Omas Limited Edition 360 Lucens

Limited Edition 360 Lucens – Impressions

If you follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts, you might have seen that at the shop we have received some very spectacular Omas Limited edition fountain pens in the last month. They arrived together in one of our most anticipated deliveries yet, the I Think Rose Gold Edition and the Trip of the Pheonix.

(From Greece to China, and then to Shrewsbury.)

  

And yesterday we received another Omas limited edition - the 360 Lucens Limited Edition. 

(Because I think it's nice enough to deserve a picture, the box doesn't disappoint either...)

This commemorative version of the popular Omas design is a Vintage edition, and was released in 2006 to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the 360 model which was founded in 1996.  These dates are engraved on the 18k gold nib. My camera phone was woefully inadequate for getting a decent shot of the nib - the engravings were too tiny and delicate, it wouldn't focus properly, and the light needed to see also caused a lot of detail-eclipsing shineback). Google has a few good pictures, if you'd like to research further.

The 360 Lucens is available in 500 Gold and 500 Silver finished numbered fountain pens, and we have the silver edition. The body is made of a blue version of the famous Lucens celluloid. The cap is opaque blue, marble patterned with elements of black, purple and touches of silver-toned lavender. 

What my pictures, or the pictures of the pen on the website, fail to show is the shine to the silver accents. The silver looks matte in the product shots, when in reality it shines. Look what happens when it meets light, and no camera filter: 

The barrel of the pen is translucent – the purple details are spaced and three dimensional (they are genuinely like lavender sprigs, and that’s not just me being more purple and flowery than the pen…), giving a clear view of the piston filler system inside.

The blue celluloid is tinged an interesting shade of very pale sunlight yellow – adding to the impression of the barrel preserving flora… and this was the only part of the design of the 360 Lucens which I initially erred about. Unimaginative perhaps (and a personal preference), but with silver fittings I thought that a silver-tinged celluloid would be better matched. With the cap on, the three lines of silver trimming on the cap do contrast – that the simultaneous opaqueness and transparency of its design. 

 

But then, for the celebration of a collection that Omas describes as the most revolutionary writing instruments of our time, to give simply what you expect wasn’t going to be enough for a tenth anniversary special. And what’s more, after looking at the 360 Lucens for a while, for me these contrasting elements reconciled – and I’ve decided that it is one of the more beautiful and both literally and figuratively three dimensional pens that I have seen. It’s the uniqueness of this design that makes the 360 Lucens memorable, and a good combination of evolving 360 design, combining the transparency of the new vintage editions and the classic design of other 360s.  

The closest 360 model I’ve held in my hand, and which I feel would make the best comparison is the Turquoise Vintage 360, which I was given to test as an introduction to Omas on my first day at Write Here. The 360 Lucens, at 38g, is heavier. For such a slender pen, the weight of the 360 Lucens is impressive and it feels surprisingly solid and 'dense' to hold, and if you prefer a more substantial pen, adding to the writing experience provided by the ergonomically designed 360 model which has very clear cut edges that fit into the hand. 

Post any comments and questions that you may have below!

November's New Pens

As well as unseasonably warm (is it really just me?!) November is also proving to be an excellent month for new pens at Write Here! Most of our favourite manufacturers have sent us releases for a new fountain pen, most limited edition, in time to tempt us for Christmas. Here's a summary of some of the most exciting...

Magna Classic Tortoiseshell

 

The latest in Onoto’s Manga Classic range of pens, the Tortoiseshell edition of the Magna Classic collection is crafted in resin, shaded in a pleasing combination of amber, copper, bronze and chocolate – perfectly warm and reminiscent of autumn as the weather apparently gets colder and darker in this part of the world. We were lucky enough to get a sneak preview of this pen at our October pen evening, and can confirm that it is both substantial and wonderfully balanced. Tempted? You can have a closer look here.

Piri Reis 

For their latest limited edition, Omas have decided to honour the great Ottoman explorer and map maker Piri Reis as in 2013 we have reach the 500^th Anniversary since he produced the First World Map. I was excited just by seeing the box. The Piri Reis limited edition is produced in three editions, the 1513 in rose gold, the Book of Navigation in white gold and diamond, and the 500th Anniversary edition. Like all Omas limited editions, it has a lot of character, a story to tell, and strong ties to history which it expresses in the tiny elements of design which make the limited editions classic, and interesting. You can read about the background and history of Piri Reis on our website.

