Thank you to all who attended our inaugural Goldspot Pens & NJ Pen Club Pen-B-Q cookout and mini-pen show that was held last weekend on Saturday, August 27th. We appreciate everyone who was able to make it and enjoy a sunny, Jersey afternoon with us. Anyone who wasn't able to make it, but wanted to come, this post is for you! We've collected the highlights of our meet up in this convenient, bite-sized post. Enjoy!
We set up on a beautiful, low-humidity Saturday morning. Our tents pitched and our tables clothed with white linen, we were set to bring out the pens and the food!
Thanks to the support of Kenro Industries and Blueline Rediform, we had two awesome reps from each company come out to set up their own tables and show off some of the latest and greatest pens. Below is Kenro Industries' Neil L. with his spread of Aurora and Montegrappa pens with a couple of Ballast Watches to throw in some luxurious variety.
Montegrappa pens (left), Aurora Pens (right)
Jennifer R. from Rediform enthusiastically represented Lamy pens and Filofax organizers at her table. This was her first "pen meet up" experience as a sales rep and she absolutely loved it.
Filofax organizers (left) Lamy Lx, Lamy 2000 and new Scala pens (right)
So, what did Goldspot have cooking? Besides our own table of closeout special pens, we also had ink bottles you can sample and a top-secret case of Parker pens that are expected to debut fall 2016. Plus, Tom was manning the grill, flipping burgers and turning dogs for guests. A special shout-out goes to our long-time pen club members, Karen and Debbie, for bringing several summer snacks and goodies to add to our spread of food. There was a lot of food to eat!
Tom was also demonstrating the Pilot Parallel modified 6.0mm nib that writes like a folded nib. "Ooohs" and "aaahs" could be heard from the gathering of on-lookers. The pen was inked with Lamy Dark Violet.
One of the highlights of the event was the huge door prize giveaway. We received great support from our vendors, who graciously provided us with plenty of goodies to giveaway. We raffled off a Retro 51 Spaceglow, which was released back in 2010 and we would estimate is worth now about $100. We also had a Caran d'Ache Essentially Swiss ballpoint pen, several Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop ballpoint pens, a Lamy logo ballpen, Filofax notebook, Pilot sport water bottles, totes and desk caddy organizers. We had so many prizes that everyone who attended received something!
Overall, it was a fun afternoon enjoyed by all. We're already talking about making it a bigger event next year. Perhaps this is just the beginning of a beautiful, yearly event. If you're in the NJ metro area, would you be interested in coming? Please let us know below in the comments.
The single most common question we get from intrigued fountain pen newbies is "which is the best, first fountain pen?" -- and this post should help narrow that down for you. As you venture into the fountain pen world, you'll soon notice that much of the appeal of these pens is how personal they can be; my idea of a perfect pen might have a fine nib and a moderate weight, while yours might have a medium nib and be as light as a feather. The point is, with fountain pens, there are many options, and within each pen, you'll find even more options.
The following are 5 of our best recommendations for your first fountain pen, including features, specifications, and thoughts on each pen. I suggest purchasing finer nibs if you are used to writing with 0.5 - 0.7 mm tips, as the transition may be easier. If you're feeling risky and want to try flex writing or calligraphy, scroll down to find three additional pens that are sure to bring excitement to your writing.
The Pilot Metropolitan has quickly become the top recommendation for newbies. It’s a great value, smooth-writing fine nib, round grip, average weight, and strong durability makes the pen suited for the majority of new users. Two thing to look out for: 1) Pilot nibs are proprietary, meaning only Pilot cartridges and converters will fit into Pilot pens and 2) you can’t see the ink level in the con-20 converter, so you won’t know exactly when you are out of ink until the pen stops writing. If this bothers you, Pilot offers the transparent con-50 converter as a substitute.
Filling Method: proprietary Lamy cartridge included. LZ24 Converter sold separately.
Durability: made of extremely durable ABS plastic
Colors: comes in many colors (can upgrade to Al-Star)
Ink window
The Lamy Safari is long considered a staple in the fountain pen world. It is a great value, with a nib known for being smooth, but with feedback (not glossy smooth, but enough to let you know the nib is touching the paper). The barrel of the Safari is made of ABS plastic, the material used to make the famous Lego toys, which can withstand large amounts of pressure -- making the Safari extremely durable. Many beginners choose this pen because later on, you can try out one of the many other nib sizes (ranging from EF to 1.9mm), which is always fun.
