Aurora Optima: Arguably The Best Modern Italian Pen, Especially If You Use Pens For Writing.

[dms525]

David wrote, somewhere above, that the flex nibs are not as flexy as vintage flex nibs: I understand perfectly; but could someone elaborate, perhaps? David? Those long nib tines look as though they to perform! However, I have tried one or two other modern supposedly-flexible nibs and been disappointed (Conklin comes to mind)

 

I am no authority on writing with flexible nibs. I do mess around with them from time to time, and they are kind of fun to play with. But no flex nib styles of calligraphy for me!

 

That said, I have used several companies' modern flexible nibs - Pilot FA, Falcon, Aurora. The most flexy of those is the Pilot #15 FA. I will note that I have used a "soft" Platinum/Nakaya nib but not their Falcon nib. I have also never written with an OMAS Extra Flessibile or one of the newer Leonardo flexible nibs. So, I cannot claim sufficient experience nor expertise to sit in judgement.

 

FWIW, none of these come close to my limited experience with vintage nibs, e.g., Watermans.

 

David

[Christopher Godfrey]

Thank you, David: I understand entirely. Let's see if anyone has anything objective to offer...(Yes, vintage Watermans are my gold standard, too!)

[Silvermink]

I just acquired this lovely Optima Demonstrator yesterday after a weak moment on Chatterley very early one morning. Pretty much perfect right out of the box.

 

http://treec.at/misc/aurora-demo-3.jpg

Edited October 10, 2020 by Silvermink

[sansenri]

David wrote, somewhere above, that the flex nibs are not as flexy as vintage flex nibs: I understand perfectly; but could someone elaborate, perhaps? David? Those long nib tines look as though they to perform! However, I have tried one or two other modern supposedly-flexible nibs and been disappointed (Conklin comes to mind)

Aurora, in its modern pens, like the 88 or the Optima is not know for flexible nibs (If you go into vintage Aurora possibly, but that's not an area where I have any experience, as I do not own vintage Auroras).

The long tines nib which dates in the 80s if I'm not wrong, is NOT flexible. It's longer than current Aurora nibs and therefore, especially in the EF and F nibs has a slight touch of flex, or let's call it bounce, which is due to the length of the tines which tend to bend slightly as you write.

What that gives you is a softer ride and a slight additional line variation, but you need to use these nibs with a lighter hand, as being longer, if used with excessive pressure the tines may misalign.

Now, if you know a modern Aurora 88 or Optima nib (as they use the same nibs) you know they are quite stiff.

That is where the difference is.

The story told is that Aurora back in the 90s started getting quite a number of complaints for misaligned nibs, and it's likely that the misalignment was not a factory defect but possibly a problem with users less and less used to semi-flex nibs and more used to nail nibs (ham fisted users as Bo Bo calls them).

Eventually, the decision taken by Aurora to reduce the complaints, was to shorten the nibs, make them more rigid, so as to avoid misalignment in use...

sadly for us.

I own a few of the long times nibs and love them, but they are NOT flex, just softer. By comparison I'd say they flex less than a Pelikan semi-flex nib from the 60s.

 

More recently, Aurora seems to have perceived a revamped interest in flex nibs and therefore decided to launch the Aurora Flex.

My opinion is that whilst the Aurora Flex is a lovely pen with a lovely nib which is probably just a long tines nib as they were producing before, they made a marketing mistake in calling it Flex. People, experience pen users, expected a flex nib, and the long tines nib is NOT (nor was before, as I said).

That does not mean that that pen and nib are not nice, they are, if you expect bounce, and not flex.

Where is the advantage in a soft nib like the long tines nib? in the fact that if you write with a light hand, writing is less tiring.

Not everyone likes that (if you press, a soft nib is imprecise).

Edited October 11, 2020 by sansenri

[sansenri]

here is another of my Optimas, a green auroloide gold trim

[sansenri]

 

That is the first of the Optima 365 series. Some of the subsequent issues, like the "Olive" and the "Coral" and the "Cappuccino" have specific color designations. The first one did not. It's just the "365."

