This Pilot Custom Urushi lacquered ebonite fountain pen was created by maki-e artisans (kokkokai) in Japan. It features the Roiro Urushi technique in solid vermillion red. The pen has a two-tone 18k gold nib in the large #30 size. A Pilot Con-70 converter is included, but you can also use proprietary Pilot ink cartridges if you prefer. It comes packaged in a gift box. Lacquering has been used in Japan for thousands of years. The Pilot Custom Urushi is crafted from Japanese ebonite and lacquered using only pure Urushi lacquer. Like their Namiki pens, Pilot uses a lacquering technique called Roiro, which requires substantial time and skill to create a uniform and mirror-like finish. Each Custom Urushi pen is lacquered, cured, and polished three times to create a beautiful quality result.