We’ve had it said to us many a time that there aren't enough wooded pens, and happily each Piri Reis design incorporates elements of oak wood to represent the sailing galleon that unlocked the edges of the earliest world maps. Wood and gold - an interesting mix of medium, and an unusual one! These editions have their unique meanings and ties to the history of Piri Reis – the 500^th Anniversary is made in 500 pieces, the 1513 has only been produced in 10 pieces (the sum of 1, 5, 1, 3).(And there are only 10 surviving copies of the first edition of Piri Reis' Book of Navigation).

 

Conway Stewart’s Blue Laurel 

 

We think the Blue Laurel, the latest of the Elegance series of fountain pens is exquisite, and it is one of my favourites as I tend to like all things blue and silver. Conway Stewart have mentioned that this edition is destined to become a classic and the royal blue enamel  and guilloche engraved silver is certainly striking. Only 30 numbered fountain pens are being made in this festive-inspired limited edition.

 Sailor’s 1911 Black Luster

The new Black Luster from Sailor is the latest in their 1911 series and has been hinted at as a pen for men. Stylish black, complimented with black ion fittings, this fountain pen is designed to be understated and a darker interpretation of classic Sailor design. We don’t have any of these pens in stock, as they’re not released until mid December, but get in touch if you’d like to be on the waiting list.

 

Winner of our Omas Art Deco Fountain Pen

We are very pleased to (belatedly) announce the winner of our Fountain Pen Day competition! A big congratulations (and soon the Omas) go to Bob Jenkins, who made us 'ooh', 'aww' and smile with his email entry reflecting on the importance of letter writing during the First World War - and his plans to celebrate both Fountain Pen Day and the removal of his plaster cast by visiting the fracture clinic of his local hospital. I've copied part of his entry below, to share with you all:

"It’s astonishing that by the start of the Great War in 1914, letter writing was already becoming a lost art, but oh, how important it suddenly became once more. In far more recent decades, I witnessed something similar for myself. Stationed in a remote garrison before the advent of the e mail or text message, men would find some pretence to drift into the unit lines whenever the afternoon mail was expected. They were strangely reluctant to admit their anticipation and would camouflage any disappointment with a shrug of indifference and the oft spoken lie, “I wasn’t expecting anything, anyway.” And then, the remarkable love and affection for comrades which the coarse and brutal soldiery keep well hidden, would suddenly be revealed in all of its glory as someone would casually respond “It’s alright, chum. You can have a read of mine when I’m finished.”  Just like that. No doubt or hesitation; Just as if sharing the intimacy of personal correspondence from a friend, family member or lover was a completely natural, rather than a completely wonderful act of selfless trust and generosity.

A letter can be the most priceless and humanizing of gifts. Unlike instant messaging, it requires a more delicate talent which guards against the use of hastily uttered or ill considered words. It is capable of delivering the most exquisite intellectual pleasure and providing both the writer and the reader with a delightful sojourn from the daily norm. It can be the messenger of sympathy or love. It can convey consolation, intimacy, opportunity or congratulations whilst creating subtle atmosphere and exchanging empathy like no other means of communication. It can possess the power and the poignancy to transcend time and leave its mark on history.

Let weighty tomes and lengthy transcripts tell of the misadventures and achievements of humankind, but in all probability, it will be the humble, handwritten letter that will reach out more truly, more thrillingly and more timelessly to readers past and present.

Oh, and by the way, I shall be celebrating international fountain pen day (and this is absolutely true) with a visit to the fracture clinic of the Princess Royal Hospital. I broke a bone in my right forearm a few weeks ago and I haven’t been able to use my right hand since. Happily, it’s much easier to type left handed than to write, but with luck, from Friday the 1^st of November, I shall once again be able to use my trusty fountain pen properly. Perhaps, I’ll write a letter to someone for no especial reason, other than that I can. It would seem the appropriate manner in which to celebrate international fountain pen day."

Congratulations again to Bob - well done! 

Fountain Pen Day competition

Hello to all the Fountain Pen appreciators out there!

As you will almost certainly be aware, Fountain Pen day is on the 1st of November and we’d like to know how you will be marking the occasion. And if you don’t yet have any celebratory plans, read on as we are offering a neat incentive for you to make some...

Last year Write Here! ran a competition in honour of Fountain Pen day to find out about your plans, and as lazy-Friday lack of imagination means that we can’t think of a different competition, we’re turning this into a fine tradition. Again, we’re asking you all to tell us about your plans for celebrating Fountain Pen day, and every entry that makes us smile or ‘oooh’ will be entered into a draw to win an Omas Art Deco Fountain Pen!

The lucky winner will be announced here on our Facebook page on Fountain Pen day! (And contacted shortly afterwards by email for nib preference and a delivery address.)

Good luck!

Enter either by messaging us on Facebook, or emails to: jade@writeherepens.co.uk