HOMO SAPIENS FORGED IN THE VOLCANO

More than five thousand years ago with the invention of writing the pre-history of the human kind ceases and Homo Sapiens marks the eve of human history. The same age discovers the metallurgy, thus allowing the civilization of metals to sign the beginning of human evolution all the way to the invention of the wheel. The first great civilizations arose on the Nile, Tigris and Euphrates river banks and soon led to the development of sciences like algebra, geometry, astronomy, engineering.

Visconti conceived the Homo Sapiens writing instruments line for real writers. Cteristics that render it unique in the manufacturing of writing instruments. Visconti has successfully produced a material containing over 50% of pure basaltic lava, catalysed together with resin in a formula – patented thus obviously kept secret -whose extraordinary characteristics practically transforms it into a material perfectly fit to writing instruments.

Visconti lava is:

Virtually unbreakable: It has a high degree of resilience.
Flameproof - Visconti lava has a resistance to heat of over 100°C.
Slightly hygroscopic, allowing to absorb hand sweat during use.
Dense at touch, allowing the best finger-relaxing grip.
Unquestionably new in the range of materials employed in the making of fountain pens.

Inspiration was drawn from the Bronze Age for all metallic parts. The Bronze Age, almost contemporary to the invention of writing, marked the eve of human civilization. The clip, the rings and the metal accessories -with the exception of the piston only- are all in bronze: natural bronze like the antique formula, that does not require plating or protection treatments which alter its original almost pink colour and which can be easily polished with special products.

The charging high vacuum power filler is made of titanium, the only material resistant to ink aggression.

The 23 ct 950 Palladium DREAMTOUCH Nib

With Homo Sapiens Visconti introduces the first ever made 23 ct 950 palladium Dreamtouch nib.
Dreamtouch is the term we coined to define a nib that requires no pressure whatsoever in order to write, it traces in a gentle way thoughts and words for a dream handwriting.

Palladium has interesting physical features that allow the production of fountain pen nibs; its manufacturing is possible nowadays thanks to new metal-fusion technologies and to the welding of iridium tips. This metal has been the fundamental element in 1989’s Pons and Fleischmann cold fusion theory.

Palladium actually melts at much higher temperatures than gold: 1552°C against 1063°C. It is therefore obvious that this metal has better mechanical features, being more resistant than gold and that any manufacturing process involving palladium becomes a lot more challenging.

The international classification system lists only four precious metals and their related titles: platinum, palladium, gold and silver.

Value: the 23 ct 950/1000 palladium nib is the highest value ever manufactured nib in the fountain pen history. In other words, it contains 95% pure palladium against 75% pure gold in the 18 ct nib and 58% gold in the 14 ct nib.

Flexibility and Memory: are the best for any type of writing, enhanced of 30% compared to the same nib in 18 ct gold.

Resistance to ink corrosion has been improved up to 100% thanks to the pureness of the material to an extent to which no protection treatment of the plating is needed.

Originality: the palladium nib will render even more exclusive your Visconti, either as a collection piece or as a daily use fountain pen.

We think of Homo Sapiens as a fountain pen that can bring to mind a time-frame: starting from lava as generating materia, passing through bronze - recalling the beginning of the act of writing , and ending with palladium – the metal of the future and of the cold fusion.