Appearance and function match the final product, but is made with different manufacturing methods.

Looks like the final product, but is not functional.

Demonstrates the functionality of the final product, but looks different.

A prototype is a preliminary model of something. Projects that offer physical products need to show backers documentation of a working prototype. This gallery features photos, videos, and other visual documentation that will give backers a sense of what’s been accomplished so far and what’s left to do. Though the development process can vary for each project, these are the stages we typically see:

Deluge, a Fountain Pen by Genesis - At the crossroads of technology and traditional handcraft

The Deluges Series

The Myths:

Ancient Deluge mythology first appeared in the Eridu Genesis around 3000 BC in Mesopotamia. Ziusudra, a man well known for his humility and obedience. Ziusudra did as Sumer God commanded him and built a huge boat, in which he successfully rode out the flood. Then similar stories were then appeared in Epic Atrahasis (1500 BC), Epic of Gilgamesh, Deucalion in Greek folk mythology, Noah in Genesis, and so on.

The Deluges Stories

The Design:

Deluge is the first series fountain pen released by our team, Genesis Pen. They tributes to the cultural heroes in the Deluge mythology by using the unique interior barrel design. The transparent barrel refracts the unique internal ink chamber. It assembled with a stack of rectangular blocks representing the Tablet of Eridu Genesis. Each layer of block rotates 11 degrees symbolizes the Deluge story in the Tablet XI of Epic of Gilgamesh. The whole structure consists of 50 layers of blocks and assembles as a helical structure that emulates the DNA 3D structure, the fundamental molecule of life. The ink chamber capacity is approximately 3 ml, which is larger than most ink cartridges, converters, and piston fillers. The Deluge initially comes with three styles named Ziusudra, Atrahasis, and Deucalion, after the historical heroes in the Deluge stories. Furthermore, we will release Noah, when the Stretch Goal is reached.

Close-up of the metal rings

The ink channel

Ziusudra with ink

Ziusudra with ink

Models:

Deluge - Ziusudra

Ziusudra

Ziusudra with the cap on

Ziusudra comes with the unique glass-like resin with golden rings. The hand-painted golden helix symbol and the sliver/gold two-tone nib make Ziusudra unique.

Deluge - Atrahasis

Atrahasis

Atrahasis, a fully transparent demonstrator comes with silver color German-made stain steel nib.

Deluge - Deucalion

Deucalion

Deucalion, with unique triple black design together with a black ruthenium plated steel nib, makes it one-of-a-kind fountain pen in the market.

The Making of:

To construct such a complicated ink chamber structure inside the narrow pen barrel will not be successful without the use of edge-cutting technology, the Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Resin Printing. This technology uses light to solidify liquid photocrosslinking resins into a rigid solid resin. This technology opens up a new horizon in fountain pen design.

Material: Fountain pen users have a high requirement and expectation towards fountain pen's materials and their durability. We have been searching for resins that give satisfaction texture and at the same time, compatible to SLA 3D printing. After a lot of trial and error, we finally identified the ideal material by using a self-formulated photo-crosslinking resin that is ideal for the fountain pen. After constructed by state-of-the-art 3D printing technology, the material will be solidified and remains strong, transparent, and unique. The material is resistant to water, methanol, ethanol, propanol, acetone, and most other organic solvents. Stable up to 200˚C heating. The Deluge series uses the hollow eye-dropper type of ink filling system. To facilitate pen washing, we paid a lot of effort in formulating the resin that can make the pen washing and writing be enjoyable. The rings on the pen are costed-bronze, which is shinny and rust resisting.

Handcrafting: SLA 3D printing together with the self-formulated resin only took us halfway in reaching our goal. After printing, the material is rough and non-transparent that does not look like a pen that people will love. In order to solve this problem, we recruited a specialist to our team who has good pen polishing skills. We spent a lot of time researching the best polishing process for this new type of material. Finally, we came up with a series of processes to turn the printed "object" into a unique fountain pen that is transparent and rigid, yet feels smooth and warm like ebonite.

Before and after hand-polishing

Pen washing has been a lot of people's concern, therefore we are adding a pen washing video to show the ease of cleaning. With our self-formulated resin, we ensure the ink will not be trapped in the ink chamber.

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Specifications:

Length: 142.6 mm caped. 112 mm without the cap. (Cap cannot be posted)

Diameter: 14.5 mm

Weight: 25.5g

System: Eye-dropper ink chamber (~3 ml)

Material: Self-formulated photocrosslinking Resin

Colors: Glass-like (Ziusudra); Transparent (Atrahasis); Triple Black (Deucalion); Transparent Red (Noah, Stretch goal item)

Nibs: Extra fine, fine, medium, board, and stub German-made JOWO #6 steel nib will be available/Fine, medium, and board German-madeJOWO #6 14k gold nib

Customisation: We do provide engraving services to our backers. 1-2 alphabets of European languages or 1 Traditional/Simplified Chinese, Japanese, and Korean character can be engraved on the top of the pen with hand painted gold color.

Engraved and gold-painted Chinese character "Dragon" at the top of the pen.

Packaging: Each Deluge fountain pen will be protected by an aluminum case. All the pens will be shipped in a paper box or thick envelope to ensure zero damage to the pen during the shipment.

All the pens will be packed in aluminum cases.

Stretch Goals:

HKD$150,000 (USD~$19,200) - Unlock new style - Noah at HKD$799 (USD~%103).

HKD$200,000 (USD~$25,680) - Everyone who pledges will reward a leather pen bag.

HKD$300,000 (USD~$38,000) - Unlock unique Deluge pen stand at the price of HKD$100. (USD~$13)

Noah

Sneak Peek of Deluge Pen Stand

Timeline:

Early 2016 - Designing a fountain pen with unique ink channels.

End of 2016 - the First prototype of Deluge was made.

2017 - Searching for materials, prototyping and modifying the design.

Jan 2018 - Researching on surface finishing process and nibs ordering

Aug 2018 - Starting Kickstarter campaign.

Oct 2018 - Production Starts

April 2019 - Shipping out the early bird rewards

May 2019 - Shipping out the rest of the orders