Review by Laura Cameron

When I first saw photos of the new Lamy Aion (€42.98 via Appelboom), I was actually quite excited about trying it.  With no offense to Lamy Safari and AL-Star devotees, I have never found either pen to be comfortable in my hand because of the molded grip.  So I was thrilled for a new pen that was sleek and modern, and most of all had a lovely round barrel.

I pestered Ana to order one for The Desk to try and she graciously ordered a silver Lamy Aion with an EF nib for me to try.

The Aion is a beautiful aluminum pen with a silver brushed matte finish. This gives the Aion both a smooth feeling body, and just a tiny bit of texture that makes for a lovely grip. The nib in the Lamy Aion has been redesigned to boast slightly different lines, but the feed can still hold your favorite Lamy nib from another pen if you wish.

The Aion is a metal pen with some weight to it. Empty, the body of the pen weighs in at 21g and the cap adds another 12g, so if you prefer the lighter weight Safari and AL-Star, this pen may not be for you.

As with other models, the Aion has a snap cap that is postable. The length of the Aion closed (with the cap on) is 5.6″ and posted is 6.4″. I found this to be a little long for my tastes and chose to use the pen with the cap unposted.

Overall, I enjoyed writing with the Aion. I don’t think it’s a great fit for me personally, because I found it slightly too large for my hand. I like the weight of the pen but the barrel circumference, even with a slightly tapered section, still feels fairly large in my hands and after a bit my hand ached using it.

When I filled the Aion with ink, it was a little slow to fill the feed and nib, but once filled, the nib wrote super smoothly.

Overall, I enjoyed testing the Lamy Aion and I’m a little sorry that it doesn’t work for me. However, my loss is your gain!

• Paper: Crossfield Journal ($24.00) and Maruman Mnemosyne N182A Inspiration Notebook A5 ($10.50)
• Pen:Lamy Aion Silver Fountain Pen (€42.98 via Appelboom)
• Ink: Papier Plume Ivy Green ($12.00)

THE GIVEAWAY: We are giving away this Lamy Aion Silver Fountain Pen with Extra Fine Nib. This is a tester model so it has been inked and tested here at The Desk but will be cleaned, re-boxed and shipped directly to you in like-new condition.

Please leave a comment below and tell us what ink you’d put in the Lamy Aion for your first fill?

FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Saturday, March 10th. All entries must be submitted at wellappointeddesk.com, not Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Saturday. Winner will be selected by random number generator from entries that played by the rules (see above). Please include your email address in the comment form so that I can contact you if you win. We will not save email addresses or sell them to anyone — pinky swear. If winner does not respond within five (5) days, we will draw a new giveaway winner. Shipping via USPS Priority Mail is covered. Additional shipping options or insurance will be paid by the winner upon request. We are generous but we’re not made of money. US residents/APO only.

Laura is a tech editor, podcaster, knitter, spinner and recent pen addict. You can learn more about her knitting and tea adventures on her website, The Corner of Knit & Tea and can find her on Instagram as Fluffykira.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Appelboom for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

Review by Laura Cameron

When Pelikan released the photos of the Souverän M600 Turquoise-White I was pretty smitten.  Even though it was more than any pen I had owned previously, I was dying to get my hands on one.  So when Pelikan offered to loan a ballpoint and fountain set to the Desk for review, Ana made me promise three times to return it when I was done.

The Souverän M600 Turquoise-White is the newest special edition Pelikan (it joins previous White and Pink editions).  The set feature barrels with Pelikan’s signature stripes white and turquoise acetate, white end caps, and 24 carat gold accents (rings and clip).  The fountain pen features a 14 carat two toned nib with rhodium trim.  When given a choice of nib, I asked to test an EF.

The first thing I noticed when I received these pens was the color difference between the promotional photos and the pens themselves. While the promotional photos showed a much greener-leaning color, the pens I received were bright blue. They do remind me of turquoise tropical waters, but not so much of the turquoise gemstone.

The pens themselves were beautiful. I spent most of my time with the fountain pen, which I filled with J. Herbin Orange Indien for a nice contrast. The pen wrote smoothly from the get go. The nib itself was wider than I was used to (Pelikans have Western sized nibs, so an EF writes more like a Japanese Fine or Medium), but writing with it was like butter. It just glided over the page, unlike any other pen I have used.

The pen itself is moderately sized, just on the upper end of what is comfortable for my small hand. As you can see below, I have an M200 that is a bit shorter and thinner, and the M600 is close to the width of the Sailor 1911 and the Platinum 3776, if a bit shorter. The fountain pen comes in at 18 g unfilled, and 13.3 cm unposted (the cap does post, yielding a length of 15.4 cm. The ballpoint weights 24.9 g and is 12.8cm long.

I should say, that I did test the ballpoint and was quite impressed with how it wrote. I admit that most of my ballpoint experience is either at the low end of the market (Pentel R.S.V.P. Fine at work) or in the Retro 51 category (I love my Retro 51s). The Pelikan ballpoint was quite a different experience; it required very little pressure and the application was fairly even compared to those Pentels!

Overall, I really enjoyed the opportunity to test the Pelikan Souverän set. They are beautiful pens and I aspire to own one some day!

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were loaned free of charge by Pelikan for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The Pineider La Grande Bellezza Gemstone Hematite Grey Fountain with extra fine nib ($398) is certainly a mouthful to say and probably not a pen brand most people are familiar with. It’s an Italian brand of fountain pen with a lot of history behind the brand (264 years according to the documentation included in the package) and notable innovations in their designs like a magnetic twist cap.

The packaging was actually kind of charming. The box is shaped like a small writing desk and includes a small stack of notecards and envelopes under the pen rest. Its one of the most pleasing packages I’ve seen.

The material used to create the pen barrel is a combination of resin and marble dust to create a harder material with more weight and glossier finish. It also give the pen a more realistic “gemstone” look than resins alone as a result of adding actual stone materials. It certainly explains the weightier feel of the pen. Capped, the pen weighs a heft 39gms. Uncapped, with the converter filled, it weighs in at 24gms. Compared to our standard pens, listed below (capped and filled), the La Grande Bellezza is a pretty weighty pen.

The pen measures 5.5″ capped, 5″ uncapped and 6.5″ posted. The cap magnets onto the end to post but is a little loose and has a lot of play. I find it distracting as well as fairly off-balance.

The pen also has an unusual feather-shaped, spring-loaded clip. It’s definitely a design element you’ll either appreciate or not. I’m on the fence about it. The pen itself is pretty weighty and the feather clip seems very delicate in comparison to the overall weight of the pen so it seems to be a bit of a mismatch to me. It’s pretty but it doesn’t seem to match this particular pen to me. The spring load does allow the clip to easily pull out a good distance to slip over a notebook cover, pocket or anything else you might need to clip it on without worrying it might bend.

The grip section is a little awkward after awhile. I can’t quite put my finger on why. The divot just created a bit of an uncomfortable grip after awhile for me. It could be because I  have small hands and the grip was a touch wide for me but after awhile I needed to set the pen down.

One particularly unusual detail can be seen around the cap band. Engraved in the silver band is the brand name “Pineider” as well as the phrase “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” What possessed an Italian pen manufacturer to include this particular pangram on the pen band is beyond me.

However, that’s not what has gotten the pen community all in a tizzy. No sir-ee. It’s that the La Grande Bellezza Gemstone series ships with their Quill nib. The nib is the flexible, palladium-plated 14k nib with cuts in the side to create the necessary give. This nib is available in four widths: extra fine, fine, medium broad and a 1.3mm stub. I tested the extra fine. I was hoping for maximum range of fine-fines and thick-thicks.

There is definitely flex in this nib and some great line variation. I think, as a result of the weight of the pen itself however, the extra fine nib flexes just from the weight of the pen. I think in a lighter weight pen, the difference between the fine lines and thicks would be a bit more distinct.

Bob was kind enough to test the pen as well. Since he has less experience with flex nibs, I wanted him to try it as well. He was less successful getting line variation from the nib but I suspect this was a result of the extra fine nib and a heavier hand overall. I think a wider nib would be stiffer and provide more resistance for someone with a heavier hand.

