Aurora Optima Viola Fountain Pen

When I think of fine Italian pens, Aurora is a company that withstands the test of time. Over 100 years of their existence brings pens that are not only luxurious, but also great writers. I remember even using their Talentum model in our “loaner pen program” for many years. Therefore the latest – the Aurora Optima Viola Fountain Pen is no exception.

The Aurora Optima is known for bringing many color options to the table in each model. The Optima offers more than 15 different color variations. The limited edition Optima’s offer even more. That’s why I was so happy to see two new Optima colors release at the same time. The Orange and the Viola are newest to this line’s non-limited color options. The Viola is so stunning as the deep, marbled Auroloide perfectly shows off the violet hues. The rose gold appointments contrast this nicely.

Functionally, the Aurora Optima Viola Fountain Pen is equipped with a large capacity piston filling system. There’s even a secondary ink chamber that serves as a spare ink tank. And with the clear viewing window, you’ll always see when your pen is ready for a refill.

Comfort is a must when you spend several hours writing at a time. That’s why I like the cylindrical shape, and a nice length of 5.5”. It rests very nicely in the hand. And weighing in at .8 oz, it’s light enough to keep your hand from tiring.

Let’s talk nibs. Aurora produces their own nibs. They’ve also made such a wide range of nibs even before it became trendy to do so. They’ve always had traditional nibs such as extra fine through broad, as well as specialized nibs such as double broad, italic, oblique, stub, etc. Though, the specialized nibs and custom grinds cost a little more and sometimes take longer to get in, they’re a lot of fun to write with. New and notable to Aurora’s lineup of nib options is Extra Flex, and Goccia. Goccia is a tear drop shape designed for Asian style lettering.

While their 18k nib is reserved for Aurora’s limited editions, their 14k nib is standard on the higher end Aurora pens. This one is rose gold plated to match the appointments on the Aurora Optima Viola Fountain Pen. As usual, the feed underneath the nib is made of high quality, hand-turned ebonite. The ebonite ink feed helps the ink flow properly from pen to paper.

Of course, even though the fountain pen is extremely impressive, let’s not forget about the rollerball or ballpoint. The rollerball is a great alternative to the fountain pen. It’s got the same dimensions, and uses a Schmidt 888 refill. The ballpoint is also fantastic for quick, one-handed action using its twist mechanism. It takes Parker Style refills, and as usual, we recommend the Monteverde Parker Style Double Broad ballpoint. We proudly offer all three modes for your enjoyment.

What do you think? Do you have yours yet? You can check it out here.