PenAndCo blog

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More than five thousand years ago Homo Sapiens marked the dawn of human history and the invention of writing thus began. The same age discovers metallurgy, allowing the mastery of metals which signified the beginning of human evolution all the way to the invention of the wheel. The first great civilizations arose on the Nile, Tigris and Euphrates river banks and soon began the development of sciences like algebra, geometry, astronomy and engineering.

Visconti conceived the Homo Sapiens range of writing instruments for real writers, for those to whom the fountain pen continues to represent an essential travelling companion, a daily friend to share the same civilization that writing helped create.

The pen is made from a material that is as antique as the world around us: lava from the Etna volcano. Lava has many characteristics that make it very unique in the manufacturing of writing instruments. Visconti has successfully produced a material containing over 50% pure basaltic lava, catalysed together with resin in a formula that is patented and obviously kept secret. The extraordinary characteristics of basaltic lava practically transform it into a material perfectly fit to writing instruments.

Visconti Lava is:

Virtually unbreakable: It has a high degree of resilience Flame-proof: Visconti lava has a resistance to heat of over 100°C Slightly hygroscopic: allows to absorb hand sweat during use Dense: to the touch, rubber- like, providing the best finger-relaxing grip Unquestionably new in the range of materials employed in the making of fountain pens

All metallic parts of the pen were inspired by the Bronze Age. The Bronze Age, almost contemporary to the invention of writing, marked the dawn of human civilization. The clip, the decorative rings and the metal accessories, with the exception of the power filler, are all in bronze. Homo Sapiens is made with natural bronze like the antique formula that does not require plating or protection treatments which alter its original almost pink colour and which can be easily polished with special products.

The high vacuum power filler charging system is made of titanium, the only material resistant to ink aggressiveness.

The 23 ct 950 Palladium DREAMTOUCH Nib

With Homo-Sapiens Visconti introduces the first ever made 23 ct 950 palladium Dreamtouch nib. Dreamtouch is the term we coined to define a nib that requires no pressure whatsoever in order to write, it traces in a gentle way thoughts and words for dream-like handwriting.

Palladium has interesting physical features that allow the production of fountain pen nibs; its manufacturing is possible today thanks to new metal-fusion technologies and to the welding of iridium tips. This metal has been the fundamental element in 1989’s Pons and Fleischmann cold fusion theory.

Palladium actually melts at much higher temperatures than gold: 1552°C against 1063°C. It is therefore obvious that this metal has better mechanical features; being more resistant than gold and that any manufacturing process involving palladium becomes a lot more challenging.

The international classification system lists only four precious metals and their related titles: platinum, palladium, gold and silver.

To get more informations about this new nib, please click here