Aurora 88: the continuing rebirth of an icon

From Boreale to Ebonite, to the new Aurora Polare: how an Italian icon continues to evolve

Since 1947 – when Marcello Nizzoli designed it to rival the Parker "51" with something unmistakably Italian – the Aurora 88 has never stopped being produced, purchased, and loved. And above all: it has never stopped surprising.

What Aurora does with the 88 line is quite rare in the world of fountain pens. Instead of constantly chasing new models, it continues to work on the same design, updating it with ever-changing materials, colors, and craftsmanship.

It's a counter-current philosophy. Yet, by observing the latest limited editions, from Boreale to the Ebonite versions, and the recent Aurora Polare, one can understand why it continues to captivate collectors worldwide.

A timeless design

The shape of the Aurora 88 has remained surprisingly faithful to the original.
The proportions, the piston filling system, the balance in hand, and the essential design by Marcello Nizzoli continue to represent one of the benchmarks of Italian fountain pens.

Aurora could have redesigned it many times in almost eighty years of history. Instead, it chose a different path: letting the material tell the story of each new edition.

It is precisely this continuity that fascinates many collectors.
Over the years, the 88 has been reinterpreted in many ways, from the elegant 88 Preziosa versions in silver and gold-plated metal, to editions dedicated to Italian cities, such as Rome and Venice, up to the splendid 88 Demo of 2001, made in 2 finishes, white gold and yellow gold.
Each time the original design remained recognizable, while taking on a different personality.

Aurora 88 Boreale: when color takes center stage

The Aurora 88 Boreale marked one of the most interesting moments in the collection's recent evolution.

The auroloide used evokes the colors of the aurora borealis, alternating deep greens, blues, and iridescent reflections that constantly change depending on the light. The chrome finishes and the 18-carat rhodium-plated gold nib (white gold) complete an elegant yet understated pen.

Produced in only 688 copies, the Boreale represented much more than a new colorway: it showed how it was possible to reinterpret the 88 without altering the design in the slightest.

Aurora 88 Ebonite: the return of a historic material

Alongside the auroloide versions, Aurora has brought back to prominence a material deeply linked to the history of the fountain pen: ebonite.

It is a living material, warm to the touch, which develops a personality all its own over time. Each bar presents natural veins, shades, and slight irregularities, making it impossible to obtain two perfectly identical pens.

Aurora 88 Ebonite

After the first versions in yellow and blue ebonite, the collection expanded with new shades, always maintaining the artisan craftsmanship of the ebonite, the 18-carat gold nib, and coordinated finishes.

In these limited editions, the value lies not only in the reduced circulation but also in the uniqueness of the material: each piece is truly different from the others.

Aurora Polare: the light of the Arctic sky

With the Aurora Polare, presented in early 2026, Aurora continues the path started by the Boreale, but shifting the focus to even brighter tones.

The iridescent emerald green auroloide is crisscrossed by reflections that constantly change according to the angle of the light, while the slightly pearlescent surface accentuates the feeling of depth.

Again, the craftsmanship of the barrel ensures that each pen has a different weave of shades.

The technical characteristics remain those that made the 88 series famous: piston filling, 18-carat solid rhodium-plated gold nib, chrome finishes, and a limited edition of 688 pieces, accompanied by a dedicated green ink.

Rather than replacing the Boreale, the Polare seems to dialogue with it.
The two pens share the inspiration from the luminous phenomena of the Arctic sky, but interpret them with different characteristics: the first more profound and contemplative, the second more lively and dynamic.

Why the 88 series continues to fascinate collectors

Aurora collectors often dedicate an entire section of their collection to the 88 series.

The reason is simple. The shape remains unchanged, while materials and colors continuously evolve.
It's a different way of understanding collecting: instead of chasing entirely new models, one follows the evolution of a design that has become a classic.

Over the last twenty years, Aurora has built a rich universe of interpretations around the 88.
From the elegant 88 Preziose in silver and gold-plated metal, to editions dedicated to Italian cities, such as Rome and Venice, passing through the rare 88 Demo, the Planets series, the 88 Cigar, the 88 Neptune, and the 88th Anniversary, every collector can find a different common thread.
In recent years, this journey has continued with the Viaggio Segreto in Italia collection, inspired by Italian art and cities. Each series tells a different story, but all share the same design balance born in 1947; a sign of creativity that continues to renew itself without ever losing its connection to the original design.

The choice to maintain limited editions also contributes to the continuity of the collection. Each new release fits into a coherent story, without appearing as a mere stylistic exercise.

The use of materials such as iridescent auroloide and ebonite, along with 18Kt gold nibs produced in-house by Aurora, further reinforces the value of these editions.

A philosophy that transcends time

The strength of the Aurora 88 does not lie in constantly changing its appearance.
It lies in demonstrating that a successful design can continue to evolve without sacrificing its identity.

While many manufacturers introduce new models each season, Aurora continues to invest in the same silhouette born in 1947, entrusting materials, colors, and craftsmanship with the task of renewing it.
It is a choice that requires consistency and confidence in one's project, but one that has allowed the 88 to span almost eighty years of history without losing recognition.

The Aurora philosophy: light, material, tradition

In recent years, Aurora seems to have chosen a very precise common thread for its limited editions of the 88 series. While in the past the narrative was mainly entrusted to materials and constructive quality, today nature, light, and the phenomena that inspire it also come into play. The Boreale and Polare are the most evident examples: two different interpretations of the same sky, capable of evoking emotions even before colors.

This idea is summarized by a phrase with which Aurora presents the Polare:

«Aurora Polare is not just a collection.
It is an invitation to write with wonder, to transform every word into light.»

It is a statement of intent that accurately describes the direction taken by the Turin-based company. The technique remains the same: the internally produced gold nib, the piston filling, the artisanal care of every detail; but it is flanked by an increasingly refined aesthetic research, in which materials and colors become an integral part of the writing experience.

A story we know well

For us at Giardino Italiano, this fountain pen is not just one of the great Italian pens.

It is also a pen that has accompanied our history for almost thirty years.

In 1999, on the Giardino Italiano website, one could already find the classic black 88 and the Ipsilon, along with the prestigious limited edition created for the company's 80th anniversary. Since then, we have closely followed the evolution of the collection, recounting practically every new interpretation of the 88.

I also fondly recall a meeting, during the Cart-Expo fair in Milan in 2012, with Cesare Verona and his wife Linda. In those months, Aurora was focusing heavily on the Ipsilon Tricolore and the value of Italian manufacturing: there was talk of in-house production, Turin tradition, and how important it was to continue making pens in Italy. It was a vision that went beyond a single model and spoke to the company's character.

Reflecting on it today, I find the same approach in the 88 series. There is no pursuit of novelty at all costs, but a desire to evolve a historic design through new materials, colors, and craftsmanship, without betraying its identity.

Susanna Buffo
Giardino Italiano /Pens.it