Overall, this is definitely a springy nib. Is it a full flex? Not entirely. The more I play with it, the easier it is to use but it is not as pleasing as a vintage flex.When pushed, I would catch the feed on the paper and the feed would occasionally run dry (not keep up with the nib). So, its still not perfect but its considerably better than other modern options I’ve seen thus far. But if you’re up to tinkering at this level, you would probably be willing to experiment with a vintage pen too.

The Pineider La Grande Bellezza Gemstone Fountain Pen is available in four colors: gray, lapis blue, malachite green and rodolite red as well as the four nib sizes mentioned earlier.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Vanness Pen Shop for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The Opus88 Picnic ($99) is a sight to behold. The translucent acrylic ends practically glow. I never thought I’d become someone who went for demonstrator pens but times change.  I chose the green model which is a lovely shade of lime.

I don’t know if I mixed up the packaging of the Koloro with the Picnic or if the paper included was the same. The box is the same with magnetic closure, syringe and foam. The syringe is a different color though.

The Picnic, like the Koloro, is an eyedropper filler using the Japanese filling mechanism. With the Koloro, I didn’t quite understand the filling mechanism but thanks to a chat with David of Figboot on Pens in Atlanta. He goes into detail about it in his video review of the Koloro. The twist filler on the back of the pen releases ink from the ink reservoir into the feed. From time to time,  you’ll need to release a bit more ink into the feed by untwisting the end cap every now and then and then retightening it. Its a very different way of using a pen but it provides a huge quantity of ink without having it drizzling out of the feed like other eyedropper pens.

I could not resist filling the Picnic with a color coordinating ink. I chose Robert Oster Lemon Grass ($17 for 50ml bottle) which is a very good match.

The Picnic is an all-acrylic pen, so despite being a bit longer than the Koloro, its actually a little bit lighter, even filled with ink.

Weight (filled with ink):

• 22gms capped
• 14 gms uncapped

Length:

• 145mm capped
• 125mm uncapped
• 165mm posted

The nib is a JoWo fine nib. I loved the nib on the Koloro so much, I got the same nib on the Picnic. The tines were slightly misaligned but some finger adjusting loosened them up a little. The nib is still not as wet or smooth as the Koloro but its working a lot better. I might have someone look at it in St. Louis to see if I can get it a little more tuned up. Overall though, its writing better than when I originally removed it from the box.

The dryness of the nib is enhanced a bit by the lightness and translucency of the Lemon Grass ink color so it was probably a lot more noticeable than it would of been if I’d been using a darker, more opaque color.

On Rhodia paper, the Picnic can get lovely fine line a well as to show off a little bounce.

I prefer how the Opus88 Picnic performs on the Hippo Noto paper particularly with the Lemon Grass ink. The slight softness of the paper lets the ink shine a bit more. There’s a lot more shading though I did rinse the nib at one point so the color got a little lighter. The ink has been in the pen for awhile so there was a bit of sediment on the nib. There is a LOT of ink in the reservoir so you really need to be committed to the color and ready to use it regularly.

I still prefer writing with the Koloro over the Picnic only because of the nib performance. Overall, this is a specific issue with the pen I have. Whether this is indicative of the quality control from Opus 88, I doubt as I have heard that other people have been happy with their pens but it is something to consider especially with the finer nib.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Pen Chalet for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

Zack asks:

I have been looking for a full-sized green/teal body fountain pen for the longest time. I haven’t seen many that are within my budget of <$200 that are to my liking. I was wondering if you have any in mind that could fit my specifications. Nib material is not important, but of course if 14k gold is within the budget, that is the best. I’d like to fill them with my everyday inks, which are more of a teal or green black colour, like Sailor Jentle Miruai, Noodler’s Air Corp and Cult Pens Diamine Deep Dark Green.

I have a couple that I’m choosing between, like the Karas Kustoms Decograph Green, or the Taccia Spectrum Forest Green, but I am open to more suggestions! Thank you!

Laura responds:

Zack! You are a man after my own heart because I love teal pens.  You are also somewhat in luck because the current Sailor Pro Gear Slim Special Edition Ocean ($200) is a teal pen right up your alley.  The next pen that came to mind is the Pelikan Classic M205 Aquamarine ($152).  Even with the color name Aquamarine, I think this one fits in the teal category.

Another completely different route would be looking into getting a custom pen made.  Many custom pen makers are happy to work with you and find the perfect color blanks (blocks of acrylic or other material that they turn into pens) for your perfect pen.  A few custom pen makers you could contact include Newton Pens,  Edison Pen Co., or Woodshed Pen Co.  All have Instagram accounts you can follow to see what kinds of pens they make, and all can be contacted through their websites regarding custom orders, though some may have a wait list.

Editor’s Note: But you are right, the  Opus 88 Koloro Blue with Blue ($93), the  Taccia Spectrum Forest Green ($127) and the Karas Pen Co Decograph Green ($140) are all good options as well.

Russ asks:

I am interested to know which dip pen nib would you suggest I use with watercolor painting. I currently apply diluted watercolor paint with a Bamboo dip pen for outlining shapes on watercolor paper. Once the line has dried, I then apply water inside the shape. The clear water then activates the outline line and bleeds (vignettes) into the interior of the shape. This makes for very interesting paintings.

To see an example of one of my paintings employing this technique, go here.

I understand that no matter what nib I use I will need to refill the nib often. My concern is the fact that the pigment of even diluted watercolor will be thicker than standard dip pen inks. I also prefer a thicker line than the fine lines that stainless steel nibs produce. I can modify my Bamboo pen points if I want a thicker line. But, Bamboo pens wear out too soon. And, I don’t think a calligraphy-style (wide flat edge) nib would be the answer for the line boldness that I’m looking for.

I’m not looking for barrel-loaded pens. I am interested in dip nib pens that I can charge with diluted watercolor or colored inks on the fly. I may only need one color solution for an inch – then change color for another passage somewhere else in the painting.

So, which dip pen nib type would you suggest that would provide the best pigment ‘flow’ characteristics – and a slightly bolder line (if possible)?

P.S.: I know that a flexible steel nib can produce a wider line width. But, this would require a consistent pen pressure throughout the painting. If there was a nib that provided a naturally bolder line (without added pressure), this would be more comfortable and produce a consistent line width.

Thanks for your input. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Jesi responds:

Thank you for sharing your artwork, Russ.  I enjoy your unique use of both watercolor and dip nibs!

My first thought after reading your question was to recommend that you look into Lettering nibs, either modern or vintage.  These nibs, which come in varying widths, are designed with two pieces clipped together.  The space between acts as a reservoir, holding more ink (or in your case, watercolor) and helping you to write longer with a more consistant flow.   Lettering nibs are often used for styles of writing like Blackletter that were designed with with quills in mind rather than the thin point of a fountain pen.

You can find these nibs in a huge variety of widths from .3mm up to 4mm.  Choices also include the shape of the tip: sharp, round, or flat.  Each shape will give you a unique line style that will add more fun tools for you to choose from.

For larger line widths, you can look into Poster nibs, Brush nibs or Automatic pens.  These give an even wider variety of choices.

Good luck with your artwork and please come back to show more in the future!

John requests:

I want to write letters to my friends and others using very good stationery. All of my letters will be written using fountain pens.
I don’t want to just peel off a page Rhodia and stick it in an envelope.
Let’s accept that elegance is more important than price, but functionality is critical.

Ana responds:

There are some great, simple stationery options available that will look good without breaking the bank. Original Crown Mill and G. Lalo are the “go-to” papers for letter writing in the stationery community. G. Lalo pads are available in half sheet and full sheet sizes for $12 and $16 respectively and Original Crown Mill paper is available in pure cotton or a laid finish in A4 or A5. Prices for the Original Crown Mill range from $14-$58 depending on the package configuration. Both companies offer envelopes to match.