Lamy introduces the "Charged Green" AL-Star for 2016!!!
Another green? Do we need another green in what seems like a never-ending procession of green Safaris and AL-Stars?
Does Germany have waaay too much green pen "batter" laying around that they need to use before it goes bad?
As many Lamy fans and collectors know in their hearts, the color won't matter much, it's a new Safari / Al-Star, and Charged Green must be assimilated into the Lamy collective.
So, what makes "Charged" Green different from any other green? See our photos below.
(From Left to Right) : Lamy Safari Neon Green (2015), Lamy Al-Star Charged Green (2016), Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Green (2015), Lamy Safari Apple Green (2012, 2016), Pilot Vanishing Point Metallic Green (2014), Lamy Al-Star Bluegreen (2014, 2016).
As you can see, the Charged Green has a mix of yellow that gives it an "underripe golden delicious apple" look. It's not nearly as saturated as the Apple Green, which is being reintroduced to the Safari lineup this year. It is also not as eye-stingingly bright as last year's Neon Lime.
In this shot, we see the Charged Green laid over the other greens to get more of a direct comparison. What are your feelings on this green? Write your opinions below in the comments.
The Lamy Al-Star Charged Green will become available early 2016, along with the re-issue of the Al-Star Blue Green, Safari Apple Green and the new Safari Dark Lilac. We will have more information on those new Lamy releases as they come to us. To be the first to know about these pens, subscribe to our blog.
Lamy's Dialog is the top-end of the German-made writing instrument brand that represents the forefront of design and writing technology. The Dialog 3, released back in 2012, is Lamy's first-and-only retractable fountain pen. Originally produced in a matte palladium finish, Lamy expanded the line to include a matte black, and, most recently, the 2015 Piano Black and Piano White finishes.
We're going to review the Dialog 3 model as a whole, but we also wanted to briefly touch on the minor differences between the Palladium & Matte Black releases and the new Piano Black & White Finishes.
Left : Lamy Dialog 3 Piano Black, Right: Lamy Dialog 3 Matte Black
Besides the obvious difference in the pen's finish, the presentation box was changed from a slim, wooden box to a bulkier case. As you can see in our video review, the newer box for the Piano Black/White is much more impressive and grand. The slim, wooden box with the original Dialog 3 also has its place, in my opinion, as a nice desk holder for your fountain pen.
Original Lamy Dialog 3 Matte Black with Solid Nib Unit
The newer Dialog 3's also differ with their nib unit. An oblong cut-out is on the side of the unit to view the ink level in your cartridge or converter. The original Dialog 3 nib unit on the Palladium and Matte Black pens is solid all around. The newer Dialog 3's also come with a cleaning ring that is used to help flush out and maintain the inner shell of the fountain pen when the nib unit is removed.
An interesting fact for those who already own the Dialog 3 and would consider picking up the new 2015 version - the nib units are not interchangeable, as they don't line up if you try switching between the older & newer models. It may not bother some people, but I need to have the nib lined up with the clip. Otherwise, bad things may happen to fragile, inanimate objects.
The In-Hand Writing Experience
This pen is fun to pick up and fidget with. It feels like a cross between a fountain pen and a lightsaber. It's super-sleek and streamlined, just like a stealth bomber. If apple made a fountain pen, it would probably look similar to the Dialog 3.
The significant weight in-hand (1.6oz) gives an impression of a solid, well manufactured instrument. Yet, it's not heavy enough to use as a bludgeoning weapon. This is important, because many folks may take issue with a heavy weight pen, not only because it causes hand fatigue over long writing sessions, but it would also be less conspicuous as an actual weapon when trying to pass through the TSA.
Since this is a capless pen, there's no need to decide whether to write cap-in-hand or with the cap posted. The length of the fountain pen is perfectly sized to fit in most average-or-larger hands. The uniform girth allows you to choose where you grip the pen. Those familiar with the Vanishing Point may have the same gripe about the Dialog 3 in that the clip may get in the way of your fingers' writing position. The Dialog 3 clip does retract closer to the body of the pen once the nib is protracted completely, making it slightly less obtrusive than the VP clip.
The twist-action mechanism of the Dialog 3 feels solid. As you twist the pen, you can feel a firm "click" of the ball valve and nib moving into position.
Macro Shot of Lamy Dialog 3 M Nib with Sailor Jentle Blue-Black on Rhodia 80gsm paper.
