite Platinum (or Nakaya) nib...

Interesting...Is it the smoother stiffness? I wonder why Nakaya opted for to emulate/use nibs from Platinum's "lower" product lines.

[zaddick]

Interesting...Is it the smoother stiffness? I wonder why Nakaya opted for to emulate/use nibs from Platinum's "lower" product lines.

Maybe because early Nakaya models were fancied up 3776 pens (older 3776, not the century)? I'm not 100% sure but I have one of their earliest pens and it's a 3776 with urushi. Maybe Platinum retained the President as a model for the parent company only?

Edited May 13, 2019 by zaddick