Jinhao Centennial 100 Inscription/ how red is red

[Shanghai Knife Dude]

Just pick up my interest in pen shopping again. 

3 years ago, I bought a Centennial 100 on its launch. It was (bleep). The pen felt like feather, the screw of cap is as dry as my math teacher back in primary school. So I totally forget about the pen. 

I notice recently there is a inscription model (it must be launched for long, maybe Nov, 2021), with Jinhao's writing, kinds of joke to the Parker Duofold. Why not give it a try until the French Parker finally finishes the long process of considering seeking a lawsuit and starts seeking a lawsuit. 

This time, the pen felt completely different. It gets some weight. The screw is smooth. The orange-red shines charmingly under light. 

I don't own a Duofold and am not going to. I want something sexier for an USD 500 in 2024(a Conway Stewart Churchill maybe). So I am unable to compare USD 20 Jinhao with the real deal. 

P.S. I notice there are some discussion over "how red is red", here is the answer: check the picture with Color Checker card in, this Jinhao 100 is what you will get with your naked eye under normal vision.

 

Before you ask, left to right: 

1. Jinhao 100

2. Jinhao 9016

3. Jinhao 9019

4. Pelican M805

5. Hero 565

6. Zebra Sarasa Nano

 

 

[AmandaW]

Thankyou for the photos and thoughts of the Jinhao 100. May I ask about the other pens in the lineup - the next is a 992? What is the green Jinhao next along? Thankyou.

[langere]

Great photos!

 

You know, every once in a while, Parker Duofolds become very cheap on Amazon.  I bought one not too long ago for less than half of the retail price you mention.

 

Erick

[AceNinja]

1 hour ago, AmandaW said:

Thankyou for the photos and thoughts of the Jinhao 100. May I ask about the other pens in the lineup - the next is a 992? What is the green Jinhao next along? Thankyou.

the transparent orange i think its Jinhao 9016, and the green is 9019.

 

6 hours ago, bramley said:

 

Misaligned!  And seemed overly tight tine.

[Shanghai Knife Dude]

18 hours ago, AmandaW said:

Thankyou for the photos and thoughts of the Jinhao 100. May I ask about the other pens in the lineup - the next is a 992? What is the green Jinhao next along? Thankyou.

Jinhao Dadao 9019. more of it here: Jinhao 9019 Dadao Heart Beat Nib unbox

[Shanghai Knife Dude]

17 hours ago, langere said:

Great photos!

 

You know, every once in a while, Parker Duofolds become very cheap on Amazon.  I bought one not too long ago for less than half of the retail price you mention.

 

Erick

 

That's exactly the problem! Dose MontBlanc ever, any model, go on sales with 50% off? Not as far I am aware of. 

 

The Parker legacy has been ruin, not by Jinhao, but by the people whoever is behind this brand. 

[Glenn-SC]

It upsets me that Jinhao is making money off the history, design, and reputation of another pen company.  
If Jinhao could make a quality FP of its own design and succeed (i.e. make money) on its own merits then it should do so.  That would be great for Jinhao and the FP community in general.  

[Shanghai Knife Dude]

On 2/23/2024 at 8:44 AM, Glenn-SC said:

It upsets me that Jinhao is making money off the history, design, and reputation of another pen company.  
If Jinhao could make a quality FP of its own design and succeed (i.e. make money) on its own merits then it should do so.  That would be great for Jinhao and the FP community in general.  

 

I don't understand how a pen company in far east could manage to upset you. Before taking a glance of the Jinhao catalogue, you were upset. Yes, Jinhao sells his own designs. 

 

For the mass, who just wants a quality pen to use, it can't be better if there is a $10 option. 

 

For FP community, a $10 pen invites more population to join the community and enjoy a FP. Later on, one might choose to do a further purchase depends on the depth of one's pocket. I see no peer-to-peer competition between Jinhao 100 and Parker Duofold. 

 

Jinhao 100 is more like a purchase for fun, and it happened to be in good quality and not being tossed away on delivery. 

