I like my Lamys. I have a collection of Safaris and Al Stars and really enjoy using them. They are good, workhorse pens that just seem to work no matter what ink they are filled with. That green Al Star is one I don't have. The color is quite pretty.
Like you, it took me a while to warm to the design, but now I have a collection of Lamy Al Stars, Safaris and an LX Marron with a 14k nib, because why not! Highly recommend the 1.5mm or 1.9mm Lamy nibs. Although, I don't have the bluegreen version which you have here - which I believe is a 2014 special edition
Hi Rob. I have a couple of Lamy Safari pens but haven't yet got an Al-star. Not sure if I really want one to be honest. I fear getting caught in the game of collecting every new colour and every limited edition. Perhaps it's best be content with my two Safari models.
I think they’re plain ugly, but I love the two I have. I only buy the ones with no silver clip, which must be the part I find ugliest. The kakuno is ugly to me too, and yet I use them all the time. Weird but true.
I bought this version for myself some 2 years ago, price was 140-150 PLN which is around 31-35 EUR and my mom loved it but decided it was waaaay too much. It was my personal Christmas gift. So one day I went to a bookstore and they had some fountain pens put together, like cramned together in a plastic cup. And there was 1 with an insane price 37 PLN which is around 8 EUR. So my most intelligent question was "what's wrong with this pen?" Turns out some idiot took it out of its paper box, whatever it's called, and used it only it didn't write because no cartridge inserted properly. So that idiot slammed the poor pen on a desk and screamed a lot, they had to remove him from the store. They weren't sure it the pen got damaged, so reduced the price. Then nobody wanted it, 'cause damaged for sure! So they reduced the price more and more till it was that insane 8 EUR. I took the risk and it WASN'T damaged. F nib, the same I have only mine is slightly more into M teritory. Both pens write perfectly. My mom couldn't believe the price, I had to show her the receipt.
