Visconti or Pineider?

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[@ForTheLoveOfPens]

Lovely collection and how cool to get a prototype model! I haven’t tried a Homosapien, but I too love my Twin Tank Touchdown. To me the biggest draw back is that you can’t post with the back knob retracted, as the cap will grab hold of that finial and with it the filling mechanism. The Pilot 823 doesn’t have that issue, and the build quality is excellent. I do wish more vacuum fillers used the bayonet locking mechanism, that was a fantastic idea by Pineider.

[@paulmchugh1430]

Which is better - Visconti or Pineider? There is one common factor between the two - Dante Del Veccio. I met Dante when he was at Visconti. He is a wonderful person. In a word, he is passionate. During his tenure, Visconti made innovative and imaginative models that were wonderful writers and glorious in appearance. I have many pens from the Del Veccio era. When he joined forces with Pineider, I followed him. His pens with Pineider continues the innovation and technology. I met him again when he was introducing his Forged Carbon model and I bought one. Lately I have gotten the Twin Tank Touchdown with the hyper flex Quill nib. It is a glorious writer. It is also interesting that no glue is used in the assembly of these pens. I have not bought any Visconti pens since he left. I think all they are doing is rehashing designs that Dante developed. I will support Dante and Pineider..

[@writerlywitterings]

I am with you - and Dante! I love the Twin Tank Touchdown system and as I think I made clear, I adore that hyper flex nib. I'm jealous, though, although I have spoken to him several times, I've not met him (yet)! Cheers, Paul, and here's to many happy years of writing!

[@belselkel]

Michael, wonderful video. You may recall you helped me source my red twin tank touchdown with that special nib when i couldn't source one from melbourne. It sure wasnt cheap but its one of my most special pens and i am very grateful to you for sharing it with us. Keep well! Kind regards, Jake

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, Jake, and thanks for getting back, mate. I'm really glad you love yours as much as I do mine! Keep writing!

[@angbane]

I agree the classic Visconti Homosapiens is the most beautiful, but I can see why you’re using the Pineider more. It sounds like a sleeper pen - looks simple but very cleverly designed. ❤️ doggos x

[@writerlywitterings]

If I had to choose between then, the Pineider would certainly win.

[@knitsistah2312]

Thank you for this informative video. I bought a HS Demo sapphire stones on sale from Goldspot a few years ago, but the nib was never quite right, so I put it aside to use some of my other most wanted end. A couple of months ago I bought a Crystal Dream which feels so good in the hand, writes smoothly and I know where my ink supply stands. I hesitate taking it to work for fear of misplacing it, but you’ve provided the solution. I’d never paid attention to Pineider aside from the portable inkwelI-which I recommend, as well as the Visconti version for a full fill every time-but your explanation of the Avatar made it the perfect choice as an EDC. I’ve ordered the blue with medium nib so I can enjoy a bit of Visconti without worrying about expensive replacement.

[@writerlywitterings]

Many thanks for that - and I agree about the Crystal Dream - the looks, the balance, the ability to view the ink sloshing - and it writes superbly. But it looks so valuable! The Pineider is a superb pen, too, and feels so good in the hand, doesn't it? Happy writing!

[@NVVC-dn5iv]

Nice video with the fountain pens who started it all . I was a Pelikan and PILOT fountain pen aficionado until ... I discovered your video's during the Covid pandemic. Your VISCONTI video's made me buy my first Visconti a Homosapiens Bronze Age with an 18K Broad nib (writes more like an european medium) but it is one of my favourite pens. Later came some other Visconti's : Homosapiens Steel Age the smaller version with an 23K Pd950 Medium nib, also a very nice pen (was an old stock pen at discount and I couldn't resist) , very wet writer with a small ink capacity but a nice little fountain pen with a very good nib. And a Rembrandt-s with a Broad SS Schmidt nib. Then I acquired my first Pineider after reading an interview with Dante del Vecchio about his switch to Pineider : a Pineider La Grande Bellezza Gemstone with a 14K Quill nib, a beautiful classic shaped pen, a wet and broad writer. And the second Pineider I own is an Avatar Twin Tank Touchdown , the clear version (has a stainless steel section and piston knob) with a medium SS Bock nib, a beautufil technical pen, the medium nib writes more like a european fine so a bit small for me. I like both Pineiders , specially their looks and craftmanship but but my favourite is the Visconti Homosapiens Bronze Age teh granddad of them all. I wish you all the best and look forward to more videos about fountain pens.

[@writerlywitterings]

Ah, I cannot argue with you. I do love the Viscontis too. They are gorgeous pens, and I love that material. I have no marks on any of mine even after all these years of use. The Pineider is the same, though. It's been in my pocket for years now, and it's still unmarked. And that nib ... wow! Oddly, of the Visconti nibs, my favourites are still the original palladium ones. The gold ones are good - but there's something about the first one in particular, which just makes me smile when I use it. It's the medium size, and it feels sooo smooth! Many thanks for the really kind words, and I hope you have many, many more happy years of writing with your pens!

[@knutvonheim3838]

Excellent topic :) They are all great pens, and any of them could be someone’s “only pen”. I think it a matter of taste, emotions and desires. Each of these parameters could be overridden by practical factors if you make a living using a pen. (hint, hint :) Based on less rational factors I suspect the Bronze Age has a broader appeal, and especially among does who like a subtle but masculine design. Or any brilliant collector would have them all with the theme of “Dante” :) Thanks for another interesting video!! Dolce far niente

[@writerlywitterings]

I think the basic name of Dante's Pens would do well for mine!

