Specifications

Brand: Pilot

Model: Capless

Era: Modern

Body Material: Resin

Filling System: Pilot Proprietary Converter or Cartridge

Nib: Pilot 18K-750 Gold P1120 Fine Size Nib

Color: Blue

Length: 140 mm

Weight: 31 g

PRESENTATION 

Pen with Converter

Condition

Handcrafted  ·  One of a Kind

Base pen condition: [A - S Tier]

This pen has been customized with Lacquer paint by our local housewives. We are not Urushi artisans and this is not an Urushi Lacquer fountain pen. It is a Lacquer paint that we use to decorate this pen adding a new aesthetic and new look. The artwork is done by our local artist.

This pen is a creative experiment and an artistic customization, not a traditional Urushi or artisan Maki-e piece. It is offered as a unique, one-of-a-kind art object meant to be enjoyed for its individuality, community story, and playful exploration of materials.

Lacquer & decoration: [Brand New Hand-Painted]

As each pen is individually handcrafted, minor variations in coating texture, leaf placement, and surface character are natural and form part of the piece's unique identity. They are not defects.

(Pen Description)

Design Inspiration  ·  Celestial Wave (Great Wave of Kanagawa)

Celestial Wave is a dynamic, awe-inspiring homage to Hokusai’s iconic print, executed across the sleek form of a Pilot Capless (Vanishing Point) fountain pen. Setting the dramatic cresting ocean wave against a sparkling deep indigo background, the design captures the raw power and timeless beauty of the sea under a starlit sky.   The upper body showcases the churning ocean in crisp shades of foam-white and deep sea-blue, with finely detailed claw-like spray wrapping around the barrel. Beneath the central gold ring, the composition relaxes into a field of shimmering silver and gold dust (Nashiji/Raden-style glitter) embedded in dark blue lacquer, evoking spray mist drifting into a starry night. 

In-House Customization

This customization project was born from a simple but meaningful idea: to create beauty through everyday hands while supporting local households. In Japan, customization has long been a beloved part of hobby culture. From stationery to Gundam models and Tamiya cars, people enjoy repainting, decorating, and reimagining objects they already own.

Customization is less about perfection and more about storytelling — about giving an object a new chapter and a renewed sense of life. In this project, local housewives participated directly in the creative process, allowing artistic work to be done within the community while providing support to local households.

The pen bodies are coated using modern lacquer paint rather than traditional Japanese Urushi lacquer. The work is carried out with care and creativity, but without the rigid formality of classical techniques. This choice allows for experimentation and accessibility, making it possible for non-artisans to participate meaningfully in the creation process. Each pen is then decorated using a combination of modern Maki-e stickers and gold, silver, and copper leaf, resulting in a one-of-a-kind surface that reflects both individual expression and collective effort.

Modern Lacquer & Maki-E Stickers

Traditional Urushi lacquer and true hand-drawn Maki-e sit at the very top of Japanese decorative arts. Urushi is not simply paint — it is a living material that demands years, often decades, of training to control. Artisans apply layer after layer by hand, carefully curing and polishing each stage in humidity-controlled environments.

Every line of Maki-e is drawn freehand with precious metal powders, where a single mistake cannot be undone. The process is slow, demanding, and exacting, but the result is extraordinary depth, durability, and cultural value that can last for generations.

This project takes a different path by design. Using modern lacquer paint and contemporary Maki-e style stickers allows for a more playful and expressive approach. The focus is on creativity, experimentation, and enjoyment. These modern methods invite freedom — combining metallic leaf, texture, and bold visuals to create something personal and unexpected. It is not about replacing tradition, but about exploring a lighter, more approachable way to celebrate art, imagination, and individuality.

(Pen Nib)

The Pilot Capless is fitted with a precision-engineered 18-karat gold nib unit that represents the culmination of decades of Pilot's nib-making expertise. Compact in size yet exceptionally refined, the nib is specifically designed to function within the pen's retractable mechanism while maintaining the smoothness and reliability expected from a premium gold nib.

Hand-finished in Japan, the nib delivers consistent ink flow, excellent line control, and a writing experience that balances precision with comfort. The carefully tuned feed system ensures dependable performance even during extended writing sessions, while the gold construction contributes a subtle responsiveness that enhances writing feel without sacrificing control.

What makes the Capless nib particularly remarkable is its ability to combine convenience with performance. Despite being housed within a complex retractable mechanism, it offers the same high standard of craftsmanship found throughout Pilot's premium fountain pen range. This achievement has helped establish the Vanishing Point as one of the most respected and enduring writing instruments in modern fountain pen history.