Nahvalur Eclipse Review: A Retractable Nib Fountain Pen With Real Character

Introduction

Retractable nib fountain pens have quietly become their own category. After the Pilot Vanishing Point proved the concept, more manufacturers have joined in, and the Nahvalur Eclipse is one of the more interesting recent arrivals. It is a retractable nib pen machined entirely from aluminum, priced at €99, and available in several color and trim combinations.

This is a pen with a lot going for it, especially on paper performance. It also has a few design decisions that will matter more to some buyers than others. Here is a full breakdown of what works, what does not, and who this pen is really for.

What’s in the Box

The packaging is a slightly puzzling affair at first, with a cardboard outer sleeve that you pull away from the box along a printed line rather than lifting off. Inside, you get a small sticker, a soft fabric sleeve for the pen, a protective pouch, and a QR code pointing to the manual.

That last detail deserves a mention. Skipping the printed manual in favor of a QR code saves paper for everyone who does not need instructions, and it is a genuinely sensible initiative. The presentation is modest but thoughtful, and the pen itself is well protected.

Design and Build

The Eclipse is a large, girthy pen machined from aluminum, with a 12-sided faceted body that catches the light nicely. The clip is springy, works well for pen cases and pockets, and can be removed, though it takes some effort. The reviewed unit is the Obsidian finish with silver trim, and the pen also comes in Gold, Obsidian, and Iridium options, each with two trim choices.

The mechanism is the defining feature: the entire body slides in on itself to extend and retract the nib. Disassembly reveals a nib unit that slides into the section, held by a small spring and aligned with a metal ridge inside the body. The nib shape is strongly reminiscent of the Pilot Vanishing Point, and the included converter has a familiar, Sailor-like look, though neither is presented as a criticism, just an observation.

Reassembly takes care. You need to engage the spring correctly, align the nib unit on its ridge, and screw the end knob down while making sure the mechanism engages properly. It is not difficult once you know the parts are there, but the first attempt can be fiddly, and the spring can fall out unexpectedly if you are not expecting it.

Filling and Usability

Filling is refreshingly straightforward. The pen can be taken out of the box, opened, dunked in ink, and filled without consulting the manual. It is a cartridge converter filler, and the converter works nicely with no issues drawing ink up.

The removable clip is a genuine customization point. Longtime retractable nib users will remember how clip placement divided opinion on earlier pens in this category. Here, if the clip position does not work for you, it can be taken off. It is not effortless, but it can be done, and that flexibility is welcome.

Writing Performance

This is where the Eclipse shines. The fine nib on the reviewed unit is a very smooth, very comfortable writer with nice wetness that stops short of being excessive. The feed keeps up well even with fast writing, only starting to run slightly dry at aggressive speed, which is a non-issue at any normal pace. Paired with a drier ink like Diamine Delve Blue, the tune lands nicely balanced: not too dry, not too wet.

The nib is round with no natural line variation and is not particularly springy. Reverse writing is possible without scratching, though the clip can get in the way; rotating the clip out of the path solves that, and rotating it takes the line from a good fine toward an extra fine. For fans of finer lines, that adjustability is a nice bonus.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The main drawback is comfort, and it is significant for this reviewer’s grip style. Holding the pen on the barrel where the hand naturally falls, the faceted ridges dig into the skin. They are not sharp enough to cut, but they are pronounced enough to be uncomfortable over time. The best workaround is to rest the fingers on the chrome ring near the clip mount, but the thumb still partially contacts the ridges.

The size is also worth flagging. The Eclipse is very wide, almost baseball-bat proportions, and some fingers will not touch while holding it. The same issue came up with the Lamy Dialog 3, another retractable nib pen, so if that pen did not suit you, this one may not either.

The retractable mechanism itself has a practical compromise. Because the whole body slides in on itself, operating the pen one-handed is not easy unless you wrap your lower fingers loosely around the section area and have a large enough hand. Otherwise, it effectively becomes a two-handed pen, which raises the question of what advantage the retractable nib offers in that use case.

Buying Advice

At €99, the Eclipse is not cheap, but it delivers a genuinely excellent nib and a well-built aluminum body. If you value writing performance above all and can try the grip in person first, it is a rewarding pen. If you have smaller hands, are sensitive to faceted ridges, or want true single-handed operation, test it carefully before committing.

Conclusion

The Nahvalur Eclipse is a fantastic writer with a smooth, consistent, beautifully tuned nib, easy filling, and a clever full-body retractable mechanism that looks great in action. The faceted aluminum barrel and one-handed operation are the sticking points, and they are personal rather than universal. If the grip suits your hand, this is an easy recommendation at its price.