Of course, we cannot forget Crane & Co. They are the classic American stationery company that makes boxed letter sheets with matching envelopes starting at $26 for a box of 20.

And last, let me plug the firm and say that Hallmark Gold Crown stores feature a selection of letter sheets and envelopes. I can’t guarantee all will be fountain pen friendly but I’ve had good luck with a lot of them. The flat cards are particularly nice. I recommend the cream or white cards or paper over the ones with a lot of color printed on them. Some options are even available for purchase on the web site.

Karas Pen Co. has been quietly working away in their secret hideaway in the desert to create a new line of pens they are calling Reaktor. The series is doing some particular unique things in the machined pens field. First, they are aiming to sell these pens starting at $40 for the Galaxie ($45 for the XL) which is making them competitive with many entry level “good pens”. In the ballpoint and rollerball arena, this is comparable with the Retro 51, Schon DSGN or BigiDesign. Those brands sell pens that range in prices from $50 and $150. Of course, they are often limited edition, handmade or more modular. But Karas is definitely making the move to compete in this field and do it with a SNAP CAP! You heard that right. A snap cap. How cool is that?

To start, Karas trimmed the packaging down to recyclable plastic tubing. They are sturdy, reusable or recyclable. The square tubes are easily stackable and color coded. Pens with anodized grip sections in red or blue ship in matching colored tubes. The black models ship in a black tube and the tumbled finish ships in the clear tube.

I love the tapered end of the new Reaktor line.

Once the cap is removed, the look of the uncapped pen has a beautiful line. The cap still has a classic “Karas” industrial look but the pen is much more refined and elegant. I really like them.

When the box of Reaktor pens arrived, my husband and I spent a whole evening trying all the different varieties. We tested the different sizes and finishes to see which we preferred. Since I have small hands and Bob has considerably larger “man hands,” it was worth having both of us trying both the Galaxie and the Galaxie XL.

Bob definitely preferred the XL. He found the standard Galaxie a wee bit too short for his long hands. He also liked the clip. As a girl, I don’t always have a need for a clip, other than as a roll stop, but I kept going back to the Galaxie. The size is perfect for my small hands.

They are light and easy to hold and the snap cap is fun. The clip is sturdy if that’s what you need and the Galaxie is streamlined and sleek without it if you don’t need a clip. I am definitely in the Galaxie clipless camp. It slips effortlessly into my dress pockets and I don’t worry about toting it around to meetings, having it bumping up against my phone, keys, change or, often times, a pocket knife for the many  projects I work on at work or in the studio that require opening a box, trimming an edge or some other fiddly detail. If someone would just make the perfect pocketable, snap cap X-acto!

What you really want to know when I get a hold of a ballpoint or rollerball is what refills did I use? And of course, I couldn’t leave well enough alone. The Galaxie XL ships with the notorious Schmidt 8126 rollerball which, for this lefthander, is basically useless. I immediately popped it out and tried a Pilot G2. Voila! Fits fine. This established that most of the refills in my Refill Guide in the G2 list should fit, though some were a little wiggly and may require trying a couple different springs for a perfect fit.

So, if liquid rollerball ink is not your cup of tea or you want a wider variety of colors, start disassembling all those gel pens you purchased early on in your pen life and see if they fit. Just open them gently or you’ll have refills and springs flying everywhere. Don’t  ask me how I know that.

As for the standard Galaxie, it takes a standard Parker-style refill so there are many options. If, like me, you prefer gel ink to ballpoint, I cannot recommend the newly discovered Premec Gel Refill (Black 0.5mm 2-pack) highly enough. I found them on Amazon. There’s also other sizes available as well but the 0.5mm is a good place to start. If you’re looking for a more universal option, Tofty’s Parker-style adapter-to-D1 is another good option then you can fill the Galaxie with Jetstream D1 refills.

The Galaxie XL ($50) and Starliner XL (the fountain pen version, $55) will be the first to release in early July, in limited numbers to Karas Coin Club Members first. If you’re not a Coin Club member, you can join here. Annual membership starts at $25 per year and includes early access to new releases, limited editions and, of course, their cool coin plus many other benefits.

Needless to say for Karas Kollectors, these pens are a no-brainer. For others, these is a great entry into “nice pens.” In some ways, it may even be a better option than a Retro 51 as it doesn’t have that finicky twist mechanism. Though for some, the cap might be a no-go. But a snap cap is definitely light years better than a twist cap. And the price point is awesome.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Karas Pen Co. for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Preview/Review: Karas Pen Co. Reaktor Galaxie Pens appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

One of my last purchases at the Chicago Pen Show was a total impulse purchase. I had wanted to buy one a Faggionato fountain pen for awhile but did not know which one I wanted until we were all packing up on Sunday. I walked past the Papier Plume table and insisted Renso pause his packing so that I could purchase one. I chose the Pétrarque Carnival with the standard gold plated medium nib ($200).

The pen comes in a simple black paperboard box with velveteen lining. There is a line of black stitching around the edge and white foil stamped lettering on the box. The box closes with a magnetic closure. It’s simple but just enough care is taken to know that the pen is protected without feeling like there is more money put into the box than the pen.

The pen is made in France from custom-made cellulose acetate and the colors of the material are very unusual. It looks like dappled autumn leaves in golds, browns, and burgundies. There are even some pinks and purples dotted in the color and its slightly translucent.

The hardware is gold and the clip is custom as well. It arcs in a graceful curve.

Debossed on the clip is the Faggionato logo – two stylized F’s back-to-back  making an almost pagoda-like design or wings.

The nib is listed as a Bock nib but it’s unmarked except for a debossed square with a dot int he middle making it very understated.

It’s a really stunning pen. The simplicity of the overall design on the pen shape and nib lets the colors really shine.

In writing, the nib writes really well leading me to suspect that it must be inspected before it is released into the wild. I did the writing test on this just after I did the Pineider which required a lot of concentration and effort. The Faggionato, on the other hand, just floats across the page. The grip section was long enough that I did not notice the cap threads at all. I’ve been so busy that this pen has not seen much use which is sad because its beautiful and a delightful writer.

TOOLS

• Paper: Rhodia Ice Pad No. 18 ($13.75)
• Pens: Faggionato Pétrarque Carnival Fountain Pen ($200)
• Ink: Papier Plume Sepia ($8 for 30ml bottle)

DISCLAIMER

This pen was purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own. Other items included in this review were provided free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Faggionato Pétrarque Carnival with Gold Plated Steel Nib appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Review by Jessica Coles

Last week I was handed the Monami Olika and asked to review it.  At first glance, it seemed to be a pen that you could get at any major retail store that carried pens, but as I used it more, some of the features of this pen came to light.

The Olika has a unique color.  At first glance, the pen is a neon yellow demonstrator. However, once the pen is seen out of the package, the color shows as a very light olive or a spring green.  I was also surprised when I began writing. Normally, pens of this type come with a blue or black cartridge.  Boring, but serviceable and pleasing to the majority of people who will use the pen.

The Olika comes with dark olive-green ink cartridges – three of them, to be exact.  The color is close to KWZ Green Gold or Noodler’s Rome Burning and isn’t too far away from the amazing Rikyu-cha by Sailor.  The color coordinates very well with the pen body. These cartridges are proprietary, so you do need to purchase additional cartridges in the Monami Olika line.  But they do come in 10 different colors!

The shape of the pen body again surprised me.  I took it to be a straight barreled pen, but as I was using it, I realized it was slightly hourglass shaped.  This makes a pleasant spot to rest the pen between the thumb and forefinger. The cap snaps in place so there are no threads only a textured rubber section that cushions your fingers during longer writing sessions.

I did not try to eyedropper this pen, but the body is air tight with no exposed metal, so it should be easy to convert the pen if desired.

I did have two points on the negative side for the Olika.  The included ink dries very slowly, so this might not be a great pen for those who want to quickly close a notebook or lefties who need a fast-drying ink. The second complaint is the nib – while the writing experience was smooth and never skipped, the nib is listed as a fine.  I would actually peg the closer to a wet medium nib instead.

