I don’t know what that really means, but I have learned that Makrolon is durable and feels great in hand. The spring-loaded clip is made of brushed stainless steel, as is the section, whereas the rest of the body is made of Makrolon- a high-tech polycarbonate material. The pen body contains a very faint ink window so that you can keep an eye on the ink level. (Or a liter.) I filled it with Iroshizuku’s tsuki-yo (Moonlight) which is, in my opinion, the perfect ink for this perfect pen. Like I said, subtle.īecause the pen is a piston-filler, bottled ink is required, and luckily I had a drop or two on hand. The pen’s features are SO well-integrated that I opted to use little red arrows to point them out. I was immediately blown away by its looks and performance, and could easily see why this pen has been around, virtually unchanged, for 47 years and counting. Its subtlety is dazzling, its nib superb. In continuous production since 1966, this is a pen that is gorgeously understated- looking both modern and vintage at the same time. While the Safaris and AL-Stars are perfectly fine, well-made, fun, and colorful, the Lamy 2000 is a true icon. The more I watched and read, the more I realized that this is a very different Lamy than the ones I already own. The more I read and watched, the more my interest grew. Silly me.Ī recent stream of positive chatter on Twitter perked up my pen ears, and I did my usual deep-dive into reviews and even a little digging into the history of the pen. Since I have a bunch of Lamy Safaris and a few AL-Stars, I didn’t really see the need for a pricier Lamy. This pen flew under my radar for quite awhile. The Maica comes out on top, despite the loopy thing
I can’t quite figure out why the upgraded model costs less than the stripped down version, but I’ll take it. That may not sound like much, but if you buy all twelve Maica colors, that’s a savings of $6.60 (math whiz!). Time for a tie-breaker, and that tie-breaker is PRICE! Surprisingly, the more substantial feeling, nicely colored and slightly embellished Maica costs a mere $2.25, whereas the basic Hi-Tec-C runs $0.55 MORE at $2.80. So what’s the score? Ah yes, two points apiece. Both are needle-like and lay down the ultra-crisp line that is so well loved by Hi-Tec-C enthusiasts. The writing tips (and refills) are identical. I don’t have a problem holding onto either model, though, and really don’t have a preference either way. Though they differ in design, neither is particularly grippy. Grips: Maica on the left, basic on the rightĪs far as the grips go, I’d call it a wash. Truth be told, I’d prefer a clip over the molded loopy thing. The Maica cap doesn’t have a clip, but instead, sports a little plastic loop that’s for…ummm…what IS it for? A lanyard? Not sure. The basic cap is no-nonsense, and makes the pen brand and tip size very clear as that information is printed on the cap’s clip. The hue of the transparent Maica cap also mirrors the ink color, and sports an embellished jewel-shaped “crown” on its end. Having a colored pen body makes it easier to select the ink color you want, and who doesn’t need a little color added to their day? (Should I say “color” again?) Because of the “upgraded” body, I like holding and using the Maica model over the basic model. Whereas the basic model is clear plastic and faceted, the Maica is round and colored to match the ink. Though still plastic, the Maica feels more substantial. Top: Maica (blue-black) Bottom: Basic (black)Īs you can see in the side-by-side comparison, the Maica pen body is longer, just a bit thicker, and I can tell you that it’s slightly heavier. A a blue-black Maica, no less! How did they know that I’m on a blue-black kick lately?īecause I’m so familiar with the normal (basic) Hi-Tec-C (who isn’t?!), I was interested in comparing the Maica to that base model, and here’s what I found. When I opened the package and took a look at the branding, I said (and I quote), “Oooooo, nice!” I have plenty of the basic Hi-Tec-Cs floating around, but not a single Maica. The fine folks at sent along the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Maica for review (a fun surprise!).
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