Ciao, OMAS!

The worldwide fountain pen community expressed a collective, solemn lament as news broke that Italian pen-maker OMAS, after celebrating its 90th anniversary last year, had become defunct. It was an outcome that we all hoped would be avoided with an 11th hour intervention. There were buyers that were looking to save the company and keep the doors open. Unfortunately, the deals had fallen through and the company shuttered its doors for the foreseeable future.

As there are still interested parties looking to purchase what is left of the company, OMAS fans can hold onto hope that, some years from now, we may see a resurrection of the brand. However, at the time of this writing, we are looking at a dwindling inventory of OMAS pens world-wide.

I thought it would be important to note that I'm writing the first draft of this post with an OMAS Ogiva Cocktail fountain pen. Now, more than ever, I treasure my pens for their uniqueness and craftsmanship. Being that I have a personal affection for the brand, I wanted to see the last OMAS pens be put in the hands of true fans and writing enthusiasts. So, we're throwing a special going-away party!

"Ciao" in Italian could mean either "hello" or "goodbye," depending on the context it is being used. Therefore, it is with much respect and fondness that we invite you to our Ciao, OMAS farewell party. We might be saying "goodbye," but for anyone that is purchasing a new OMAS, it is time to say "hello" to your new pen.

OMAS Ogiva Cocktail Limited Edition

Goldspot Pens has acquired a number of OMAS pens from what was left at the US distributor and Japan. At the start of our party, we're offering our stock of Arte Italiana, Ogiva Cocktail, Bologna, 360, and more at a discount, including free, insured shipping anywhere in the USA. We're also hosting a giveaway of the rare Milady ballpoint pen that you can enter here. Help us get the word out to OMAS fans everywhere and you can possibly win an OMAS pen. Enter the giveaway by using the form below (if it is closed, the giveaway is over).

a Rafflecopter giveaway
All of our OMAS pens were acquired through authorized distribution and are still covered under a 3-year warranty. Contact Kenro Industries (US OMAS distributor) to arrange the pen to be sent for warranty service only. For any repairs that are outside of the warranty, or are user-related (dropped nib, crushed pen, etc), contact Classic Fountain Pens directly.

Each OMAS pen purchased from Goldspot Pens is new, in box with the original booklet / papers. They are all covered under our return policy, which allows you to return, for any reason, within 15 days of purchase with the option to exchange or refund. Please note returns for refund will incur a 15% restocking fee from the total amount.

OMAS Bologna, Reintroduced

We will be listing new pens all week. To kick off the party, we added an entire collection that hasn't been seen in the United States in some years. The Bologna is a rounded and tapered OMAS pen that comfortably sits in your hand. The eye-catching, pearlescent acrylic resin is a sight to behold, adding a dimension of luxury that OMAS is known for. The fountain pen fills by cartridge or converter. The 14kt gold nib glides smoothly, engraved with a graphic of Bologna's famous porticoes. The twist-action ballpoint is loaded with an easy-flow, Parker-style refill and is also emblazoned with an image of a portico on the nosecone of the pen. Shop Now.

If you enjoy OMAS ink and are looking to get stocked up for some time, we still have bottled ink and ink cartridges in a variety of colors. We are trying to stay on top of our website to remove items as soon as they are sold, but undoubtedly we will become oversold, but we will notify you as soon as possible if a discrepancy occurs to see if another option, or a refund, is preferred.

As a bonus, we're offering a complimentary bottle of OMAS Violet with any purchase of $150 or more (can include OMAS or other brands of products). Use promo code OMASPARTY during checkout and the ink will be added to your order with a discount to offset the cost.

A Guided Tour of Modern Fountain Pens

Getting into fountain pens can feel like you've fallen down the rabbit hole. It's exciting to discover a world exists that flies in the face of modern technology. It's as if you've grown up your entire life shopping at Barnes & Noble and then realized that libraries existed - and that people still go to them!

If handwritten posts on social media have your interest piqued, then this post is what you need to read to start your quick-and-dirty education.

To the uninitiated, fountain pens seem alluring, yet the aspect of getting started with them can be daunting. Many of the questions we get from beginners : What pen to start with? How much should I have to pay to get a good quality fountain pen? Which pen is going to be the best value for the money? What nib size should I choose?

As with many of the purchases that we make these days, one can spend days on fountain pen research. An abundance of information exists in the forms of videos, reviews, forum posts and so on. There's so much information that many first-timers hesitate to commit. Some call it "paralysis by analysis."

Lets make it simple by giving you a guided tour of what you need to know when selecting your next fountain pen.

Consider us your sherpa on this expedition. Goldspot has sold pens online since 1999 when we started out listing Sensa and rOtring pens on eBay. I'm being modest when I say that we know a thing or two about pens. We also rely heavily on the feedback of our customers and the fountain pen community to validate our pen suggestions.

Before window shopping (and getting distracted by the bright and shiny's, ask yourself these questions :

• What am I using the fountain pen for?
• What do I usually like to write with?
• What is my budget?

These questions are important to ask because it is easy to get sidetracked by all the flex nibs, gold nibs, piston-fillers and limited editions. If you are using the fountain pen for detailed note-taking and your hand writing is quite small, a large, music nib isn't suitable for your needs. Taking into consideration the pens you already enjoy using will give you a basis for comparison to find a fountain pen that will satisfy your requirements for size, weight and grip. Lastly, setting a budget may prevent the unpleasant conversation you will have with your significant other regarding the credit card bill.

