Visconti really struck a chord with pen lovers when it first introduced the Homo Sapiens pen collection over ten years go. And now, the Homo Sapiens Dark Crystal is making its debut, proving that the well-loved series continues to be—pun absolutely intended—hot.
Lava, from the active volcano Mt. Etna on the island of Sicily, was used to craft the original pen caps and barrels, and as a first in the world of pen making, it captured our collective imagination in a profound way. The lava composite gave the pen appealing properties—it was virtually unbreakable, and it had a uniquely smooth feel in the hand. Perhaps more importantly, it offered an interesting option in the more-mundane world of resin or metal pens.
So named for the “big bang” connotation of volcanic eruptions and such, it was trimmed in bronze in a nod to the Bronze Age, concurrent with the dawn of writing. It came in a fountain pen, capped rollerball, ballpoint and pencil. Another variation, the Homo Sapiens Steel Age, followed. Trimmed in stainless steel and retaining the original lava-sourced body, it was designed to symbolize man’s technological advancement.
Since then, various iterations of the Homo Sapiens have joined the collection. In 2019, for example, the Homo Sapiens Skylight was introduced, featuring solid bronze trim, a safety-lock cap and two “skylight” windows on the pen’s barrel to show the amount of ink available in each of its two reservoirs.
And earlier this year, the Homo Sapiens Tuscan Hills, said to be inspired by the lush rolling hills and high mountain peaks of Italy's Tuscany region, debuted. Its body was designed in pastoral shades of green and brown, its trim sterling silver.
“The Homo Sapiens continues to go from strength to strength,” says Mark Cole, CEO of Coles of London, the U.S. distributor of Visconti. “The collection was first launched back in 2010, and now 12 years later, the pen remains more popular than ever.”
He cites the many characteristics of the new pen that contribute to its appeal, such as its 18-karat Dreamtouch nib, the patented double reservoir ink system (which holds the equivalent of about ten cartridges of ink) and its classic profile.
“The Homo Sapiens really has become the [pen] industry’s ‘grail pen,’ the ‘perfect writing instrument,’ and I think the key reason for its success is here we have a pen with real innovation that delivers the complete luxury writing experience, especially for the everyday write,” explains Cole.
The most significant feature of the Homo Sapiens Dark Crystal is the inclusion of the smoky acrylic window on the barrel. A large section of the lava compound has been cut out of the pen’s body and replaced with a see-through area, thereby transforming the pen into a demonstrator-style writing instrument. This “window” offers the user a view of stored ink inside the pen.
Available exclusively as a fountain pen, the Homo Sapiens Dark Crystal is trimmed in ruthenium and offers a choice of nib sizes (EF, F, M, B, and stub). It is available this month.
