The Classiest Pen I Have Ever Seen - Aurora 88 Big Millerighe Fountain Pen

[@lucaperiotto2171]

My name is Luca, I'm a photographer and the Aurora factory is close to my house: the neighborhood where I live in Turin is called Aurora, because the first factory was here, it was bombed by the Germans during the war. Aurora 88 was designed by one of the best Italian designers, his name was Marcello Nizzoli, and he is the same man who designed the Olivetti Lettera 22 typewriter. You can see your pen in the collection of the MOMA in New York. I have the big black Aurora 88 like yours, I love the nib that I saw made in the factory, before my eyes. Congratulations

[@Doodlebud]

Love the Olivetti typewriter!

[@watster]

She lives upstairs from me.

[@FrancoisTHX]

You must be confused with Marco Zanuso's Hastil ; it is the only fountain pen on permanent exhibition at the MoMA. Perhaps the new 88 was on temporary exhibition like the LAMY 2000 was at one point.

[@lucaperiotto2171]

@@FrancoisTHX yes it's true, I am sorry I confuse 88 with 98 (I lose my bag first days of this year... Inside I had 3 fountain pens, my Sailor, Aurora 98 and Lamy Aion😢

[@keithwhitney7491]

Thank you or taking the time to replay and to describe your incredible memories about Auroral and your neighborhood. You are surely a treasure in your community and now to all of us. If you have not done so, an older, retired professor myself (but not born until just after WWII had ended), I am beginning to realize how the generations surrounding us need to hear stories like the ones only you can tell. Blessings, and again, THANK YOU!

[@steventrosiek2623]

Absolutely beautiful pen. Congratulations on having such a treasure. I have a number of Aurora fountain pens. They are very well made and they are magnificent writers. Thanks for a great video.

[@donhall-aquitania1025]

Congratulations on your new beautiful pen. I would call it C-3PO.

[@duncansalmon5718]

I have the black/black version with the same long tined 14K nib; I love it, have had it for 25 years and have used it a lot. The pen has a special feature; when you run low on ink, you open the piston fully and enough ink for another page is pushed up and flows to the nib. My pen weighs 20 gm empty. I also have the skinny version, with a snap cap, and long cartridge feed. A little dainty for me. Enjoy!

[@sajjadhusain4146]

The slim (small) 88s are also rather stylish in their own right. I have one slim 88 in an all-sterling silver striated finish. Love it to pieces. And yes, the reserve filler feature is both neat and practical. I use it all the time.

[@Doodlebud]

I have a vintage 88 as well and it looks so nice as well. The biggest thing is the cap doesnt seal so well on mine ☹ kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmjMind4iLOAoaM

[@duncansalmon5718]

Yes, that's a great pen also. I have one from my birth year (1951), XF, and it writes for days and days on one fill. Mine never hard starts! @@Doodlebud

[@nibnoob]

I was not expecting to add another grail to my list today. Doodlebud strikes again!

[@JefferyHall-ct2tr]

Hi DB!: One of the reasons I love your channel is because you show pens I would not usually seek out of even know about! This pen is one of them! WOW! What an impressive pen! The all gold is a little flashy for my taste, but a black barrel with the gold cap would be pretty nice! My main interest is the build on this one! Those NICE threads on the section should be copied by every pen manufacturer!! The long tine nibs are fascinating, too! That ink is very nice also! Thanks for showing this one to us!

[@Doodlebud]

She's a beauty!

[@francescomotolese4644]

Mille righe =thousand lines I love mine....same era..same nib.. Ciao from Salento(puglia)🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

[@racha2665]

Seeing an Ink pen Classic style after a long long time bringing all the nostalgic memories I had with in years bygone sixties through early eighties ! Ah ! Wonderful !!

[@storge306]

Congratulations mate, I am really happy for you. Such a fitting ink, a sexy nib❤‍🔥✨and those sure are some gorgeous threads 🤩

[@Doodlebud]

This pen is even better than I had hoped! The quality and attention to details is TOP notch

[@craft-o-matic399]

It's stunning! Congratulations! Lisa

[@sajjadhusain4146]

My favorite pen on the planet. I now own six modern Aurora 88s (after selling two). Yours is pretty special in that all-golden full striated finish - and that vintage-y long-tined 14k nib. What’s more, you say you waited patiently, finally found it and got a nice price you were willing to happily pay. Win-win, all round. Auroras have the smoothest piston mechanism I’ve ever used. I love their made-in-house gold (and steel) nibs. Marvelous writers. Just one of a kind. One of my 88s (the Cento release) resembles your pen a fair bit in the color finish. I’m almost betting that this won’t be your last Aurora 88 Large. Meantime, savor this one fully! 👌 edit: Db, would you mind telling what you paid to get this beauty.

