Scribo Piuma Amatista Review: Italian Craftsmanship With a Standout Resin

Introduction

The Scribo Piuma Amatista is a limited-edition Italian fountain pen that leans heavily on two things: a genuinely beautiful resin and a nib that punches well above its understated design. Scribo is based in Bologna, Italy, and was founded by a group of former Omas employees after the original iteration of that company went out of business. The name Scribo carries several meanings, including the Latin “I write” and a portmanteau of “scrittura” (writing) and “Bolognese” (of Bologna), where the factory is located.

The pen reviewed here was provided on loan, and this write-up covers the design, features, measurements, and real-world writing behavior so you can decide whether it fits your collection.

Who This Pen Is For

The Piuma Amatista suits fountain pen enthusiasts who appreciate subtlety over flash. This is a sleek, simplistic design with no dramatic visual flourishes; if you want a pen that quietly rewards close inspection, this is squarely in that territory. It also makes sense for writers who prioritize nib quality, because the gold nib options here are a genuine standout. Conversely, if you prefer bold, sculptural pens or a very high grip on the section, it is worth reading the considerations below before buying.

Design and Finish

Piuma is the Italian word for feather, and the Amatista is the Italian word for amethyst, which fits the material perfectly. This pen is part of a gemstone-inspired series with three recent additions: the Agata (deep blue-black), the Corneola (a vibrant orange, named for carnelian), and the Amatista. Each color is limited to 219 pieces.

The amethyst resin is the strongest visual argument for this pen. It has a creamy chatoyance with waves of color variation that give the material a sense of movement and life, and all three gemstone editions share a lovely pearlescent quality.

The cap flattens to an edge at the top, inlaid with a metal disc carrying the feather logo. The clip is basic rather than showy, but it integrates cleanly with the overall aesthetic and works well on materials of varying thickness. Two subtle flattened lines run down the cap and barrel on either side of the pen; they are hard to see unless the light catches them, and they cannot be felt at all. A single cap thread means those lines always align when the pen is capped, a small but welcome attention to detail. The cap band is engraved with the company name on one side and Made in Italy on the other.

The packaging is generous. The pen arrives in a box with a use and care guide, and the kit includes a firm canvas sleeve with a leather strap, leather pouches, slots for two pens, and a polishing cloth. It is a nice touch that the storage solution carries more than just the pen you purchased.

The Nib: The Real Highlight

The Piuma’s standout component is a number six 18k gold nib with a low-profile swooping ebonite feed. It is available in an unusually wide range of sizes: extra extra fine, extra fine, fine, medium, broad, double broad, triple broad, and a stub. A 14k gold flex nib is also offered in extra fine, fine, medium, or broad.

There is a compelling backstory here: when Omas’s assets were liquidated, Scribo purchased the nib-making tools, so these nibs are manufactured in-house on equipment that previously made Omas nibs. The engraving on the nib is also distinctive and rather unique. The particular pen tested here carries a double broad unit, and it is extremely smooth, very wet, and a genuine joy to use.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The Piuma is a cartridge-converter pen, accepting standard international cartridges, and a metal-nibbed converter is provided. Eyedropper filling is not recommended.

There are two ergonomic points to weigh. First, the section transitions through a fairly large step up from the threads to the barrel. If, like most writers, you grip close to the end of the section, that step sits far enough back to stay out of the way. If you tend to grip further back on the section, it may impede your hold slightly. Second, the retail price sits around 525 euros depending on the current exchange rate, which is on the high end of what the overall design justifies on its own. The sleek, simple aesthetics will not jump out at everyone; the resin and the nib carry most of the value here.

Writing Performance

The double broad nib tested here is very double broad, and it pairs beautifully with dense, vibrant violet inks. Ink flow leans to the wet side, and the feed keeps up very well even during fast writing. Line variation is readily available with a nib this generous.

Reverse writing is the one area where it is less impressive: there is a fair amount of feedback, not scratchy exactly, but the ink flow is more limited on the reverse stroke. For normal, forward writing, however, the experience is consistently smooth and satisfying.

Sizing and Comparisons

Capped, the Piuma sits in familiar territory alongside other large European pens. It compares in scale with pens such as the Pelikan M805, Visconti Homo Sapiens, Sailor King of Pen Pro Gear, Montblanc 149, and an Omas Milord, and it looks proportionate next to all of them. Uncapped comparisons with the Pelikan M805, Sailor Pro Gear King of Pen, and Montblanc 149 show a similarly full-sized profile.

Scribo also offers other models in the Piuma line, including versions with the 14k gold flex nib, so it is worth exploring the range if this resin appeals but the nib sizing does not.

Buying Advice

If you are considering the Piuma Amatista, think of it as a nib-first purchase wrapped in a beautiful but understated body. The in-house gold nibs, with their Omas pedigree and wide size range, are the reason to buy. The resin is the reason to fall in love with it. The price is the reason to pause. Try the grip position in person or with a similarly stepped section if you write with a high grip, and check current nib availability across the range before committing to one configuration.

Conclusion

The Scribo Piuma Amatista is a classy, sharply finished limited edition with a resin that has real life to it and a nib that makes the pen very much worthwhile. The large step on the section and the premium price are the main caveats, but for enthusiasts who value smooth, wet gold nib performance and subtle Italian design, this pen has a lot to offer. It is a pen worth seeking out, testing, and enjoying.