All said, for the price that this pen costs ($5.50 as of this writing at Jet Pens), the Monami Olika is absolutely worth the cost.  Refill cartridges are available, also from Jet Pens, for $5.50 (also as of the writing of this blot).  It is a fun pen; a smooth and consistent writer and the unusual ink color make this a pen worth adding to your collection!

TOOLS

• Paper: Namiki Seven Seas Writer ($26)
• Ink Swabs: Col-o-Ring Cards (10$)
• Pen: Monami Olika ($5.50)
• Ink: Monami Olika Cartridges, Olive (Included with pen)

DISCLAIMER

The pen included in this review was provided free of charge by JetPens.com for the purpose of review . All opinions are my own.  Please see the About page for more details.

The post Pen Review: Monami Olika appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

The Opus 88 Fantasia ($125) is a colorful pocket-sized pen with ebonite, striped cap and translucent acrylic body. This fountain pen model uses the same nib and filling mechanism as the Koloro and Picnic though I’m discovering that each nib seems to perform differently.

The Opus 88 Fantasia Fountain Pen comes in the same sort of packaging that the Picnic and Koloro pens shipped. The box is paperboard with a magnetic closure and the inside is lined with foam cut to hold the pen and an eyedropper. On top was a small paper booklet with information about the company and filling instructions.

I have yet to actually use the eyedropper included in any of the Opus 88 sets. I prefer to use a syringe knowing that I can more accurately control the filling and clean-up.

There is a screw thread on the end of the pen allowing the cap to be threaded securely to create a fairly long, full-sized pen.

The size of the Fantasia compared to the Koloro on the far left, followed by the Picnic and a Kaweco AL-Sport on the far right.

The above photo shows both the Fantasia and the AL-Sport pens posted. One of the things I tested side-by-side was writing with the Fantasia then the AL-Sport, being one of the most ubiquitous pocket fountain pens. The grip section of the Kaweco Sport (plastic, metal or otherwise) is longer than the Fantasia and has a slightly more fluted taper shape where the Fantasia is more conical. Also, the Fantasia’s threads were a bit more noticeable, as was the step down from the body to the cap threading. The overall width of the Fantasia is greater than the Kaweco Sport as well. If you find the Sport size a bit dainty, than the Fantasia might be an improvement for you.

After using the Fantasia for over a week, I found the short grip section to be less noticeable but I did not use it for long writing sessions – nothing longer than a page in a journal or notes in a meeting.

Weightwise, the Fantasia unposted and filled is 12 gms which is a decent weight for a small pen. With the cap posted, it weighs 28 gms which puts more of the weight on the top end but gives it weightier feel. If you have larger, adult-sized hands, this will probably make the pen feel comfortable for regular use. In my small, child-like hands it just felt unwieldy.

One thing I did notice is that compared to the other two Opus 88 fine nibs in my possession, the Fantasia is the wettest and widest of the three. This seems like a peculiar thing to say since all three pens have the same size nib with the same fine indication on it. Theoretically, they should all write almost identically barring differences in inks chosen but they actually write noticeably different to me. Go figure. I feel like I should put them in front of someone who is genuinely a nib expert and ask their opinion so I don’t feel like I’m insane.

I included writing samples at the bottom of my writing sample for my own edification.

The Fantasia is definitely a step up in cost from a Kaweco Sport and its more expensive than a steel, brass or aluminum version as well however it has a very unique look and the eyedropper filling system means it holds considerably more ink than a Kaweco. The wider barrel and screw-on posting means that the Fantasia becomes a bigger pen than a Kaweco. So the only things holding me back from recommending the Fantasia is the inconsistent nib performance and the grip section/threading which may or may not be comfortable or a sticking point for some people.

I’d say I recommend the Fantasia with some reservations. The nibs are not bad, just a bit of a crapshoot and the grip section may or may not be an issue for some people. They sure are eye candy!

Tools:

• Paper: Rhodia Ice Pad No. 18 Lined with 6mm guide sheet
• Pens: Opus 88 Fantasia Green Orange Fine Nib ($125), Opus 88 Picnic Green, Opus 88 Koloro Blue Blue
• Ink:  Colorverse #36 Laurel for Opus 88 KOLORO Beige ($36 for 65ml &15ml bottle set)

DISCLAIMER: Some items included in this review were provided free of charge by Vanness Pen Shop for the purpose of review. Other products may also have been provided from other vendors as well and links are included.

The Well-Appointed Desk is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Pen Review: Opus88 Fantasia Fountain Pen (Fine Nib) appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Desiderata Pens is known for making some of the most unique pens that utilize the Zebra G calligraphy nibs in a modern fountain pen housing for flex writing experience. Every time I see Pierre at a pen show, he has developed a new design and refined, retooled or improved upon his previous designs for a feed or pen shape. His desire to constantly advance his designs is one of the things I admire about the work he does and why I was excited at the chance to take the Precession Pen for a test drive.

The model that I tried is a clear acrylic with threads of red throughout. The material is called “Phantom Mist.” When empty, the pen is really stunning to see. The design of the pen is also quite unique as both the cap and end are removable. The end cap covers the bulb filler which features a clear sac and helps to provide suction to fill the entire barrel of the pen with ink. The Zebra G flex nib uses a good deal of ink so the clear body and large ink chamber are handy for keeping track of how much ink is left and how quickly its filling when using the squeeze filler.

When I filled the pen, it took a good 30 or so squeezes to get the pen barrel full of ink. YMMV. But it does hold a full 4ml of ink and the squeeze filling is a fairly tidy method for filling requiring only a towel to wipe of the nib when I was done compared with an eye dropper which requires a syringe and silicone grease which makes an eyedropper pen a little less portable.

Once filled, ink will obscure the details of the Phantom Mist acrylic and there may be some evidence in the cap and sac of the ink. The inside of the pen is polished, however, so its not likely to stain or be too difficult to change inks.

The model I tested did not have a clip but a clip is available as shown on this version of the Precession.

Filled with ink the Precession weighs 16gms capped and 11gms uncapped. It’s 6″ long capped and 5.5″ long uncapped. It cannot be posted. The pen is long but lightweight and very comfortable in the hand. I was worried that it would be too big or too long but honestly I just wanted to keep writing with it.

I get all zen when I can just sit and write with a flex pen and not have to worry about dipping it. So that is what I did with the Precession. I basically wrote it dry. Over and over again. The ebonite feed could keep up with the Zebra G nib without railroading or running dry.

Normally, with flex nibs I prefer the titanium version ($33.50 per dozen) of the Zebra G which is less prone to rusting and is certainly worth trying in the Precession, if you have any on hand, though some find them a bit stiffer than the steel version.

If you’ve been looking for a flex nib option that utilizes a modern body and easy-to-replace nibs (Zebra G nibs can be had for a $13.50 for a dozen) than the Precession would be a great option. Desiderata offers this model in acrylics starting at $200 or Matte Black starting at $150.

The Precession will also accept a #6 Jowo nib unit so, should you decide that flex writing is not for you or you want to switch things up, this pen can become an everyday writer by swapping out the nib unit. Talk about accommodating!

Hopefully, Desiderata will be at the DC Pen Show this weekend. Hope to see you (and Pierre) there!

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Desiderata Pens for the purpose of review. Other links provided for reference and conveniene, some may be to sponsors or advertisers. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Pen Review: Desiderata Precession Flex (Zebra G Nib) Fountain Pen appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Oh, Platinum! Why did you name such a beautiful pen with a name that sounds so awful to English speakers? I trie to resist the Platinum 3776 Kumpoo UEF Fountain Pen on the name alone but when everyone kept telling me how stunning the color was, I couldn’t hold out any longer. Then Lisa Vanness said, “You can call it the Kung Fu Panda.” I caved. And christened it the “Kung Fu Panda” and clicked on Buy It Now so fast your head would spin. My previous 3776 is a Soft Fine so I decided to go for the Ultra Extra Fine (UEF) even though many people have said it is too fine even for super fine gel pen enthusiasts. So, I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.

