aurora optima ( or 88) vs visconti Homosapiens Bronze Age

[bbqjohn]

How do people compare these two. from what ive seen in the past the Visconti has had some QC issues, and the aurora appears to be a well constructed pen and writer. does this still hold up? I know aurora can be less expensive so that's a plus. more nib options I think. I hear they are a little more toothy but also write really well. while ive heard Visconti can have some problems. ive been looking at the extra fine for both, but also 1.1mm stub (Visconti) vs factory italic (aurora). Visconti seems like a nice durable material, but I do worry about the vacuum fill mechanism breaking, and cleaning seems like a pain. I like the size and color options of the aurora. also I know aurora makes nibs in house which is a cool, not sure if Visconti does.

 

Any thoughts on these two companies?

[ArchiMark]

FWIW, I've had about a dozen or so Auroras over the past 15 years or so, all were very nice well made pens and generally very good writers. Your post title mentions Optima and 88, which most of the Auroras I had were. I like the Optima, but unposted they are a bit short in my hand and I don't like to post pens, so, I ended up parting with them. The 88's are also very nice pens, but a bit slim for my taste, so, parted with them. So, this was all about how the pens felt in my hands had nothing to with quality, which i think is high. I still have one LE Aurora and have another LE on the way, so, this should reinforce my point, that they are great pens. And yes, their nibs, tend to have a bit of 'feedback' to them, which I like.

 

Have had more than a dozen Viscontis over the past 15 years or so.....all very nice well made pens and generally very good writers. Yes, some people have had some issues with nibs, but most people really enjoy their Viscontis a lot. Overall, their pens fit my hand better, love the looks of many of their pens, and really enjoy writing with them. Have a few of their 1.1 stubs and they're great. Also, have several of their M nibs....very good too, some I've had ground to be cursive italic, which I really like.

 

I have a Homo Sapiens Bronze Age pen and it's one of my favorite pens.

I have no worries about it or other Visconti's breaking.

 

I continue to acquire more Visconti's.....

 

The above is my personal opinion based on my experience since 2009.....

 

My take is that even if you buy a pen that the nib skips, etc, if you really like the pen, it usually can be fixed by a nibmeister and in doing so, you can get nib ground and/or adjusted to suit your taste, and in the end will be one of your favorite pens to write with. I've been amazed by the difference a good nibmeister can make on a pen. Yes, there's a cost to this, but to me it's been well worth it when I do this.

 

Of course your mileage may vary......void where prohibited by law.....

 

Best,

 

Mark

 

 

[bbqjohn]

1 minute ago, ArchiMark said:

FWIW, I've had about a dozen or so Auroras over the past 15 years or so, all were very nice well made pens and generally very good writers. Your post title mentions Optima and 88, which most of the Auroras I had were. I like the Optima, but unposted they are a bit short in my hand and I don't like to post pens, so, I ended up parting with them. The 88's are also very nice pens, but a bit slim for my taste, so, parted with them. So, this was all about how the pens felt in my hands had nothing to with quality, which i think is high. I still have one LE Aurora and have another LE on the way, so, this should reinforce my point, that they are great pens. And yes, their nibs, tend to have a bit of 'feedback' to them, which I like.

 

Have had more than a dozen Viscontis over the past 15 years or so.....all very nice well made pens and generally very good writers. Yes, some people have had some issues with nibs, but most people really enjoy their Viscontis a lot. Overall, their pens fit my hand better, love the looks of many of their pens, and really enjoy writing with them. Have a few of their 1.1 stubs and they're great. Also, have several of their M nibs....very good too, some I've had ground to be cursive italic, which I really like.

 

I have a Homo Sapiens Bronze Age pen and it's one of my favorite pens.

I have no worries about it or other Visconti's breaking.

 

I continue to acquire more Visconti's.....

 

The above is my personal opinion based on my experience since 2009.....

 

My take is that even if you buy a pen that the nib skips, etc, if you really like the pen, it usually can be fixed by a nibmeister and in doing so, you can get nib ground and/or adjusted to suit your taste, and in the end will be one of your favorite pens to write with. I've been amazed by the difference a good nibmeister can make on a pen. Yes, there's a cost to this, but to me it's been well worth it when I do this.

