Karas Kustoms Vertex- Chrysopoeia

“In Alchemy, the term chrysopoeia means transmutation into gold. It symbolically indicates the creation of the philosopher’s stone and the completion of the Great Work. For thousands of years, alchemists and even some men and women we now consider early scientists have speculated on the philospher’s stone and the ability to use it to enact chrysopoeia.” This was the introduction I received from Karas Pen Company about their newest model of the Vertex fountain pen, the Chrysopoeia. This model was released on August 5^th, 2019 in a limited run of 50 pens. Thank go out to Karas Kustoms for sending this to me for review, you can order yours at Karas Kustoms website.

Design: The pen is an interesting mix of flat top and cigar shape blending modern and vintage looks perfectly. It is a clipless design, which I am not normally a fan of, but it works well with the rest of the design and I quickly grew fond of it. The material is an Omas acrylate that is black with swirls of gold which balance to an almost brown color. It is very hard to capture how beautiful this material is in the photos. It is stunning, and I found myself staring at it and rolling it around to catch the light. The top of the cap is flat, but the finial is a concave indentation. There is a slight taper from the finial down to the bottom of the cap. The bottom finial is rounded, and the barrel gradually widens to meet the grip section and cap. The cap is friction fit, so there are no cap threads to break the transition from the body to the grip section. There is a satisfying “click” when you cap the pen due to an internal o-ring which helps keep the pen from drying out. The grip section is possibly my favorite part of the pen. There are different color options available for the grip section of this model, allowing you to choose a section to fit your mood or preference. I received the clear, orange, coke bottle, and smoke for this review. I love this design choice as it makes the pen “yours.”  When the pen is capped, part of the grip section is left exposed which works as an ink window and a perfect color accent to the body. There is a slight taper again through the grip section which ends in a flared finger stop.Nib Performance: The pen is fitted with the new art deco style Karas Kustoms laser engraved #6 Bock nib. There is an engraved pattern, “Karas” and “F” for fine. The nib lays down a slightly wet fine line and I had no hard starts or skips.Filling System: Here is where the pen gets interesting. Do you like converter filled pens? Do you like using cartridges? Do you like to eyedropper your pens? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this pen is perfect for you! There are o-rings in the cap and body which allow it to be eyedroppered and filled with the included pipette if you choose. Or you can use the included cartridges or converter to fill the pen as well. I am not a huge fan of eyedroppered pens, so I tested mine with the converter and had no problems with evaporation or burps and leaks. .Value: Retail price is $140.Overall: This pen is stunning! Let me say that again, this pen is stunning! It performed flawlessly and the material is possibly the most beautiful pen material I have ever seen. Anytime you have a pen that can change color depending on how the light hits it gets a win in my book. There are only 50 of this model being made so they may be a bit tough to find if they sell out fast. If you can’t get one in this material, I highly recommend the model as it is a great size for everyday use, long writing sessions, and quicks notes. The art deco nib, multiple filling options, swappable grip sections, and different design styles make this pen a great value and one that I will be proud to show off and use for a long time to come.Specs:Name: Karas Kustoms Vertex- ChrysopoeiaDesign: Omas AcrylateLength: 133mm (5.25 in)Posted: 149.2mm (5 7/8 in)Diameter: 15mm (.59 in)Weight: 17g (.59 oz)Nib: Stainless SteelFilling System: C/C and eyedropperPros:  Multiple filling systems, huge ink capacity when eyedropper filled, beautiful material, customizable grip sections.Cons: No clip (personal preference)In the same price range:Pilot Vanishing PointDiplomat AeroEsterbrook Estie