Platinum Curidas and Opus 88 Demonstrator - an unlikely pair of huge affordable fountain pens

2 quirky, imperfect pens that I really enjoy.
Quick comparison in size to the Sailor King of Pen and Montblanc 149.
Comparison against old favorites like the Pilot Vanishing Point

[@pomoster]

This is literally a perfect video. Smart and unique comparison, informative, and I very much appreciated the loving roast of the Curidas. 😂

[@eileengoldenberg270]

For the opus 88 you don’t need to open and close the valve. Set it where you like it and leave it there. If I fly I close the valve. I have 6 opus 88 , I use them for urban sketching so I love having all that ink..

[@radiofreealbemuth]

I heard if you don't close it, you'll get ink burping.

[@kevinu.k.7042]

Great review I really like your candid and well formed views. Thanks :)

[@paulll47]

I almost pulled the trigger on the Curidas but that pen is too long for it's intended use, it's a pen that is supposed to be carried around and deployed at the push of a button while this thing barely fits in jeans pockets. I have only two Opus, the mini (which is my carry pen and very practical, too bad for the hideous caps, wish Opus made a simple clear demonstrator version or at least one in more sober colors) and the Jazz Holiday which Is a bit smaler than the Demonstrator (It hold "only" 3 ml of ink compared to the 3.5 of the Demonstrator) and uncap with 3 turns instead of 4, I actually chose the Jazz over the Demonstrator because it posts really nicely. I tried a Montblanc 149 with a Broad nib once, it was a damn hose, it bled even on Tomoe River paper, I think that your reasoning is right, these are work of art to keep at home and use on your best paper, carrying them around is just not practical in my opinion.

[@mariangroeneveld7401]

What a great analyse of both pens!

[@edwinbeta2806]

what happened to the clip on the 88?? Also, I’m pretty sure Platinum created a unique knock system due to patent. Only recently has that patent finally expired.

[@seattlepenclub]

I took it off - I hate the Opus 88 clip. It's very cheaply made. Fortunately, the top of the cap just screws off and the clip can be easily removed. Imo, the pen looks much better without it :)

[@HandmadebyLorelei]

your videos are so great, really enjoying your channel! :)

[@Blackmind0]

From design tandpoint the lamy dialog is the most beautiful with hidden nibs....BM

[@radiofreealbemuth]

7:00 i'm guessing you need to clean the nib and feed by twisting the converter like the twsbi eco. It doesnt look like you can use a bulb syringe

[@georgelim9933]

How did you swap out the JoWo #6 nib for a sailor one? Did you have to purchase a seperate housing?

[@ichirofakename]

Also, where do you get a Sailor nib without tossing out a Sailor body?

[@seattlepenclub]

@@ichirofakename lol - a bit of a long story. This nib came from a pro gear. Someone gave me a cross peerless 125 that was in rough shape. I put the nib from that into the pro gear I got this nib from and tossed the cross body.

[@seattlepenclub]

I did - I don't recall where i bought it from. Maybe Aliexpress? It's a cheap housing to fit the standard jowo #6 section and a Sailor nib + feed

[@kevinu.k.7042]

Hi George. In the past I remove the metal component of the nib and put it into the other pens feed and housing. So I have Diplomat No. 6 nibs in Jowo feeds and an Aurora No.6 nib in a Diplomat feed. They are extracted by pulling the nib and feed out of the nib housing.

[@michaelcohen1575]

Can you explain "not a sensible writing instrument"? And odd statement from someone who has a few.

[@anabello7]

I have the opposite problem; my hands are so small I can comfortably use the Kaweco sports unposted. Unfortunately that also means most average-sized pens are uncomfortably long. 😅

[@ichirofakename]

Perfect hands for a nice Sailor!

[@anabello7]

@@ichirofakename oh yes! My nighttime journaling pen is a Pro Gear Slim 😍

[@seattlepenclub]

@@anabello7 Cool! I love the look of the pro gear slim. The regular size and KOP both look a bit too short for their width imo. I wish I could use the slim model more comfortably!

[@anabello7]

@@seattlepenclub I really want to try the mini, but I don't love any of the colors out right now

[@squirts1]

🤣 "the curidas objective is an awful pen" I'm so gald you said that. There are definitely some bad design decisions in the Curidas. Funny thing is you can just completely ignore the first J slot when removing or inserting the nib assembly. It's more of a suggestion. The little nib door assembly is really kind of bad. The flappy door bit is just a bent piece of plastic, there is no actual hinge. So eventually it will just break off.

[@ameliabuns4058]

TBH I don't consider either of those affordable, I'm broke /dab

[@chi-towncalifornia5916]

I tried out a fine point Curidas, and laughed at how over-designed yet under-built it was. Overly complex feed system with scratch marks from metal pieces scraping against soft plastic, and a barrel full of so many sharp protrusions that I could not get a comfortable grip. Plus, the knock is too long to click one handed comfortably, and the plastic body feels cheap. The fine nib was excellent, but that aside, it was laughably bad compared to my Pilot Capless Special Alloy. The Curidas to me is a metaphor for how wayward Japanese corporations have gone from their heydays.

[@meshzzizk]

The curidas does seem pretty ridiculous but I have found it’s easy to get used to all the circuitous engineering. Unfortunately the plastic cracks rather easily, making it hard to use as an everyday carry around pen.