There is a new brand in town, and it will be giving some of the old timers a run for their money. I have the pleasure of reviewing two very nice models of the Signum brand. These are the Orione and the De Divina Propotione (referred to below as DDP) from Signum. Signum is an Italian company that has existed since 1979, and that, in the past did some of the metalsmithing for Montegrappa. The pens are now available in the USA thanks to Maryann and Steve Zucker from PenStop, who have set up Empire Pens to bring Signum to us.

De Divina Propotione caps

I have used both the Orione and the DDP quite a bit, and the bottom line is that these are great pens with really wonderful nibs, that are attractive and comfortable to write with. The Orione is a smidgen over 5-1/2 inches long capped, and the barrel is about one-half inch wide at its widest point. This is just a fraction of an inch longer than a Pelikan 800. Both ends of the pen taper very smoothly to rounded ends, and each end has a silver-tone metal end piece. There is also a silver-tone ring at the lip of the cap. This cap ring is large and very nicely rounded, and blends smoothly into the cap. The endpiece on the cap is molded in the shape of the wheel that is the Signum trademark. The Orione is turned from a resin rod, and the material has a very comfortable feel. The section is flared at both ends, so that it nestles comfortably between the fingers. On both pens the section is made of the same material as the body of the pen, providing a very classy appearance. The tactile sense of the material is warm, not too slippery, and feels pleasant against the hand. The resin has small flecks of reflective material which give it a subtle textured look, though the surface is completely smooth. The shape of the Orione is very pleasing to both the eye and the hand. I feel as though this pen could become a modern Parker 51 in terms of esthetic appeal.

New brown resin Orione

Blue Resin De Divina Propotione

The DDP is a longer pen, coming in at 6 inches long, with the widest part of the barrel at 9/16 of an inch. The DDP has a very different appearance, with a very wide cap, and a long barrel that tapers toward the end. Because of the taper, the pen is very comfortable in the hand, even though it is long. While the central portion of the body is the widest point of the barrel, the section is tapered, so holding and writing with the pen is completely comfortable. The cap of the DDP is wide, and has a clip that includes a representation of one of the classic Greek columns. The material for the DDP is a resin with a very rich appearance, including many reflecting facets. This gives the material an illusion of depth. It is again very warm and comfortable in the hand. The DDP has a trim ring at the cap lip, and then two additional trim rings, one just above the cap lip ring, and one just below the metal wheel medallion at the top of the cap.

Sterling Orione

For me, the most seductive characteristic of both pens is the nib. Both pens are available with an 18k nib made in Germany by Bock. The Orione is also available with a Schmidt steel nib. Bock was established in 1939, and makes gold nibs for many of the most outstanding modern pens. I actually find that the Signum nibs are more comfortable to write with than many of the other nibs that Bock makes for other brands. The shape of the Signum nib is longer and slightly different from the usual Bock nib, and that seems to give it a more responsive feel (it looks a bit like a vintage Sonnecken nib.) It is not flexible, in the sense of providing line variation with different pressures, but also not mushy, in the sense of being very soft with small amounts of pressure. It is an extremely smooth nib, without any skipping. It is not stiff like many of the nibs from other modern pens. It has just the right amount of give to it, so that it is comfortable to write with for long periods of time. I was amazed at the quality of the Signum steel nib. I have a number of pens with good steel nibs, but I have always thought that I preferred gold nibs. The Signum steel nib is just as smooth as the gold nib. The steel nib may have a slight bit less softness, but I am not certain that I could tell the gold and steel nibs apart if I was writing with a blindfold on.

Brown Vermeil De Divina Propotione

Both pens are very well made. The threads are smooth and clean. The fit of the trim rings is flush and smooth, and the caps fit on in such a way that both pens look well balanced. It would be hard for me to choose only one of these pens. They do have a different feel in the hand. The Orione is somewhat smaller, and the barrel has a more traditional shape to it: the nib makes the writing experience with it really exquisite. The DDP is a more striking pen, and someone with a small hand might find it too long to be comfortable. Though it is long, it is not at all heavy, and is quite responsive to write with. My pens both use a standard converter, or cartridges. Empire will also be bringing in some pens with a piston filler, which will be very nice to see.

Brick Resin Orione

In terms of overall quality, styling, construction, and the experience of writing, these Signum models really rank with the highest quality group of modern Italian pens. I enjoy using them a lot, and would highly recommend giving them a try. The word I keep coming back to in describing these pens is “comfortable.” These are not gaudy, unwieldy “Limited Editions” that are uncomfortable to use and that sit in the closet collecting dust on their flamboyant packaging. These are pens that are comfortable in the hand, pleasing to the eye, and that are a pleasure to write with. They will be used again and again, day after day. I think that is really the highest compliment one can give a modern or a vintage fountain pen.

Text © 2003 David Leibowitz. Photos © 2003 David Isaacson.