Omas Ogiva 222 Review: A Beloved Italian Name Returns

Introduction

The Ogiva 222 is the first pen from the revived Omas brand, and it carries a lot of expectation on its shoulders. Omas was founded in Bologna, Italy in 1925 by Armando Simoni, and the name is an acronym for Officina Meccanica Armando Simoni, roughly translating as mechanics workshop. The original company closed its doors in 2015 after years of financial trouble, and its inventory was liquidated.

The revival is not a straightforward relaunch. The U.S. rights were purchased by a partnership between Narwhal and Manu Calizoni, who also acquired a number of original Omas assets, mainly nibs and rod stock. This is a rebirth rather than a continuation: the company works to preserve as much of the original brand as possible while introducing new offerings. Revivals always divide opinion, but the openness shown around manufacturing is a good early sign.

A New Chapter for a Historic Italian Brand

The Ogiva 222 is a limited edition of 222 units, and the name carries a double meaning: February 22nd, 2022 was the date the idea of reviving Omas began. Ogiva is the Italian term for the top of an arch, known in English as ogive. It is not an exact replica of the original Ogiva; it is slightly longer and a bit thicker than a vintage example, inspired by its namesake rather than duplicated by it. Reports suggest future models may be based on the original blueprints.

The pen is made from blue saffron celluloid, one of the rarer Omas materials, with a lovely mix of darker blue and brownish orange that has a creamy quality to it. The classic cigar shape is trimmed in gold plating, with a rounded cap top transitioning into a wheeled clip that is easy to use and accommodates varying material thicknesses. Dual cap bands carry laser engraving of the company name and Italy, and the band angles down slightly to reduce the step to the barrel.

Nib and Filling System

Under the cap, which comes off with one and a quarter rotations, sits a number six sized 18 karat gold nib drawn from original Omas stock. There is some debate about whether Omas manufactured these nibs in-house or had them made by Yovo and tuned them to their own specifications. Whatever the origin, the tuning feels distinct: the nibs write wetter and softer than stock Yovo 18k nibs. It is available in fine, medium, and broad, with some retailers also listing extra fine, double broad, and oblique medium.

The ebonite feed has a low, sharp profile that looks excellent, and the section’s engraved band has the company name aligned with the nib, a small detail that matters. This is a piston filler with an internal cylinder, so ink never contacts the celluloid, which is good for long-term preservation.

Writing Performance

The writing experience is where the Ogiva 222 earns its price. The medium 18k nib is wet and juicy, with a soft feel and just a hint of feedback. Even without being a flex model, it offers noticeable line variation when pressure is applied gently.

Reverse writing is not scratchy and gets the job done, and fast writing is mostly smooth, though the occasional skip did appear during longer samples. Paired with a saturated blue ink, the line it lays down is rich and expressive. Overall, the nib is the standout element of this pen.

Size and Handling

The Ogiva 222 sits comfortably in the hand and is well balanced. Size comparisons with large luxury pens such as a Montblanc 149, a Pelikan M1000, a Visconti Homo Sapien, and a Sailor King of Pen show it holds its own in that company dimensionally.

One handling quirk: the cap does not really post. If you rotate the cap when removing it, you risk engaging the piston knob, which could expel ink, so unposted use is the safer bet.

Things to Consider Before Buying

There are a few details worth weighing. The laser engraving on the barrel, reading the company name, Ogiva 222 edition, and the pen’s number, features large grooves visible to the naked eye; personally, no engraving would have been preferable. Under magnification, the cap band engraving also shows individual laser lines.

The price is $895, and Omas is positioning itself as a luxury brand, so entry-level pens are unlikely, just as with the original incarnation. The value feels on the high end for this particular pen, even though the material and nib performance are outstanding.

Buying Advice

If you love Omas history, striking celluloid, and excellent gold nibs, the Ogiva 222 is a compelling first offering from the revived brand. If small finishing details bother you, it may be worth waiting to see how future models refine things.

Conclusion

The Ogiva 222 is an interesting debut for the reborn Omas. The blue saffron celluloid is beautiful, the writing performance is outstanding, and the brand’s legacy looks to be in thoughtful hands. A few engraving details could be improved, but it is good to see the Omas name live on.