First, let’s just say that the looks did not disappoint. The Kung Fu Panda is the picture of summery life aquatic perfection. The waves and transparent teal blue is gorgeous. I cannot take my eye off it. And the silver/chrome hardware is perfect. Though, to be honest, this pen would probably have been just as pretty with gold hardware and I almost never say things like that. I am glad its silver though.

In terms of pen specifications, the Platinum 3776 is a fairly lightweight pen. Filled with the converter, it weighs 26gms. Uncapped, its a mere 14gms. It’s about 5.5″ long capped and 4.75″ uncapped and 6.125″ posted.

(Comparison chart is for pens capped and filled.)

Would you look at the wicked stiletto point on this nib? Hoo, boy!

So, I made a point of choosing an ink I knew would be lubricated for a nib this fine and chose Pilot Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku. It was a lovely match as well. I don’t know when I started matching my ink to my pens but I did. Now its just a contest with myself, I think. I love how fine it writes. It has a slight crispness to the line that my other fine pens do not have and I quite enjoy. I did some comparison writing with my 3776 Shungyu with the SF nib (the ink ran out a couple words in so I swapped it out hence the roughness at the beginning. And OMG! I can’t believe I’ve never written a review for this pen!), and two Sailors – one with a stock H-F and one with a custom needlepoint. I would say the my Sailor with the custom Needlepoint is most comparable in terms of line weight but it did require a nibmeister.

So, if you are looking for a UEF, I definitely think the 3776 is a good option and the color series is really stunning. Platinum definitely keeps upping the bar on the look and design of this line. I wonder what color is next?

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Vanness Pen Shop for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Platinum 3776 Kumpoo UEF Fountain Pen (AKA The Kung Fu Panda) appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

I know it’s probably a little late to post this but with all the preparation for the San Francisco Pen Show, this is the first chance I’ve had to post this. These were the things I picked up in DC. And the funny thing, my biggest purchase, and the one purchase I truly set out to make in DC, didn’t even make it into the photo because it was in my bag. I’ll have to photograph it separately and tuck it in at the end of the post. You’ll just have to scroll all the way to the end of the post to see what it is.

But first, let me tell you about the other things because I’m super excited about them too!

First, there are the pens (and pencils!). A wonderful kind reader brought me two brand new NoBlot pencils she found in her office supply cupboard. I should have written her name down. She told me her name and then a thousand things happened between her handing me the pencils and me putting lovingly putting them in my bag at which point I couldn’t remember. So, please, if you’re reading this, leave a message in the comments so that I can thank you properly!

I “won” the lovely pink vintage fountain pen in the Black Pen Society auction but I think the auction was a bit rigged. No one really bid against me. Mike Matteson of Inkdependence put in a bid to make it look like a fair fight but after that, no one really bid. So, they pretty much let me have it. The nib needs a little tweaking but otherwise its in great shape.

Next is the lovely wood pen from Indian manufacturer Syahi. I got the Monarch model to test with a steel flex nib. It’s a larger pen than I usually use but the wood makes it lighter and warmer in the hand and who could resist the chance to try a new pen from a new manufacturer who is experimenting with steel flex nibs?

And finally, I accosted Brian Chu of Red Dragon Pen Company in the hallway in order to get a hold of one of his custom Pilot Parallel Calligraphy Pen barrels. I was able to score two of them.

Then there was the amazing Yenderings Sugar Beach 6-pen roll from YenYen who came all the way from Canada to sell her wares.The case is a combination of ultrasuede, cork and cotton fabrics and was inspired by a Toronto water park. I can’t wait to spend more time with the case and write a more thorough review.

My ink purchases weren’t extensive this trip but I did find some goodies. I got three bottles of Penlux ink, the special edition Monteverde DC Supershow Blue and right before I was leaving I was gifted the remainder of a bottle of 2014 Diamine 2014 DC Supsershow Blue.

I don’t know much about the Penlux ink yet though the box says its made by Sailor and the inks were described as being traditional Japanese colors. I bought all the colors available in the square bottles and these origami folded boxes. The only other colors available were a standard blue and black in the squat Sailor bottles.

This is what I truly set out to purchase at the DC Supershow this year. I have been eyeing the craftsmanship of Yoshi Nakama at 18111 for well over a year. I didn’t know he had a table at the show last year because I was so busy working that I didn’t hear about it until Sunday night after the show was closed and was told he had sold everything. Then in San Francisco a few weeks later, I was able to hold Leigh Reyes’s beautiful custom 18111 creations in my hands. Then I knew for sure that one day I wanted to own one of my own. So, I quietly watched his Instagram feed and Etsy shop debating and trying to decide. They are all so beautiful and unique. Eventually, I waited until the show in hopes that seeing them in person would help me make a decision.

I decided on this beautiful pink swirl with white and pink sakura blossoms and a twig roll stop.

Best of all, the Regalia Writing Labs nib that Laura bought me for my birthday fits perfectly and I can think of no better pen with which to pair it.

So, as I start the day at the SF Pen Show, I can think of no better to celebrate one pen show than to remember another.

As always, though, as much as we love the objects, pen shows are as much about the people we meet, the friends me make, the makers who create theses wonderful things and the memories we make at these events (and later, the things we create WITH these things) as they are about the actual objects.

The post Eye Candy: DC Pen Show Haul appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Review by Jessica Coles

Monteverde has recently come out with several new nibs for their Monza line.  The Monteverde flex nib ($16.00 at Pen Chalet) is one of these.

The Monza flex comes in a light green plastic box — somewhat like a small pencil box where the pen, two cartridges, and the included converter are packed in a dense foam. As with the rest of the Monza line, the feed is clear with a steel nib, the cigar-shaped pen is made of a lightweight transparent plastic.  Green is the only color option for the flex pen.

Out of the box, the flex nib was quite scratchy, not at all unusual for an inexpensive steel nib pen.  A few minutes of smoothing fixed it.

As for flexibility: the steel nib has a cutout on either side.  Typically these cutouts are added to allow the tines to separate as the writer applies greater pressure while writing (rather than simply bending).  This causes more ink to reach the page creating a thicker line.  When the nib cutouts are paired with a feed that can accommodate a higher rate of flow, the results can be dramatic.

The cutouts on the Monza flex try to imitate those of modern “flex” pens but are located too far back on the nib to affect the flexing.  The feed does not seem to have been altered significantly either.  The result is a nib that provides a small degree of line variation, but only with noticeable pressure from the user.  Since the feed has not been modified, the pen is on the dry side.  I experienced a few hard starts, although never railroading. The dryness of the pen actually does help to show off shading inks.  This is because the ink can dry quickly rather than spreading out evenly.

My overall impression of the Monza flex pen: the Monza line is an inexpensive pen that writes well, feels good in the hand and includes some fun extras like the matching reusable box, included converter, and a clear feed, but fall short of “flex” in the name.  I do enjoy using the pen and will continue to use it in the future, especially with highly shading inks.  But when reaching for a flexible pen, the Monza will not be one of my choices.

Tools:

• Paper: Rhodia A4 ($9.00)
• Ink: Robert Oster Carbon Fire (50ml for $17.00)

DISCLAIMER: Some items included in this review were provided free of charge by Pen Chalet for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Monteverde Monza appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

There have been a lot of better-quality, Chinese pens introduced into the market recently and the Kaco brand, like Pen BBS and the Moonman line, is one to put on your radar. While the Kaco Retro (approx. $11.49) is not the most innovative pen in terms of design from Kaco (more to come about their other pens shortly), it is available in six ABS plastic colors. Each pen is a solid color with a thin wire clip and a contrasting dot of plastic on the end of the clip adding a pleasing pop of color to the design.

The pen ships in a  frosted plastic box with molded insert for two cartridges and a Schmidt converter. The insert can be removed and the box can be kept and reused. This satisfies one of my requirements with pen packaging — that it be either recyclable or reusable.

I picked the green which is a turquoise/blue-green with a tomato red dot on the clip. I really liked all the color options, even the white-with-grey-dot.

