I have one from the 1990s. Love it, always one of my favorites. The only reason I haven't gotten one from the new line--which I think is aesthetically an improvement on the older ones, without losing the characteristic profile of the Optima--is cost. But, I agree, these are some of the highest VALUE luxury pens and I love their history.
Aurora, by far and wide, is my go-to Italian luxury pen manufacturer... love the clip design, all the nibs and the fact that the pens are crafted with ebonite feeds. The pen designs are extremely classy and stylishly understated... the price-to-value prop is high... giving great return on your purchase... I own five Auroras... all special or numbered-limited edition and I am always inspired when writing with any of them. Also, Aurora has the best packaging/unboxing experience in the game... You don't have to break the bank (i.e. I am talking to you, Montblanc) to get an incredible packaging experience. I love how so much detail and thought is put into the entire ownership experience when considering pulling the trigger on Aurora. Blake, as always, great content and most informative... and honest. Please, stay safe.
Thanks for the comment! I agree. Aurora is one of my favorite brands. They produce an excellent quality pen and some of my very favorite nibs. My first ever "nice" pen was an Aurora Style rollerball that my parents gifted me in middle school. I wish I still had it.
Always happy to see a review of any Aurora pen. Because I’m lifelong lover (and owner) of very many Aurora pens. My favorite pen brand, too. I have four Optimas, all in different amazing auroloide color/finishes. And with different nib sizes (F, M, B and the superb Goccia). Also, two of my Optima pens are special edition ones with 18k nibs. The Optima is an extremely gorgeous, outstanding pen in all respects. I like that it’s a flat top alternative to the rounded ends of the Aurora 88 (with which it shares an almost identical section/ink window). The pen’s very stylish cap band is a special highlight of the pen’s overall aesthetics. Aurora’s nibs are also, along with Sailor’s, my all time favorites. They have a unique, very pleasant feedback that I’ve always enjoyed a lot. Never scratchy, nor ‘toothy’ (the way I understand that word). The size of the pen could have been the sole downside for me. But I’m happy because it’s girthy and feels alright in the hand. I never post any of my pens except the pocket one that just need to be. But I’d say the Optima, like the Sailor Pro Gear, has one of the best, perfect posting caps among contemporary pens. The Aurora Ipsilon is another that is the same. I have not a single complaint about the Optima. All four of mine continue to give me ceaseless pleasure. I now only need a classic vintage Optima to complete my desired set of these pens. Your Optima that you reviewed here is the Burgundy Auroloide model, isn’t it? Looks genuinely lovely, even on video. You have already reviewed the excellent Hastil and also the Ipsilon. An Aurora pen that seems to be rather overlooked is the impeccable Internazionale. It was a limited edition pen. And unsurprisingly very pricey. I’m so glad I could belatedly manage to get one (the Jade green) for myself. I’m greedy and I now wish to have the blue one, too. If it were possible, I’d wish you could someday do a review of the Internazionale. Kudos for this excellent review!
Thanks for the comment Sajjad! Aurora definitely makes some of my favorite nibs. It is the burgundy Auroloide; this was the first one I ever got and it's my favorite. I've had the first generation modern Optima with the more plain style nib in green Auroloide, as well as the Afrika, and Ultima Lira. There are so many beautiful new colors now. Which one is your favorite? I have been wanting an Internazionale since they released it. I love the beautiful vintage style of this pen. It is pricey but I will get one eventually.
@@BlakesBroadcast …There are too many beautiful Optimas for me to try and name a few. My own are the SE (75th Anniversary) Dark Red Auroloide w/18k nib; the LE Blue Auroloide w/18k, the LE Giada (green) and the Riflessi. I adore them all. I forget the names of a few of the other beauties I’ve seen and ached to have in the past. I wish you best of luck in getting an Internazionale in the future. There were 919 of them made. I’m sure there are many still waiting to have loving owners. I’m likely to go seeking the gorgeous blue one to join my Jade beauty. If I were ever asked to appear in Appelboom’s Favorite 3 Pens series, the Internazionale would be an absolute certainty on my list. The others are the the Aurora 88 and either the Optima or the Hastil. Or actually both. Sheaffer PFM V would round out my Hall of Fame. That’s 5 pens, I know. 😀
@@sajjadhusain4146 Those are all beautiful! I'd love to have the bright red 75th anniversary model at some point. I also quite like the 365 Azzurra model.
I bought an Aurora Optima as my first (and so far only) Italian pen, and I absolutely love it. It’s the limited edition Caleidoscopio Lucea Rosa, so even more expensive with an 18k EF nib. One thing I really like is that the grip is the same rose pink as the body instead of black. I guess it’s my grail pen!
Gorgeous pen! I love that they have started add those beautiful acrylics to the grip section. I've had a couple of their limited edition models with the 18kt gold nibs but they all had black sections.
It really looks like OB to me. 10 years of service , that speaks the quality itself. I liked this red pattern here and threaded nib units are always wecome. Excellent video, Blake.
