Pilot Custom Urushi Fountain Pen Review
Pilot Custom Urushi is the flagship of Pilot, featured with its size and ever-lasting design. This is our first ever new modern fountain pen review.
Introduction
Pilot, corporation in Tokyo, was founded in 1918. It is the oldest and largest writing instrument manufacturer in Japan. Pilot offers a wide range of writing instruments. And among these, Pilot’s Fine Writing Collection has been created in a culture that has revered the art of writing for over a thousand years. These exceptional writing instruments embody the essence of art, design, and quality craftsmanship. With unrivaled levels of beauty
and creativity, Pilot Fine Writing instruments have secured their place as the preferred choice among pen enthusiasts and collectors. And Pilot Custom Urushi is the flagship model.
Urushi Finish
“Urushi” is indeed the material made for the pen. It is a hand-made pen, which gives its extra highlight and rarity. The pen is crafted from Japanese ebonite and lacquered using only pure Urushi lacquer. The finish is so glossy. As per Pilot, Each Custom Urushi pen barrel is skillfully lacquered, cured and polished three times to create an exquisite finish in combination with luxurious custom gold elements. The Custom Urushi comes in two colors: black and vermillion red.
Packaging
The pen comes with an outer paper box, a hard case box with kind-of leather feel like paper box, instruction, guarantee, an ink cartridge, and of course the Pilot Custom Urushi Pen. We will say, for the pen at this high-end price, the packaging is a bit lower than expectation. We also offer Pelikan M400 pen, and Pelikan packaging is much more attractive with luxury leather pouch and hard case.
Aesthetics
We will say you will not be disappointed. It is such a fine, oversized fountain pen, with classic and elegant design.
Pilot Custom Urushi Size
This is an oversize pen, and its hefty size is certainly one stand-out feature. The pen measures as large as
15.5cm (6.1in) closed. Bigger than a Montblanc 149, Pelikan M1000s, and Sailor KoPs, and with a similar sized barrel to the more expensive Emperor series from sister company Namiki, this is a pen that literally makes a big impression.
Nib and feed
Regal and refined with an oversized nib and barrel, the new Pilot Custom Urushi fountain pen boasts the new, two-toned nib size 30 made of 18-karat gold and rhodium. The impressive, new nib size is designed for maximum impact and is significantly more expansive than the size 15 nib of the Custom 823. Each pen is available in three nib points – fine, medium and broad. The nib size 30 is equivalent to nib #8, which is stunning. The pen bears a plastic feed, in grey color, which we think is a bit odd. It’s not a deal breaker at all, but it would have made the pen a little more premium.
Filling system
The Custom Urushi is a cartridge/converter pen. The pen ships with the Pilot Con-70 pump converter. It’s reliable and holds a decent amount of ink. You can also use ink cartridge; and one is included in box.
Writing
Of course, with any fountain pen, how it writes is the most important thing. The springiness and bounce to the nib made sweeping cursive feel like a dream. It is a smoother writer, no argue. The kind of smoothness where you feel nothing.
Conclusion
We would highly recommend this pen, if you’re looking for a quality urushi pen that will serve you well as an everyday workhorse. In fact, for an urushi pen of this size, especially with a large nib, with such an excellent writing experience, you could argue that worthy choice, a Pilot pen offering all the elegance and superb quality.
