For over 100 years, Platinum has combined Japanese precision and refinement to create exceptional fountain pens. Their precise, consistent glide makes writing a pleasant, controlled experience. With its elegant design and meticulous finish, each fountain pen accompanies your writing with refinement, comfort and reliability, for everyday use as well as for important moments. Platinum inks offer remarkable Japanese quality, designed for demanding fountain pen enthusiasts. Each ink ensures smooth flow, excellent fluidity and long-lasting hold on paper. Platinum accessories include converters, essential for making the most of your favourite bottled inks. There are also maintenance kits designed to preserve your fountain pens and ensure lasting performance over time.
The story behind the brand :
In 1919, Shunichi Nakata set up a business selling fountain pens. He was determined to create his own products and was convinced that “Success cannot be achieved without effort”. In 1924, he founded Nakaya Seisakusho and launched his first fountain pens in Ueno, Tokyo. A pioneer of catalogue sales in Japan, he sold them by mail order. In 1925, he created his first models covered in urushi lacquer and patterns created using the maki-e technique.
In 1928, he changed the name of the company to Platinum Fountain Pen. He created his logo, representing the earth’s sphere with his initials “SN” separated by a star. This motif represented his aspiration to become the master of metals and the world leader in fountain pens. In the 1930s and 1940s, the company exported its fountain pens throughout Asia.
In 1952, after the troubles of the war, Platinum imported a plastic moulding machine from the UK. This was to promote automation. But competition in the fountain pen industry was becoming increasingly fierce. To stand out from the crowd, all the experts pooled their knowledge and launched a “10-year pen campaign”. The stainless steel nibs are fitted with an iridium tip to ensure longevity and durability. This technique, considered difficult, enabled the company to extend the guarantee on their fountain pens to 10 years.
In 1958, Platinum proved to the world that its fountain pens did not leak ink, even at high altitudes. To do so, it sent an expedition of mountaineers to the Himalayas, equipped with Platinum fountain pens.
The 18-carat gold nib
Subsequently, and with the aim of producing a luxury fountain pen, Platinum succeeded in creating an 18-carat gold nib, after three years of trial and error. Until then, 14-carat gold had been considered the optimum material for the nib. Reversing this conventional wisdom in the industry, Platinum created a pentagonal-shaped nib to solve the problem of 18-carat gold being too soft and to take advantage of its elasticity. The brilliance of 18-carat gold reinforced the luxury image of fountain pens, and customers gradually embraced these new models.
In the mid-1970s, Platinum set out to create the ideal fountain pen for writing Japanese letters. This was achieved in 1978 with the “3776”. Its name evokes the altitude of Mount Fuji, one of the great symbols of Japan. This model was improved in 2011 in several respects, including the integration of the Slip & Seal system in the cap. A kind of internal plastic cap fitted with a spring, it prevents the nib from drying out for up to 2 years. This revolutionary system is completely new, and the new model has been relaunched under the name “3776 CENTURY”.
In 2010, a new series of fountain pens was launched for the first time in 16 years. This unique, top-of-the-range “Izumo” series illustrates Japan’s wonderful traditional crafts, distinctive materials (such as urushi lacquer) and cultures that need to be protected.
Platinum celebrated its centenary in 2019. Its longevity is due not only to the exceptional quality of its products, but also to the respect for its convictions, which are reflected in its know-how: “Our customers’ pleasure is our pleasure” and “Our mission is to bring the future closer to our customers”.
