An Explosion of Information …about Visconti’s new Homo Sapiens Collection

by Paul Erano

When I stepped through the door of the Philadelphia Pen Show at the Sheraton Hotel in January, the president of Visconti, Dante Del Vecchio, was standing in front of the Visconti display, talking and listening intently to people interested in his new line of pens. My assignment was to interview Mr. Del Vecchio for this magazine. But before introducing myself, I stopped to examine the new Homo Sapiens collection making its debut, since this was to be the topic of our conversation. I have to admit, not every new pen catches me by surprise, but I was curious to see this new pen based on what I had read. It is made from lava from Mount Etna and comes equipped with an extraordinary new nib shaped from almost pure palladium. Could a pen really be made from lava? Each pen in the collection contains more than 50% basaltic lava (yes, there are different kinds of lava) formed into components through a special process developed by Visconti.

I picked up and examined a few sample blank pen parts that lay on the display table. The material was dense and tactile. It might be lava, I thought, but it was certainly a high-tech variant that looked as well suited for the space shuttle as Visconti’s new line of pens. The analogy is not far off: the material is unbreakable, flameproof and slightly hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the hand, and is very pleasant to touch. Three pens were in the display: a fountain pen ($595), rollerball ($395) and ballpoint ($325), each a different size. A pencil is also available at $345. Alongside the pens was a vial of dark granular powder that held the secret to the pen’s genetic makeup. I examined the vial and marveled at how the black powder I held was “catalyzed,” according to Del Vecchio, into parts for the new fountain pen.
Visconti chose the name Homo Sapiens to symbolize how two uniquely human activities, writing and metallurgy, form the basis of all writing instruments. And true to their purpose, the pens beg to be picked up and written with. Their appearance is understated and elegant.  Bronze accents are balanced and subtle and dress the black pen rather than overpower it. I’m one who is keen on pens made of new materials if they enhance the pen’s aesthetics and improve their function. In this case, the effect is striking—a clear win for the judicious use of restraint over frivolous ornamentation. 
On the metallurgical side, three diverse metals are used to create the pen, not the least of which is the 23-karat palladium used to make the nib, the pen’s most significant and novel feature. It is an elegant, two-tone traditional-style nib with a lively feel and a moderate amount of flex, and Visconti states resistance to ink corrosion is improved up to 100 percent because of the pureness of the metal. The nib is named Dreamtouch to reflect how its pressure-less ease allows writing to keep pace with thoughts. Metal parts and fittings on the pen are pure bronze, chosen for its ties to the Bronze Age and because it is durable and beautiful, with the added benefit of being environmentally friendly. The piston rod used in Visconti’s high-power filler is made of super-strong and non-corrosive titanium.