From my collection: the Diplomat Bruyére

[DvdRiet]

I wanted to share with you all some photos of one of the more interesting pens in my collection: the Diplomat Bruyére, a special edition pen that seems to have been a fairly unusual departure for Diplomat. This pen was introduced when Diplomat was owned by IMCO J. Michaelis, its second owner, between roughly 1981 and 1999. I'm not sure exactly when this pen was introduced during that period, but the packaging appears to me to be from some time in the 80s. The same pen was also sold through Tiffany, the NYC jeweller, with both Diplomat and Tiffany markings. (If anyone happens to know more about the timeline, please share in the comments!)

 

The pen is about the same size as the current Excellence A2 model and the Classics that were its predecessor. And despite what some might think, the pen is not plastic resin. It is actually made of briarwood (hence the name "Bruyére," French for briarwood). Briarwood is a moor shrub, the roots of which have been used for making tobacco pipes since the 19th century. 

 

 

 

The size of the pen is about the same as the current Excellence A2 and the previous Classic models, but the shape and style of it is quite different. In fact, rumour has it this pen is actually a Platinum. This might seem surprising if it weren't for the fact that Joachim Michaelis was apparently fond of collaborations within the (fountain) pen world. There are pens produced by Inoxcrom that are identical in every way but the logo and name, and the reintroduction of the Kaweco Sport produced pens sporting 'by Diplomat' on the barrel and using Diplomat's distribution system. 

 

In the photos below, you can see the beautiful (and soft) 18k nib, which, except for the name Diplomat, looks very much like a Platinum nib. It is a B, but writes much closer to a M, which is perhaps another indication that it is a Japanese-produced nib. 

 

 

 

Here is the pen currently fitted with a new Platinum converter after the original converter wore out:

 

 

 

I was lucky enough to get this pen with its original luxury packaging which seems to me to be from the 1980s. It includes the price tag showing an original price of 495 DM. 

 

 

Included in the original packaging was this brochure explaining the process of selecting and using the briarwood (in several languages): 

 

 

Thanks for reading! And please feel free to share your comments and questions!

 

 

[OldTravelingShoe]

45 minutes ago, DvdRiet said:

I wanted to share with you all some photos of one of the more interesting pens in my collection: the Diplomat Bruyére, a special edition pen that seems to have been a fairly unusual departure for Diplomat. This pen was introduced when Diplomat was owned by IMCO J. Michaelis, its second owner, between roughly 1981 and 1999. I'm not sure exactly when this pen was introduced during that period, but the packaging appears to me to be from some time in the 80s. The same pen was also sold through Tiffany, the NYC jeweller, with both Diplomat and Tiffany markings. (If anyone happens to know more about the timeline, please share in the comments!)

 

The pen is about the same size as the current Excellence A2 model and the Classics that were its predecessor. And despite what some might think, the pen is not plastic resin. It is actually made of briarwood (hence the name "Bruyére," French for briarwood). Briarwood is a moor shrub, the roots of which have been used for making tobacco pipes since the 19th century. 

 

 

 

The size of the pen is about the same as the current Excellence A2 and the previous Classic models, but the shape and style of it is quite different. In fact, rumour has it this pen is actually a Platinum. This might seem surprising if it weren't for the fact that Joachim Michaelis was apparently fond of collaborations within the (fountain) pen world. There are pens produced by Inoxcrom that are identical in every way but the logo and name, and the reintroduction of the Kaweco Sport produced pens sporting 'by Diplomat' on the barrel and using Diplomat's distribution system. 

 

In the photos below, you can see the beautiful (and soft) 18k nib, which, except for the name Diplomat, looks very much like a Platinum nib. It is a B, but writes much closer to a M, which is perhaps another indication that it is a Japanese-produced nib. 

 

 

 

Here is the pen currently fitted with a new Platinum converter after the original converter wore out:

 

 

 

I was lucky enough to get this pen with its original luxury packaging which seems to me to be from the 1980s. It includes the price tag showing an original price of 495 DM. 

 

 

Included in the original packaging was this brochure explaining the process of selecting and using the briarwood (in several languages): 

 

 

Thanks for reading! And please feel free to share your comments and questions!