 

The only people who fears of the rising Chinese pens, would be the ones working in fountain pen shops. Tradition bias against the far east keeps their jobs. 

 

I just put down more orders, couple of 992, a pair of 92. great fun. 

 

 

[Dan Carmell]

As far as I know, there were 4 colors of the 100 that had the inscription: red, orange-red (very close to the original ’Big Red’ Duofold color), black, and yellow. I have 3, but cannot find the RED at all. 
 

Did you add the yellow wax to the barrel inscription, Bramley? It looks very neat! I’d also like to hear about that very special 565!

 

Let’s be clear: the Parker Duofold has been copied dozens, maybe hundreds of times, by American and European pens. But when a Chinese company makes a homage pen with its own logo and name all over the pen, it’s bad—what nonsense! I think the barrel engraving was an especially clever touch—it’s completely Jinhao but using a 100 year old bit of pen history!

[Shanghai Knife Dude]

20 minutes ago, Dan Carmell said:

As far as I know, there were 4 colors of the 100 that had the inscription: red, orange-red (very close to the original ’Big Red’ Duofold color), black, and yellow. I have 3, but cannot find the RED at all. 
 

Did you add the yellow wax to the barrel inscription, Bramley? It looks very neat! I’d also like to hear about that very special 565!

 

Let’s be clear: the Parker Duofold has been copied dozens, maybe hundreds of times, by American and European pens. But when a Chinese company makes a homage pen with its own logo and name all over the pen, it’s bad—what nonsense! I think the barrel engraving was an especially clever touch—it’s completely Jinhao but using a 100 year old bit of pen history!

 

There are definitely more than 4 colours of the inscription models. The 4 colours you mentioned, is the most widely sold ones. I am sure there are more. I don't think Jinhao follows strict product design. The inscription could be on any Centennial. 

 

 

The colour in inscription is done by factory. Like I said, news modification is release every minute from Jinhao. 

 

Regarding the 565, it is Hero 565, a man's version (thicker in diameter) of Hero 616/ Parker 51. I bought two colors and had them swap the barrels. 

 

 

[Dan Carmell]

52 minutes ago, bramley said:

 

There are definitely more than 4 colours of the inscription models. The 4 colours you mentioned, is the most widely sold ones. I am sure there are more. I don't think Jinhao follows strict product design. The inscription could be on any Centennial. 

 

 

The colour in inscription is done by factory. Like I said, news modification is release every minute from Jinhao. 

 

Regarding the 565, it is Hero 565, a man's version (thicker in diameter) of Hero 616/ Parker 51. I bought two colors and had them swap the barrels. 

 

 

Ah, thank you! It actually makes me feel better that the inscription can be on any color pen, so I can keep watching. It is also a reminder that buying on AliExpress is like looking through a peep hole, I do not see the complete Chinese pen market, only part. 

[Curtis1964]

Did Jinhao stop putting the logo on the side.  I have 4 of them, and none have it.  They also have a different clip.  I have the red/orange, the white/ivory, the blue, and the green.  Love all of them.  They are great writers.

[Shanghai Knife Dude]

On 2/20/2024 at 8:36 AM, AceNinja said:

the transparent orange i think its Jinhao 9016, and the green is 9019.

 

Misaligned!  And seemed overly tight tine.

Yes, well spotted, as misaligned as other brand new pens out there. If you were into pen for long, one ought to realise this is absolutely normal and takes 3 seconds to fix. 

 

I would only recommend you Montegrappa to suit your taste of quality on delivery. 

[MBDostoevsky]

From where did you order this pen? The ones I am looking at don't have this inscription. 

 

Secondly there are many red-orange variants. Orange / Big Tofu / Palace Red... Not sure which is the closest to the Duofold. 

 

Any help will be appreciated. 

[Shanghai Knife Dude]

56 minutes ago, MBDostoevsky said:

From where did you order this pen? The ones I am looking at don't have this inscription. 

 

Secondly there are many red-orange variants. Orange / Big Tofu / Palace Red... Not sure which is the closest to the Duofold. 

 

Any help will be appreciated. 

Big tofu