The 14kt Lamy solid gold nib is an absolute pleasure to write with. The medium nib I picked for the writing samples wrote with a nice, wet flow and glided across the page with every word. Although the Piano Black is a glossy, lacquered finish, I found no trouble in being able to grip and hold on to this fountain pen's wider grip area. Since most fountain pens usually have a narrower section to grip, the grip on the Lamy Dialog 3 takes a little getting used to, especially if you write with mostly thin pens (like a Cross Century).
Overall, I was extremely impressed by how this pen handles around the curves and responds when you accelerate (handwriting speed, that is). It can keep up with fast writers and those who like to go big and bold.
Writing Quality : The Lamy 14kt gold nib is super-smooth and flows nice and wet. It effortlessly glides across paper. The weight and size of the pen, although ample, doesn't get in the way of the writing experience, rather enhances it. (grade A)
Aesthetic Quality : The modern design of the Dialog is the epitome of "Apple-esque." The clean lines of the profile and rounded ends exude simplicity and elegance. (grade A+)
Utility : Retractable fountain pen means no need for a cap! You cannot accidentally clip your shirt to the pen while open, as the clip retracts when the pen is in use. One negative is that the pen uses Lamy proprietary fountain pen cartridges and converter. (grade A+)
Price : $308 (sale price) is quite a hefty price tag, considering that a 14kt gold nib Lamy Studio fountain pen can sell for half the cost. Compared to other retractable nib fountain pens, a Pilot Vanishing Point is also half the price. The Pilot Fermo, which is a twist-action, retractable fountain pen ($260 sale price / $325 retail) would be more comparable. (grade B)
Final Grade : A
Looking at Lamy's fountain pen collections as a whole, it is easy to see why the Dialog 3 stands alone at the top. Although it contains the same components as the more economical Lamy Studio model, the Dialog's superior design and retractable nib mechanism puts this pen at the top of the list for Lamy collectors. Plus, it looks like a lightsaber, and that's major geek points for a Star Wars fan like me!
This article was initially distributed in our weekly dip e-mail newsletter, but we decided to share it on our blog.
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I'll tell you a little story about my youth.
When I was in grade school, I would grip my No. 2 pencil so hard while practicing writing and drawing that I developed a big, painful callus on my middle finger that took years to go away once I went to writing with pens.
Fast forward 20 years, I get the feeling I'm not alone when I speak with our customers who prefer a thicker, more ergonomic pencil.
Ergonomic specialists, including UCLA, all recommend the following for pain-free writing :
Use the lightest hold possible while writing.
Use a round, not triangularly-shaped (or hexagonal), grip.
Use ergonomically designed, wide-barrel pens.
Use a rubberized or matte grip pen.
Avoid leaning heavily on your forearm.
Stretch often and take frequent breaks.
Naturally, creative minded-folks are always sketching, drawing and writing, logging hours and hours of intellectual heavy-lifting. If you don't employ an ergonomic style of writing, those same hands can develop carpal tunnel and other hand-related syndromes that cause great discomfort, prohibiting the individual from being able to create. Total bummer!
It's a good thing that Germans know a thing or two about manufacturing a ergonomically designed, durable writing instrument. Later, you'll want to thank them with big, pain-free "thumbs up!"
The LAMY Scribble is engineered to embody the "best practices" of ergonomic writing, sketching & drawing.
The Scribble Mechanical Pencil features :
Stout, light-weight body (4.75" length, 0.9oz weight).
Generously-sized, thick barrel (0.55" diameter at thickest).
Rounded profile finished in grip-happy matte black.
The 0.7mm push-action mechanical pencil option is for more precise writing or drafting. The 0.7mm has a built-in eraser in the cap for correcting mistakes.
Both pencils have a clip that can be removed if it better suits your writing comfort. Don't worry, it won't roll off the table due to two facets that are part of the barrel design.
I told you those Germans know what they're doing!
It's never too late to correct your handwriting posture and help ease those aches and hand cramps. Make sure you have the proper tools to keep your hands healthy and pain-free.
I wanted to show you how awesome these pencils can be in-hand, so I created this video below that demonstrates how each pencil works. Compare the thickness of the 3.15mm lead versus the 0.7mm lead as I show how each tip writes.
Please check out the video and comment below on what you think about it. Even if you don't love pencils, Lamy or Germany, I'd love to hear your feedback about the video.
