ST DuPont Fidelio FP

The Fidelio is a smaller sized fountain pen in ST DuPont’s Olympio line of lacquer pens. My vintage Fidelio has a red lacquer barrel with gold coloured trim. Set in the clip is a square of black lacquer. The nib is a 14 K B.

How ST Dupont acquired it's authentic Chinese lacquer making expertise is an interesting story. Apparently in 1937, when advertising for an ouvrier plaquer (jewelry plater) their advert was misprinted as ouvrier lacquer and the firm was joined by a White Russian who learnt the skill while a prisoner in the Sino Russian war.

While ST Dupont still makes its $$$ limited editions in France, their cheaper range of pens is now produced in China. I am surprised to find out recently TWSBI has also shifted some of their production lines from Taiwan to China. The quality of Chinese pen manufacturers though, is getting better. I recently bought some brass fountain pens from Lazada that cost RM11 to RM25, depending on the finish. Despite the very modest prices, the steel nibs are smooth writers. See below:

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