[@Doodlebud]

I picked it up for 380 euro with free shipping ;)

[@sajjadhusain4146]

@@Doodlebud God is always looking down on you kindly whenever you pounce to grab these terrific grail-level pens at ‘steal’ prices. Your patience is duly rewarded is another way of saying it.

[@milchpuder]

The profile of the tines is very elegant. Love it!

[@zeus52452]

Another nice review DB, and congrats on your find. That certainly is a beautiful pen. I myself acquired not long ago a 1958 88-P in beautiful condition and a great price.

[@Doodlebud]

I have a vintage 88 as well and it is lovely

[@paulmchugh1430]

Excellent presentation. I do not own an Aurora fountain pen. I do have two ballpoint pens and even their ballpoints are fantastic. For the next pen show, I will put this pen on my list of pens to find.

[@Javi_C]

Beautiful Pen Doodlebud! Congratulations!

[@Doodlebud]

Thanks!

[@derekdavis5720]

Hi DB great video. I’ve just found my next grail pen. I am a fan of Aurora pens they’re quite reliable and lovely to behold

[@davidtaitano4602]

I just received this pen thru the link you provided. Love the pen. Thanks

[@archivist17]

Superb! I'm no fan of gold on pens, but this has a style. Hope you have many thousands of lines with it.

[@Doodlebud]

This one just spoke to me. As soon as I saw a picture of this model online I have been looking at it almost daily!!!

[@haroldmarenger3435]

Great video. I’ve had my Aurora 88s for about 25 years and really like them. At the time I got a black on black, and liked it so much that when a sterling silver model was available I bought it. Both were great purchases. At the time I purchased them, there is one small thing I came to appreciate-the cap stayed on when the pen was in my pocket. It sounds minor, but at the time I had a number of pens with threaded caps work themselves loose in my pocket, making me an honorary member of the Blue Chrysanthemum Club. Not sure if all models have this feature, but on my pen when I run out of ink, I can move the piston towards the nib (in filling position), and there’s a small amount of ink remaining (almost like a second reservoir?) you can write with for about a page (with a fine point nib). Thank you for another great video.

[@santauxia]

Beautiful pen DB. That nib stands out. Congrats on your new aquisition.

[@Doodlebud]

The unique nib really goes with the pen to make it even more special

[@user-gl5ld9vm7i]

Gorgeous pen, DB. Congratulations.

[@beedee4466]

Holy moly!! Gorgeous!!! 😍

[@AlfistaWayne]

I love the video, worthy praise of a lovely pen ! I really like my 802 but I think that the 801 is even nicer. The long tine version is the best ! ❤️

[@tbayless8324]

Wow, Doodlebud... Have you ever seen anything made today like that--the small grooves, that is a stunner. Reminds me of my old Cross BP pens that you hardly see anymore.

[@Doodlebud]

Graf Von Faber Castell does a fair amount of fine guilloche work on their pens. Usually wavy patterns. This fine striping is very nice

[@cynthiaalvarado8610]

Great find, DB, thanks for sharing your new find. I love Aurora pens and their in house nibs. They write great!

[@richardsimms251]

Great video. I have heard of that pen 1:20 but have never seen it. Thank you very much. RS. Canada

[@benwest2463]

Love the gorgeous vintage Aurora, and that ink was just a heart-stopper - I need to get a bottle of that for myself! Thanks for the vid, Doodlebud!

[@Doodlebud]

I ordered a couple of their inks so planning a quick ink video for reference

[@stephenE4017]

Wow! I love Aurora and that is a beauty!

[@OkenssyPena]

I have one 😮 thanks for sharing this information 🎉

[@watster]

Nice pen! I really appreciate when you make content on older pens! I also want your calipers. :) Yeah, and the ink looks awesome. I think I'll have to get a bottle.

[@Doodlebud]

I'm planning to do a video on that ink and 2 others I ordered from them

[@varadharajannadarajah]

Congratulations on this great pen ! Aurora pens are underrated.

[@sajjadhusain4146]

Agreed! As a longtime fan and owner of many Auroras, I think they are still quite overlooked and under-rated, especially in the U.S. I sometimes tell all those forever pining for pricey Montblanc and Pelikan pens to seriously consider buying comparably priced Aurora 88/Optimas instead.

