Conklin Duraflex 120th Anniversary Fountain Pens Reviews

Very pleased with all aspects of purchase.

Good and relatively inexpensive pen with a rose gold plated solid steel semi-flex nib. I purchased in medium and although there isn't much line variation due to pressure, there is some on the downstrokes and it has a subtly pleasing effect, especially with cursive handwriting. The variation is slight when compared with Roundhand written with a Brause nib, but it definitely results in a more pleasing script than a writing with an inflexible nib. The variation also allows some shading with inks as ink can pool when the tines are spread, which can also create a pleasing effect depending on the ink used. I have charged the included converter with Diamine Oxblood ink and the pen writes smoothly and wet and glides over the paper. I would like to get a vintage flex pen as I have heard the nibs allow greater line variation, but this pen is relatively cheap and makes a very good day to day writing pen. The rose gold furnishings complement the marbled blue acrylic body. The pen is a medium size, is quite traditional in its styling and is light due to the plastic body. I very much like the marbled blue finish that ranges from almost black through to sky with it mostly appearing somewhere between Lapis Lazuli and Royal Blue. The included ink is also very good - a good deep blue with a hint of purple. I prefer blue black for daily writing but if you are into blue inks, I would recommend the Conklin 120th Anniversary Blue ink as much as I recommend the pen to anyone looking to write with some line variation. It's a great pen for the price and I'd recommend this pen, and Pen Chalet, to anyone considering buying a pen with a soft flexible nib.

Absolutely beautiful barrel and nib on this anniversary pen. Great amounts of flex capability and always starts immediately and writes beautifully, regardless of the type of ink. Slightly lighter weight than I had anticipated, but great for longer writing sessions for me. I always receive compliments on this beautiful blue swirled pattern with rose gold accents.

The omniflex nib looks unusual but the ink flow is horrible on cheap copy/ work paper. The pen does have hard starts at times. This nib uses a lot of ink and the line width on paper is broad without flexing and super broad when flexed.

The nib with feed was not in alignment properly on my pen. you can pull the nib off the pen separately or the nib and feed from the pen, then realign the 2 & put them back into the pen grip section. I haven't tested the pen yet after doing this, but I hope it will help with the flow/ hard start issue.

You could also just buy a nib by itself and fit the nib onto the original feed of the pen if you don't like the original nib on the pen.

Great pen for the money. The color is a bit darker than I hoped, but I do enjoy the dark blue, pink gold combination.
Flex nib is not great as described by many, difficult to start, flow not great but I am adapting by writing slower than usual when flexing. In full disclosure I am using whatever paper block and the writing experience is enjoyable overall.

I am embarrassed to admit that this is my 7th Duraflex pen, and the 120th Anniversary is my absolute favorite, and who isn’t a sucker for numbered, exclusive Limited Edition pens? The Omniflex nib problems of old have been fixed, and now they are great writers. My first experience with an Omniflex nib was disappointing, but Conklin C/S (Yama) cheerfully replaced my entire nib unit. All that was required of me was returning the offending nib to them so they could see what went wrong.

Flex? Not a huge amount, but what you do get is a springy, responsive writing experience. Now for looks.... there have been times, while writing (read that as “playing”) with several pens in the same session, that I have actually mistaken this one for my Uber expensive, (compared to the Duraflex), Aurora Optima Blue Auroloid. The blue body of this pen is astoundingly beautiful, and kudos of the designer who chose the rose gold trim—genius! I like to post my pens, and although I agree that posting this one makes for a very long pen, I do not find it unwieldy or unmanageable, as the cap is not very weighty. I worry a little about the unprotected part of the cap underneath the metal rings that function as a cap band, as it appears slightly fragile, but so far, I have not had the bottom of the cap split or show weakness from having to use only friction to post it.

The only heads up comment, not really a complaint, though, is about inconsistency of line size among the nibs. I have found that every pen has a nib that is a slightly different width, meaning that one pen may write like a fine, and the next one, a medium. Clearly, ink choices can affect what I am describing, but I experimented with several different inks, if for nothing else, to prove to myself that I was not imagining it. I can say this with some authority because I have bought 2 of them for myself, and one more for a friend.. This is not a complaint, since I like the variation, especially if you obsessively buy two or more of the same pen, but it may be an unwelcome feature to some. Also, I have accepted that very few new pens, of any brand, do not need a little fine tuning, so I was ready with my adjustment implements when I was unboxing this beauty. I am pleased to say that none of the three aforementioned 120th Anniversary pens required any adjustment on my part. I would say that for the price, this is a steal, and it easily holds its own with pens costing many times more.

One more thing...I feel that I need to comment on Pen Chalet, as a company. Excellent! Not only were these pens offered at a discount, but I also took advantage of one of their many sales. I love the fact that there is no shipping charge after accumulating a ridiculously low dollar amount, and on top of all of that, my pens arrive faster than with any other company I have ever done business with. I love Pen Chalet!!!

This is a beautiful pen that writes smoothly. It is the first fountain pen I've ever purchased that my husband actually commented on. He doesn't quite understand my fascination with them. :) Everyone I've shown it too is awed by it. So glad I bought it for myself for Christmas! But I am a Conklin Duragraph junkie, after all.

Serial no. 606

Nice, not the best pen I own. Nib is interesting.

Truly a beautiful pen. The rich blue and Rose Gold are the perfect combination. This pen went straight into the collection and will not be inked. However; I own many Conklins and can assure you that you will love them.