I hesitated for a long time before purchasing this fountain pen, as I was concerned about receiving a nib that might not perform well. Thanks to Appelboom’s nib service, those worries proved completely unnecessary. I received a stunning Homo Sapiens with a wonderfully smooth, soft, and richly flowing nib that makes writing an absolute pleasure. I am extremely satisfied with this pen and enjoy using it every single day.
My new daily business pen. Incredibly smooth and feels amazing in the hand. And Appleboom's in-house smoothing offer made this pen amazing straight out of the box. Huge fan!
It’s quite challenging to say something new about the Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age. It’s as iconic as it is occasionally controversial. Still, I always knew I’d add one to my collection someday - and that day has finally come.
I chose the Medium size to make it a true all‑around daily driver. Aware of the mixed experiences online regarding occasional nib issues, I decided to go with Appelboom’s excellent Tune & Smooth service. The result was outstanding, as usual: the pen arrived with a smooth, juicy nib and absolutely no issues.
Much has been said on the internet about the lava-infused resin, but I have to add that the tactile feeling is genuinely special - warm, grippy, and unlike anything else. It’s a pleasure to hold and to write with.
Truly, this pen is a remarkable piece of fountain pen history.
I waited for 10 years to purchase this pen. Not only saving up for it, but also heeding the many reviews that suggested you were gambling your money on a nib with reported quality control issues. I chose to purchase from Appelboom so I could take advantage of the pen tuning option. Well worth it in terms of cost and extra time on a purchase this expensive. The pen was beautifully and safely packaged. The actual pen writes like a dream. The nib wrote perfectly out of the box and produces a juicy line (Medium that writes more toward a Broad), smooth with a touch of feedback. The pen body material feels warm to the touch and is not slippery in my overly dry hands. The pen arrived a week ago and I've been using it constantly ever since. Filling the pen is a bit of a learning curve, due to no ink window, but research has told me to leave the pen in the ink for about 10 seconds after pushing in the plunger for a better fill. Thank you for your patience with my impatience Joost!
I have watched and wanted this pen in my collection for several years, but as other reviewers have noted, was hesitant to purchase due to longstanding issues in quality control on the nib. But after recently purchasing some other products from Appelboom and using their “tune and smooth” service option, I’ve learned that there is no need to fear the quality of the pen you will receive. The basaltic lava resin material on this pen is unique in bringing a literal piece of native Italian earth material into your hand and I love that concept in my fountain pens! I chose a Fine nib and specifically ask for a smooth and wet nib tuning and that’s exactly what I received. Perfect in every way. I cannot over-emphasize the benefit of using the tune and smooth service offered by Appelboom and their customer service is absolutely second to none. Most highly recommended!
This is like holding a legacy of Earth in your hand.
The feel of the material is exceptional, and the EF nib writes wet and smooth.
Zero disappointment.
This is a beautiful pen. The lava/resin body has such a unique feel to it, lighter than expected and warm to the touch. There's nothing quite like it. My medium nib came perfectly tuned (I requested Appelboom's nibmeister tune and smooth, and they did a great job). I'd say the medium it's closer to a Japanese medium than a Western medium, but it's exactly what I wanted. The hook lock closure works flawlessly--I've left this pen sitting for a month and it still wrote immediately upon uncapping. Excellent service from Appelboom, as always.
I had to wait for my pen quite a while. Apparently Visconti had some difficulties to deliver. But it was worth it.
The Visconti Homo Sapiens Lava Bronze with a fine nib is an exceptional writing instrument—beautifully balanced, smooth, and uniquely tactile. The lava material feels luxurious in hand, and the bronze accents add elegance. I chose the Tune and Smooth option and the nib (F) is very smooth and exactly as I like it.
I’m extremely pleased, and Appelboom’s outstanding customer service made the experience even better. Highly recommended on all fronts. I will come back for my next purchase.
..
