Fountain Pen Review: Platinum Procyon Maki-e, Brush Warbler on Plum Tree

As Ana noted yesterday, there are many reasons we collect pens. Sometimes I’m attracted to a pen because I love how it feels in my hand, or the way the nib writes. Sometimes I’m attracted because it’s just gosh darn pretty.

Several weeks ago I spied the Platinum Procyon Maki-e, Brush Warbler on Plum Tree ($140) and thought gosh that’s a pretty pen. I have a Platinum 3776 in Chartres Blue and I really like it, so I thought I’d give this one a try.

When it arrived I wasn’t disappointed. It’s gorgeous! From the Jetpens site I learned that maki-e is a combination of the words “sprinkle” and “paint.” In this case it refers to lacquering a surface with detailed images and metallic powders. This Procyon has a black aluminum body, which sets off the plum blossoms and the warbler to perfect. The hardware is all silver-colored (as is the metal clip) and the pen has a stainless steel nib available in a size F or M. I ordered the fine.

The pen itself arrives without a converter, but with a cartridge. The one slight downside to purchasing a Platinum is that they have proprietary cartridges and converters. I wasn’t stymied though – I simply borrowed the converted from my 3776 (currently un-inked) and I was ready to go! I chose Pilot Iroshizuku Momiji, not because I wanted to mix brands, but because today is an overcast rainy fall day and I’m eagerly anticipating those autumn leaves.

The Procyon did not disappoint! I filled it up and it wrote perfectly right out of the box. The nib is firm, but smooth and was a pleasure to write with. One of the features I’m most eager to put to the test is Platinum’s patented slip and seal cap. The cap, which is screwed on, is designed to keep your nib from drying out for up to a year! I was only able to test it for a few days before this review, but I’m looking forward to using a pen that never goes dry (at least as long as there’s still ink in it.)

I did do a quick comparison photo to my 3776 even though the pens are quite different. The Procyon is approximately 4 5/8″ (12cm) long uncapped, and capped it measures 5 1/2″ (14cm). Because of the aluminum body it is a little heavier, it comes in around 28g when filled with ink and capped.

Overall this is just a really pretty pen. It’s not the most expensive pen I own, but I think it’s a really nice offering for someone who is looking for something in the $125-150 range. It’s elegant (hello Black Pen Society!) with some gorgeous artwork. Though the art is traditionally Japanese, this pen still feels modern to me. I really think I’m going to enjoy this one!

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• Paper: Write Notepads Dot Grid Steno ($14)
• Pen: Platinum Procyon Maki-e, Brush Warbler on Plum Tree ($140)
• Ink: Pilot Iroshizuku Momiji (50ml for $28)

DISCLAIMER: Some of the items included in this review were provided to us free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.