Incoming Visconti Michelangelo rose bronze!

[Formulansx]

Here's the last one for a bit. Just got this one in on the 4th of July. My first impression is "wow this is a sexy pen"! It's jet black, faceted, and the bronze trim is a very rich rose gold color. I had no idea rose bronze existed but it's a great idea and I might nominate it for president! I don't have to worry about scratches or dings because it can just be polished out unlike the normal rose gold plate. I never liked plate very much but it's very cost prohibitive to get solid anything but silver. Seems like most of that is even plated with platinum etc. All of my pens are "daily drivers" at some point so they do get scuffed lightly so I like the ability to polish them back like new. I've been told that Visconti is phasing this version out and going to gold plated hardware so I'm lucky to get this model at the end of the run. The magnetic closure has been great so far! Very easy and reliable. The 14kt nib doesn't hold a candle to my 14kt Wall Street nib as far as line variation goes though. Kind of surprised and not what I was expecting. You would think 14kt Visconti is 14kt Visconti but it's not. Not even close. The 14kt Michelangelo nib is really smooth and nice but it doesn't flex too much. A little, more that usual, but not like the Wall Street LE. The Wall Street is over 10 years older though. Maybe Visconti changed the alloy since then so on to writing. This pen is small. It's on par with my Montblanc starwalker extreme. My last two pens before the starwalker and Michelangelo were Omas's and the Michelangelo is a little more difficult to write with for extended periods. I don't have big hands and always wear a medium glove but the larger section on my paragon and milord seems more comfortable. I'll give this some time though to make a definitive judgement. The Michelangelo is much smaller than any of my other Visconti's though and honestly this and the starwalker are smaller than all the other pens I own right now. Maybe I'm just not used to a smaller diameter pen or something. I'm willing to get used to a smaller pen though because this Visconti is smoking hot!! Here's some pics.

[Formulansx]

The clip with the standard spring loading.

[Formulansx]

Pen body cap in rose bronze.

[Formulansx]

Visconti cap without the "my pen" system.

[Formulansx]

14kt nib rose gold plated.

[Formulansx]

Feed is different than my 14kt Wall Street. It's possible the Michelangelo has a smaller nib now that I think about it. Going to investigate.

[tifosi]

You are on quite the roll, lately!

[Bisquitlips]

Lovely!

[68camaro]

really beautiful.

[vintage69]

A beauty.

[Formulansx]

Thanks guys. I've caught the fountain pen addiction bad it seems!

I have to thank/blame sbre brown for this one though. I was weighing the difference in price of a Michelangelo and a Rembrandt. Both seemed to be the same nib and the Michelangelo was about $100 more than the Rembrandt for a faceted body. I hit YouTube and looked for reviews. Found a video of sbre brown reviewing a Michelangelo with "rose bronze trim and a 14kt nib". I stopped right there and started searching! I think this was called a "Nero" as I've seen the model described. The price was more than a steel nib Michelangelo but you do get a gold nib. It was the bronze hardware that got me though.

[broadoblique]

Congratulations, you've caught Visconti fever!
The disease doesn't get too bad until you're hooked on the powerfillers.

[Formulansx]

Originally Posted by broadoblique

Congratulations, you've caught Visconti fever!
The disease doesn't get too bad until you're hooked on the powerfillers.

Oh I've got a few power fillers on my list! Only have one so far but the price does go through the roof with those.

So a few things were learned about the Michelangelo today. I got a hold of my contact at Visconti and they insist a bronze hardware Michelangelo was not made. I've seen several reviews saying otherwise. SBRE brown's Michelangelo even came with a bronze hardware polishing cloth I'm super confused. I'm taking the pen to work Monday and analyzing the metal to find out what's what. Maybe his retailer got the box swapped with a Homo sapiens?? I really hope it's bronze and not just plated. Also I compared the nib to my 14kt Wall Street LE. The reason there's more flex with the Wall Street is its a much bigger nib. Can't tell that in pictures really of just the Michelangelo by itself. The Wall Street nib is MUCH better. The Michelangelo 14kt is nice but just isn't as springy as the Wall Street. It all makes sense now though. I'll report back on the hardware when I test it next week. Couple pics of the nibs side by side.

[Formulansx]

The feeds. Even different designs as well.

[Formulansx]

Top side.

[Formulansx]

Side view. The feed is MUCH smaller.

[Frosty]

Great looking pen!

[broadoblique]

The two nibs are the difference between the #5 and #6. Your observation is why I strongly prefer the #6.
Bock makes the nibs for Visconti. Any Bock Jowo is swappable.
If you like a soft or semi flex nib the 23k Pd is the softest, then 14k, with 18k the firmest. My personal preference is Pd in EF or F, but 14k and 18k in the stubs.
Have fun!

[Bisquitlips]

Just a sweet Visconti FP. Nothing less!

[Formulansx]

Originally Posted by broadoblique

The two nibs are the difference between the #5 and #6. Your observation is why I strongly prefer the #6.
Bock makes the nibs for Visconti. Any Bock Jowo is swappable.
If you like a soft or semi flex nib the 23k Pd is the softest, then 14k, with 18k the firmest. My personal preference is Pd in EF or F, but 14k and 18k in the stubs.
Have fun!

This is great info! I'm still new to the standards and who makes what in the fountain pen world so any help is appreciated. I would love to get my hands on a palladium nib. As I understand it they're pretty pricey for a nib. I'm planning to pick up a Homo sapiens at some point so I imagine I could swap the whole feed/nib/collar assembly. I would be very happy with a #6 14kt nib in this pen right now. I'll check it out!