[@varadharajannadarajah]

@@sajjadhusain4146 Aurora piston mechanism is excellent - fills fully. Nib/Feed alignment issues are rare.

[@sajjadhusain4146]

@@varadharajannadarajah Again, I completely agree, from personal experience with my Auroras. I even like Aurora’s steel nibs.

[@travgusmc]

You sonnova gun, my grail of grail pens! Long-tine nibs are so so cool! Oh and great vids as always!

[@Doodlebud]

Had to get this one once I became aware of its existence!

[@nikossiotas]

The review we all waited for. Btw i think that i saw somewhere on the Internet that Aurora will make some new releases this year. And the Coronation Ink it's also interesting, for those who like sheen inks.

[@sajjadhusain4146]

Aurora, has for the first time, recently released an ebonite 88. They might go further with that move. I’d welcome that. More ebonite models of pens of the class, quality and style of Aurora would be very fun to see.

[@Pearlblue22]

Wow what an elegant pen! ❤

[@roderickfemm8799]

I, too, have the black resin version of this pen. I bought it because of the long tines, which I thought might indicate some additional softness in the nib, but I was wrong -- it has what seems to me to be characteristic Aurora firmness. I do like this pen for the reason you mentioned, that the longer nib gives a clearer view of the paper as I write. I think my favorite Aurora 88 is one from (I think) the 60s with a slip cap and a hooded nib with some flex.

[@Doodlebud]

Probably like this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmjMind4iLOAoaM

[@kenshinhimura3014]

beautiful pen !!! love the size, is big but not uncomfortable long like other pens. The nib is lovely and I personally love those longer nibs. The writing is perfect for me (I don't care about flair most of the time, my pens are for field work) 😁

[@Doodlebud]

I absolutely love this pen. Looks so classic and performs wonderfully. Its a gem and won't even be selling this one!

[@kenshinhimura3014]

@@Doodlebud don't do it 🤣🤣🤣

[@be5952]

Sorry if I missed it, but did you mention *the composition of the pen body & cap?* I'm new to this, and from my casual reading it seems 'pen people' don't care much about what their pens are made from---at least not down to the 'nitty gritty' details. Call me weird, but it's _really_ important to me. If one's resin, fine. If it's that hard rubber stuff, fine. If it's silver, is it plated or solid? If it's other metal, however, I want to know _exactly_ what kind(s) and if there are more than one type. So far for this pen, I've seen it described as *'rolled gold'---i.e. some level of gold filled?* But that doesn't answer what the underlying metal is. Apparently it could be anything. Do you know if it's brass underneath, and if it is actually rolled gold as the finishing layer? Thanks large🙂.

[@JohnFDaydream]

I love that pen. It looks like it would feel great in the hand.

[@sajjadhusain4146]

It’s the very closest thing to ‘perfect’ as a pen can possibly be.

[@Doodlebud]

It feels perfect in the hand for me. I really really REALLY enjoy this one

[@999tinman]

Good for you, what an awesome pen.😊

[@Doodlebud]

Thanks

[@szaggasd]

What a find, beaut

[@wendyetherington7493]

Beautiful pen!

[@jakublulek3261]

Italian pens are either very excentric when comes to design and/or material or very, very classy and classic with interesting twist, so they don't look stale and old-fashionned like something along the lines of Parker or Cross. And Aurora always delivers for me.

[@ichirofakename]

1. What fun to get something that so suits you. I might not have guessed you were a goldie. 2. Too classy for me. However a similar pen in silver is my grail. 3. Thanks for the show.

[@Doodlebud]

A few years ago I probably wouldn't be interested in this pen being all gold, but I guess tastes change over time. I've seen many gold pens that have never interested me. I still prefer my Pelikan M805 over the M800 gold trim, but this pen just speaks to me. Gorgeous to just look at and admire 😍

[@veronapaisley6915]

Millegraine patterned pen body, a beautiful Aurora 88.

[@atbossgrim]

fun fact, Aurora gold nibs metal are the thickest in the business. amazing pens, got one just 2 weeks a go, could not be happier with it. the sucker cost me 800$ but definitely a joy of a pen.

[@sajjadhusain4146]

Which one did you get? As an avid Aurora fanboy I’m always curious to know what particular Aurora pens others are buying.

