Maker: Lamy.
The Studio lies in the middle of the Lamy line-up, having price and trim levels above anything that might be called a “student pen” while not rising to any dizzy extremity in either of those areas. The trim, or rather the styling, is on the conservative side relative to other pens this maker offers at similar prices, and once might almost consider it a consolation for someone who can’t quite swing the cost of a 2000.
Contemplating the design somewhat more closely, one finds the ultra-mod funk-tacularity that seems to be the common thread in Lamys present mainly in the clip. While it looks vaguely like one limb of a wishbone, it doesn’t cry out for attention but gives a hint of visual interest to the overall look. It is also eminently functional, something which cannot always be said of interesting clips; it reminds me very much of the clip on the Parker “21” Mk. II, which may not look the same but had the same combination of virtues.
The chromed section on the Studio is usually a sure sign of a slippery grip. Some have had the expected problem with this finish, but my experience is that it has the same adherence to the fingers as the plastic of the Safari; this may be the result of personal chemistry or the atmospheric conditions of the season I was testing in. The menace of the chrome grip is entirely absence in the lowest-price stainless steel variant of the Studio It seems that Lamy have somehow convinced this pen not to act in the expected way– chrome though it is,
Another comparison to the Safari, and an even more interesting one, lies in the point. The point and feed of the Studio is the same as that of the Safari (although the latter never comes from the factory with the gold version of the point installed), and yet it appears that the writing of the Studio is rather more smooth. It may be that points bound for installation in relatively expensive pens get a little more of a glaring-at from quality control personnel than those going into student pens; I have no evidence for this, and I rather hope I’m wrong, but it would explain the observed effects.
One complaint that can adhere to the Studio is the possibility of irritation from the step at the joint, which allows a very smooth profile while the cap is on. I don’t find it to be a problem, as it is a very shallow step, but it has been commented on in other reviews so you want to be aware of the potential for a problem if considering one of these pens.
Returning to the points for a moment, it is worth noting that the shared design of the points and feeds in many Lamy pens means that swapping is relatively easy. There are many outlets which will sell loose points, nominally as replacements for damaged originals, giving the owners of a Lamy pen a lot of latitude in point size. More whimsically, this situation also allows the owner of a high-end Studio to endow a Safari or an abc with a gold point. I don’t suggest it, but it’s possible.
Production Run: 2005 to present.
Cost When New: On the 2013 catalogue, the MSRP is $89 to $99 for steel points, $199 for gold– the latter is the same as the 2000. Prior to the great price increase of 2012, the MSRP on the steel-point models was $75.
Size: 14.5 cm long capped, 15.7 cm posted, 13.0 cm uncapped.
Point: Steel or 18k gold; the latter only appears in a few specific versions.
Body: Metal– brass or stainless steel, each with plating or lacquer finishes available.
Filler: Cartridge, 1.0 ml. capacity, or converter of approx. 0.7 ml.
Lamy Studio, in what is either “Matte Blue” or “Imperial Blue”, depending upon the source.
The Studio capped, showing its clean lines, the propeller-ish profile of the clip, and the slightly odd placement of the only mark on the body; to me, that’s a funny place to stick the maker’s name.
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