Xezo Maestro Black Mother of Pearl Tungsten Review: A Fountain Pen With Real Presence

Introduction

The Xezo Maestro Black Mother of Pearl Tungsten is one of the more unusual pens we have looked at recently, combining a tungsten cap, section, and barrel ends with a barrel inlaid in Tahitian black mother of pearl. The trim is platinum plated, and the overall effect is a pen that feels genuinely premium in the hand.

Xezo produces its pens in limited numbers, and this model is available directly from the Xezo website. At $260, it sits at the higher end of the brand’s lineup, so the question is whether the materials and writing experience justify the price. The short version: it is an interesting pen with a distinctive look, but it has a few trade-offs worth knowing before buying.

First Impressions and Design

The barrel is the star of the show. It is adorned with Tahitian black mother of pearl, and producing each barrel reportedly takes around two weeks of work, including a great deal of manual polishing to bring out the unique colors of the material. In person, the shell has a subtle chatoyance when light hits it at the right angle, and the contrast between the warm iridescence of the pearl and the cool gunmetal tone of the tungsten is genuinely appealing.

The barrel itself is slightly bulbous, with its thickest point in the middle, tapering down toward both ends. Greek key bands frame the pearl at the start and end of the barrel, with tungsten pieces capping each end. One practical note: the polished tungsten is something of a smudge magnet. Even with hands that are not particularly oily, the finish accumulates fingerprints quickly, which makes the included polishing cloth more of a necessity than a nice extra.

Cap and Clip Details

The cap is a mix of thoughtful touches and small frustrations. The top is rounded and transitions into a wavy clip that has a hint of an Italian horn shape to it, a classic good-luck symbol. The clip is not overly stiff and works with materials of varying thickness, including the thicker leather of pen sleeves, which is a practical win.

Near the end of the cap sits an engraved band reading the company name, Maestro, “0.999 platinum plated,” and the individual pen number. The platinum plating reference feels a little superfluous engraved on the pen itself, but the numbered band is a nice touch for a limited pen.

The cap removes in a single rotation, and posting takes only about a quarter of a turn, which makes posting quick and easy despite the threaded barrel end. That said, the cap is heavy enough that it significantly back-weights the pen when posted and throws off the balance, so most writers will prefer to use it unposted.

Nib and Writing Performance

The pen uses a two-tone stainless steel number 5 Yeovo nib, available in fine or medium, with a plastic feed. It is a cartridge-converter pen that accepts standard international cartridges, and a converter is included in the box. Because of the abundance of metal in the body, eyedropper conversion is not recommended.

Aesthetically, the gold accent on the two-tone nib clashes slightly with the otherwise all-silver trim of this pen, and a straight silver finish would arguably suit it better. It might also have been nice to see a larger number 6 nib on a pen of this size.

In use, the section, despite being metal tungsten, is not overly slick. The large flare at the end helps maintain a solid grip, which is welcome on a heavier pen. Ink flow is decent for a medium nib, and the feed keeps up comfortably with fast writing. Reverse writing is a bit hit and miss, and there is not a huge amount of line variation, though some can be coaxed out with pressure.

What Comes in the Box

Xezo’s packaging is unusual: the box opens from the middle. Inside, you get a certificate of quality, a warranty card, a box of cartridges, and a polishing cloth, which, as noted, earns its keep with this pen’s smudge-prone tungsten finish. The inclusion of the cloth alongside the cartridges and converter means the pen is ready to use out of the box.

Buying Advice

At $260, this pen is on the high end in terms of value proposition for the model. The genuine appeal lies in the materials: the tungsten offers a neat gunmetal look, and the mother of pearl is a lovely contrast that photographs and feels better than most resin finishes. If you value distinctive natural materials and are comfortable paying a premium for them, it makes sense. If you prioritize nib performance per dollar, there are stronger options at this price.

Because these pens are produced in limited numbers, availability can be inconsistent. One quirk of the Xezo website: rather than a dropdown to select nib size, there is a separate product listing for each nib option, so check both the fine and medium listings if you are browsing.

Conclusion

The Xezo Maestro Black Mother of Pearl Tungsten is an interesting addition to the Xezo lineup. Its strengths are its distinctive materials, quick one-rotation cap removal, easy posting, and a feed that keeps up with fast writing. Its weaknesses are the smudge-prone tungsten finish, a cap that unbalances the pen when posted, a number 5 nib where a number 6 might have suited better, and a price that sits at the high end for what you get. If the look speaks to you, it is worth checking availability sooner rather than later, since these pens do not stay around for long.