LAMY Al-star black fountain pen

The Lamy Al-star limited edition all-black fountain pen, a short review!
The Lamy al-star is a big pen, though the thin aluminium construction keeps it fairly light ( though obviously it is slightly heavier than the Safari, which is basically the same pen!) The build quality of this pen is very good, it is a very solid pen, though the aluminium is quite succeptible to scratches and dings. But it looks good and it is very pleasant to hold, it's almost soft to the touch.

I can honestly say that the design of this pen is 'something different'. Some people will like it, some won't. I had my doubts about the looks of this pen too, but in the end, this stealthy black look (including a black nib) convinced me to buy it! It's really a matter of preference, and I still don't consider this my most beautiful pen (luckily!) but the design has definitely grown on me!

Another thing some people might not like, is the pre-formed grip section. I'm not a big fan of this either, but I have to say that it doesn't really bother me as much as I initially thought it would! Normally I wouldn't hold my pen this close towards the nib, but it turned out to work quite well, I'd almost say that my handwriting improved because of this grip!

But how does it write? Surprisingly well actually! I stepped out of my comfort zone by buying an extra fine nib, but so far I really enjoy it. It has a very decent flow, considering the fine nib. And it is actually really smooth!

I'd definitely suggest giving this pen a try, you really can't be fooled for it's price! For around 26 Euros/ 38 USDollars, it is a great choice for both beginners and more experienced fountain pen lovers!