Penlux Masterpiece Delgado Euploea Review: A Well-Crafted Piston Filler With a Butterfly Story

Introduction

The Penlux Masterpiece Delgado Euploea is one of the most recent additions to Penlux’s Delgado series. Penlux is a fountain pen maker based in Taiwan, and this pen carries a theme with genuine Taiwanese roots: Euploea is a genus of milkweed butterflies, dark in coloration, commonly known as crows. In Taiwan, a rare species called the purple crow migrates each winter to a sheltered valley in the south, aptly named the Purple Butterfly Valley, where hundreds of thousands of the butterflies can be seen gathered.

This review covers the parts and features of the pen, what works well and what could be better, measurements and size comparisons, and a writing sample with a stainless steel medium nib.

Unboxing and Presentation

The pen arrives in a sliding box with the company name peeking through a slot; the lid lifts to reveal the pen plus a few thoughtfully chosen extras. There is a use and care guide with easy to understand graphics, and a certificate of authenticity on nicely debossed cardstock.

The most interesting inclusion is a translucent piece of plastic carrying important handling information: while the nib and feed can be removed, attempting to remove the section or the piston knob can potentially damage the pen beyond repair. Penlux deserves credit for presenting this warning in a format that actually gets noticed, since most buyers skim the paperwork that comes with a pen. It got our attention, and it is genuinely important information.

Design and the Euploea Theme

The theme is pulled off well. The resin uses black, light purple, and amber tones, and it does resemble the butterfly behind the name. It also brings to mind a koi fish, which is not a bad look for a pen either. The rose gold plated trim ties the whole color palette together.

At the top of the cap there is a wide, rounded finial that transitions into the clip band and clip. The clip looks similar to what you will find on Leonardo pens, just a bit wider. It is fairly stiff, and while a small wheel helps it work with thinner materials, thicker fabric will need a pinch to help it along. The cap angles up until roughly the last inch, straightens out, then meets a rose gold band with a crisply stamped company logo, a detail worth appreciating.

The barrel tapers down at a fairly even angle to a band marking the start of the piston knob, which tapers at a slightly steeper rate and ends in a rounded finial. The section starts with an angled flare and rises slightly to a step up to the threads, a straight gripping portion, then another small step to the barrel. The angle is not too steep and the girth feels size appropriate, allowing a firm, comfortable grip. The cap posts securely and, being fairly light, does not backweight the pen or throw off the balance, so fans of posting can do so comfortably. The angled cap band also minimizes any sharp edge against the hand at that transition.

The Piston Filling System

This is a piston filler, and the mechanism operates smoothly. Given that this is a rather large pen, it carries a decent ink capacity, which makes it practical for longer writing sessions without frequent refills.

One note of caution, repeated from the included documentation: leave the section and piston knob alone. Removing them risks damage beyond repair, so treat the piston mechanism as a sealed unit and it will serve you well.

Nib Options and Writing Performance

Under the cap, which twists off in just under two rotations, sits a stainless steel JoVo number six nib engraved with the Penlux logo and plated in rose gold to match the trim. That plating choice works; a silver colored nib would have clashed with the overall color scheme. The plastic feed keeps the line consistent.

Nib choices are broad: fine, medium, broad, and a 1.1 stub in stainless steel, plus a 14 karat gold flex nib and 18 karat gold nibs in fine and medium. In the medium stainless steel configuration tested here, the nib runs smooth, leaning toward the smooth side with less feedback. There is a little line variation, though not a lot, and ink flow is decent. Reverse writing is a touch scratchy, and fast writing poses no issue whatsoever.

For ink, this resin suits a number of directions: a lavender or purple looks natural, but a lighter or darker brown would work too. The writing sample used Seitz Kreuznach Dark Orchid, a saturated darker orchid shade, though not quite as dark as something like Leonardo Purple. Ferris Wheel Press’s light Robinia was considered for its color match but passed over in favor of a more saturated ink.

Price and Value

The Masterpiece Delgado Euploea is available from a number of retailers and sells for $136. That feels like a very reasonable price for what the pen brings to the table: a large, well crafted piston filler with an attractive resin and coherent trim choices. Anyone who has never tried a Penlux pen will find this a worthwhile introduction.

Measurements and Size Comparisons

This is a large pen, and its proportions sit comfortably among other full size models. For context, it compares well next to other Penlux models such as the Delgado Beta and the Masterpiece Grande Wave, and it runs alongside familiar benchmarks like the Lamy Safari, TWSBI Vac 700, Pilot Vanishing Point, and Sailor Pro Gear. Uncapped, it remains in line with the Safari and the Vac 700, so hands that handle standard full size pens should adapt quickly.

The girthy, comfortable section is the standout dimension here, sized appropriately for the overall body of the pen and easy to hold for extended writing sessions.

Buying Advice

If you like large piston fillers and want one with a distinctive resin and thoughtful details, the Delgado Euploea earns a spot on the shortlist at its price point. Choose your nib accordingly: go stainless steel for smooth, low feedback everyday writing, or consider the gold options if you prefer a softer, more refined nib feel. Avoid attempting to disassemble the section or piston knob, and this pen should be straightforward to live with.

Conclusion

The Penlux Masterpiece Delgado Euploea is a well crafted piston filler whose black, purple, and amber resin genuinely honors its rare butterfly inspiration, finished with matching rose gold trim and a smooth number six nib. At $136 it represents strong value, and it makes a compelling case as a first Penlux purchase for anyone curious about the brand.