Fountain Pen: Xezo Maestro
- whimsicaleccentric
- Sep 30, 2024
- 2 min read
VISUAL
The Xezo Maestro is a decently large fountain pen that looks very flashy. I love the look of abalone on pens, and this pen does not disappoint. Both the cap and barrel feature very bright strips of abalone. From what I've read, this is Pāua Abalone, which tends to be more blue and purple. I catch flashes of blue, teal, purple and even yellow and orange throughout.
The cap band is stamped with a repeating leaf pattern. The base of the finial has an engraving of the brand name, model name, and pen serial number.
TACTILE
I love the size and weight of this pen. I believe it is a brass body underneath the abalone, so it is decently weighty. The lacquer over the abalone is very smooth. The body of the pen looks faceted from a distance given the strips of shell, but the lacquer is fully smooth and the pen and cap are both round and cylindrical.
The cap threads are fortunately short and shallow. They are surprisingly sharp, but as there are not many threads there isn't a lot of contact point. There is a decent step up from the section to the barrel, and it is accentuated by a metal ridge that rises up above the barrel. That same ridge is mirrored on the base of the pen before the finial threads. I don't find this ridge too problematic, but it is also not possible to ignore.
PRACTICAL
I'm not sure if Xezo does extra tuning on their nibs, but I really like this Fine nib. It has a delightful pencil-ish feedback. It manages to hit that exact point of feedback where it is audible and present, but doesn't feel scratchy or like it is catching on the paper.
The cap does post and securely screws on. I'm glad that it is made to screw on, so I don't have to worry about it scratching the lacquer. It uncaps and posts quickly in less than a turn.
I do find that the cap starts unscrewing to uncap with only a slight amount of pressure. This has led to it starting to unscrew when being carried - not fully uncapping, but certainly something that makes me worry about nib dryout or accidental cap dropping. I have yet to experience either, but I'm also extra careful due to it.
STATISTICAL
Pen Measurements:
Weight: 44g
Weight of Cap: 17g
Length Capped: 144mm
Length Uncapped: 123mm
Length Posted: 170mm
Nib: 6mm 'Fine' Steel
Body Style: Flat Top
Fill Method: Converter
Fill Volume: 0.8 ml
Comparison Pens: Pilot Metropolitan, LAMY Safari
OVERALL
Pros:
Amazing and flashy abalone
One of my favorite Fine nibs
Cons:
Short, sharp cap threads don't have a lot of space to grab and hold onto the cap
Considerably backweighted when posted
I really like the Xezo Maestro. It's a weighty pen, but I like weighty pens. It is a joy to write with and I have inked this pen up so many times since I purchased it in 2020. I do want to note that I did get this on sale, and find that it is appropriate for the price that I paid (~$100) compared to their usual price ($140-180).
DISCLAIMER: Pens and inks purchased by myself. Photos and opinions are my own.
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