{"id":2030,"date":"2018-09-06T08:00:43","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T12:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/?p=2030"},"modified":"2024-02-04T14:58:23","modified_gmt":"2024-02-04T19:58:23","slug":"review-prisma-88","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/review-prisma-88\/","title":{"rendered":"Stipula Etruria Prisma 88 Comparative Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Last year I wrote about my Stipula Etruria Rainbow Prisma 88<\/a> and followed it up with an update<\/a>. It’s one of my favorite pens, so when the Stipula Etruria Prisma 88 Magma was announced, I snapped one up.<\/p>\n

Now that my Magma is back in action, I’m writing a comparative review of the two. I couldn’t find anything about the Rainbow when it first came out, and there doesn’t seem to be anything about the Magma, so hopefully, this will help anyone considering purchasing either of them.<\/p>\n

Backstories<\/h2>\n

If you know the history behind these two pens in my collection, feel free to skip down<\/a> to the main review.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Rainbow Prisma 88<\/h3>\n

\"Stipula<\/a><\/p>\n

I bought myself the Rainbow after seeing a gorgeous photo on the Goulet Pen Company’s Instagram<\/a> as a reward to myself for finally getting my driver’s license (I’d been terrified of driving for many years). Thanks to the fantastic customer service at the Goulet Pen Company<\/a> (and a significant amount of luck), I got pen #19. If you want to read a more detailed backstory, you can find it here<\/a>. Initially, I had a little trouble with the pen (check out my YouTube review<\/a> for more info), but after having the nib adjusted to increase ink flow, it’s been lovely.<\/p>\n

Prisma 88 Magma<\/h3>\n

\"Stipula<\/a><\/p>\n

I first saw the Magma in the Goulet Pen Co. weekly newsletter. The photos on their website were fantastic, as they always are, and convinced me I wanted one. Bertram’s Inkwell<\/a> got the Magma in first, so I picked one up (that was May 5th).<\/p>\n

As I wrote with it, I realized the nib needed an adjustment (like the Rainbow). Jim took a look at it with his loupe (My bad eyesight\/glasses mean I can’t really use one) and said the tipping material was kind of pitted. I took it back to Bert’s and turns out the other one he received had a bad nib as well.<\/p>\n

Bert took care of sending out the nib for a replacement (that was May 26th). I BELIEVE he sent it to Yafa since they’re the US Stipula distributor. The replacement nib finally arrived around August 3rd. I’m not certain of the exact date, because Bert told me they’d arrived when he saw me at the pen show. But regardless, that’s a heck of a wait.<\/p>\n

Oddly, the nib that came back is a 14k gold, non-flex nib. I understand it’s technically an upgrade, but I’ve got mixed feelings about it. While I have to admit the gold nib has much less feedback, I have an order in through Bertram’s Inkwell to get a new gold-colored T-flex nib. I really just want the nib that the pen is supposed to have.<\/p>\n

Side Note: <\/strong>I’ve heard from a few different sources that the nib on the Magma had problems, so I’m willing to bet that the entire run of 183 had problems. I asked Brian and Rachel Goulet about their delay in stocking the Magma in one of their recent Instagram live videos, and they mentioned that they sent the pens they received back to Stipula. Apparently, while the new nibs have been created and tipped with proper material, Stipula is waiting on the person who does the gold plating to return from vacation to finish the new nibs. I’m guessing this may be part of the reason why I was sent a 14k gold nib instead.<\/p>\n

Review<\/h2>\n

I’ll start with a few things that apply to both pens.<\/p>\n

Price:<\/em><\/span> These are expensive pens. They sell for just under $500, with an MSRP of $595. Granted, they’re beautiful, but that’s still a pricey pen.<\/p>\n

Flaws:<\/em><\/span> The biggest flaw on these pens is that the various segments of the pen don’t line up. The two sections on the cap are misaligned on both pens. The bodies don’t automatically line up with the cap. You can make them align, but it takes some effort. The pistons don’t align with the bodies, either. In my opinion, while these are small details, for a pen this expensive, they are details that should be addressed.<\/p>\n

\"Close<\/a><\/p>\n

Weight:<\/em><\/span> The pens are weighty at 38g overall, 25g uncapped. The extra weight makes them feel expensive, which is nice. Of those who have tried out my Rainbow and Magma, those with larger hands have preferred to write with them posted, while I, and those with smaller hands, prefer to write with them unposted.<\/p>\n

Grip:<\/em><\/span> The grip section on these pens feel nice in my hand. They’re very comfortable to use.<\/p>\n

Rainbow<\/h3>\n

The Rainbow is simply a stunning pen. It photographs well and it presents well in person. Beyond the emotional attachment I have to the pen, it’s a jewel in my collection. I have no regrets about purchasing it.<\/p>\n

Because most of the colors are darker, you don’t notice if the nib spits into the cap a bit, nor do I worry about the body getting ink-stained over time. Even if it happens, you won’t notice it. I very much appreciate that aspect of the pen, because I’m rather fastidious when it comes to the cleanliness of my pen collection.<\/p>\n

While I know that titanium nibs are polarizing, I rather enjoy mine. It has a bit more feedback than I typically like, but it’s just part of the experience of using the Rainbow. Everything else about it is different, the nib might as well be, too.<\/p>\n

After using Regalia Writing Labs’ Semiflex<\/a>, the flex of the T-flex nib certainly can’t compare. I’d say it’s really more of a soft nib than a flexible nib. This doesn’t bother me, though, as I don’t typically utilize the flex in my regular writing.<\/p>\n

Other than the misaligned sections mentioned above, I don’t really have any complaints about the pen. Stipula did a great job with the Rainbow.<\/p>\n

Magma<\/h3>\n

Let me start by saying I like the Magma. Unfortunately, while it is still a pretty pen, it isn’t quite the stunner that the Rainbow is. I realize that this next bit is going to seem harsh, but I’m judging it as the nearly $600 MSRP pen it is.<\/p>\n

There are some imperfections in the construction of my pen that take away from the beauty it has:<\/p>\n