Visconti is delighted to announce the launch of the highly anticipated Homo Sapiens ‘Skylight’, the latest addition to Visconti’s iconic Homo Sapiens series. The ‘Skylight’ is truly an engineering marvel, a pen that showcases all the unique benefits of the original award-winning Homo Sapiens with the addition of the new extraordinary ‘Skylight’ windows. Two transparent windows transform the Homo Sapiens into a unique demonstrator, where the user is not only able to benefit from seeing the remaining level of ink stored but is also able to view Visconti’s patented ‘double reservoir’ vacuum filling system.
The Homo Sapiens ‘Skylight’ offers all the benefits of the original Homo Sapiens Bronze Age:
- Made from volcanic lava rock, the pen is virtually unbreakable, naturally hygroscopic and very comfortable to write with
- All trims are made from natural solid bronze
- The cap closes with Visconti’s patented ‘hook safe lock’
- Features the soft, buttery smooth Visconti 18kt gold fountain pen nib in rose gold vermeil to match the color of the pen’s trims
The Visconti design and engineering teams worked hard to add the following innovations:
Sky Light Windows
Two ‘Skylight’ viewing windows enable the user a view of the flowing ink within the interior of the pen:
- A large window cut into the pens barrel offering a view of stored ink in the larger ink reservoir (trimmed in natural bronze)
- A smaller window behind the pen’s grip offering a view of stored ink in the pens second smaller ink reservoir
Double Reservoir Power Filler
The single reservoir power filler in the original Homo Sapiens Bronze Age is replaced with Visconti’s patented double reservoir power filler. A vacuum filling system that is easy to use and has considerable benefits.
Patented in 1998, the double reservoir power filler is undoubtedly the most advanced filling system ever developed in fountain pen history. It allows the collector to fill a fountain pen with the equivalent of up to 10 cartridges of ink, and thanks to the two reservoirs, prevents ink from leaking during air travel.
How it Works
The body of the pen is divided into two ink reservoirs, one larger in the pens barrel and one smaller behind the pens nib. When writing with the pen ink is used from the small reservoir, when ink runs out the user then transfers ink from the larger back-up reservoir to continue writing. Essentially, the larger reservoir acts as a portable ‘bottle of ink’ inside the pen. The two reservoirs are separated by a cut-off valve, when it is open ink can then move freely from one reservoir to the other:
- When ink in the smaller reservoir runs out, the users opens the valve to transfer ink from the larger reservoir to the smaller. Now the small reservoir is full of ink and the user can continue writing.
- Before air travel the user does the opposite and drains ink from the small reservoir back to the large reservoir and then tightens the valve. Once empty there is no ink in the small reservoir to leak out of the nib due to a change in air pressure when flying.
The Homo Sapiens Skylight is available in fountain pen only. Nib width options are:
- Large Visconti 18kt gold nib: EF, F, M B, and 1.3 Stub
Steven Zukerman (verified owner) –
I have always liked the Homo Sapiens, but didn’t like the fact that there was no visible ink window. I received the HS Skylight yesterday, and love everything about this pen. The nib is 18ct gold, and the 2 ink windows are perfect! More important to me is the way the pen writes. I am always disappointed when I pay a lot for a new pen and have to lateer send it to a nibmeister for adjustment. I had requested that Dan tune and adjust the nib to my preferences, and boy did he get it right. It writes perfectly, with absolutely no flaws whatsoever. The nib is smooth, with a wet fine line (as I had asked for!). I can’t imagine ever buying a pen without having Dan adjust the nib first!!
Doug Cranmer (verified owner) –
BEAUTIFUL PEN, WRITES FLAWLESSLY, GREAT SERVICE FROM NIBSMITH:
I’ve admired the Visconti Homo Sapiens line for many years. I finally pulled the trigger on purchasing the Visconti Homo Sapiens Skylight pen from The Nibsmith, Dan Smith. The pen arrived today via FedEx Home Delivery, even a bit faster than I was expecting. The packaging by Dan was very nice for transport, everything well padded, for minimal movement in shipping box. The pen itself is a sight to behold: not only is the look of the pen really nice, it’s cool to hold, literally cool feeling, maybe from the resin with lava being slightly hygroscopic. The small reservoir has a secondary ink window that is a clear band on this pen, just above the grip, which is really a nice touch for this Skylight model which is a touch pricier than the standard Visconti HS with brass accents. The fit and finish of the Skylight windows is very nice. There were some reports of the windows not sitting completely flush with the body, but I think that quality issue has been resolved by Visconti.
I filled the pen with my favorite blue ink (Kon-pecki, Azure Blue from Pilot’s Iroshizuku line) and tried the pen out on my notebook. The result, WOWSA! Just as smooth as melted butter across a non-stick pan… Dan, the Nibsmith smoothed and tuned the 1.3mm Stub before sending the pen… it’s literally the smoothest fountain pen that I’ve ever written with. I do like a very wet line and this does not disappoint. I perhaps could have gone with a bold instead of stub, but it’s very subjective. If you have any doubt about buying from Nibsmith, you shouldn’t: my pre-purchase questions were answered very quickly, my items shipped quickly with tracking number info via email and the pen arrived with a nib that is a total joy. I know this won’t be my last purchase from The Nibsmith. Happy writing!
Lee –
This pen is absolutely stunning. I previously had ordered a different Visconti that was not performing as expected, and Dan promptly was able to offer solutions and ultimately I ended up choosing to exchange for this pen. This pen absolutely shattered expectations, and the work done on the nib is PHENOMENAL. I cannot say enough good things about how smooth and wet and broad he was able to make the nib, exactly to my specifications and desires. He took the time to really make sure that the pen was exactly as I had wanted it to be, and I could not be more pleased. His flexibility in finding solutions and willingness to make sure I was getting what I wanted guarantees that there will be many more future purchases from the Nibsmith.