For a long time, the Namisu Nova was the pinnacle of minimal fountain pen design for me. I think it's even fair to say that Namisu was (one of) the brands that paved the way for the wide variety of machined, metal fountain pens we see nowadays.
But the original Namisu Nova dates back to 2015, so it's time for an update to bring it up to speed with the more 'evolved' design language of Namisu's more recent pens. Back in 2017, Namisu already toyed with the idea of a different version of the Nova, in the form of the Nova Studio Ebonite. Later, in 2020, they expanded the 'Studio' line with titanium and bronze versions (reviewed HERE), which existed alongside the original Nova. The Studio wasn't a standalone product though, until now.
With the latest update to the Nova Studio, which sees three new finishes and colorways we'll look at in this review, it seems that Namisu fully embraced the Studio as the successor to the brand's flagship pen (please note: I don't know if the original Nova line will effectively be discontinued, but it does seem that way, looking at their website).
The Nova was by far the cleanest, most simple design in their catalog. In comparison, the Nova Studio leans closer towards Namisu's other, more industrial-styled pens like the Naos, Ixion, or N2. Not that it's such a huge departure from the original in terms of design, but the addition of separate finial 'inserts' in the cap and barrel creates a break in the otherwise clean lines of the Nova, offering a bit more visual interest. It also creates an opportunity for more special finishes, as demonstrated with the latest polycarbonate 'Frosted' versions of the Nova Studio.
The use of matte, translucent polycarbonate is a first for Namisu, but they executed it extremely well in my opinion. The material is machined and finished perfectly with a smooth, consistent matte finish inside and out. The cool thing is that you can now choose between two varieties of this pen, thanks to the titanium finials and section. Go clean and minimal with a natural titanium look, or a bit more flashy with titanium details that received a rainbow 'Petrol' PVD coating!
Rainbow PVD coatings are quite trendy these days, but they're typically not my first pick. Though, despite my usual preference for a more muted color palate, this one caught my eye! The amount of color is not too much, nor too little... It's quite tastefully done, IMHO.
Alongside the new polycarbonate versions, the Studio also comes in either bronze, titanium, or a new black PVD-coated titanium finish. The latter has a nice and soft matte feeling in the hand. Finials are matched to the metals, but since they're just screw-fit into the cap and barrel, nothing would -hypothetically - prevent you from mixing and matching if you own different versions of the Studio!
 |
| The old Nova Studio on the left, and the new version on the right. |
Dimension-wise, the updated Nova Studios differ slightly from the previous versions that I reviewed. Nothing changed on the outside, so it still measures 14.1 cm (5.55") when capped. The biggest change (the only one, really) is the section, which was extended by about 3 mm, while retaining the same tapered profile and average diameter (12 mm). This also translates to an uncapped length of 13.3 cm (5.24"), up from 13 cm (5.12"). It's a subtle change, but it does improve on what was arguably one of the biggest pitfalls of the Nova in the past: the rather short section, combined with the substantial step behind the threads. To be clear, that step is still there, but the elongated section helps keep your grip a bit further away.
With the addition of a polycarbonate version, the Nova Studio now offers something for everyone in terms of weight and balance: the polycarbonate comes in at just 23 g, the full titanium version bumps that up to 55 grams and the bronze version comes in at a super-hefty 106 (!) grams. The balance of the Studio also changes depending on the material: The polycarbonate model has a subtle front-balance due to the metal section, while the solid metal versions are more center-weighted.
Since I've already reviewed multiple versions of the Nova (and literally dozens of pens with Bock nibs), I won't go too much into the writing experience. It's exactly what you can expect from a stock steel Bock nib, which is to say: a decent writing experience, though nothing particularly out of the ordinary. I will say that the design of the Nova Studio would benefit from a color-matched nib, especially on the polycarbonate 'Petrol' and black PVD titanium versions.
I'm glad that, besides other interesting models, Namisu remains invested in their Nova line of pens. The clean, minimal design continues to be one of my personal favorites, and the new section design offers a small but welcome improvement to the writing comfort.
The addition of new finishes makes the Nova Studio a more diverse and interesting offering, with plenty of choices depending on your preferences. Pricing is a bit all over the place: The new polycarbonate versions come in cheapest at 80£/101$, bronze is a little more (85£/107$). The titanium versions command a rather substantial premium: 115£/146$ for the regular titanium and 130£/164$ for the new PVD black finish. Though right now, you can snag one up at a pretty good discount during Namisu's Summer sale.
The products shown in this review were sent to me by Namisu so I could write this review. 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 affiliate links.
No comments:
Post a Comment