Product Description
Type Fountain pen.
Product Name Optima "Sole" limited edition, #3048/7500.
Manufacturer and Year Aurora, Italy -- 1996.
Length The fountain pen is 5" long.
Filling System Piston filler. It has a viewing window to see the ink level and utilizes a "hidden reservoir" feature where you can eke out an extra page of writing after turning the piston all the way to the left. It is not an actual reservoir and is just pushing the last of the ink in the barrel into the feed.
Color Called yellow auroloide, it is more like a marbled golden orange than a sunny yellow (sole is Italian for sun). It has black end pieces and gold plated trim.
Nib Medium 18k nib. It is smooth with good looking tipping. There is a smidge of give but it isn't really springy. It's labeled M on the feed.
Condition Excellent + condition, in box, with paperwork. The pen has very light handwear and microscratching. No cracks, chips, dents, or dings. These Optimas are famous for having cracks in the resin at the end of the barrel, and when we acquired the pen it did have a crack, so we sent the pen to Aurora for a new barrel. Upon receipt back, we gave the pen a thorough test and inspection and found no remaining cracks. It has great translucency when held to the light, especially the cap. The trim has polishing marks and microscratching, but there's no brassing or plating wear. The pen is packaged in a satin-lined clamshell box, with paperwork, and an unopened bottle of Aurora ink (we suspect it's black), and outer cardboard sleeve. Some of the lacquer on the metal edges of the box is chipping off, but the outer flocking on the surface looks great. There is a small stain and some wear on the satin that lines the box lid. The imprints are clear.
