I have waited a long while to say anything, hoping by the miracle of the pen, I would change my mind. But I’m afraid I’m just not going to have stars in my eyes over it.

First off: If I’d been given this pen as a gift and had no expectations, I am sure I would be in love with it. But I had expectations that were not fulfilled at all. My disclaimer is that it’s a fine pen in general but it is not what I was expecting.

Specs

• Made in Italy
• Ebonite body and feed (there are models in acrylic as well)
• Hand-turned
• Piston fill which is crazy smooth. It clicks when you overturn it during filling which is nice and pleasant.
• No ink window
• In house made 18k nib (with many different options, mine is the yellow gold superflexy)
• Size comparison at the bottom of the post.

The Colour

I tried to order this beauty back in May 2022. Of all the colours available I fell in love with one in particular, which is called “Camelia.” Not only do I dig the flower reference, but the swirl of colours on the pen brings me all sorts of fuzzy memories. Maybe it looks like a diner booth in the early 1990s; maybe it looks like a pastel funeral bouquet, I’m not sure but I love it. especially the pink base.

They were out of this particular style when I decided to buy it and I waited three months before I got this shipped to me. I am not complaining about that at all, simply putting in to words just how excited I was for this specific colour of pen.

Here is the pen I got.

I know that each and every pen is special and unique, I’m not that big of a fool; but at least give me all three colours you promised. Right? Am I insane to expect that for something this ridiculously expensive?

I found that pink I so loved on the inside of the cap, so it does exist.

EDIT: Since the creation of this post in my drafts, the Santini Italia website has changed their listing for the Camelia. It now features pictures of a pen that you are more likely to receive if you order it. When I wrote and questioned them, thinking that I might have gotten the wrong model, I was sent a photograph showing that they’re all like this one.

The Nib

Well, it’s still sort of pretty right? Why risk exchanging it for a different colour when I have no idea how inaccurate the rest are? The important part is the nib, anyway.

I opted for the superflexy nib because, as I think I’ve made clear, flex is the best. I watched the videos of the superflexy and appreciated the fancy warning that a superflexy nib is a special nib for special writing. I believed the implication that it’s soft and ‘not meant for fast writing.’ I didn’t expect a Waterman 52, but I expected some decent line variation.

How is it possible that the tines flex and the lines don’t vary?

It’s a medium nib. I don’t know how, but that’s what it is.

The Good

The pen definitely looks fancy and well made. Not one millimeter of it feels cheap or moulded. It’s heavy and solid and definitely the most regal-looking pen I own. If it had come with the full spectrum of colour I expected, it would be the best looking pen that I’d ever seen and I’d maybe even be able to shrug off the nib. They offer to exchange the nib if you don’t like it, by the way, so not all is lost for those willing to try things out. But, in my case, I wanted the flexiest they had to offer and this was it.

It also writes very well. There is not a single special consideration needed for the superflexy, though. It writes just like any pen as far as speed and technique in my writing style. It hasn’t given me any troubles at all with starting or skipping and I’ve inked it up three times. So it is a quality writing instrument, just not what I expected.

Verdict

Oh I’m absolutely heartbroken over this whole experience. It wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t the most expensive pen I’ve ever purchased. I mean, I went big on this and I expected big things. I don’t want to ever go down that road again, sadly.

I’ll have this one forever, though, and I’ll use it. But I can’t get over what should have been.

If you are looking for a flex-nib pen, go elsewhere. Go to FPR or Bluedew or buy vintage gold. But, if you’re in the market for a beautiful ebonite pen and your choice of nib is not influenced by flex, you’ll be thrilled. It’s beautiful, it’s well-made, and it’s comfortable. Don’t expect too much on the colour front, though.