The Fulvia was definitely one of the most interesting and demanding projects I have ever taken. Flying half way across the world to work hand in hand with machinist was a true eye opening experience. We dialed the design and machining process down and produced a super limited run of raw yoyos. But I always felt raw didn't cut it. I contacted my anodizer and the picture above is what we came up with. The colors had a very winter feel to them so we headed outside to shoot some pictures in natural lighting.
The park we did this shoot in was completely empty which was awesome. The day earlier there was a snow storm which covered everything with fresh powder. Definitely worth it for some cold weather trail images with the new set of Fulvias. Although my fingers didn't hold up well to the cold titanium, the yoyos themselves performed exceptionally throughout the day. Check out this promo video we shot:
With the 2017 Fulvia, I didn't just want 3 different colors again but instead to experiment with 3 different textures. The classic flagship Glass Dusted Anodized finish was a must. And the AMS2488 Type II Hard coat was always the variation that went with it. But it seemed lacking this time around - since both have been done before. There needed to be a third.
The new finish this time around is dubbed Ultra-matte. A unique finish that doesn't have an SAE designation. Its super chalky texture is soft in the hands - similar to a soft touch plastic yet feels slipperier. Even during humid days the finish feels slick - unlike the AMS2488 or Glass Dusting. I've had people compare the look to poured concrete which I love. The most interesting part is the ability to develop a slight patina since it is really reactive to the oils on your fingers. It is one of the most interesting finishes I have ever held in my hands. With its higher cost these will be the most limited of the three.
As some of you reading this might remember the original Fulvia was a two part release. One in Mono-metal titanium and one in bimetal titanium. In keeping with that theme I ordered the same shells that were made last time and had them done in the same three finishes. I was really concerned that the tolerances would be affected by the anodizing processes but they turned out beautiful.
Every single BTM-R is assembled, weight matched and recorded by myself. Only two or three in an 8 hour day can be assembled due to how sensitive the alignment of the rings are. You need to have both rings clocked at the exact position to make sure that all vibrations are canceled out. This reason alone, there will only be 11 available total - 5 AMS488, 3 Anodized and 3 Ultra-Matte. Its both taxing and rewarding to be able to finish one - and even a bit sentimental to let them go because of how much time is invested.
The packaging of course couldn't be overlooked. With so much time invested in design assembly and testing it only felt right to get the unboxing experience right. The new cube style Luftverk box returns but with a twist. I again called up Drew Tetz who worked on the CLYWxLuftverk Tundra release to laser up a gorgeous wood inlay that featured the cursive "Fulvia" script.
Similar to the Tundra, each piece is stained in my garage by hand. When you open the packaging you are hit with various amounts of sensual overload. The feeling of the sleeve pulling off. The smell of the natural wood and deep walnut stain. The yoyo presenting itself right in the middle. All of these things happen in a split second even before you touch the yoyo - and that is really important. First impressions matter.
The Czech yoyo shop www.Lardon.cz has been making the Luftverk certificates since the initial Octavia release and this one is no different. Now located in Canada, it would be so much cheaper to get these printed here locally - but by supporting a small growing shop it gives back to the same community that these will be sold to. The quality of these certificates have always been amazing, from the texture to the print quality. Their shop has it dialed. The Anodizing was done in the USA, and then shipped to a shop recommended by Andre of Yoyoexpert for Laser engraving. I owe it to all these people for making this happen.
Hopefully this gives you an insight into the 2017 Fulvia release and what is involved to create a product like this. Each yoyo will be numbered and signed with an included certificate. They will be available starting Febuary 1st at 10:00 pm EST only on www.Luftverk.com.
Thanks for reading!
Spec Sheet
FULVIA Material: Titanium Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) Width: 43.0 mm Diameter: 56.0 mm Weight: 63.6 grams Bearing: Size C Center Trac/Full Ceramic Grooved Response: 19mm LuftPAD Limited: 25 AMS2488 15 Anodized 10 Ultra-Matte
FULVIA BTM Body Material: Titanium Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) Ring Material: Steel 316 (Stainless) Width: 43.0 mm Diameter: 56.0 mm Weight: 62.6 grams Bearing: Size C Center Trac/Full Ceramic Grooved Response: 19mm LuftPAD Limited: 6 AMS2488, 3 Anodized, 3 Ultra-Matte
Crazy to think it has been 2 years since the original release of the Plastic Fulvia and Plastic 000. Both models as of now are pretty much sold out everywhere, and I knew it was about time to update both with a small batch of new colors as well as fix a few small issues with the first designs. I appreciate everyone who has reached out anticipating a restock of these - as the manufacturing process is very timely for sure so restocks can't happen as quick as I'd like.
In January, I released the AKURA MG, a yoyo made from Magnesium. This material has a very low density and I talked about how it performs more like a plastic than anything else. But what made that yoyo really special is the aesthetic. I loved the lines on that yoyo. The proportions with the chunky rims were just perfect. One of the biggest aesthetic challenges though were that after the ceramic coating the lines were quite subtle which hid the design.
Its wild to think that the Fulvia design is now 8 years old - originally released in 2016. This design was developed in titanium with the pursuit of rim weight and stability. So much has changed since then. 2024 was an interesting year with the challenges of moving to a new country while maintaining releases. Not many people realize but I often prototype yoyos for myself and they just never get released. Often they join the rotation of throws I have on the shelf, which never make it to production. The monometal 000 and Fulvia was exactly that - prototypes that I submited earlier this year that just never ended up making it to production.
Jeffrey Pang
Author