Platinum Fountain Pen, Curidus, Abyss Blue, Fine Point, PKN-7000#50-2

As someone completely new to fountain pens, Amazon has been a great source of new pens to scratch that itch. I was able to find this specific model in Gran Red, my favorite colorway of this pen, for way below retail of other dedicated fountain pen companies. Already adding like 2 stars for that alone.This discount came with sketchiness though, as it was not discounted anywhere else. Seeing how Amazon processes millions of packages today, I was almost sure that I would receive a product destined to be returned.Far from the truth. The box came packaged nicely, there was ample protection and the case/box sustained no damage. (Your experience may vary based on the fact that every Amazon worker treats items differently)As for the review? I don't think changing the ink cartridge is annoying. Running out of ink and taking the time to refill is a moment of opportunity to refocus myself on the task at hand, & frankly, I don't think it's that much extra on top of other non retractable fountain pens.Writing wise, I'm a noob. I don't have much to compare it to besides a Kaweco Liliput which is too small for my hands for daily use, and a Moonman M2 which has a fine nib. This pen sports a medium nib, which produces a healthy line, & ink flow is spot on using my Kokuyo Canvas notebook.One con may be that the protrusions near the grip section may be detrimental depending on your grip. If this is the case, at the very least, the clip is removable which improved my experience even with an orthodox tripod grip. It does not bother me and the uniqueness adds extra flair that I enjoy.Above all else, the tactile sensation that the Curidas gives is unmatched by any ballpoint pen & is in my opinion, a reason in of itself to purchase this pen.

This pen doesn’t write as smoothly as my other Platinum pen, but it’s not as pricey either. I love Platinum pens because they don’t dry out and have ink flow problems. The retractable nib makes this easy to carry in my purse. I’m happy with it.

I use this pen everyday (with Platinum converter) I like how Platinums write and this one is no exception. My only reason for not giving a 5star rating is that I have to bleed the pen every morning. Might be a converter issue, but I think it is the pen. I like this one better than my much more expensive retractable Pilot Namiki vanishing point.

At the end of the day, this is a Platinum Preppy with a much more complex design. Feels like the same exact polycarbonate material in the barrel, and the same quality of nib. The retraction mechanism seems overly complicated, and I can see how people have had problems with it. The long throw of the clicker is not very ergonomic. It's an decent pen, but you can get a Majohn A1 for about half the money and it's a better built pen. The only thing I think this has going for it is a TRUE extra fine nib, which the Majohn sadly lacks.It blows my mind that people will pay $100 for this pen. Even at grey market prices it seems a little steep.

As an engineer i love this fountain pen it's complicated mechanical system is very clever and works flawless.

I loved the way the pen looks but quickly found it to be overly engineered, balky to work with and difficult to keep working. After a couple of weeks, I trashed it...didn't ask for a refund for my bad decision. Maybe I just had a bad unit...the pen aficianodos on YouTube seem to love the thing.

I adore Platinum pens. I have three 3776 pens, a Procyon, and a Plaisir. The Preppy is hands down the best entry level fountain pen you can buy (sorry, Kakuno fans, but the Preppy is smoother).I am also a huge fan of Pilot Vanishing Point pens—a retractable fountain pen is great in an office. Naturally, I thought Platinum + retractable pen = greatness.I was wrong.So, the product pictures (and review pictures) really don’t demonstrate a couple of things. First, this pen is huge. HUGE. In the retracted position, it is longer than my Pilot VPs. And it has serious girth. Not quite as large a circumference as the Jinhao 9019, but close. If you use a Decimo because you think the regular Capless/VP is too large, this pen is absolutely not for you just based on size.Second, the sealing mechanism on the underside of the barrel has a plastic … notch?? … that noticeably juts out. NOTICEABLY. If you hold a fountain pen low on the barrel, it will very uncomfortably rub the first knuckle of your middle finger. (If you’ve ever gotten ink on your fingers because you held a Pilot Elite/e95s too low on the barrel, you’re going to hit this notch if you don’t raise your grip on the barrel).Another reviewer commented on how he liked the “weirdness” of the pen’s aesthetic. I’m happy for him, but to me the Curidas in-person looks ugly and cheap. In Abyss Blue, it is strongly reminiscent of those retractable gel pens that are made from recycled plastic water bottles and sold in two-packs at the grocery store or pharmacy—IYKYK.I had read that the Curidas and the Procyon share the same nibs. They do not—the Curidas nib is markedly smaller. The Curidas nib is still a quality nib (Platinum steel nibs are fantastic), but the Fine writes a tiny bit broader and has a bit more feedback than the Procyon Fine nib. For comparison, the one steel (“special alloy”) nib Vanishing Point I own is smoother and has a more solid/substantial feel.I decided to return the Curidas the day after I received it. Before packing it up, I was showing my wife differences between my Vanishing Points and Curidas (because she was shocked that I was returning a fountain pen lol). The nib was drying in a paper towel, so I screwed the top part of the pen onto the barrel to show her the pens side-by-side. THIS BENT THE RETRACTING SPRING (which is ridiculously large) out of shape, rendering the pen unable to retract. Seriously.If you are anything beyond a first- or second-time fountain pen buyer/user, I suspect the Curidas will disappoint. If you own (and like) a retractable Vanishing Point and are looking for an alternative, this is not it. The build quality, fit, and finish of the Vanishing Point make the Curidas a real disappointment. As I noted above, I’m a fan of Platinum, but the Curidas kind of feels like it was someone’s pet project, or maybe a pen they let summer interns design.