May is National Hamburger Month and the unofficial start of the outdoor grilling season, we decided that this week's #WriteitWednesday should be deliciously fun. This week, write or draw your favorite food! That can be anything from the indulgent - ice cream, dark chocolate truffles, candy bars; to the savory - prime ribeye, lobster, shredded pork shoulder. Go for it. Writing won't cost you any calories. In fact, it may burn some!
Pizza! Written with a Lamy AL-Star Copper Orange with Lamy Copper Orange Ink
Share the pic of your entry on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #writeitwednesday and mention @goldspotpens to make sure we see it! You may also opt to e-mail us the picture at social@goldspot.com.
Deadline for entries will be Thursday at 10:00am Eastern US Time. We will randomly select a winner on Thursday at 12 Noon.
This Week's Prize
Our giveaway item this week is the pen you see in the above Pizza photo. We're giving away a free Lamy AL-Star 2015 Copper Orange fountain pen with your choice of either Copper Orange ink cartridges or a bottle of Copper Orange ink.
About #WriteitWednesday
Each Wednesday, we run a new social giveaway challenge with a different giveaway prize every week. Anyone around the world with an Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or E-mail account can enter. Once the entries have been collected and the deadline has passed, we randomly select one of the entries as the winner of the giveaway and send the prize accordingly.
No purchase is necessary to enter the #writeitwednesday giveaway. Those who enter the contest via social media may have their images shared by Goldspot on this blog or on Goldspot's Social media accounts. The winner will have 1 week to contact us by e-mail to claim their prize. If the prize is unclaimed, it will be used in a future giveaway.
Today is Election Day here in America. The American public is called upon to exercise our right to vote, upholding the core values of democracy.
No matter where you are in the world today, we invite you to please join us in voicing your opinion on a different, yet significantly important topic - the 2014 Pen of the Year!
We need nominees from you, the pen-loving public, for your favorite choice of pen that was released in 2014. That could also include new finishes or colors of a pen model that has been around longer than the last year.
We'll sort through your comments to compile a list of nominees to vote on starting Tuesday, November 11th. Voting will last one week and will conclude with the official crowning of this year's winner. The Poll & Results will be posted here and on our social media accounts. So, please give us your suggestions and remember, it's all in good fun!
Here are some examples of pens that have made their debut in 2014 : Pilot Vanishing Point Metallic Colors, Lamy Studio Wild Rubin, Delta Unica, Pilot Copper Vanishing Point, TWSBI Diamond 580 USA, Parker Duofold Historical Colors, Montegrappa Miya Carbon, Visconti Homo Sapiens Crystal Swirl, Visconti Divina Elegance, Cross Peerless 125, Cross Year of the Goat, Waterford Beaumont, Platinum 3776 Century Nice Pur, OMAS William Shakespeare Ltd Ed., Pelikan M101N Tortoiseshell Red, Pelikan M600 Vibrant Green, the list goes on!
Remember, these are examples meant to get the brain juices flowing. Feel free to suggest any other pen, even if you aren't 100% positive it was made this year.
We just received information from Lamy's US distributor that the Lamy Scala is now available in a rich, Titanium finish. We are expected to receive inventory next week, which is cutting it close for Christmas, but this one is nice enough to wait for.
The pen material is predominantly stainless steel with a hard-wearing, natural titanium plated finish. The heavier weight of the pen compliments the sense of luxury that the titanium and chrome trims exude.
The new Scala line is available in a twist-action ballpoint pen ($175 MSRP), rollerball pen ($190 MSRP) and fountain pen. The fountain pen will be available in either a stainless steel nib ($250 MSRP) or 14kt solid gold nib ($375 MSRP). There is also a mechanical pencil as part of the set, but this one will be a special order from Germany and may take 6 weeks to arrive.
Now that we've voted all the politicians to office, here comes the fun part : voting for your favorite pen released in 2013! We asked for your nominations and received an outstanding response to put together a solid list of nominees that all deserve to be considered for this prestigious honor.
The images below are a reference for each nominee. You may find more information about each pen by clicking the name of the pen.. Click here to cast your vote (via SurveyMonkey).
Please note that you can click on any of the nominees to find a larger pic or
more information to help you decide. There is also a write-in option if
your choice is not present on the list (Please keep it clean, folks.) Voting
will be open until Monday, November 18th at 11:59pm Pacific US Standard
time. The winner will be announced next Tuesday, the 19th.
Have fun and
cheer on your favorite pen from this year!