 

 

Quite a find, @DvdRiet, congratulations! Many thanks for sharing. This is a central spread in the Diplomat book 😄

[DvdRiet]

1 minute ago, OldTravelingShoe said:

This is a central spread in the Diplomat book 😄

 

Haha! I'll need to find a better photographer, though!

[mallymal1]

What a beauty. Thanks for sharing. 

 

The nib does look Platinum-ish.

[Olya]

When I saw the first picture my thought was immediately that the clip looks exactly like Platinum's! The nib confirms it. Had to go back to the title to make sure I didn't misread something!

 

Beautiful pen!

[DvdRiet]

18 minutes ago, Olya said:

When I saw the first picture my thought was immediately that the clip looks exactly like Platinum's! The nib confirms it. Had to go back to the title to make sure I didn't misread something!

 

Beautiful pen!

 

Thanks! The 80s/90s Classics all have that same clip, and I don't actually own a Platinum (except for this one  ), so I wouldn't have noticed. But I did see a discussion on the German forum from a while ago that mentioned it. I just knew the nib is completely unlike any other Diplomat nib I have ever seen. Then the other day, a friend showed me a close-up photo of the nib on her new Platinum pen and I thought, hey, I know that nib!!

[Frank C]

That's a beautiful pen. Thank you for sharing the photos and the story. I agree, it does resemble a Platinum pen greatly. 

[Carrau]

The convertor looks like a Platinum as well, and I believe these are still made by Platinum in their Exotic Woods series.

[A Smug Dill]

Except for the cap finial and nib inscriptions, I'd say that has the same DNA as a Platinum #3776 Century Briar (model PTB-30000BN#61) pen, which incidentally appears to have been removed from Platinum's current product line-up.

[PithyProlix]

I am confident this was made by Platinum, likely in the early 1980s, and a straight adaptation of their 3776 model of the time. I have 3 examples of the standard Platinum version of this one and they are among my most favorite writers. If you can post a photo of the underside of the nib so we can see the feed, which is likely ebonite, we can perhaps give a more specific date, assuming Platinum wasn't using an old stock feed for this pen. 

 

Beautiful pen! A pen I would buy myself. 

 

This photo is from a FPN post by @stan

[PithyProlix]

BTW, contrary to all the advice I have seen on the Internet, if you want to remove the nib & feed they are not friction fit but screw out. Might have to soak for a long time to get dried ink out of the threads before it can be unscrewed. 

[DvdRiet]

Very much appreciate the helpful info, @PithyProlix and @A Smug Dill! I don't know enough about Platinum pens, so thanks for filling in some of the blanks here. 

 

Dill, you mention that the finial is different. Oddly, that is also the same feeling I have about it from the Diplomat perspective. A plain black button is very atypical. Diplomat nearly always uses/used the finial for logos. I wonder if that could be something from the early 80s edition of the Platinum. (From the photo Pithy shared, it looks like it could be.)

 

9 hours ago, PithyProlix said:

If you can post a photo of the underside of the nib so we can see the feed, which is likely ebonite, we can perhaps give a more specific date, assuming Platinum wasn't using an old stock feed for this pen. 

Hadn't thought of that one! See the photos below. Hope it's a clue! But I am also inclined to say it had to have been early to mid 80s, although that's more of a style and trend guesstimate. 

 

[DvdRiet]

9 hours ago, PithyProlix said:

BTW, contrary to all the advice I have seen on the Internet, if you want to remove the nib & feed they are not friction fit but screw out. Might have to soak for a long time to get dried ink out of the threads before it can be unscrewed. 

 

Very good to know!! Haven't had any reason yet to fiddle with the nib, as this one came pretty clean already and in very good condition. But most Diplomat nibs do seem to be friction-fit, so I'm glad to know this just in case I do.

[DvdRiet]

By the way, I'm pretty sure it's an ebonite feed. I had to rub it to check, but there was that typical ebonite smell when I did.

[PithyProlix]

Actually, the flat, black 'button' finial is one of the 'giveaways' that this is basically a circa 1982 Platinum 3776. I sincerely doubt anyone besides Platinum would build a pen designed to be almost identical to the circa 1982 3776, especially given that it's a Diplomat branded pen and not some other shifty operation.