The design of the Kaco Retro is clearly inspired from the Parker 51 and hooded nib pens of the mid-20th century. There is a clear section just at the top of the grip section where the pen separates for inserting cartridge or converter. The hope would be that the window could be used to see the ink volume but I had a hard time determining if I was just seeing the edge of the converter of the actual ink. I suppose time will tell.

The cap can be posted and does not affect the overall weight or balance of the pen adversely since the cap and clip are relatively light. Capped and filled with the converter, the Kaco Retro weighs about 16gms putting it right between a Prera and a Safari in terms of overall weight. That is pretty much where I would expect it to land considering it is made from ABS plastic.

In writing, the EF nib performed more like a Western fine to me than an Asian EF which seems to be more common with the newer Chinese manufacturers. I think they are aligning their pen widths closer to Western standards. Initially, I tried using the provided cartridge in black but found the ink to be thick and slow-drying which made the nib perceptibly wider and my page very messy (life of a lefty). Once I switched to a ink of known quality (in this case, the new 3Oysters Haneul [$18 per bottle]), the Retro wrote better and I was less smeary.

Overall, this pen writes very smooth, is comfortable in the hand and super well-priced. If you are placing an overseas order, there’s no reason not to try one out or pick one up for a friend you might want to lure over to the fountain pen world.

Tools:

• Paper: Rhodia Uni-Blank No. 18 with 6mm guide sheet
• Pen: Kaco Retro Fountain Pen 0.38 Extra Fine ($11.49 via Ebay)
• Ink:  3 Oysters Haneul ($18  per bottle)

DISCLAIMER: I bought this pen with my own money, however, some items included in this review were provided free of charge by our sponsors for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Kaco Retro EF in Green appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

I had been itching to try one of Birmingham Pen Company’s custom fountain pens — their Model-A series designs. They release a small batch of a particular color material every few weeks or months. For some reason, I was taken by the Crystalline Liquid Hot Magma ($119) acrylic color, aptly named after the Austin Powers reference. It is a vivid orange with lighter threads of white and creamsicle orange.

The pen shipped in a lovely bamboo, magnetic box. It was a fancier box than I was expecting but since the pens are handmade, I appreciate that they present them with a certain level of love for what they created.

The Model-A has a stubby cigar shape and is a smaller pen overall. If you are a fan of Franklin-Christoph Pocket 20, Pocket 45 and the like, this is a pen you will probably like as well.

The things I like best about the Birmingham Model-A designs, and this crystalline acrylic model was that it looked perfect to be eyedroppered. So, of course, that’s what I did.

Birmingham Pen Co. offers lots of nib options for the pens including an array of Knox and Nemosine nibs from extra fine all the way up to 1.9mm stub in gold, silver and two-tone color options depending on the nib. Personally, I am a fan of the Nemosine 0.6mm stub nib, a lovely steel fine stub option and was delighted to be able to select that.

The Model-A eyedroppered and capped weighs 19gms, putting it between a Safari and a TWSBI Mini. The acrylic material gives it a more solid feel than standard plastics and it holds a massive amount of ink when eyedroppered. Uncapped, its a demure 14gms and just a bit longer than 5″ (13cm). Based on the size, it makes a good purse pen and it fits nicely in my dress pockets.

As anticpated, the Nemosine 0.6 mm nib writes like a dream. The Model-A, eyedroppered, works great. I did run the pen once through first using the converter that shipped with it. In both cases, I do tend to find a bit of ink in the cap from regular use and bag jostling so this is definitely a pen I would recommend keeping an eye on if you plan to travel with it as there could be a chance of ink leakage. Or, you could remove the nib unit and grease the threads with some extra silicone grease to be on the safe side. I suspect I should probably try that to see if I can cut down on the ink seepage.

Otherwise, I am thrilled with this pen. I do prefer smaller pens overall though, so take my recommendation with a grain of mini-salt.

Tools:

• Paper: Rhodia Uni-Blank No. 18 with 6mm guide sheet
• Pen: Birmingham Pen Co. Model-A Crystalline Liquid Hot Magma ($119)
• Ink:  Birmingham Pen Co. O.W. Penn Hotel Merlot  (part of the October 2018 Pen Parcel subscription)

DISCLAIMER: I bought this pen and ink with my own money, however, some items included in this review were provided free of charge by our sponsors for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Birmingham Pen Co. Model-A Liquid Hot Magma appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Editor’s Note: I asked Jesi to write this post. “How to get started with Esterbrooks” is something I’ve wanted to write about for a long time but with someone as knowledgeable about Esterbrooks as Jesi on hand to do a far better job than I would, it made sense for her to do it. She wanted me to make it clear this was not a sales pitch to buy her pens even if I say “Buy her pens” because I do. No bias. Okay, maybe a little.

Thanks, Ana! A bit of a disclaimer — in order to keep this post to something that is useful to those who are not yet familiar with Esterbrook pens (or vintage pens in general), I have glossed over many of the fine details about the pen company.  In order to learn more about Esterbrook in the present, read this post.  If you want more details, please see the amazing Esterbrook.net by Brian Anderson including his page of links for further reading.

I am known for having a bit of an interest in Esterbrooks (understatement). I first became enamored with vintage pens when I realized how many fountain pens were available but unusable due to their condition.  I’ve always loved fixing and tinkering so I picked up some broken pens at a show; the rest is history.

Esterbrooks seemed to be present every time I looked for vintage pens that needed repair.  There are a few reasons for this; Esterbrooks were one of the most popular pens in the 1930s to 1960.  They were everywhere because they were inexpensive and sturdy; workhorse pens that were made to stand up to years of use. Esterbrooks that are sold now are anywhere from 60 to 90 years old, still ready to be used daily.

Most Esterbrooks on the market belong to the J series. They are easy to identify by the colors of the pen body (black, red, gray, green, copper or blue), the striated, swirled pattern and the clip.  Shown below is an Esterbrook J on the right with an earlier Esterbrook dollar pen on the left.  The J below on the right is also classified as a “transitional” pen, identifiable by the lack of a jewel on the bottom. This example includes a jewel with three ribbed lines and — Esterbrook was transitioning from the dollar pen to the iconic J pen.

Now for size.  The J series contains three sizes, J, LJ, and SJ. The J is the standard pen, 5 inches long and 1/2 inches in diameter.  LJ pens are the same length as the J pen, but more slender at 3/8 inches in diameter.  SJ pens keep the slender diameter of the LJ pens, but they are shorter as well at 4 3/4 inches.  The photo below shows an SJ pen between two J pens.

Pencils and ballpoint pens were also a part of the series, below is the photo of a pencil in the center. Ballpoint Esterbrooks can be difficult to find; the refill for these pens was a proprietary refill only manufactured by Esterbrook.  Once the company stopped producing these, the pens were nearly useless other than collecting and I believe many were thrown out.  However, due to the ingenuity of John Hubbard, adapters are now available to make these useful again.  Read this post to find out more.

You may also notice that the pen on the left in the photo above has a different pattern on the body.  This is called an icicle pen for the straight pattern of the striations.  Due to the rarity of this pattern, it is a more expensive pen and sought after by many collectors.  It’s not often you see pinstriped pens!

The final type of Esterbrook I will talk about here is the Purse pen, often called the Pastel pen.  The size on these pens is CH, as slender as the above SJ pen but shorter as well.  They were produced to be used by women and were sized to fit in a pocket or purse.  These pens were sold individually or as a set.  The Petit Pak refers to a set of matching fountain pen and pencil that included a plastic sleeve (shown below on the left).

The Purse pens were produced in two different series which can be identified by the color of their jewels.  Those with black jewels were made between 1954 and 1957 and are true pastel colors; pink, peach, yellow, blue, aqua, gray, lilac, and white. The second series of Purse pens were not actually pastel colors.  They have jewels that (usually) match the color of the pen; Trianon pink, Aloha Yellow, Country Green, Peacock Blue, Tempo Red, and Arctic White.

