Montegrappa Orthocera Review: A Limited Edition Fountain Pen in Zebra Celluloid

Introduction

The Montegrappa Orthocera is a limited edition fountain pen produced exclusively for The Pleasure of Writing, a retailer based in Carmel, California. The run is capped at 100 pieces, and the material used is nearly the last of its kind: a distinctive zebra celluloid that gives the pen its unmistakable striped look.

This is a luxury pen with a luxury price, so the real question is whether the looks, materials, and performance justify it. After spending time with the pen, checking its parts and measurements, and putting a medium nib through a proper writing sample, the short answer is that it holds up well, with a few caveats worth knowing about.

Design and Materials

The Orthocera takes its name from an extinct nautiloid cephalopod that lived in the primordial seas more than 450 million years ago. Fossils of these creatures, often found in places like Morocco and Sweden, show the same banded, segmented pattern that appears in the pen’s celluloid, so the inspiration is genuinely visible in the finished product.

The zebra celluloid is the star here. The way the black and white banding is chopped up across the barrel and cap gives every pen in the run a slightly different appearance, and because the material is nearly exhausted from available stock, you are unlikely to see many other pens using it.

Trim is gold vermeil, which means sterling silver gilded with gold. The cap comes to a rounded, pointed tip, and the clip has a gentle bow and a wheel on the end. The cap band carries the company name on the front, with Italy and the limited edition number engraved on the back. The barrel steps down from the cap and tapers to a rounded point that mirrors the cap top nicely.

Handling and Daily Use

The cap twists off in one and a half rotations, revealing an 18k gold nib with Montegrappa’s signature octagonal design. The section starts with a flare, rises to the metal cap threads, and then offers an extended straight portion before stepping up to the barrel. That extended section accommodates a wide variety of grip styles and positions, and the metal threads are smooth rather than sharp or uncomfortable if your grip rests on them.

The pen is long enough to use unposted comfortably. The cap does post, but not very securely, so unposted is the better way to use it. At the rear of the pen, the barrel’s rounded taper keeps the overall profile clean.

Filling System

This is a cartridge converter pen. It accepts standard international cartridges, and two are included in the box along with a converter. Because of the metal on the interior threads as well as the section housing, eye dropping this pen would not be recommended. Stick with the included converter or cartridges.

Nib and Writing Performance

The 18k gold nib is available in extra fine, fine, medium, and broad. Stub options were offered at launch but appear to have sold out. The octagonal nib design is one of Montegrappa’s most distinctive touches, and there is something satisfying about ink creep settling into the engraved lines over time.

In use, the medium nib is decently smooth with a fair amount of feedback, and flow is generous. Push too hard and the nib can railroad briefly, but it recovers quickly. Reverse writing is not too scratchy, and the feed keeps up fine with fast writing. Overall it performs in a way that matches the price point.

Writing Sample and Ink Notes

For a nautically themed pen, a nautically themed ink felt appropriate. Anderillium’s Flying Squid Blue is a deep blue with decent shading, somewhat similar in tone to Monteverde Blue Velvet Cake. Diamine Oxford Blue is the alternative worth considering if you prefer something leaning more purple.

With either ink on smooth paper, the medium nib laid down a consistent, well-lubricated line. Long writing sessions were comfortable thanks to the extended grip section, and there were no hard starts or skipping across the sample.

Buying Advice

At $1,295 through The Pleasure of Writing, the Orthocera sits firmly in luxury territory. What you are paying for is a combination of scarce material, a limited edition of 100 pieces, gold vermeil trim, an 18k gold octagonal nib, and performance that matches the presentation.

If you want a luxury pen that is unlikely to be duplicated by anyone else at a pen meet, the zebra celluloid alone is a strong argument. If you prefer a more conventional filling system or a secure posted position, weigh those trade-offs carefully before committing. For buyers shopping in this range who value distinctive materials and solid nib performance, it deserves a place on the short list.

Conclusion

The Montegrappa Orthocera is one of those pens that earns its price through a combination of rarity, design, and writing quality. The zebra celluloid is genuinely special and nearly gone from available stock, the 18k gold nib delivers smooth, well-fed performance, and the detailing throughout feels considered. It is a pen with real cool factor, and for collectors shopping in the luxury tier, it is an easy recommendation with few meaningful drawbacks.