Pineider Avatar = Rollerball Perfection!!!

[JasoninDenver]

Since retiring from a legal career (not embarking on an illegal one now), I no longer have the need to use my fountain pens on a regular basis. I usually had a few rollerballs laying around for traveling and having handy for clients to use while signing documents. However, I never found a rollerball that I enjoyed using near as much as my Parker or DuPont fountain pens.

I loved the feel of my Duofold rollerball but the quality of the Parker refills was horrid. If 50% wrote with smooth and consistent ink flow, I was happy. I never found Montblanc’s cartridges to be anything special, either.

I tried a BaronFig (new social media sensation) capless and was horribly disappointed. I even sent the first one back thinking it was defective due to a loose, clicking feel when writing. The ink was very nice, however, with a smooth feel and no smudging. The second pen was better but still unacceptable on a $10 pen much less a $60 one.

The closest I found to a fountain pen experience over time was a $100 Waterman. Well, that broke last month. The barrel snapped in two at the thread line. Not bad for five years and getting flung around on a regular basis.

While in Houston a couple weeks ago, I stopped into a local shop called Dromgoole’s and asked to see their favorite rollerball under $250. I expected to be buying another Waterman; however, the salesman went directly to a brand I had never heard of - Pineider.

I bought the Avatar model at the shockingly reasonable price of $125. It looks very elegant and distinctive with a new resin composition that is supposed to be extremely durable to impacts and heat. A big plus since I have a history of cracking barrels with drops and caps when not posted securely enough.

Another interesting feature is the magnetic lock on the cap. I have always been irritated by the screw threads on most pens. The cap on the Avatar sets with a reassuring click and has not budged while being put in bags and planner pen loops.

Writing with this pen is a dream. Not as effortless as a fountain pen, of course, but smoother than any other rollerball I have tried, including the Waterman. I forgot to ask who makes the Pineider branded refills, but the three extra cartridges I purchased were all perfectly smooth. Smudging is non-existent.

The only iffy thing about this pen for me is the barrel trim which is engraved with the skyline of Florence, where the company is based. I would have preferred something much cleaner but can live with this since I do love Italy.

I am very happy with the style and writing experience with the relatively economical price of this mid-level pen. Anyone looking for a high-quality daily driver should consider this brand.

[Rush1]

Very nice, and thanks for sharing your experience.
Also curious as to who makes the pen refill. Perhaps, it is a Parker sized so as to be compatible with other pen cases?

[Bisquitlips]

Gorgeous pen!

I just purchased my first Pineider fountain pen in the Oak Arco.

Nothing compared to the Omas or ASC Arco, but Pineider does a good job for the money.

Photo courtesy Pineider.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by JasoninDenver

Since retiring from a legal career (not embarking on an illegal one now), I no longer have the need to use my fountain pens on a regular basis. I usually had a few rollerballs laying around for traveling and having handy for clients to use while signing documents. However, I never found a rollerball that I enjoyed using near as much as my Parker or DuPont fountain pens.

I loved the feel of my Duofold rollerball but the quality of the Parker refills was horrid. If 50% wrote with smooth and consistent ink flow, I was happy. I never found Montblanc’s cartridges to be anything special, either.

I tried a BaronFig (new social media sensation) capless and was horribly disappointed. I even sent the first one back thinking it was defective due to a loose, clicking feel when writing. The ink was very nice, however, with a smooth feel and no smudging. The second pen was better but still unacceptable on a $10 pen much less a $60 one.

The closest I found to a fountain pen experience over time was a $100 Waterman. Well, that broke last month. The barrel snapped in two at the thread line. Not bad for five years and getting flung around on a regular basis.

While in Houston a couple weeks ago, I stopped into a local shop called Dromgoole’s and asked to see their favorite rollerball under $250. I expected to be buying another Waterman; however, the salesman went directly to a brand I had never heard of - Pineider.

I bought the Avatar model at the shockingly reasonable price of $125. It looks very elegant and distinctive with a new resin composition that is supposed to be extremely durable to impacts and heat. A big plus since I have a history of cracking barrels with drops and caps when not posted securely enough.

Another interesting feature is the magnetic lock on the cap. I have always been irritated by the screw threads on most pens. The cap on the Avatar sets with a reassuring click and has not budged while being put in bags and planner pen loops.

Writing with this pen is a dream. Not as effortless as a fountain pen, of course, but smoother than any other rollerball I have tried, including the Waterman. I forgot to ask who makes the Pineider branded refills, but the three extra cartridges I purchased were all perfectly smooth. Smudging is non-existent.

The only iffy thing about this pen for me is the barrel trim which is engraved with the skyline of Florence, where the company is based. I would have preferred something much cleaner but can live with this since I do love Italy.

I am very happy with the style and writing experience with the relatively economical price of this mid-level pen. Anyone looking for a high-quality daily driver should consider this brand.

Thanks for posting this Jason

Since my wife and I LOVE Italy and Firenze especially, I’m going to looking into one of these. I’ve been looking for a good pen and this one sounds like it fits the bill

[BlueRoman]

I have the Pineider Avatar fountain pen and it’s fantastic.

[Wcdhtwn]

Dromgoole’s is an awesome store! Great pens of all price points and many other cool items. Parking around their store is brutal but worth the effort to shop there.

[JasoninDenver]

Originally Posted by Wcdhtwn

Dromgoole’s is an awesome store! Great pens of all price points and many other cool items. Parking around their store is brutal but worth the effort to shop there.

Fortunately for me, it is walking distance from my brother’s place.

[JasoninDenver]

Well, after three years, this pen was sent to the graveyard after the barrel split at the middle joint between the plastic and metal ring. Probably due to oo many drops off my kitchen island.

What a great opportunity to upscale to a Mont Blanc , or maybe something like a Pelikan.

After a year of using a $50 Waterman (which was pretty nice, BTW….) while searching for a new daily driver, i realized that this pen is my perfect solution. I even tried the next level from Pineider, called the Classic.

Sadly, it sid not compare with the daily functional use of the Avatar and so the helpful manager at the NYC Pineider store has the exact same pen on its way to me.