Four Optimas here too, Blake-a regular with flex nib and then the Afrika, Asia, and Oceania from the Continental LE series. While I wish Aurora's fine nibs were finer, I enjoy them all-esp. the stub and, when I have more time, the italic. Your red Optima here is the nicest of the auroloids, I think…and 10 years = true love. Thanks again, Blake-first rate review, as always.
Aurora’s italic nib is one of a kind. The truest, crispest, loveliest standard italic nibs to be found anywhere. I wish Aurora would offer the italic as part of their standard nib options on more of their pens, not just a few as is presently the case.
Thanks for the comment Jack! I love the Continental LE series. It is a great theme for a set of pens. I've only had the Afrika and I regret selling. How do you like your flex nib? I got one recently and I'm not sure about it yet.
Unsure here too. I like the nib 'position,' with those elongated tines, but the flex-action itself doesn’t come naturally, at least not to me. I’d like a flex nib half way between Aurora's and the OMAS extra flessibile. (Scribo's 14k extra fine flex is pretty nice-wet and responsive.)
It is definitely a personal choice. They are very well made and if cared for should last a lifetime...but I could also say that about some $100 pens too.
@@BlakesBroadcast agree Blake! Some of the sub 100 or 200 dollar pens are really well made! I'm so looking forward to see you do a top ten pen list! :)
I don't have an M800 but I will say the Aurora is going to be lighter weight and the QC on Aurora nibs is better than Pelikan's. If you want a softer nib you might prefer the Pelikan.
if it didn't cost an organ of my body I would buy one of standard version- the one in the video is beautiful but sold out - but it has the same nib as Telentum that costs much less. So I think I'll enjoy my talentum at the moment. Optima's grip section is ergonomic as much as some Waterman - the Expert in particular - . MontBlanc grip section is terrible ergonomically
I have one from the 1990s. Love it, always one of my favorites. The only reason I haven't gotten one from the new line--which I think is aesthetically an improvement on the older ones, without losing the characteristic profile of the Optima--is cost. But, I agree, these are some of the highest VALUE luxury pens and I love their history.
Thanks for the comment Michael! If it isn't broken there is no need to replace it.
Nice to see any pen that has had a lot of years use 👍🏻
Thanks Richard! There are some pens I wont part with and this is one of them.
Aurora, by far and wide, is my go-to Italian luxury pen manufacturer... love the clip design, all the nibs and the fact that the pens are crafted with ebonite feeds. The pen designs are extremely classy and stylishly understated... the price-to-value prop is high... giving great return on your purchase... I own five Auroras... all special or numbered-limited edition and I am always inspired when writing with any of them. Also, Aurora has the best packaging/unboxing experience in the game... You don't have to break the bank (i.e. I am talking to you, Montblanc) to get an incredible packaging experience. I love how so much detail and thought is put into the entire ownership experience when considering pulling the trigger on Aurora. Blake, as always, great content and most informative... and honest. Please, stay safe.
Thanks for the comment! I agree. Aurora is one of my favorite brands. They produce an excellent quality pen and some of my very favorite nibs. My first ever "nice" pen was an Aurora Style rollerball that my parents gifted me in middle school. I wish I still had it.
Always happy to see a review of any Aurora pen. Because I’m lifelong lover (and owner) of very many Aurora pens. My favorite pen brand, too. I have four Optimas, all in different amazing auroloide color/finishes. And with different nib sizes (F, M, B and the superb Goccia). Also, two of my Optima pens are special edition ones with 18k nibs.
The Optima is an extremely gorgeous, outstanding pen in all respects. I like that it’s a flat top alternative to the rounded ends of the Aurora 88 (with which it shares an almost identical section/ink window). The pen’s very stylish cap band is a special highlight of the pen’s overall aesthetics.
Aurora’s nibs are also, along with Sailor’s, my all time favorites. They have a unique, very pleasant feedback that I’ve always enjoyed a lot. Never scratchy, nor ‘toothy’ (the way I understand that word). The size of the pen could have been the sole downside for me. But I’m happy because it’s girthy and feels alright in the hand. I never post any of my pens except the pocket one that just need to be. But I’d say the Optima, like the Sailor Pro Gear, has one of the best, perfect posting caps among contemporary pens. The Aurora Ipsilon is another that is the same.
I have not a single complaint about the Optima. All four of mine continue to give me ceaseless pleasure. I now only need a classic vintage Optima to complete my desired set of these pens.
Your Optima that you reviewed here is the Burgundy Auroloide model, isn’t it? Looks genuinely lovely, even on video.
You have already reviewed the excellent Hastil and also the Ipsilon. An Aurora pen that seems to be rather overlooked is the impeccable Internazionale. It was a limited edition pen. And unsurprisingly very pricey. I’m so glad I could belatedly manage to get one (the Jade green) for myself. I’m greedy and I now wish to have the blue one, too. If it were possible, I’d wish you could someday do a review of the Internazionale.
