Chris' Collection : Libelle Chromatic Ballpoint Pen Review

Every week, we're throwing a new pen at Chris, our summer intern, to do a short review on for the blog. He's a bit "green" when it comes to pens, but we won't hold that against him. Here's his first review on a pen that we currently have on sale for 40% special pricing, the Libelle Chromatic:

The Libelle Chromatic series offers ballpoint pens, rollerballs, and fountain pens in several different colors of lacquered metal which, through the magnificence of the smooth, unbroken color, provides high aesthetic appeal. Indents filled with wire mesh provide a comfortable dwelling for the fingers. The metal base causes this pen to feel weighted, giving it a sturdy feel and aiding in the pen's superb writing ability. These qualities give the pen a unique feel and appearance.

This Racing Red ballpoint pen is presented in a flawless container that is to be admired for its creative design and superior quality. Inside, the pen lays bound to the white cushion beneath by a string. A white ribbon sash finishes off this picture as it crosses over the pen. Truly, this pen sits in a throne fit for a king.

I could not resist any longer. The pen was soon resting comfortably in my hand, engines started, ready for the green flag. The twist-action pen is armed with a Parker-style ballpoint ink cartridge and I was primed to go. I found the pen was extremely easy to write with and seemed to flow across the page in a fluid motion. This pen feels natural and stable in your hand as you glide across the page.

Summary:
    -Writing Quality: Sturdy weight and easy control allows for a smooth, steady flow across the paper. (grade A-)
    -Aesthetic Quality: Brightly colored lacquer and wire mesh combine to create an admirable appearance. The pure red color flows simply, yet brilliantly across the pen. (grade A)
    -Utility: Above average weight causes a slight drop in writing comfort after a long period of time. Good stability in the hand. (Grade B+)
    -Price: This is certainly a high quality pen and it is available for a retail price of $65 (currently on sale for 40% off at goldspot.com). (Grade A-)
 
FINAL GRADE: A-
 

4 in 1 Review - Pen, Leather, Paper and Ink

We here at Goldspot pride ourselves as a full-service store for writers and those inspired by fine-writing. And as such, instead of reviewing each of these products separately, I decided to review them together, because their qualities compliment each other in ways that our pens and accessories often do.

Story of the Libelle Brass Chromatic
One day a week or so ago, our esteemed manufacturers of Libelle pens sent us a shipment with an unmarked box. It was a Libelle Chromatic ballpoint pen that we had never seen before. We placed an order for one with a silver brushed barrel and brass trim, which have been discontinued. Instead, we got this odd, C3PO-looking fella completely in brass color. After looking through our price lists and inventory, we figured that this must have been a one-off that they never sold to retailers.

A phone call later to Kenro Industries would confirm my suspicion that it was indeed a prototype of a color finish they never put into full production. I already liked the color of the pen and the fact that it is a rare style only made me want to have it more! Gracious as they were for making the shipping error, they let me have it. Couldn't be happier to add to my collection!

The pen has a very interesting texture, weight and feel. The high metal content gives it a nice, sturdy weight. The matte and polished contrast, along with the wire mesh areas build into the barrel really gives this pen a unique identity and tactile feel.  The first thing I had to do was change the refill. As an avid fountain pen user, pasty ballpoint ink just doesn't do it for me. So I opted for the next item on this review : a Monteverde Parker-Style Capless Gel ink refill...in BROWN.



Brown, you say? Yes, I chose brown because #1 I can #2 it seemed to be the ideal match for a brass-colored pen. The gel ink writes smooth and evenly, writing like a fine tending toward a medium point (in fountain pen speak). As for the color brown, it is not very saturated as a dark brown, I would even call it a lighter tan-ish brown. I wrote that line, along with the other samples, on a Moleskine large lined journal.

That particular journal has been around with me for the last year or so, even before we started carrying Moleskine (yup, I paid full price for it). I had to see what all the hub-bub was about and needed a journal to replace my previous one that filled up the year before. I already heard about Moleskine's lack of fountain pen friendliness, so it wasn't a surprise to me when some pen and ink permutations permeated through the page and feathered a bit. However, I've found the general rule of thumb to find a good Moleskine-friendly combo is to go with a finer nib and with a lighter colored ink. The expandable pocket in the back is nice for depositing movie ticket stubs, candid photos and cocktail napkins with the phone number from that girl at the bar last night. However, I'm eagerly awaiting the finish of this notebook, as I want to upgrade to a Rhodia Webbie as my next journal of choice for the smoother, higher quality paper.

