Platinum #3776 Century - West Lake

Platinum - 3776 Century - West Lake (S.E.)

In late 2022, Platinum released two special edition versions of the very popular 3776 Century for the Chinese market. The colors were inspired by cultural relics in the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City in Beijing. Cha (Tea) is a translucent amber, light brown, and Xihu (West Lake) is a translucent teal. The moment I saw the West Lake, I knew that I wanted it. The question, of course, was where to get one.

Platinum - 3776 Century - West Lake - Pen Box

The Special-Edition Box and Set

I ended up ordering the pen from a pen store in Taiwan, and shipping was very reasonable. Four days later, a well-wrapped box greeted me at my door. The West Lake is a special edition, and the box showcases the pen nicely. The standard 3776 Century comes in a sturdy, rectangular box and includes a couple of cartridges and a gold-trimmed converter. It’s nice, but not elaborate. For the West Lake (and the Tea), Platinum created a larger, square gift box in colors that match each of the two pens.

3776 Century West Lake - Gift Set

The West Lake’s box is beautifully designed (the pen was produced in Japan, and the packaging was created by Platinum China) with a pearlescent coating that mimics the rainbow glint of sunlight reflecting off of tropical blue waters. Inside, you find the usual paperwork, an ink cartridge, and a chrome-trimmed convertor. Although the pen is gold-trimmed, and you may expect a gold-trimmed convertor to match, I think the chrome looks lighter and brighter when seen through the translucent body. You’ll also find a 30 ml bottle of Platinum Black. (I’ve seen this set for sale on Ebay with a strange-shaped cutout where the bottle should be, and ten cartridges instead of the bottle, but I don’t believe that is as it originally comes.) The box is bigger than you need, but it’s very attractive, and I like something extra in a special-edition set.

3776 Century West Lake - Uncapped

The Pen

The West Lake is a very striking, medium green-blue that leans more towards the blue in the teal spectrum. Compared to the Kumpoo (an extremely coveted special edition from 2018), the West Lake is slightly darker, and more teal than the turquoise blue of the Kumpoo. The clip and bands are gold-trimmed on the West Lake, while the Kumpoo wears silver. I tend to prefer silver trim, but the gold looks fantastic against this specific blue teal. I think Platinum made the right choice to go with the gold trim.

Platinum’s Slip & Seal Keeps it Wet

The body is translucent, which makes it bright and sunny. You can clearly see all of the fine details of the pen’s components, and the ink level within the convertor. Closing the cap lets you watch Platinum’s Slip & Seal mechanism operate, and as usual, it works remarkably well. I haven’t had a single hard start in any of my Platinum pens that have the Slip & Seal’s spring-loaded cap insert.

The Beautiful 3776 Century Nib

Writing Experience

I think most of you are very familiar with the 3776 Century’s beautiful nib. I really love the wide shoulders and flattened profile. It really changes the visual personality of the nib. Platinum uses a more traditional, curved top shape on the President model. Although both are beautiful nibs, and both write extremely well, there’s something about the 3776 Century nib that I always like to see. The 3776 Century is a true workhorse, but it does it in style. It’s smooth and comfortable on the page, but not sloppy. To me, it sits in the sweet spot between the rigid Sailor nibs and the buttery soft Pilot nibs. It isn’t scratchy at all, but there is very pleasing signature feedback that many people find addictively delicious. It’s a true writer’s pen.

Platinum 3776 Century - Cap Band

At 140 mm capped (120 mm uncapped), it isn’t as large as you might imagine, but it isn’t small, either. Uncapped, it’s comfortable in my hand, but I’m glad that it isn’t shorter. It posts very securely, and I think a lot of people use it this way. I use it both posted and unposted. The cap reaches 15.3 mm in diameter, while the grip is 13.3 mm at its widest. It’s a very comfortable size. The pen weighs 20.5 g, so it isn’t a particularly heavy pen. Posting the pen (155 mm) tips the balances only slightly to the back, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard complaints about the balance of the pen in writing.

Platinum 3776 Century - Cap Band Reverse

Personally, I think the Platinum President feels more premium. The resin is thicker, which gives it a warmth and solidity. When I first picked up a 3776 Century, I thought the resin had a very cool, somewhat fragile feel, but writing quickly removed my hesitations. It wasn’t long before I owned my first of the model, and I haven’t looked back since. I love the 3776 Century, and both models are among my favorite pens!

It comes in a wide variety of colors, a huge variety of nib sizes. Although it isn’t offered on all versions of the model, it’s one of the few pens that is available with a music nib from the factory. At a higher price, Platinum also produces the pen in a range of celluloids, and they release a faceted-bodied, resin, special edition every year. Gorgeous choices! There’s even a very attractive Chinkin Karakusa in hand-engraved blue celluloid. (Chinkin is a technique that involves carving designs in the material and filling them with metal powder.)

3776 Century’s Grip Section

I’m so happy to have the West Lake. It’s a particularly attractive pen. If you’ve never tried a 3776 Century, be prepared to buy one if you do. This is a pen that performs beautifully. They are very enjoyable writers. The celluloids and annual special editions are definitely on the expensive side. The annual, faceted models seem to get more, and more expensive every year, and like quite a few other manufacturers, Platinum announced higher prices at the beginning of 2023. That said, the 3776 Century is a wonderful pen, and you don’t need to splurge on the really expensive versions to enjoy the experience. Shop around, and look for deals, but if you’re a fountain pen lover, you’ll love the 3776 Century!