OPUS 88 Jazz Fountain Pen
Michael Hsu has been building the OPUS 88 brand for the past two decades by crafting each design to high standards. Since 1988, Michael worked as an OEM/ODM supplier and has developed a reputation for excellence. This reputation is well deserved, and their dedication is clearly evident in the fountain pens OPUS 88 produces. I have previously reviewed the Opus 88 Koloro, Picnic, Fantasia, and OMAR models. I reached out to OPUS 88 and they graciously sent me their new Jazz fountain pens for review. Thanks go out to them for sending this beauty to me and you can learn more about their products at the OPUS 88 website. Also, this is the final installment of my current OPUS 88 reviews and the kickoff of a three-pen giveaway!!! To enter, please check out my Instagram page for the details on how to enter.
Packaging: The Jazz comes in a black box with a blue outer sleeve. The outer box has the company logo, “OPUS 88,” and “Fine Writing Instruments” embossed in foil on the center. The inner box has “OPUS 88 Fine Writing Instruments” embossed in foil on the top right corner and “Since 1977” on the bottom left corner. The side of the box has an informational sticker with the model and company name, a picture of the material, and the nib size. The lid has a magnetic front flap and opens to reveal a foam insert holding the pen, a glass and rubber eyedropper, and a user manual.
First Thoughts: The pens have a classic design and simple but rich colors.
Design: OPUS 88 thinned down their design for the Jazz. Many of their pen designs are full/oversize fountain pens. The cap finial is a rounded dome that sits atop a steel cap band and clip ring. The clip has an elongated teardrop shape with a pattern around the edges similar to the edges of a quarter. The cap gradually widens to a cigar shaped cap band with “OPUS 88” engraved on it. The cap is removed with approximately 3 and half turns. The bottom finial is a dome shape matching the cap finial and has a steel band at the base. Like other OPUS 88 pens, the bottom finial is also the shut-off valve knob. The barrel gradually widens to a large ink window on the barrel which is visible when the pen is capped which I think is a great design choice. Each model has a different color ink window, the orange pen has a blue ink window, the black pen, has a grey/green window, and the white pen has a frosted/clear window. There is a slight step down in front of the ink window where the cap threads are, they are slightly sharp but unobtrusive. The grip section matches the body and tapers to a flared finger stop.
Nib Performance: I tested the medium nib for this review. The nib is a stainless-steel number 6 Jowo nib that is engraved with “OPUS,” “M” for medium, and decorative scrollwork around the edges. The nib, just like every OPUS 88 nib I have used, was perfectly tuned, and wrote beautifully out of the box. It was a perfect European medium line and the wetness can be adjusted by adjusting the shut-off valve. I decided to do a long test and left the pen unused for a month on my desk and it wrote right away without a hard start or a skip.
Filling System: The pens are eyedropper filled and they hold a large amount of ink. I have found that if you open the ink shutoff valve it makes it easier to fill the pen as well. To fill the pen, you unscrew the grip section to open the barrel. Once this is open, you fill the included eyedropper with your ink of choice and fill the barrel until just below the top of the ink shutoff valve rod inside the pen. Then simply screw the grip section back onto the body.
Value: The pen retails for $120-$125 USD depending on the color you choose.
Overall: If you prefer a full-size pen opposed to an oversize pen, with a great ink supply, and wonderfully performing nib, than this is the pen for you. The nibs, filling system, design, packaging are all a win for me. There are a few brands that hold a special place in my collection and brands that I constantly recommend to people in the hobby, OPUS 88 is always one of them.
Specs:
Name: OPUS 88 Jazz
Design: Resin eyedropper
Length: 151.2mm (5.95in)
Posted: 174mm (6.85in)
Diameter: 15.2mm (.60in)
Weight: 28g (.99oz)
Nib: Stainless Steel
Filling System: Eyedropper with a shutoff valve
Pros: Huge ink supply, great material, ink window
Cons: None
In the same price range:
Aurora Ipsilon
Benu Chameleon
Kaweco Liliput Copper
