Ferrari da Varese Savant June 2005 Stylophiles

By Mike Stevens

As much as those of us deeply into pens might not like to admit it, the fact is, for most people out there, when it comes to pens, bigger isn't always better. When your standard of comparison is the common Bic "stick pen", many of our beloved fountain pens begin to look a bit bloated. This thinking unfortunately carries over to many makers of leather products, and I've faced the problem of finding a pen to fit a new dayplanner or organizer many times. They make the pen loops just about large enough to hold a #2 pencil...

Which leaves me wondering about slimmer pens from time to time! Of course, "slim" is a term subject to individual interpretation. I've known collectors who feel that a Pelikan M400 is "full sized", and a Montblanc 146 is "oversized". On the other hand, I fall into the catagory that finds the Montblanc 149 to be "about right, but a bit on the small side".

When the Ferrari da Varese Savant came across my desk, it was a great opportunity to play with a pen that definitely qualifies as "slim" however you define the term. Only marginally thicker than that #2 pencil I was referring to above, it's a sleek and slender design. The section narrows even more, so at the point of grip, it's quite a thin pen when it comes down to actual use.

Ferrari da Varese is probably best known for their work in sterling silver. The Savant is no exception, being constructed entirely of sterling silver, with enamel accents on the cap and barrel. So as you might imagine, it's a heavy pen for it's size.

I originally thought that the combination of an extra slim grip and the weight of an all metal cap and barrel would make this pen almost unusable for me, accustomed as I am to large, lightweight pens. Oddly enough, I didn't find that. Don't get me wrong, I won't be trading my Pelikan M1000 for a Savant when it comes time to write a book. Or even a long letter.

But if it's a case of having to write a check, sign a credit card slip, or make a note on a calander... The Savant is not that uncomfortable at all. And it fits into all those pen holder loops in my dayplanners! It's the perfect "portable pen". And as much as I love my oversized pens, the fact is, if I leave them at home because they don't fit into my organizer, well then, they're not of much real use to me, no matter how comfortable I might find them for prolonged writing!

The Savant also fits neatly into a pocket. The clip is one of the "cool" aspects of the Savant, along with the enamel accents. The clip is spring loaded, and pressing down on the upper portion opens it up from the barrel.

The spring is strong enough to allow for a fairly secure grip even on thinner fabric, I found that despite the weight, the Savant pretty much stayed put in most of my short pockets. Given the weight of the pen, this is a great clip design. It has the added benefit of looking good, as well!

The 18K nib used on the Savant is sized in keeping with the slim lines of the pen, it's also plated in a silver color to match the trim of the cap and barrel. The section is slim, as I mentioned, and metal, but flared enough at the end to keep it from being difficult to grasp. Filling is via the cartridge/converter system.

I was impressed with teh Savant, which surprised me. I was ready to dislike it because of it's slim size. It turns out that it's the size that I like the most about it! It's a pen that goes anywhere, and looks good doing it. Can't ask for more than that.

(OK, maybe another version in the same style and finish, but sized like a Visconti Titanic....)

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