Lamy Persona has been worth the wait!

This blog post as you can see from the title is nothing to do with one of my Brompton bicycles - although it does feature. It has been a busy week to say the least, but I managed to buy a pen that I have been after for ages upon ages. 

Lots of pen people have one of those pens that quietly sits on the wish list for years. Not necessarily because it's rare or expensive, but because the right one never seems to come along. For me, that pen has been the ‘Lamy Persona.’

So, midweek I made time to meet a chap in the middle of the Barbican Estate to collect the pen I had paid for beforehand and been after for ages. I took my Brompton with me as it was the most convenient form of transport. 

The chap I was buying from was there waiting and we had a chat about all things Brompton for a few minutes. The pen was from the early 1990’s and pretty much mint condition. The original outer box was there, and the inner box was as new. I was overjoyed! We said our goodbyes, and I cycled off with my prize in my front bag. Once home, after spending some time with it, I can honestly say it was worth the wait.

The first thing that struck me wasn't the nib or even the writing experience. It was just how well thought out the whole pen is. Everything feels intentional. The sprung clip is still a little engineering marvel after all these years, and the way the nib flows seamlessly into the section gives the whole pen a sculpted, almost architectural appearance. It doesn't look like a pen that was designed over thirty years ago. It looks like a pen that ignored fashion completely. As I wrote with it the meeting place only a few minutes previously at Barbican seemed wholly appropriate. 

Writing with it has been every bit as enjoyable. It's comfortable, beautifully balanced, and has that reassuring attention to detail. It's easy to see why so many people who own one never seem to let it go. My one is an early version and has an 18k nib. This was replaced on later models with a 14k nib. 

Of course, owning a Persona inevitably invites comparisons with the Lamy Imporium - a pen I also own. The family resemblance is obvious. Both were designed by architect Mario Bellini, and you can see the Persona's DNA throughout the Imporium.

The Imporium is an excellent pen. It updates the design slightly, bringing over Lamy's familiar interchangeable 14k gold nib, making it easier to service and perhaps more practical for everyday use.

The original Persona feels like a complete piece of industrial design. The integrated nib, the ingenious retracting clip. The Imporium feels like a really well thought out sequel rather than just a nod to the original. 

I'm sure the Imporium has its fans, and rightly so (I am definitely one of them) but the Persona is special. Very special. Some pens earn their reputation through flawless writing. Others through iconic design. The Persona manages to do both, and I'm very glad that one has finally found its way into the pen case!

Until next time, stay safe out there people!