For true beginners that are looking to inexpensively try out using a fountain pen for the first time, we've put together a list of our best fountain pens for beginners. View List >>

If you like one of the pens on this list, but are curious to see if comes in different colors or point sizes, click on the related items links at the bottom of the product detail page. In the example below, if you want to look at ALL the Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop pens, colors and point sizes, you would click on the link that reads Metropolitan Retro Pop.

"look for similar items"

You don't have to be a master penman like Jake Weidmann to enjoy a good calligraphic fountain pen. Fountain pens with calligraphic or stub nibs can be fun to write with as an everyday pen. Go for smaller point sizes (like 0.8mm) for note-taking. The popular Pilot Parallel is an excellent choice to get started inexpensively. View List >>

Want to keep on writing for a long time without having to go back for a fill-up? Piston-Filling fountain pens provide a higher ink capacity than traditional cartridge converter fountain pens and fill from bottled ink exclusively. View List >>

It's easy to spend one's fountain pen kitty quickly. Hey, we know not everyone can afford to spend a car payment on one fountain pen. That's why we created several tiers to accommodate your budget.

• Fountain Pens Under $50
• Fountain Pens Under $100
• Fountain Pens Under $200

These are some of the best fountain pens in those price ranges that give you the most bang for your buck.

Looking for a fountain pen that is as convenient as a retractable ballpoint pen? There's a fountain pen for that! This selection of retractable nib fountain pens are convenient and just plain cool to play with (especially in long meetings). View List >>

View all of our suggestions and more on our Fountain Pen Guide page at the Goldspot Pens Store.

Fountain pen users - are there other types of fountain pen categories you would recommend for first time writers? Please let us know in the comments section if you feel any categories or pens should also be included in our guide.

Spring 2016 Filofax designs that will enhance your calm

The weather is getting warmer here in New Jersey. The last of our snow has melted away and the early birds can be heard tweeting away without using 140 characters. Looking at your year so far, have you held up to your goals for 2016? Are they in progress? Most importantly, do you have a system for keeping yourself moving forward without losing sight of the big picture?

Modern life is abundant with distractions to keep us from working on our goals. Yes, most of the prime-time, network TV shows have returned from mid-season break (Walking Dead is getting really good). Scrolling around Facebook became more involving, as you have other options besides a simple "like." And, what's there to be said that hasn't been said about the Presidential primary season....

All these distractions can suck up so much time without us even knowing it. That's why it's a great idea to unplug once in a while and focus on what really matters.

Every once in a while, you read something about an uber-successful person relying on pen and paper to keep their thoughts in line and focus on the "big picture." Richard Branson comes to mind. So does acclaimed author Neil Gaiman. Handwriting also has benefits in learning, as one study points out.

Enter the organizer - a pen & paper practitioner's best friend. Filofax, our #1 brand of organizer we offer, is world renown for their durable, fashionable and practical designs. Each year, designers get together to devise new, fashionable and trendy organizers to refresh the brand and stay on the cutting edge of modern style.

These new, 2016 Filofax styles are now available to order in our shop. The pleasing colors and cover designs are perfect for Spring.

Not into social media? This is your kind of "Tweet." Writing in this organizer far exceeds the 140 character limit, and we're OK with that! Pocket or Personal sizes available.

For lovers of all things Spring, this pretty style of Filofax "Butterflies" organizer fits perfectly. Pocket or personal size.

The Filofax Geometric's mesmerizing print design and calming color palette will help you keep on-task without stressing out on the details.

Wrapped in luxurious, genuine leather, the Lockwood has a distinguished and elegant feel. Available in A5 or Personal size in Aqua or Garnet colors.

As comfortable as a pair of your favorite jeans, the Filofax Denim Dots has a button fly closure to complete the look. Available in pocket or personal sizes.

Goldspot Original Spring Essentials Organizer Set

While we introduce all new organizers to the Filofax planner lineup, we are highlighting a glowing best-seller by offering this exclusive bundle that will help you get your organizer set up in a jiffy!

We invite you to move right into a new organizer to kickstart your most important goals and get a handle on your busy schedule. Our Filofax Fluorescent Pink A5 Essentials Set includes all the standard organizer inserts that come with the purchase of a brand new A5 :

• 2016 Week on Two Pages Diary
• 6 Numbered Index Tabs
• Contact Address Sheets
• Assorted Color Ruled Notepaper
• To-Do List Paper
• Plain, Grid and Ruled White Notepaper
• Transparent Envelope
• Ruler / Pagemarker

In addition, this essentials set provides you with a few extras to help customize your organizer set up, including :

• (1) Pack of Plain White Notepaper (25 sheets)
• (1) Assorted Sticky Notes & Highlight Strips
• (1) Pack of Organizer Stickers

In case that isn't enough, we're also including a complimentary crystal gem ballpoint pen (colors vary and are chosen at random upon shipping).

Normally, the A5 organizer alone costs $111.00 retail price.

We're offering the entire set at the outstanding price of $99.00, including FREE US priority shipping to any domestic US shipping addresses.

This offer is limited to the number of organizers we have available in-stock. Once we sell out, this set will not be offered again. CLICK HERE to view the details in our shop and place an order.