[@MarkDaniels1517]

As always. I enjoyed this episode. But I must tell you, when I looked up these pens, I incurred severe sticker shock. Wow! Each episode though is an absolute delight.

[@writerlywitterings]

Haha! They are lovely pens, though!

[@MarkDaniels1517]

@@writerlywitterings I’m sure they are, Michael.

[@MarkDaniels1517]

By the way, when we were in junior and senior high school, among the supplies we were required to purchase or have was a fountain pen. Most of us purchased Scheaffer fountain pens, very low end, but still fun. There was a learning curve associated with knowing how to not make inky messes, as I recall.

[@writerlywitterings]

I still have my own black Sheaffer from my school days, and although it relies on a rubber sack which was squeezed to fill it with ink, it is still working fine now, some fifty years later!

[@billclockwell]

It is interesting that this came out just yesterday since I was thinking about this yesterday myself, even before I knew about how both companies had dante with them, I found that the Quality control in visconti has been slipping and their back and forth changing of nibs was a bit odd too, so between italian companies I narrowed on Leonardo and Pineider, than i learned about Dante leaving visconti and joining Pineider and basically transforming the company that had been around for hundreds of years, that cemented that i gad to go with a Pineider especially since they are disassemblable, and tough, although this is all hypothetical, I won't be able to aford either for a long time, but have tried them

[@writerlywitterings]

Well, if you do decide to get a Pineider, I strongly recommend saving up for the gold hyper flex nib. It is a wonderful tool!

[@Rgc571]

I have two Pineider Avatar cartridge converter pens which are both “WOW” pens when I write with them even though they are steel nibs. Don’t have a Homosapiens pen, though they are intriguing.

[@writerlywitterings]

Homo Sapiens are great pens - and I still adore the looks of them. But if you get a chance to try a hyper flex Pineider nib ...

[@psychedianic]

Both make good travelling inkwells. ❤ I also have HS from over 10 years ago. One of my fave pens. Wish I could afford a different size nib - they're almost as much as the entire pen. 😂

[@writerlywitterings]

They certainly do! I use both of them!. Glad you liked the video.

[@raouldontneedthem3416]

Just my personal impression about Messrs Visconti. I purchased a Homo Sapiens fountain pen some years ago. Like you, I also wanted to have my initials on the finial of my fountain pen. So, I sent email (more than two, I think) to both Visconti and its representative in Spain, asking them where to buy the initials. Unfortunately I did not receive a mere single word as response. However, the pen writes well. Regards.

[@writerlywitterings]

That is terrible, Raoul, and very disappointing. I can suggest you write to Cult Pens in the UK - they have huge stocks, I think, and should be able to supply you.

[@raouldontneedthem3416]

@@writerlywitterings You had a good idea, Michael. I ordered these initials to Cult Pens in the UK who, immediately, accepted my request and duly sent them to me. These initials arrived home this morning. Thank you, Michael!

[@writerlywitterings]

@@raouldontneedthem3416 I'm very glad to hear it!

[@juicylouisey]

A Visconti is a bit pricey for me. I might have taken the plunge on a more inexpensive one were it not for one thing. I can’t really bring myself to trust a company that puts out a product like their ink. The packaging screams bargain-bin pound-shop! How could I trust a company that puts its name on that abomination?

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes, I can't argue with that! Sort of like a very garish Italian perfume/clothing brand! Personally I don't use any Visconti inks!

[@curtishatfield9629]

Love the channel! A Visconti Homo Sapiens is on my to buy list but I'm curious what you think about the nib size. I have a medium nib MB 149 and it's quite wet. Is the Visconti medium nib comparably to the MB in the terms of ink output, and if so, would you recommend a fine nib for the Visconti?

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for that, Curtis. I have to (with embarrassment) confess that I have never held a MontBlanc! It's really hard to say how a Visconti would compare. The only medium Visconti nib I have is that first one, which is glorious. Be warned, though, that it's one of the early Palladium versions, and although I adore it, I don't know how a newer gold one would work. What I would say is, that the Visconti nibs generally tend to be gloriously wet writers, and I've never had any problems with any of them. The fine nibs are very good, and offer really pleasant feedback and a degree of flexibility - but don't push them too hard. They aren't designed as flex specifically, as far as I know. Still, I have always enjoyed using them, whether gold or palladium. I wouldn't have any issue recommending them.

[@killers31337]

I have Pineider Avatar UR without "twin tank". (Even though I ordered 'Traveler' variant which is Twin Tank Touchdown, the store got my order wrong.) It has very different grip section - it's curvy, with an indent in the middle - which I find rather uncomfortable. I guess it's meant to guide fingers into a particular spot but that doesn't feel right for my hand. So, beware! Not all Pineiders are the same. And a small detail can derail the experience of using a pen.

[@writerlywitterings]

Absolutely, and how disappointing for you. I'm surprised the store wouldn't take it back if it wasn't the pen you wanted, especially if you find it uncomfortable.

[@kh-bd5ye]

Test m200 with italic grinding nib and you are also happy

[@writerlywitterings]

Ah, I'd like to try one of them. I do admire Pelikan pens, although I don't have one.