 

Of course your mileage may vary......void where prohibited by law.....

 

Best,

 

Mark

 

 

thanks for the response mark. good to hear the Visconti can hold its own and it appears it be more a matter of preference than quality between the two. 

[ArchiMark]

You're welcome, John....

 

Are you thinking of getting new or used pens?

 

If new, make sure, if possible, you buy from someone that will assist if you happen to get a pen that needs adjusting.

 

If used, then hopefully, from a reliable seller, that will let you know how well pen works.

 

If you want, I can message you some suggestions on this.....

 

Mark

[PAKMAN]

The Visconti Homo Sapiens bronze is one of my all time favorite pens. Love the look and feel and the fact that the material comes from Mt. Etna volcano. 

[jar]

I like all of my various iterations of the Aurora 88/98 family but it's the slim Hastil's and Talentum that seem to get the most Walkabout.

 

 

 

 

[ralfstc]

Hi,

 

I just bought an Aurora 88 yesterday from the factory (the Unica Nera). It's my first high end modern Aurora (I have around 10 of the vintage ones. Why? I dunno. Just like them). It's an incredibly lovely and well made pen. It's light (as 88s always were) and just feels like a real writer's pen. Comfortable in the hand and fun to use.

 

Would recommend 🙂

 

Just another data point!

 

Ralf

[Portia_of_Belmont]

I have a few Aurora that I really enjoy.  They are beautiful, well-made pens that offer a distinct writing experience.  I love the bit of feedback provided by Aurora nibs. 

 

But my Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age, which I've had for 9 years, is my only pen that is continuously inked.  It's my favorite pen.  I've recently added a Dark Age because I came across one used at an incredible price.  It provides the same joyful writing experience and is now challenging the Bronze Age for top spot.  Something about the shape, size/girth, and weight feels perfect in hand for me.  And the slightly textured, matte material is also incredibly comfortable to hold.  If I could only keep one pen, it would be one of my Homo Sapiens.

[bbqjohn]

13 hours ago, Portia_of_Belmont said:

I have a few Aurora that I really enjoy.  They are beautiful, well-made pens that offer a distinct writing experience.  I love the bit of feedback provided by Aurora nibs. 

 

But my Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age, which I've had for 9 years, is my only pen that is continuously inked.  It's my favorite pen.  I've recently added a Dark Age because I came across one used at an incredible price.  It provides the same joyful writing experience and is now challenging the Bronze Age for top spot.  Something about the shape, size/girth, and weight feels perfect in hand for me.  And the slightly textured, matte material is also incredibly comfortable to hold.  If I could only keep one pen, it would be one of my Homo Sapiens.

what nib do you use for the Homo sapiens?

[lionelc]

have 2 homo sapiens - the older one i bought from a trusted seller who tuned the 23k pd nib for me, the newer crystal dream comes with an 18k gold nib - was confident enough to buy this new, good out of the box.  dont have any new auroras, have the 88s - good value for money, excellent nibs.  can't choose between the two - would suggest getting both ...

[Portia_of_Belmont]

On 7/3/2024 at 6:08 AM, bbqjohn said:

what nib do you use for the Homo sapiens?

My Bronze Age is a F 23kt palladium nib and Dark Age is a F 18kt nib.  The nibs feel similar despite the difference in material.  The palladium is perhaps a bit softer.  Both are responsive, expressive, juicy writers, which is my preference

[jthole]

It's too long ago for me that I tried the Homo Sapiens to really have an opinion. But a few weeks ago, I tested the Aurora Optima (black with chrome trim) and the 88 Large (also black with chrome trim). Even if I love the Optima profile, the 88 felt better in my hand.

 

After some thinking, I finally decided on the 88, with a medium nib. Indeed in black, with the chrome trim. I think black and chrome makes a very classic combination.

 

BTW, already two of my Visconti Van Gogh pens had to go back to Italy for repair, so I'd have some reservations with buying another Visconti (even if I understand that the Homo Sapiens is a very different pen).