Finally, the feature that set Esterbrook pens apart from most other pen companies at the time: the interchangeable nibs. Esterbrook produced many different styles of nib units that could be changed by the consumer; the nib units are removed by unscrewing and could be replaced by screwing in a new unit.  These units were available at two different price levels, the less expensive solid Durachrome nibs (the red and white boxes below) and the more expensive Master series (green boxes below) that were tipped with iridium. Each series contained a wide variety of nib choices, including extra fine through broad, stub and italic, flexible nibs and rigid.  Any of the Esterbrook pens (except specific models that I won’t talk about here) could use any of the nib units.

I hope this guide has been helpful to anyone looking to start into the vintage pen world; I always say that Esterbrooks are a great way to dive into vintage pens and among the least expensive vintage pens to purchase.  Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!

The post Intro to Vintage Esterbrooks appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Review by Jessica Coles

The Platinum 5000-A Balance caught my eye a couple weeks ago when I noticed it had a gold nib.  That’s not actually a remarkable thing in itself; Platinum makes many excellent gold nibbed pens.

However, I was looking at pens sorted by price.  There was no way I had scrolled down far enough to get to the gold nib prices – I hadn’t even made it to the Monteverde Prima or Lamy Studio yet (both have steel nibs).  I double checked.  A gold nibbed pen (from a well-founded and respected company) that cost on $64? There was no way! So of course, I had to try it.  As soon as humanly possible.

Luckily, Pen Chalet had the 5000-A in stock.  When it arrived, the packaging beautiful and understated.

Still not a pen that I would suspect contained a gold nib.  Had this been a mislabeled pen?

Nope!

A 14kt gold nib in a pen that cost $64 (at the time of this writing!).  It was with trepidation that I began to test the pen with a writing sample.

The pen performed beautifully.  Like other Platinum nibs, there is a moderate amount of feedback.  You can feel the page under your nib.  I personally enjoy this feeling, but those who prefer a smoother feel could easily adjust this.  The nib is not listed as flexible or soft, but as a 14kt nib has a bit of responsiveness to the pressure variations that occur during a writing session.  Make sure you do not think I’m saying this is a flexible or even a soft nib!  It is not!  DO NOT TRY TO FLEX THIS NIB.  But as you can see above, the thickness does vary a bit throughout the writing.  (Please ignore any shaky hand parts you may see…)

Now for the size.  The 5000-A Balance surprised me in the size and weight category.  I was expecting a heavier pen. The pen weighs approximately 11.5 grams.  Lighter than anything we have on our chart, including the ubiquitous Lamy Safari.  The body of the Platinum is plastic while the gold clip and accents are metal.

With the snap-cap removed, (you read that correctly.  The cap snaps. And it is a satisfying snap as well.) you can see the nib is close in size to that of the Lamy. What you don’t see in this photo (because I inked up the pen as soon as it came out of the box) is that it has a clear feed! Beautiful, especially with brightly colored ink.

The only other thing I can say about this pen is this: go get it right now.  Quickly.  Before they realize that they have underpriced an amazing pen.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Pen Chalet for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Platinum PTL 5000A Balance appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Review by Laura Cameron

When I was working at the Vanness table at the Chicago Pen Show, I noticed that the Pilot Metropolitans ($18.50) had an additional nib option that I hadn’t seen before, the calligraphy nib.  I resolved to order one to try and write up for the desk, since I do love my Metro Pops.

The Pilot Calligraphy Medium nib (marked CM on the nib itself) is a 1.0 mm stub nib that is a bit thinner than the typical 1.1 or 1.5 mm stub nibs.  It provides for some nice line variation without being too unwieldy.  Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that Pilot makes a nice nib and the Pilot Metropolitans are very affordable, so you get a experiment with a fun nib at a reasonable price.

I found the calligraphy nib took a bit of getting used to.  It was a bit scratchier than the F and M nibs that I have from Pilot, and I haven’t used much in the way of stub nibs, so adapting my writing so I could make use of the line variation was an interesting experience. I have lots of practicing to do!

That said, I had fun writing the alphabet, trying to do a wee bit of illustration (my art skills are definitely not up to snuff!) and just playing with the nib in general and I’m going to be adding this one into my EDC for a bit so I can get more practice.

In summary, if you like Pilot Metropolitans and want to experience a slightly wider nib, I’d give this one two thumbs up.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Pilot Metropolitan Calligraphy Nib appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Review by Jessica Coles

Imagine this: Exhausted from 8 hours of travel and flight delays, plus the pleasure of being jammed in a big metal tube with strangers and offered snacks that consist of exactly three pretzels. Then my wonderful and beautiful friend, Kimberly (aka allthehobbies. NOT Kim) drives up and helps me to load my suitcase (which was ounces shy of the weight limit) into her vehicle.  I gratefully melt into the front seat. Kimberly is picking up another passenger, Mike Allen of Woodshed Pens and asks me to check if his flight has arrived yet.  She has the number written on a piece of paper with a pen sitting nearby.  It was a TWSBI Go. What an ugly pen! I scribble down a few notes about the flight with the beautiful stub nib and realize, I like this ugly pen!

Hence my first introduction to the TWSBI Go pen ($18.99 at most pen retailers).

Of course, I needed to get one for myself.  By the time I was able to get away to Sunny’s table (Straits Pen), there were only extra fine nibs left.  I grabbed one to add to my other purchases thinking it would be an interesting experiment.

The TWBI Go was the first pen I inked up when I returned home after the San Francisco show.  The box came inside of a cardboard sleeve, as most TWSBI pens do.  The box itself I found surprisingly sturdy for a pen at this price point — small but well made.

On to the filling.  The instructions absolutely show you all of the steps.  Rather IKEA-esque I think.

My children thought it looked like an Epi-Pen.

Open the back end of the pen to expose the spring contraption. Place the nib into the ink bottle.  Press the end of the filling mechanism. Watch the ink get sucked up into the pen.  Wipe off the nib, ready to write.

I loved that you could see all of the internal workings of the pen.

As I wrote, the pen felt rather dry.  However, this is an extra fine nib, and I usually find EF nibs in the TWSBI line dry.  But the nib itself was smooth with only a bit of tooth to the writing experience.

I did find myself wishing I had been able to purchase a wider nib when I saw the color of the ink.  I inked the Go with the Pen Show ink from the San Francisco show — Robert Oster Pacific Ocean Teal.

This ink has some shading (as you can see from this writing sample with a Franklin Christoph Medium Cursive Italic nib, 14kt) and even a slight reddish sheen when it pools.  The color is a wonderfully bright teal/turquoise.  I would even say the color is peppy.

The color is close to Montegrappe Turquoise and not that far off from Robert Oster Fire and Ice.

This ink is another amazing win for Robert Oster although I do think it tends towards turquoise more than teal.  The brightness of the color sets it apart from other inks that I own in this hue.

I’m loving the pen.  It’s cute and ugly, solidly built, and inspires many comments from non-pen users. I’m planning to add a second Go with a 1.1 stub nib.  These are great for testing with a sample of ink and I believe they will be incredibly user-friendly for first-time fountain pen users.  There is no need to remove and replace a cartridge or wonder how to fill it.  All of the fun of using bottled ink is available to the beginner without the frustration.  For those who have been using fountain pens for years will also enjoy the pen since it’s a great one to throw in a pocket or purse or in your car when playing taxi driver to an entire pen show! (Thanks again, Kimberly.  You are amazing.)

• Paper: Seven Seas Writer Journal ($26.00) and Rhodia A4 Notepad ($16.95)
• Pens: TWSBI Go Sapphire, EF nib ($18.99), Ranga Bamboo pen ($100), Franklin Christoph Medium cursive italic nib, 14kt ($120)
• Swatches: Col-o-Ring Ink Testing Book ($10)
• Ink: Robert Oster Pacific Ocean Teal (50mL for $20)

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were purchased by me. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Pen and Ink Review: TWSBI Go and Robert Oster Pacific Ocean Teal appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

By Jessica Coles

A few months ago I heard that the Esterbrook trademark had been purchased by Kenro Industries and the manufacturing of Esterbrook pens was going to restart.  I had many thoughts about this, not many of them comforting. Esterbrook closed their doors for good in 1972.