Kudos for this excellent review!
Thanks for the comment Sajjad! Aurora definitely makes some of my favorite nibs. It is the burgundy Auroloide; this was the first one I ever got and it's my favorite. I've had the first generation modern Optima with the more plain style nib in green Auroloide, as well as the Afrika, and Ultima Lira. There are so many beautiful new colors now. Which one is your favorite?
I have been wanting an Internazionale since they released it. I love the beautiful vintage style of this pen. It is pricey but I will get one eventually.
@@BlakesBroadcast …There are too many beautiful Optimas for me to try and name a few. My own are the SE (75th Anniversary) Dark Red Auroloide w/18k nib; the LE Blue Auroloide w/18k, the LE Giada (green) and the Riflessi. I adore them all. I forget the names of a few of the other beauties I’ve seen and ached to have in the past.
I wish you best of luck in getting an Internazionale in the future. There were 919 of them made. I’m sure there are many still waiting to have loving owners. I’m likely to go seeking the gorgeous blue one to join my Jade beauty.
If I were ever asked to appear in Appelboom’s Favorite 3 Pens series, the Internazionale would be an absolute certainty on my list. The others are the the Aurora 88 and either the Optima or the Hastil. Or actually both. Sheaffer PFM V would round out my Hall of Fame.
That’s 5 pens, I know. 😀
@@sajjadhusain4146 Those are all beautiful! I'd love to have the bright red 75th anniversary model at some point. I also quite like the 365 Azzurra model.
I bought an Aurora Optima as my first (and so far only) Italian pen, and I absolutely love it. It’s the limited edition Caleidoscopio Lucea Rosa, so even more expensive with an 18k EF nib. One thing I really like is that the grip is the same rose pink as the body instead of black. I guess it’s my grail pen!
Gorgeous pen! I love that they have started add those beautiful acrylics to the grip section. I've had a couple of their limited edition models with the 18kt gold nibs but they all had black sections.
I got an Optima with this finish, used, for $350. What a steal! One of my favorites. I have to get an 88 now...
Thanks for the comment Ryan! I got mine used as well. Definitely hard to beat at $350. I also need an 88.
Thank you, this brand is new to me.
Glad I could introduce it to you. They are one of my favorites.
It really looks like OB to me. 10 years of service , that speaks the quality itself. I liked this red pattern here and threaded nib units are always wecome. Excellent video, Blake.
Thank you Dash! This definitely a work horse.
Four Optimas here too, Blake-a regular with flex nib and then the Afrika, Asia, and Oceania from the Continental LE series. While I wish Aurora's fine nibs were finer, I enjoy them all-esp. the stub and, when I have more time, the italic. Your red Optima here is the nicest of the auroloids, I think…and 10 years = true love.
Thanks again, Blake-first rate review, as always.
Aurora’s italic nib is one of a kind. The truest, crispest, loveliest standard italic nibs to be found anywhere. I wish Aurora would offer the italic as part of their standard nib options on more of their pens, not just a few as is presently the case.
Thanks for the comment Jack! I love the Continental LE series. It is a great theme for a set of pens. I've only had the Afrika and I regret selling.
How do you like your flex nib? I got one recently and I'm not sure about it yet.
Unsure here too. I like the nib 'position,' with those elongated tines, but the flex-action itself doesn’t come naturally, at least not to me. I’d like a flex nib half way between Aurora's and the OMAS extra flessibile. (Scribo's 14k extra fine flex is pretty nice-wet and responsive.)
Have one, given as a gift.
Didn't know about the hidden reserve.
Nice gift! The reserve is interesting design.
Thank you! Something to think about.
You are welcome David!
Someday, someday !!!!
It's a special pen.
This is on my "grail pen list"... Wonder when... But I'm torn should I really invest that much in it...
It is definitely a personal choice. They are very well made and if cared for should last a lifetime...but I could also say that about some $100 pens too.
@@BlakesBroadcast agree Blake! Some of the sub 100 or 200 dollar pens are really well made!
I'm so looking forward to see you do a top ten pen list! :)
@@pen_journal A top pens video is on my to do list.
This vs Pelican m800?
I don't have an M800 but I will say the Aurora is going to be lighter weight and the QC on Aurora nibs is better than Pelikan's. If you want a softer nib you might prefer the Pelikan.
I take the nib off my optima to clean it. 1 of the easiest pens i own to clean
That is a good way to get it very clean. It's a great pen.
if it didn't cost an organ of my body I would buy one of standard version- the one in the video is beautiful but sold out - but it has the same nib as Telentum that costs much less. So I think I'll enjoy my talentum at the moment. Optima's grip section is ergonomic as much as some Waterman - the Expert in particular - . MontBlanc grip section is terrible ergonomically
The Talentum is a great pen. I use mine all the time.
Комплименти за избора Ви на часовник!...
Thank you Philip!
@@BlakesBroadcast Compliments for your choice of Cartier watch! :)