Thursday, March 16, 2023

REVIEW: GALEN LEATHER MAGNUM OPUS PEN CASE

REVIEW: GALEN LEATHER MAGNUM OPUS PEN CASE | The Pencilcase Blog
Galen Leather has been a staple within our community for several years now. Along the way, I've tested and reviewed a fair amount of their products. The consensus always boils down to Galen being exceptionally good at creating a well-thought-out, unique, and affordable product. Galen's Magnum Opus pen cases (which translates to "masterpiece"), feel like a step in a different direction for the Istanbul-based brand. Affordability may not have been a top priority this time around. Instead, they went all-out on creating a beautifully made and highly practical means to store and carry your pens!

While that may sound like a bit too much praise for a pen case (hah, that rhymes!), I genuinely think the Magnum Opus comes close (and maybe even surpasses) my all-time favorite, the now-discontinued Visconti's Dreamtouch case - which, up until today, remains my baseline for a great pen case.
REVIEW: GALEN LEATHER MAGNUM OPUS PEN CASE | The Pencilcase Blog
Why am I so lyrical about this case? Well, there are a couple things I look for in a pen case. Sturdiness is the most important one, I want my pens well-protected at all times. Finishing, and especially soft, pen-friendly finishing on the interior of the case, is my second pet peeve. Why protect your pens with a case, if the case itself feels like it'll scratch them up?

It just so happens that the Magnum Opus does those two things almost flawlessly, and it does so while looking stylish and minimalist, to boot! From the outside, the Magnum Opus is a super-clean-looking hard leather case. It's completely made out of smooth leather that's soft to the touch (available in both 'regular' leather finishes and Galen's signature 'smokey' leather), stitched all around, with a stealthily hidden magnetic closure. The outer shell is very stiff, meaning there's no chance of your pens getting crushed in transport or from un-gentle handling.

The Magnum Opus comes in two variants. However, when I picked up mine at the Dutch Pen Show a few years ago, the newer, zippered version wasn't introduced yet. The zippered version seems to share the same internals as this one, but obviously has a zippered closure instead of magnets. The zippered version can also stand up straight on a desk, which is probably the biggest differentiator between the two.
REVIEW: GALEN LEATHER MAGNUM OPUS PEN CASE | The Pencilcase Blog
L to R, on the top row: Galen 10-pen case, Galen Magnum Opus 6-pen, Galen Old School 5-pen.
Bottom row: Esterbrook Nook 6-pen, Visconti Dreamtouch 6-pen, Franklin-Christoph Penvelope 6
REVIEW: GALEN LEATHER MAGNUM OPUS PEN CASE | The Pencilcase Blog
The Magnum Opus has quite a chunky profile, especially compared to the Dreamtouch case
Galen's cases are typically quite compact and space-optimized, but this one isn't. The Magnum Opus is a beefy case, as can be seen in comparing them side-by-side to some other 5 and 6-pen options. While that seems like good news for people who want to carry large pens, it's not entirely that straightforward. The Magnum Opus has a very similar capacity to the Visconti Dreamtouch case. So purely in terms of efficiency, the Dreamtouch case still wins. Then again, the two-part design of the Magnum Opus, with its removable inner tray, eats away some of the interior space.
REVIEW: GALEN LEATHER MAGNUM OPUS PEN CASE | The Pencilcase Blog
L to R: Visconti Homo Sapiens (large), Pelikan M805, Montblanc 149, Leonardo MZG Art Deco 2021, Lamy 2000, Pilot Capless LS
So what can you fit in the Magnum Opus, then? Well, normal pens like a Pelikan M800, Lamy 2000, or Visconti Homo Sapiens aren't an issue whatsoever. The Magnum Opus can fit a lot of oversized pens too, but 'oversized' isn't exactly a very precise definition. Galen's own website states pens 16cm (6.3") long, and up to 1.6cm (0.63") in diameter will fit, and this matches my own experience with the case. So, even very long pens like the Leonardo Momento Zero Grande (about 15.5cm/ 6.1") fit easily because they're not extremely wide. On a sidenote, I noticed that for some reason the Leonardo MZG Art Deco 2021 limited edition (pictured above) is a bit longer than usual, and at 16 cm it's at the absolute limit of this case. 
REVIEW: GALEN LEATHER MAGNUM OPUS PEN CASE | The Pencilcase Blog
It's the thickness of some pens that might be a more limiting factor (especially for pens with a beefy clip). A classic, 'chunky' pen like the Montblanc Meisterstuck 149 proves to be a fairly tight squeeze. The Montblanc is quite wide around the cap band (1.6 cm/ 0.63"), which causes it to sit snug against the sides of the case (something my OCD brain would rather avoid, even though I doubt the microfiber and leather interior of the case will cause any harm). 
REVIEW: GALEN LEATHER MAGNUM OPUS PEN CASE | The Pencilcase Blog
Both exterior and interior are nicely put together. Even the interior parts you can't really see, seem to be finished with care. The color-matched stitching is done clean, straight and even. The microfiber lining is super soft and comfy for your pens, and there are no sharp edges or hard surfaces that could damage your pens. Also, the leatherwork on the hard 'shell' of the case is done cleanly and ensures that your pens only come into contact with smooth microfiber or leather surfaces. 

I can see why Galen called it the Masterpiece, they really outdid themselves on the construction of this one. I have quite a good eye for flaws or imperfections, and I genuinely couldn't find anything to complain about!
REVIEW: GALEN LEATHER MAGNUM OPUS PEN CASE | The Pencilcase Blog
REVIEW: GALEN LEATHER MAGNUM OPUS PEN CASE | The Pencilcase Blog
REVIEW: GALEN LEATHER MAGNUM OPUS PEN CASE | The Pencilcase Blog
The Magnum Opus doesn't have any unnecessary details or ornamentation, but it's the small details that really add to the premium look and feel. Details like the tight and crisp molded edges of the case stand out to me. Everything is so precise and clean! It feels like a much more expensive product than it actually is.
REVIEW: GALEN LEATHER MAGNUM OPUS PEN CASE | The Pencilcase Blog
At 109$ (about 103€) for the 6-pen, or 159$ (€150) for the larger 12-pen variant, the Galen Leather Magnum Opus is priced at the top of Galen's product portfolio... And it shows! It sets a new bar for the brand in my opinion. And considering what you're getting, I think it's worth every cent.

Construction is just that bit more refined (I literally couldn't spot a single flaw), it's good-looking and minimalistic, yet also refined in its details. And what's more important, once again Galen knows exactly what customers want: durable and sturdy protection for your pens, but at the same time an easy way to display your pens, thanks to the removable insert. It accommodates considerably large pens better than most other options on the market today. And while the footprint of the Magnum Opus is perhaps a bit larger than I would've liked, it's not unreasonable for its two-part design.  

Disclaimer: This product was bought with my own funds. This review was in no way sponsored or influenced by Galen Leather. This post does not contain affiliate links.
REVIEW: GALEN LEATHER MAGNUM OPUS PEN CASE | The Pencilcase Blog

1 comment:

  1. Would you recommend the magnetic closure or the zippered version? Thank You.

    ReplyDelete