There was a brief attempt to revive the Esterbrook name in the early 21st century and pens bearing the Esterbrook name began to emerge during this time period. Unfortunately, the pens manufactured during this revival were nowhere near the quality of the previous generations of Esterbrooks.

Then a change took place in the Esterbrook world.  Kenro Industries acquired the Esterbrook name and trademark and began designing what we now know as the Esterbrook Estie.  The Esterbrook Estie is completely redesigned from any previous models – it is important to note that the Estie bears nothing in common with pens labeled with the Esterbrook name and manufactured from 1990 to the present. Nothing.

I was hesitant to be excited about this new Esterbrook because of my own business.  At pen shows, I offer customers the chance to try a wide variety of the nib units manufactured by Esterbrook in the 1940s and 1950s which can be purchased and paired with any of the vintage Esterbrook fountain pen bodies that I also sell.  What impact was this new release going to have?  How would the modern Esterbrooks change the landscape of vintage nibs and bodies?

I was able to acquire a tortoise and gold Estie at the Colorado Pen Show.  Three body colors are available to combine with silver or gold trim to complete your Estie build.  I finished mine off with a fine gold colored nib to match the clip.

Considering my experience in the vintage Esterbrook space (along with just a tiny obsession with all things Esterbrook), I was very excited to find my review copy included the Modern to Vintage adapter.  The “MV” adapter allows vintage nibs to be used with the new Estie.  Vintage nibs!  Esterbrook began as a steel dip nib manufacturer and their wide variety of interchangeable nib units set them apart from most other fountain pen companies.  The fact that Kenro honored this heritage should be very meaningful to Esterbrook fans as it demonstrates an understanding of the history and spirit of Esterbrook.

Kenro approached the design of the Estie by trying to visualize the type of pen the Esterbrook company might have created in 2018.  Throughout the course of its history, Esterbrooks have evolved through many design changes.  The material shortages brought on by two World Wars, customer preferences, and technological advances have all impacted the look and performance of Esterbrook Pens over the years.  Some changes have brought wildly successful lines such as the J-series pens, while others have faded into obscurity.

So – how about the actual pen?  I chose the smaller of the two Estie models.  It fits perfectly in my hand when posted and I like the balance and weight.  I can also use it easily unposted, although the pen feels slightly short when doing so.

Similar to the Platinum 3776, the cap of the Estie has a sealing mechanism on the inside.  It does its job excellently. I left the pen inked for two weeks without using it and, when I did go to write, it started immediately.  Due to the way this inner cap is constructed, screwing the cap on takes a slight amount of extra pressure to catch the threads.  This did not bother me at all, and I didn’t notice it after the first time.

The step from the pen body to the section is slight and there is only a single thread. The cap opens with just under one complete turn.  The spring-loaded inner cap pushes the body of the pen a bit, reminding me that the pen has been sealed this whole time.

I love the detail of the one piece cap – there is no finial or jewel as a separate component. The clip is attached above the spring-loaded inner liner inside the pen rather than screwed between the cap and finial.  The clip is another detail that received plenty of design attention.  It slides onto a pocket or notebook cover smoothly, holds securely, and you don’t need to use your other hand to pry it open when removing the pen.

To try out the Estie, I used Waterman Tender Purple.  The gold colored steel nib is beautifully branded with Esterbrook and their founding year 1858.  The pen wrote very smoothly from the start and had a small amount of line variation, enough so that I could feel the page.

The Estie is a cartridge/converter filler and accepts standard international size.  I’ve had no problems with leaking, blobbing, or hard starts; the ink flows beautifully and evenly.  While I carried it around with me for several days, all the jostling and movement did nothing to bring ink out into the cap.

Now we’ve arrived at the true heart and soul of the Estie – the Modern to Vintage adapter!

The adapter was packaged in a cloth bag stamped with Esterbrook; inside was the adapter, another converter, and an ink cartridge.  I’ve heard that some retailers carry another option that includes a vintage nib as well! Mine did not include a vintage nib, but I had a couple already.

This adapter replaces the section on the Estie and only comes in black, so the cobalt and tortoise pens are a bit mismatched when using this option.  I found it didn’t take away from the looks.

The first vintage nib I tried on the adapter was a vintage 1555 nib, new old stock.  The fit was a bit too tight to work with the adapter, and I was concerned that the threads were slightly mismatched.  My second attempt with a 9968 nib proved to be much better, although I did need to use more torque on the nib than I would in a vintage Esterbrook.  I believe this was due to the interaction of the two materials rather than a problem with the threads.

With the nib in place, I filled the second adapter with Waterman Inspired Blue, my favorite for testing vintage writing instruments.  Once the ink made it through the feed, I had no flow problems.  This was amazing to me – these nibs were manufactured between 60 and 90 years ago and designed to be used with a lever-filler fountain pen rather than a converter.  These two filling systems feed ink to the nib in different ways, and I am happy to say that Kenro executed this perfectly. Please note here that there is a converter provided specifically for the Modern to Vintage Adapter.  The regular converter does fit, but not tightly, so make sure to use the smaller converter when using a vintage nib.  I am unsure of the exact type of the smaller converter; it may need to be purchased specifically from Kenro.

I did run into one detail with the Modern to Vintage Adapter that may only be bothersome to the person writing a review.  When exchanging the modern section for the adapter section, there is no way to cap the nib on the other section.  I ended up leaving the modern nib, section, and converter on my desk while using the vintage nib, adapter section, and smaller converter. It is an awkward assembly to store.

So, is it all worth the price?  The Estie comes in at the price of $195 for the standard size or $250 for the oversized model.  The Modern to Vintage adapter is priced at $40 or $50 with a vintage nib. This brings the full price to $235 to $300 MSRP.   The pen is very well made.  Kenro has paid attention to each detail throughout the design process and has not cut corners to add margin.  The Estie feels like a well-made pen that looks great and writes very well.  One caveat – relative to comparable pens, the price is fairly high for a steel nib.

The Estie is a well constructed and elegant pen that exists alongside many other well constructed and elegant pens by many other manufacturers.  Without something to differentiate the Estie from the rest of the market, I would say that it is overpriced.

Fortunately for the Estie, two things set it apart in the pen world.  First, the Esterbrook name and the almost universal recognition it received throughout the dip nib and fountain pen era.  All it takes is a visit to a pen show to appreciate the number of people who experience the overwhelming nostalgia and recollection an Esterbrook can bring.  Memories of mothers, grandfathers and other family members who used and loved Esterbooks can bring a sense of familiarity to the admittedly overwhelming world of vintage and modern pens.  In our digital world of uncertainty and chaos, an Esterbrook feels like home.

The second and most important thing that sets the Estie apart is the adapter.  Vintage Esterbrooks often face criticism about their small ink capacity and their fit in larger hands.  The Estie fixes both of these problems while still allowing a single pen to use a large variety of nibs that are completely missing in the modern fountain pen world.  Although expensive custom modern pens have been adapted for use with vintage nibs, there have been no commercially available adapters that allow their use.  Until the Estie.

While hunting for vintage Esterbrook nibs in the wild can be difficult, online retailers are beginning to carry and offer the original Esterbrook nib line (Naturally I am one of those).  No other modern pen offers such a wide variety of nib choices for various writing styles. Plus, by purchasing more than one vintage nib, you can completely change the look and feel of your writing with a twist of a nib unit.  No need to buy another pen.

Taking into consideration the construction, look, name, and adapter that are offered by the Estie, I would say that absolutely, this pen is worth it.  The Esterbrook name has been given a chance to continue on and I hope this is not the last innovation we see from the Esterbrook-Kenro combination. We will never be able to know exactly where Esterbrook would be today if they had hadn’t closed their doors, but I think Kenro has stayed as faithful as possible to the ideals of Esterbrook in the design of the Estie.  The spirit of the Esterbrook is alive and well.

And yes, it also comes in a nice box.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided on loan by Kenro Industries for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Esterbook Estie appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.