[@Doodlebud]

Yowza! Thats a pretty penny. I managed to pick this one up for less than half of that

[@atbossgrim]

@@Doodlebud I got the opera vermilion edition, basically new. I must say I was always skipping auroras before, something with the plasticky feeling for the money they want did not fit with me. Enjoy your amazing find 🤩! That is a good price.

[@johnrdoe108]

Great review thanks.

[@Ajayk9099]

The pen looks very beautiful, I would also like to buy one. Can you tell me from where you got it ? I have started hunting for it.

[@Doodlebud]

I bought mine from ebay

[@_TheTaoJones_]

7:59 Me imagining Michael Scott having the hardest time not blurting something out.

[@jimmymckay73]

That's what she said ! 😅

[@SpatulaCrypto]

Really like the nib. Know of any steel or lower cost nibs/pens that are similar?

[@Doodlebud]

Not off the top of my head

[@slo_carry]

Congratulations on your requisition. I'm glad the pen lives up to what you had hoped it would. It's so disappointing when you get something that doesn't live up to what you were expecting.

[@Doodlebud]

Its always a gamble especially when you can't get your hands on one beforehand or read/watch reviews. So happy this one turned out even better than I had hoped

[@thomasmorrison675]

Is it gold, gold plated or just gold colored metal? Sure is a nice pen

[@SkyKing37326]

Where do I get one of these😍😍

[@Doodlebud]

Patience, they are found with lots and lots of patience 😉Took me several years to find this one at the right price. They don't show up very often, but thats part of the fun in the hunt

[@Max-hz5wk]

can you tell me the year of production of this pen?

[@Doodlebud]

I have no idea on the production year on this pen unfortunately

[@williamcatalano1762]

Doodlebud... Dude I'm on a no buy for awhile... This isn't helping LOL I've always wondered about Aurora pens though. Don't own one. I heard the nibs are more stiff for a gold nib and have a pleasant feedback to them. Would you say the feedback reminds you of a Sailor nib? If so I think I'd enjoy it. One of the things I really really admire about Aurora is that they put ebonite feeds with their gold nibs. I think any pen 200 or 300 and above should be standard with an ebonite feed.

[@Doodlebud]

I have only written with a modern Sailor pen once so I can't fully remember. I would say its similar but a tad smoother. Just the slightest tooth which I actually prefer as I find it makes it easier to control the pen when writing. Total joy to use this one

[@williamcatalano1762]

@@Doodlebud Yeah I'm on a no buy big time right now, spent so much around Christmas. But i did get some more rare ones and limited issues so it was worth it haha. Next one is going to be a Montblanc of some sort, an Aurora of some sort, or a Pelikan M1000. One of the three. I own several Pelikans in various sizes and nibs. Don't own any Montblanc or Aurora as of yet. Funny how it is going to be a piston filler for all three. This pen is one heck of a looker I will say though!

[@nope8535]

I like the shape, the design, and the size. Just detest gold color.

[@Doodlebud]

The plain black version may be the perfect pen for you 😉

[@snowdoggieii]

Using a lesser pen as a pointer?😅

[@davideselmin8018]

The problem with TenPen is that the lady is absolutely impolite. I wrote many times for buying a pen and she never answered.

[@Doodlebud]

I've never had issues communicating with her. Sometimes she's away on holidays etc and it can take time to get a reply.

[@FrancoisTHX]

From the 90's? Just before Aurora went to absolute sh*t then. Treasure it, it might go up in price if Aurora goes under before they manage to ruin their reputation! :)

[@sajjadhusain4146]

You sound extremely harsh. Maybe because I completely disagree with your take on Aurora pens.

[@FrancoisTHX]

@@sajjadhusain4146 Perhaps you got lucky - not me with about 14 pens I purchased brand new, when I jut could not appreciate their beauty as out of those only 4 arrived in good condition - My conclusion that they went to sh*t is not only supported by my experience but also by the owner of one of the most respected pen shops in Paris: they stopped carrying the brand because it was the worst brand with the worst QC they ever worked with (mind you they even work with Stipula and worked with Visconti when they were at their worst).

[@FrancoisTHX]

@@sajjadhusain4146 The Verona family still has time to wake up and turn the tide before their reputation goes sour, they have all the potential for excellence. They have unfortunately been such j*nk lately that retailers are dropping them because of their awful QC. I'm personally tired of sending pens back and forth to Turin. The level of disrespect and arrogance they show is unparalleled. For now - and for the past 15 years according to the retailer I talked to in Paris - buying an Aurora without thouroughly testing it first is as much of a gamble as purchasing a Visconti when their QC was non existent.