 

David

Thank you David, that one I do sort of regret missing, it has a nice depth in the material

[Christopher Godfrey]

Aurora, in its modern pens, like the 88 or the Optima is not know for flexible nibs (If you go into vintage Aurora possibly, but that's not an area where I have any experience...> (etc., etc)

 

Thank you for that input, sansenri: most helpful! I guess I shall not, therefore, be putting an 88 or an Optima on my to-buy list...there are a few more grails to seek out first!

[hari317]

I love the Optima. But I have very few. Here is one.

 

 

 

[sansenri]

Aurora, in its modern pens, like the 88 or the Optima is not know for flexible nibs (If you go into vintage Aurora possibly, but that's not an area where I have any experience...> (etc., etc)

 

Thank you for that input, sansenri: most helpful! I guess I shall not, therefore, be putting an 88 or an Optima on my to-buy list...there are a few more grails to seek out first!

Grails are always out there, but you would be missing out not to try an 88 or Optima.

This thread explains it, if not THE best modern Italian pen, it's up there with any of the best and not just Italian.

If you are looking for flexible nibs, then go vintage, it's much easier, possibly the only way.

[sansenri]

I love the Optima. But I have very few. Here is one.

 

 

 

nice one, Hari, have not seen this very often.

[Silvermink]

I love the Optima. But I have very few. Here is one.

Oh, that's gorgeous.

[micalela1]

I just found an Aurora 88 that my husband bought. It’s got a special grind nib. He thinks it’s a cursive italic. I would like to change the nib to an EF. It seems doable. Not sure where to buy an extra nib. This however will not be my last Aurora. They are beautiful. I think I’m getting an Optima next.

[A Smug Dill]

Not sure where to buy an extra nib.

 

 

Nibsmith.com, Nibs.com, FPNibs.com, ...

[Omaslover]

I need no convincing about the Aurora Optima being the best modern pen.

 

I have a large collection of Optimas, but here are a few interesting ones that are not often seen: An Optima in arco brown and verde, another one in Tibaldi Impero, and the beautiful Nebulosa.

Edited October 14, 2020 by AurorasLover

[como]

I think you’ve really earned your FPN user name ! These are stunning, congratulations!

I need no convincing about the Aurora Optima being the best modern pen.

 

I have a large collection of Optimas, but here are a few interesting ones that are not often seen: An Optima in arco brown and verde, another one in Tibaldi Impero, and the beautiful Nebulosa.

[sansenri]

I need no convincing about the Aurora Optima being the best modern pen.

 

I have a large collection of Optimas, but here are a few interesting ones that are not often seen: An Optima in arco brown and verde, another one in Tibaldi Impero, and the beautiful Nebulosa.

Lovely pens, can you tell us the origin of the Arco and Tibaldi versions? They are very unusual.

[sansenri]

Here is my regular blue chrome trim

[Omaslover]

Lovely pens, can you tell us the origin of the Arco and Tibaldi versions? They are very unusual.

 

Thank you sansenri! I asked the Aurora company if they would be willing to produce a few unique pens if I provided the materials. They sadly declined, so I asked a custom pen maker to craft these.

 

The biggest challenge was to get a hold of some pieces of vintage celluloids, as you can imagine ...

[sansenri]

 

Thank you sansenri! I asked the Aurora company if they would be willing to produce a few unique pens if I provided the materials. They sadly declined, so I asked a custom pen maker to craft these.

 

The biggest challenge was to get a hold of some pieces of vintage celluloids, as you can imagine ...

Thanks for letting us know, they look wonderful! I'm feeling slightly better that I did not miss some rare Aurora LE version...

Edited October 15, 2020 by sansenri

[dms525]

An Optima in arco brown and verde, another one in Tibaldi Impero, and the beautiful Nebulosa.