Pen Review #8 Lamy Z55 Gold Nib <EF> - Shiny!
I have been debating a gold Lamy nib for quite some time. I had my doubts mainly due to Lamy's nib inconsistency. However lately I have been going really crazy on my Lamys. I bought their new Lamy Al-Stars, as well as their Lamy Scarlet and Dark Dust. I've been looking through The Pen Company, and I impulse bought the Z55 EF when it was on a minor sale for 80£. Today the nib has arrived and I am not disappointed.
Nib Width
My main concern has been with the nib width. The Lamy gold nibs seem to have better quality control, thus more consistent nib sizes. That said, while the nib is on the thicker side of extra fine, and is significantly thicker than Lamy steel EF nibs, It is still thin enough to facilitate my tiny handwriting. I do write just the tiniest bit bigger with this nib. If you have a tiny handwriting that you are unwilling to adapt to this pen, I'd stick with Japanese fountain pens.
The Feel of the Nib
The feel of the nib is superb, and it is among the smoothest nibs I own. There is no feedback at all and the nib glides along the page effortlessly. It is also the tiniest bit wetter than their steel counterparts. One thing that I also never saw mentioned is how shiny this nib is. It glistens beautifully in light, and you will find yourself mesmerised by it. I first inked it with Diamine Sapphire, and later on with J. Herbin Lie De The. And Herbin's dry ink has gave it satisfying sailor-like feedback that I love. The nib is still a nail Lamy nib. It definitely doesn't have more line width variation than other Lamy nibs.
Conclusions
Overall, I'm happy with this purchase. Maybe the smoothness of this nib is not worth 120 quid, however the beautiful, sleek design easily makes up for it. It is a unique and a simple design that is not so easy to find nowadays with flashy nibs that most companies make. Maybe this is why I enjoy Lamy pens so much despite their Quality Control. While other manufacturers make beautiful pens, Lamy makes practical, functional tools. I would recommend this upgrade to anyone that wants to add flair to their existing Lamy, and doesn't care about stiff nibs.