Météore | 60 Safety | Mottled Ebonite | 18ct #6 Artist Nib

Météore was the primary trade name of La Plume d'Or, founded in Paris in 1916 by Demilly and Degen and renamed in 1921. The house grew into one of France's larger gold-nib manufacturers and, by the late 1930s, a major name in the French market. The defining feature of this pen is the nib: an 18ct #6 with an Artist grind. French houses rarely produced nibs above size 5, so a #6 from any French maker is uncommon, and the Artist grind on a nib this size is rarer still. This Model 60 pairs that nib with a mottled ebonite body, a top-specification configuration in Météore's safety line.

The body is mottled French ebonite with a white banded cap, the mottling pattern well defined and the cap and end finial closely matched. Grade is B-, with one chip at the side of the cap. The reverse-pinned safety mechanism extends and retracts the nib through the turning knob, and the cap removes and posts for writing. The D&D Paris 18ct nib stamp is consistent with pre-war production, before Météore moved to steel nibs under the 1942 gold restrictions.

The 18ct #6 nib writes with a cursive-italic character at rest, 0.35mm vertical strokes against 0.25mm horizontal hairlines, opening to a full 2.00mm under flex for 8.00x line variation at 310g Super Flex. It is snappy and precise, with controlled feedback and a pencil-like fineness in the unflexed line.

The mottled ebonite was rejuvenated to restore depth and natural softness, then hand-polished and finished with a carnauba wax layer for UV and moisture protection. The reverse-pinned safety mechanism was serviced with modern FKM O-rings and the knob action calibrated. Nib heat-set and tuned for flex and smoothness.

Tested on Sanzen TR 52gsm cream with Diamine Sherwood Green.

HM2605010