S.T. Dupont Shaman Limited Edition Mother of Pearl Fountain Pen 481008M BRAND NEW
S.T. Dupont's latest version of the Orpheo is a radical departure from their past models. With shimmering pearl colored lacquer on the cap and barrel match up with engraved palladium plated trim. Inset mother of pearl accents highlight the barrel of the pen. When we first got one in hand, it seemed almost impossibly flashy. Too bright for any serious "real world" use.
The finish grows on you, however. It wasn't too long before we were reconsidering our first assessment. Sure, it's not a subtle pen, by any means. But it is, after all, a Dupont, and that counts for a lot. For one thing, it means that when your pen is flashy, it's flashy with quality!
The Lacquer lives up to the long standing reputation of S.T. Dupont for the highest quality Chinese lacquer work. It has a depth and brilliance that must be seen in person to be fully appreciated. In photos it looks like a dead white, in real life, it comes alive with shimmering reflections.
The other advantage to the Chinese lacquer is that it warms in the hand. It's an organic material, and thus has a very soothing natural feel to it.
So, if for no other reason than that wonderful intense lacquer, the Shaman almost demands to be put into regular use. There are, however, some other reasons for using this pen.
Like all S.T. Dupont Orpheo pens, the Shaman is fitted with an 18K nib. A nib that is among one of the smoothest of any modern pen maker's. S.T. Dupont nibs have long been recognized as being good, but with he Orpheo, they have really come into their own.
I've yet to write with one that wasn't perfect right out of the box. Perfectly smooth tipping material, coupled with reliable and ample ink flow make these pens a dream to write with.
Another advantage to the Orpheo's design is that the cap seems to seal quite well. I have found in the past that my Orpheos usually won't dry out, even if left sitting for quite a while. The cap is a click on style, and fits securely both in the closed, and the posted position. The section is metal, and plated with palladium to match the other trim. I might have preferred a bit more engraving, to give the fingertips more to grip on, but it's more than usable as it is.
The Shaman also shares with other S.T. Dupont Orpheo pens a great balance in the hand. I use my Orpheos with the cap posted, due to the design of the barrel, the cap sits well down on the barrel when posted. The weight and balance are almost exactly as I could want them, and despite it's not being the lightest of pens at just over an ounce and a half, it's a very comfortable pen.
Available in two sizes of fountain pen, as well as both rollerball and ballpen models, the Shaman makes a great everyday pen. It may not be the most subtle and understated of your pens, but then again, sometimes it's OK to stand out a little!
