I know I mentioned a few weeks ago that a friend gave me a sample of my very first Bung Box ink, First Love Sapphire.
And I posted a writing sample from an Aurora Optima with a fine nib.
But here’s a quick look at Bung Box First Love Sapphire from both the Optima and a much different pen, a Kaweco Sport with 1.1 mm calligraphy nib.
I find it really interesting. The ink color is consistent, but the impression it makes, on me at least, is very different.
Aurora Optima Blue/Chrome with fine nib. I do keep using this pen. It’s hard not to. Also my friend just got one, so we are pen twins, and I had to get our two matching pens together on a playdate.
Her Optima has Aurora’s cursive italic, which is wide and really neat. It is a very crisp italic, with amazing line variation, and it wrote with the lightest of touches. Mine has a fine nib.
The ink is Bung Box First Love Sapphire. In this pen, it really has sapphire sparkle.
Aurora Optima Blue/Gold with broad nib. Aurora makes the Blue Auroloide Optima in either gold or chrome trim, and this is the gold one. Mine has an older style cap band, which I like. I love the blue Auroloide acrylic.
I’m using Aurora Blue ink. It’s just excellent.
Aurora Optima Burgundy with medium nib. This beautiful Optima is a great match for the KWZ Maroon #2 I’m testing.
I just reviewed KWZ Maroon, which I loved, so I wanted to give Maroon #2 a fair shake by putting it in a special pen.
Aurora took its red pen down a different path by making it a sophisticated burgundy. It has a rich, dark color, featuring deep wine reds and black, with chrome trim.
In bright light or sunlight, the acrylic shines and sparkles, but the photo above was taken on an overcast day, and brings out the name and logo: “Aurora Italia, Fabbrica Italiana Di Pennea Serbatoio.” Which Google roughly translates as Aurora of Italy, Italian Factory of Fountain Pens. But as usual, the Italian sounds much better. Grazie mille, Aurora Italia.
Aurora Optima Blue/Chrome with fine nib. I filled this Optima for two reasons. First, it seemed like a perfect match for the color of KWZ Azure #3 ink, which I wanted to try. Second, Aurora has announced a forthcoming blue and green Optima 365 limited edition. And I’m tempted. So it’s time to appreciate what I already have.
First, the ink, which is a knockout. Not much shading; great color.
Second, this is such a beautiful pen. So I think that’s that. Phew.
I like to do an end-of-the-year “accounting” of the pens I bought, not to create the illusion that there’s any business-like veneer over my acquisitiveness, but more like an assessment, to see if I can learn anything.
This year was just fantastic. I got great pens this year. I did totally blow the budget in the last week. But I’m still thrilled.
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On the sixth day of Holiday ink, I’m going back to blue.
You know how most of us have holiday traditions? Our Christmas Eve features a traditional Swedish dinner. That’s how it was growing up, so that’s how it remains.
And in that same spirit, I am pulling out a longtime favorite blue ink, Aurora Blue. Happy holidays, to one and all. Bring out something that makes you feel connected to your family and your youth, and share it with friends and the next generation.
Aurora Optima 365 with medium nib. Yes, this was Pen of the Day two weeks ago, too. It’s so worth the repeat.
But it has a new ink this time. My friend sent me a sample of Conway Stewart Kingsand, which I think is a really lovely ink, perfect for the pen and for the time of year.
Conway Stewart is out of business, unfortunately, but a number of stores still have the inks in stock. Moreover, Conway Stewart inks were made by Diamine, and to me, Kingsand looks very much like Diamine Ochre. I hope to put on my ink detective hat and investigate it. That hat? It’s a deerstalker. Of course.
My friend Chris just bought a pen that I also have, and adore: the Aurora Optima in Nero Perla. Don’t look now, but I think that makes us pen twins.
I couldn’t resist inking my Nero Perla at the same time. And the Nero Perla is the perfect pen for me right now. After having tested so many colorful inks recently, I was ready for a black ink. The choice was Stipula Ebony Black, a lighter black with nice shading that is one of my favorite black inks.
Chris chose Diamine Vivaldi, from the Music Set, which is a great gray purple and an inspired choice. I have a feeling I will shamelessly copy the same combination very soon.
Fountain Pen Follies 