Opus 88 Blue Whale Review: A Whimsical Eyedropper With Real Charm

Introduction

Sometimes a pen comes along that is simply fun, and the Opus 88 Blue Whale fits that description. This fairly new offering from the Taiwan-based brand takes the company’s standard demonstrator platform and wraps it in a charming whale theme, complete with a silver water spout on the cap and playful ocean artwork along the barrel. Priced at a reasonable level for what it offers, it is a pen worth a closer look if the motif appeals to you.

Design and Artwork

The base of the Blue Whale is a standard Opus 88 demonstrator, but the distinguishing feature is the whale-themed artwork. The cap carries a silver water spout, while the barrel features a cute illustration of what appears to be a humpback whale, complete with spots and barnacles along its back. In the background, a triangular geometric design in light blues represents the shimmering surface of ocean water under the sun. The whale is set apart from the background well, giving it a three-dimensional look that brings the seafaring giant to life.

The flat cap top carries a design that appears to be a continuous line drawing of two stylized whales around a globe, though the lack of tail flukes and the odd globe shape can be a little confusing at first glance. This transitions into the standard Opus 88 clip, whose ball end helps it work easily with materials of varying thickness. A translucent portion of the cap gives a good look at the nib, and it is nicely aligned with the clip.

The cap is straight with a rounded step down at the end, minimizing the transition to the barrel. The barrel is also straight, carries the company name near its end, and terminates in a transparent piston knob that, viewed straight down, offers a mesmerizing, deep-ocean view.

The Nib and Section

The cap twists off with four full rotations, which feels a bit excessive; two or three would be fine. Underneath sits a stainless steel number six JoWo nib, available in extra fine, fine, medium, broad, and a 1.5 mm stub, with flex extra fine and flex fine options also offered. The feed is plastic.

The section begins with a very slight flare, angles up fairly steeply to the resin cap threads, and steps up to the remainder of the barrel. The section also features artwork of a tail fluke splashing about, and its placement is a thoughtful touch: it aligns directly with the nib, so with a typical grip the artwork is visible in the gap between thumb and finger. The section is comfortable in the hand, the pen is long enough to use unposted, and it is not designed to post. Overall it feels fairly light and well balanced.

How the Japanese Eyedropper System Works

The Blue Whale uses a Japanese eyedropper system. There is a piston inside the barrel, and the end of the section carries an o-ring to prevent leakage. You ink the pen using a syringe or the included eyedropper, which is made from actual glass, a nice touch. An extra o-ring is also included in the box, along with a use and care guide.

When the piston is screwed shut, the ink in the barrel is sealed off from the forward section. When you need more ink during an extended writing session, you simply unscrew the back, cracking open the seal so ink can flow freely between the two chambers. You do not need to pull the piston all the way out; unscrewing it a bit does the trick.

Filling is straightforward: drop ink in with the eyedropper, seal the piston, and unscrew it slightly to let ink flow through the feed. Sometimes a gentle wave of the pen helps the capillary action get things moving.

Price and Availability

Although the Blue Whale has not been out for very long, it has been very popular, with several websites currently sold out. At the Italian retailer Stilo&Stile, the pen was still available and retails for around the equivalent of $125, which is a decent price point compared with some domestic retailers offering it for roughly $25 more. Opus 88 has a track record of quality pens at budget-friendly prices, so this one is worth checking out, especially if you enjoy the whale motif.

Measurements and Size Comparisons

The Blue Whale is virtually the same size as another standard Opus 88 demonstrator, just with different trim. Side by side, it also compares against the Opus 88 Coloro, the Sailor Pro Gear, the Faber-Castell Loom, the TWSBI Diamond 580 Iris, and the Delta Dolcevita. Uncapped, it sits comfortably alongside the Dolcevita, Diamond 580, and Pro Gear without feeling oversized.

Writing Performance

Inked with Lami Pacific Blue, a nicely vibrant blue compared with more muted options like TWSBI Sora or Faber-Castell Surf Blue, the broad stainless steel nib delivers a very pleasant writing experience. Do not expect much line variation even with pressure. Ink flow is fairly decent, and the feed keeps up well during fast writing.

Reverse writing is a little scratchy and spotty, which is worth keeping in mind if you flip nibs often, but for standard writing the broad nib is a genuinely comfortable daily performer.

Buying Advice

If you like demonstrator pens, playful artwork, and the huge ink capacity that comes with a Japanese eyedropper system, the Blue Whale makes a strong case for itself at its price. Grab it from a retailer that still has stock, since availability has been spotty.

Conclusion

The Opus 88 Blue Whale is an interesting pen with an interesting theme. It looks cute, writes pleasantly with a broad nib, and is reasonably priced. For fans of whimsical designs and eyedropper filling, it is an easy recommendation.