RE-REVIEW: EDISON COLLIER FOUNTAIN PEN

The first time I reviewed the Edison Collier, it caught me by surprise. I wasn't completely convinced of the bulky, rounded design of the pen. And on top of that I'm not a fan of materials with multiple colors or busy patterns, which coincides with about 95% of all 'custom' pens, like the ones from Edison. But it was such an amazingly comfortable writer, and the design was so much cooler in person that I became an instant Edison-fanboy... So much so, that I recently got another one when I saw the new  Edison Collier Burnished Gold pop up at Scrittura Elegante! 

If you haven't read my original review of the Edison Collier (HERE), I suggest you start with that one before coming back here for a more comprehensive and complete review of the pen. In this Re-review I'll highlight the important things, and how my opinion about the pen changed (or not).

The new Burnished Gold was an immediate win in my book. I was literally sold as soon as I saw the first product shots online. For those that are wondering what 'Burnished Gold' is, it's the new material option Edison introduced to the production line of the Collier.

Without a doubt, it's this material that won me over. Unlike most acrylic materials that you see on custom pens, the Collier Burnished gold comes in a very subtle and subdued black-brown colorway with streaks of gold dust randomly scattered across the pen.

Surprisingly, whereas I was immediately sold on the less colorful material, I haven't really seen or heard much about it from other people. While that's odd to me, I'm well aware of the fact that most people actually enjoy the bright colors and mesmerizing patterns that can be found on the myriad of other materials available out there! It won't satisfy the color-crazed among you. But for me personally, I think Edison found a fine balance between a striking yet subtle material.

Depending on the lighting and how you hold the pen, the gold streaks show up

It's by far one of my favourite acrylic materials that I've come across. It's one you have to see in person to really appreciate the depth and color. When the light hits it right, the depth in the gold swirls comes through.

The design of the pen is still somewhat quirky if you ask me. The weird -slightly bulbuous- shape with kind of flat-top design and pointed bottom finial originally didn't speak to me at all. But I do think the new material suits the shape of the pen better... Or I simply got used to it over time?

L to R: Kaweco Sport, Pelikan Souverän M800, Montblanc 149, Edison Collier, Lamy Safari, Lamy 2000

As I mentioned in the original review, the Collier is quite the oversized pen. It measures in at 15 cm (5.9"), and the bulky shape (1.6 cm at the widest point) makes it appear even larger. As you can see from the comparison picture, it completely puts the Montblanc Meisterstück 149 and Pelikan Souverän M800 in the shadow. And look how tiny the Lamy Safari appears next to it! 

While I'm quite a fan of larger pens, it's undoubtedly not everyone's cup of tea. Yet for what it's worth, it's large but not unweildy. Entirely being made out of acrylic, it weighs in at only 26 grams.

Once again, I find myself in love with the comfortable concave shaped section. The section is relatively short, and the shape is quite pronounced, but the design just works for my hand. Comfort is what won me over originally, and two years after my original review this still holds true. Again, your mileage may vary. Especially if you don't like large pens or have smaller hands.

Edison equips their pens with JOWO nib units. I originally reviewed the Collier with a bi-color steel nib, but 18k Gold nibs can be had at a premium. Since I was already impressed by their steel nibs I wanted to see what the gold ones could do. I ordered mine with an 18k broad, which has the same two-tone gold color scheme as the steel nibs, but a slightly different (less cluttered) design on the nib face. 

The gold nib is smooth and wet. It's ever so slightly springier than the steel nib, but I'd still call this a stiff nib. It's an excellent performer, but so are the steel nibs. I don't know if it's worth the 100 dollar premium over the steel nibs. I personally like the design of the gold nib better, but the difference in performance alone probably wouldn't be enough to win me over. 

Two years in, and I still think the Edison is a fantastic pen. Even more so now that I found a material that better suits my personal style! It's a fantastic writer, and one of the more comfortable pens I can think of off the top of my head. Coming in at 140 EUR/150 USD for steel-nibbed versions, or 263 EUR/ 250 USD with an 18k gold nib (even semi-flex nibs at an additional premium), Edison's products are priced rather competitively when compared to similar products on the market.

Especially if you want to dabble into the world of 'bespoke' custom pens, a brand like Edison might be a good start. Ok, their production pens aren't really made to your specifications. But the end product is essentially the same, and usually at a fraction of the cost (with popular bespoke brands running in the 250-400 dollar range for base models with steel nibs!)

Note: Scrittura Elegante is a sponsor of this blog. I received a discount on the purchase of this product. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affilate links.