Opus 88 Omar Fountain Pen

Opus 88 Omar Fountain Pen

The Opus 88 Omar is the pen that fountain pen enthusiasts reach for when they want to stop thinking about refills and start thinking about writing. Built around the Japanese-style eyedropper filling system with one of the largest ink capacities available in any modern fountain pen, the Omar has earned a reputation as one of the most reliable, most rewarding, and most underpriced pens on the market. It is frequently compared to the Pilot Custom 823 — a pen that costs significantly more — and holds its own in every meaningful category. If you write a lot, ink deeply, and refuse to compromise on build quality, the Omar belongs in your collection.

Design & Construction

The Omar is built from high-quality acrylic resin, available in a wide range of finishes — from fully transparent Clear demonstrator variants that put every millilitre of ink on display, to semi-transparent, solid colour, and limited-edition designs including mosaic, tiger eye, and seasonal specials. Whatever the finish, the construction is consistent: a straight-sided profile with a comfortable, non-slip grip section, a screw-down cap, and a metal clip with excellent spring tension.

Trim and hardware details vary by colour — see individual variants for specifications. The cap can be posted to the end of the barrel, extending the writing length to approximately 170–180 mm and shifting the balance point rearward — a configuration that works particularly well for writers with larger hands or those who prefer a rear-weighted feel.

At approximately 148–150 mm capped, the Omar is a large pen by any standard. The barrel diameter of approximately 15–17 mm and a weight of around 30–35 g (capped) make it substantial in the hand, with the barrel itself feeling lighter than the cap — a distribution that improves noticeably when the pen is posted. The pen is supplied in an Opus 88 gift box and includes a glass eyedropper pipette for filling.

Eyedropper Filling System & Shut-Off Valve

The Omar uses a full Japanese-style eyedropper filling system, with the entire barrel functioning as an ink reservoir. Ink capacity is approximately 3–4 ml — enough for weeks of daily writing before a refill is needed, and significantly more than any cartridge, converter, or piston-fill pen in the same price range. This is not a pen you refill between meetings. This is a pen you fill at the start of a project and carry through to the end.

The integrated shut-off valve, controlled by a rotatable knob at the base of the barrel, is the Omar's most important engineering feature. Modelled on a similar mechanism to the Pilot Custom 823, it works by sealing the ink channel completely when twisted closed — preventing thermal expansion from pushing ink through the feed when the pen warms in a pocket or bag, and protecting against pressure changes during air travel or rapid altitude changes. When open, it allows full, steady ink flow from barrel to nib. The valve rod can also be used to manually prime the feed immediately after filling.

In practice, this means the Omar can be carried fully loaded with complete confidence. Leaks, in normal use with the valve properly closed, are exceptionally rare — a claim that holds up across years of user reviews and retailer feedback.

To fill: unscrew the grip section from the barrel, draw ink into the included glass pipette, deposit it into the barrel, and reassemble. Apply a thin layer of silicone grease to the barrel threads before closing to ensure a leak-free seal. Always close the shut-off valve before capping or carrying the pen.

Nib Options

The Omar is fitted with a #6 JoWo stainless steel nib, manufactured in Germany to consistent tolerances and known for smooth, reliable performance across a wide range of inks. The nib unit is easily removable, making it straightforward to swap nibs or explore aftermarket options. The majority of users report the nib performing flawlessly straight from the box. Available nib options include:

• Extra Fine (EF) — a precise, controlled line ideal for small handwriting or detailed annotation
• Fine (F) — the most versatile everyday option for most writing styles
• Medium (M) — a broader, wetter line that brings out shading and sheen in expressive inks
• Broad (B) — a generously wide line with excellent ink flow, ideal for bold writing or stub-adjacent line variation
• Flex Extra Fine — a responsive nib with significant line variation for writers who work with pressure variation; fine at rest, broad under flex
• Flex Fine — line variation with a slightly wider resting line than Flex EF
• 1.5 mm Stub — a broad italic-style nib that adds crisp horizontal-vertical line contrast and a distinctive character to every stroke

Opus 88 nibs write slightly broader than equivalent Japanese nib sizes. Writers accustomed to Pilot or Sailor fine nibs may wish to size down by one step.

Ink Display

The transparent and semi-transparent variants of the Omar transform the pen's generous ink capacity into a visual experience. With 3–4 ml of ink visible through the barrel at any time, shading inks reveal their full tonal depth; sheening inks catch ambient light from every angle; shimmering inks with fine metallic particles turn the barrel into a constantly shifting display. The Omar is, among other things, one of the finest ink showcase pens available at any price point.

One practical note for clear acrylic variants: strongly pigmented inks — certain deep reds, purples, and blue-blacks — may lightly stain the barrel over time. Regular cleaning and thorough flushing between ink changes minimises this effect significantly.

Lifetime Replacement Guarantee

Every Opus 88 fountain pen sold at Shosai is backed by a lifetime replacement guarantee. If your pen is ever damaged beyond use, return it to our Gatineau boutique and we will coordinate a replacement directly with Opus 88 on your behalf. Full details, eligibility, and delivery options →

At Shosai

The Opus 88 Omar is available at Shosai's Gatineau boutique and through our online store, serving the Ottawa–Gatineau National Capital Region and fountain pen enthusiasts across Canada. Each pen is inspected before shipping. If you have questions about nib selection, ink pairing, or filling an eyedropper pen for the first time, we are here to help.