on salePilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen - Raden Water Surface

This is my first pen over $300 and I can definitely see and feel the difference. I wanted a pen timeless enough to be a heirloom and this has met all the criteria.

Stunning pen wish I could buy more.

I've been hesitant about vanishing point pens. Frankly, part of it was nib size (such SMALL nibs!), and the rest of it was the whole clicking thing. I mean if I wanted to click my pen, I'd just go with a ballpoint. Right? BUT, I love raden pens, and this one looked gorgeous. Also, lots of people whose opinions I respect have been raving about Pilot VPs. So I gave it a try. I'm so happy I did. It really is beautiful, so well made, and just amazing to write with.Just like that, this has become one of my favorite pens, even up against some truly remarkable Namiki pens and Pelikans, etc. I suspect it's going to stay in my daily carry for a very long time.

The pen itself is beautiful. Not stunningly so (which could be good), but definitely an art piece. As Brian said, this pen is technically under Namiki, the artisan branch of Pilot.Overall appearance: Somehow both serene and vibrant at the same time... If anyone ever complains again that the VP is bad aesthetics, just pull this out and smile.Comfort: Very comfortable to hold if you don't mind the clip; kinda slippery due to how glossy the body is, but the clip helps the grip if you don't mind it.Nib: Wet, smooth nib. Don't expect line variation, but it sure has the softness that gold nibs should have. Middle of the road width: medium on this nib is basically WESTERN MEDIUM. I love it.Filling: DOES NOT FIT CON-70. The nib unit blocks the c/c so you can't see your ink level even if you open up the pen.Value: It is quite expensive.... for a VP.... I don't know why the Galaxy version is so much cheaper, but if you want your friends to WOW, get this. You're not just buying the pen, but the art and the beauty.

This is my first vanishing point in my fairly large collection, I hadn't bought one before because I just didn't think I would like the small nib, despite the pen's longevity in the market and it's good reputation. Boy am I glad that I splurged and picked this one up. I was taken by the abalone and in person, the pen is just beautiful. Rotating it in good light causes colorful reflections off the individual abalone pieces with colors shifting from silver to blue to pink to green to purple. An abalone kaleidoscope. As to writing, this pen is a wonderfully smooth writer (got it with a Medium nib) - if not the best of all my pens, certainly one of the top three. What's not to like? Well, ok, the price, but the visual appeal makes it worth it for me. The only negative for me is that given the appearance and the price of this pen, it's not going to be a carry pen. Maybe I'll get one in a more standard finish to carry... It is currently inked with Pilot Iroshizuku shin-kai, the first time I've used that ink, and it works extremely well in the pen for me at least.