 

The feed is the 2nd version used on the 3776. Yes, ebonite. Unfortunately, now that I've taken a closer look at the information I have, it is hard to nail down a specific year because Platinum might have used feeds manufactured in previous years. I think the date codes on Platinum 3776 nibs of that era are sometimes earlier (not visible unless you remove the nib from the feed) than the manufacturing year of the rest of the pen, as well. 

 

While I've seen Platinums with others' branding, I wasn't aware that Diplomat commissioned Platinum to build a pen. I think they made an excellent choice, at least in terms of quality. Again, its a wonderful pen you have.

[PithyProlix]

I'm curious. Do you still have the original converter?

 

And another thought: I said you might have to soak to be able to remove the feed/nib from the section. Please remove the section and soak it only - i.e. not the barrel! I am afraid that soaking the wood parts might be a terrible idea!

[DvdRiet]

8 minutes ago, PithyProlix said:

now that I've taken a closer look at the information I have, it is hard to nail down a specific year

 

Pithy, just this whole concept is so completely foreign to me!! Do you have any idea how difficult it is to pin anything Diplomat down to a decade, never mind a specific year?!? 

[PithyProlix]

Sorry to keep piling on but you see of my most recently acquired standard Platinum version of the pen here. Other than the obvious things (i.e. material, engraving, etc.), the only difference I see is the cap band.

 

 

[DvdRiet]

4 minutes ago, PithyProlix said:

my most recently acquired standard Platinum version of the pen here. Other than the obvious things (i.e. material, engraving, etc.), the only difference I see is the cap band.

 

Wow, that really is exactly the same pen, isn't it!? I knew the black button finial had to be from whoever produced this pen and not of Diplomat's own design. 

 

I have not (yet) been able to find much information about Joachim Michaelis (of IMCO, Diplomat's owner after their founder), but I really think he must have known just about everyone in the business, judging by the collaborations I have seen. So I am not surprised that he would have chosen to collaborate with a fine Japanese maker on a pen. The why is a mystery, of course, as well as the connection with double branding it for Tiffany's, but it really is a very nice pen!

[Bo Bo Olson]

On 8/23/2022 at 11:12 PM, DvdRiet said:

I just knew the nib is completely unlike any other Diplomat nib I have ever seen.

I find it a normal regular flex of the era '70-90's...(Japanese soft).

My German pens from the end of the semi-flex'65 Pelikan, -70MB -72Geha era to the Pelikan semi-nail/nail era of 1998 were all regular flex, outside my nail Lamy Persona, or Safari.

 

I have had four, but now only have three Diplomats. As a noobie I had a very nicely balanced aluminum Diplomat pen unfortunately  a nail that I sold....such great balance, I sometimes still regret selling that pen 15 years ago.

A semi-nail silver plated one with jumping horse finial, and stirrup clip. Is silver plated, the light of the original seller was wrong. I take horrible pictures so when I buy a pen the picture is mine too.

This blue one with the Maltese Crosses that use to be the Diplomat brand mark, is semi-flex.

 

It is a large pen, it is longer than the medium-long 400nn. A nice light nimble pen.....that I forget about when I blabber about heavy clumsy large pens.

On 8/24/2022 at 2:37 PM, DvdRiet said:

it's an ebonite feed. I had to rub it to check,

I'm glad to find that out. I like ebonite feeds. I wouldn't have thought of it...and am glad to find out rubbing an ebonite feed has it's own smell.

On 8/24/2022 at 4:45 AM, PithyProlix said:

a straight adaptation of their 3776 model of the time.

Someone on German Ebay put the Diplomat briar pen dated as 1971-1980...so that makes the Platinum the copy.

Not that Platinum may have made the Diplomat briar pen; it could well have....I once had a Shaffer- Japanese made pen from that era. Back then the Yen and the DM were similar.... 360 Yen to the dollar and 4DM to the dollar. That changed in 1973 when Nixon went off of silver money, forcing Japan and Germany to float their currency.

I have just now written Diplomat to see if only Platinum cartridges has be used, in the guy on Ebay said that cartridge only, and if they have a modern converter that fits that pen. Just in case.

For a M that is an F....Being made in Japan makes that sensible.

The original posters pictures are much better than mine...though mine is a tad lighter. I won the Diplomat in this live auction plastic bag lot. All the nibs were 18K. The MB Noblise and the Cd'A were nails, the rest regular flex.