In this video I give my impressions of the Lamy Lx Ru and briefly compare it with the Lamy AL-star. I also do a writing sample and I use Diamine Macassar ink for the writing sample.
Ruthenium in the pen name got my attention. Certain metals intrigue me--I spent a bundle on a ball point pen because it was made of 100% titanium. I am guessing this is simply ruthenium colored, as opposed to ruthenium coated. It is a very rare metal, and extremely hard and chemically inert in the metallic state so has been used in the tips of some quality nibs, and has some industrial uses such as coating for electrical contacts. Not that much of it in the world I don't thing the pricing is all that bad, specialty finishes often involve a lot of special handling during manufacture as opposed to plastic which pops out of the mold ready to go.
Very nice job on this.. my wife gave me the Marron version of the Lx for my birthday. My brother in law gave me the 14 k gold nib.. it writes wonderfully. Great feedback and flow. I have 40 or so nice pens.. Sailors, Pilot, Nakaya, etc. I think my Lx, with the EF gold nib may be my favorite of the bunch.. thanks again, Frank
the nib is special on the LX, it is Z52 compared to all the other ones that is Z50, the nib itself is polished unlike the regular. In the US some color/nib size combo tends to get half off, which makes it a very good deal compared to the AL-Star. Personally I think it is smoother when it writes. It is a tiny upgrade from the regular nib, plus it looks WAY better.
Just seeing on Amazon (US, at least) several varieties of LX on sale for Al-Star prices - about $35-$40 (US). At that price, I got one. The Palladium finish.
Actually, i think the main reason for the increased price compared to al-star is that box it comes within. On the other side it also shows that you are paying mostly for the company's reputation than the materials itself. It would be nice if you added a weight comparison (even in comments) between safari, al-star and lx. Ink is very nice too! I like brown inks. Btw what bird 🐦 do we hear at 11:35 ?
I need to get a scale for the weight comparisons, but that's a good idea. The bird - no idea, but I'll ask some friends if they can identify it. And I imagine the case it comes in does add a little to the price.
Macassar is one of my favourite inks. It dries "average" and I don't find that it smudges. Especially the smaller bottles are cheap, so low risk. But I bet you would love it.
Good luck on your Lamy. I purchased 2 Safaris around the same time. Both wrote great for several months. Both quit writing about the same time. No amount of cleaning, flushing etc persuaded them to to write again. Now they are just dip pens. No more Lamys for me.
This pen is unbeatable because it works with any ink. I have two LX but i was disappointed by the nib, in my opinion too stiff and so i have replaced them with basic ones.
Ruthenium in the pen name got my attention. Certain metals intrigue me--I spent a bundle on a ball point pen because it was made of 100% titanium.
I am guessing this is simply ruthenium colored, as opposed to ruthenium coated. It is a very rare metal, and extremely hard and chemically inert in the metallic state so has been used in the tips of some quality nibs, and has some industrial uses such as coating for electrical contacts. Not that much of it in the world
I don't thing the pricing is all that bad, specialty finishes often involve a lot of special handling during manufacture as opposed to plastic which pops out of the mold ready to go.
There is also a Palladium version which is also quite beautiful.
Very nice job on this.. my wife gave me the Marron version of the Lx for my birthday. My brother in law gave me the 14 k gold nib.. it writes wonderfully. Great feedback and flow. I have 40 or so nice pens.. Sailors, Pilot, Nakaya, etc. I think my Lx, with the EF gold nib may be my favorite of the bunch.. thanks again, Frank
I already have an Al Star and a Safari but I would buy this just for the case. Amazon prices for this are identical to Al Star!
If you can get it discounted, I think its worth it. I'm using mine daily and the more I use it, the more I like it.
the nib is special on the LX, it is Z52 compared to all the other ones that is Z50, the nib itself is polished unlike the regular. In the US some color/nib size combo tends to get half off, which makes it a very good deal compared to the AL-Star. Personally I think it is smoother when it writes. It is a tiny upgrade from the regular nib, plus it looks WAY better.
Just seeing on Amazon (US, at least) several varieties of LX on sale for Al-Star prices - about $35-$40 (US). At that price, I got one. The Palladium finish.
The Palladium is beautiful
Actually, i think the main reason for the increased price compared to al-star is that box it comes within.
On the other side it also shows that you are paying mostly for the company's reputation than the materials itself.
It would be nice if you added a weight comparison (even in comments) between safari, al-star and lx.
Ink is very nice too!
I like brown inks.
Btw what bird 🐦 do we hear at 11:35 ?
I need to get a scale for the weight comparisons, but that's a good idea. The bird - no idea, but I'll ask some friends if they can identify it. And I imagine the case it comes in does add a little to the price.
Lovely pen! Very tempting.
I am currently using Diamine Chocolate Brown (in a Ranga Bamboo), but I find it smudges easily. Does Macassar too?
Macassar is one of my favourite inks. It dries "average" and I don't find that it smudges. Especially the smaller bottles are cheap, so low risk. But I bet you would love it.
Good luck on your Lamy. I purchased 2 Safaris around the same time. Both wrote great for several months. Both quit writing about the same time. No amount of cleaning, flushing etc persuaded them to to write again. Now they are just dip pens. No more Lamys for me.
That's really not good, a pen should basically last forever. And that would put off them as well.
This pen is unbeatable because it works with any ink. I have two LX but i was disappointed by the nib, in my opinion too stiff and so i have replaced them with basic ones.
I have same experience. The pens are great, but the nibs can be a little inconsistent.