Platinum Platinum

Cartridges and converters, retractable nibs, pocket pens, generalization of gold nibs,… All these elements saw the light or became normal at some point during the 1960s in Japan. These years were a time of strong competition between Pilot and Platinum, struggling to increase their share in the market.

Different views of two Platinum Platinum pens of full and pocket sizes. There existed a smaller third pen for ladies.

As part of its strategy, Platinum released in 1967 a line of luxury pens made of sterling silver. And the marketing argument was that they implemented unique nibs made of some platinum alloy. And the pens were called “Platinum Platinum”.

Two full-size Platinum pens. The one on top implements a Pt-alloy nib whereas the other uses a more common 14K white gold nib. It is questionable whether the compositions were any different.

Actually, these nibs were made of white gold whose non-gold content included platinum. There are discussions of whether these Pt-alloy nibs were made of 14 or 18 K gold. In fact, years later, they were replaced by both 14 and 18 karat white gold nibs labeled as such. In 1976, a special edition of the full size silver pen was release on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Emperor Hiro-hito. It was equipped with a 14 K white gold nib, and displayed the 16-petal chrysanthemum seal (菊紋, kikumon) on the cap.

Platinum sterling silver pen, 14 K WG nib – Platinum Brown

Bruno Taut
Madrid, December 17th, 2012
labels: Platinum, Japón