Putting away the Moleskine, I realized that there has to be a better home for my traveling pens. I have four fountain pens inked at the moment, which is a bit more than usual for me, but some (like the Aurora Optima or the Pelikan m215) never seem to run out soon enough for me to want to try new colors or pens. I usually keep them all in my messenger back, clipped to what used to be a cellphone pouch, but I turned into a perch for my inked pens.

One good turn deserved another, I thought, and purchased my own Libelle Black Leather Zip 10-pen case. In my case (shown below, left to right), I now have the Aurora Optima Auroloide Blue Marble in extra-fine, the Libelle Chromatic Brass ballpen, an ST Dupont Orpheo Palladium fountain pen in fine, Pelikan M215 in blue/black in fine point, a Lamy Safari Blue in extra-fine, a Black Parker Sonnet ballpen and a Parker Executive multi-function. And these are just the pens I have inked at the moment. Each pen is secured by two elastic loops, which are tight, yet stretchy enough to even fit the generously sized Orpheo.

 

As you can see from the second picture, the felt flap that covers one side of the case protects the pens from clanging into one another when you close the case and zip it shut. The quality of the leather is very good considering the price. The covers are plush, finely grained and supple to the touch. The soft inside material, the flap that goes over the right inside cover and the quality of the sewn elastic bands really makes me feel confident that my pens will be safely transported and kept in great condition. 

So, that's the whole story, touching every base while coming back home to the point of fine writing taking over my organizing style, messenger bag and (unfortunately) wallet. Hope you enjoyed and feel free to share your daily arsenal (#dailyarsenal topic on Twitter), including any pen-related accessories that help with your writing or maintenance of your writing instruments.

2010 Pen Accessory Gift Ideas for Mom

For the Mom that already has her purse and drawer filled with pens, there are plenty of gift ideas that we can offer to supplement her love for pens and writing. Under $15 Moleskine Notebooks have always been a classic, go-to notebook with creative people. A new addition to our store, we offer all types of Moleskine notebooks including hardcover, soft cover, passions journals, story board, sketchbook and reporter. On Sale now! Noodler's Ink is always a great choice for a Mom who prefers the delicate touch of a fountain pen. Dozens of colors and shades are available to refill her pens. Noodler's offers the best volume price for their ink, a 89mL bottle is $12.50. Under $30 The Filofax Domino Personal Organizer comes in a variety of vivid colors and offer all the organizational needs that a busy Mom can ever want. Includes calendar diary, address sheets, ruled note sheets and more. SALE $22.95 Goldspot Gift Cards are available in a variety of amounts and are a great idea for the indecisive Mom that wants to take her time in finding her next favorite pen. Each card features a beautiful fashion photo of the Waterman Exception pen. $25.00 Gift Cards available. Libelle, NY makes a leather collection that is high on value and quality. The Black Triple Pen Pouch is made from genuine leather and can fit and protect most pens. SALE $27.95 Under $75 Jac Zagoory Peweter Pen Stand (Butterfly) is a beautiful piece of desk art that serves as a place for Mom to keep her writing instruments handy. $65.00 A Leather 20-Pen Zipped Case may be what the doctor ordered for severe cases of pen addiction. Perfect for travel and storage, each case contains 20 sets of elastic loops to hold Mom's collection safe and secure. SALE $51.95 The Filofax Cuban Slimline Organizer has been a great seller and here's why: smooth, 100% genuine leather that's large enough to write daily notes and slim enough to fit into your bag or purse. Available in Chili or Saddle Brown for a great value. SALE $71.95 And, for the Mom that has ALMOST everything... The Vox Luxury Rosewood Veneer Stationery Box is a writer's ultimate prize. It houses five stationery compartments and five smaller compartments for loose writing accoutrement such as stamps, pens, bottled ink and ink cartridges. It comes complete with a supply of fine linen paper, a brass letter holder , and its own lock and key. $299.95

New Tuesday - Libelle Santa Croce

Hello fellow Goldspotters,

We just wanted to announce that we have just added the new Libelle Santa Croce line of pens to the Goldspot Website. Libelle is a great value brand that continually releases fan-favorite pens. Santa Croce is a city in Italy that is known for producing world-class leather products. The pen series, available in white or black leather, encapsulates the feeling of luxurious leather. The fountain pens ($71.95) are fitted with a Schmidt German, iridium-tipped stainless steel nib in medium point. A companion rollerball ($63.95) and twist-action ballpoint ($59.95) are also available in each style. Enthusiasts of the seasonal Winter Storm, Sea Breeze, or Autumn Leaves will be more-than-pleased with the high-quality Libelle craftsmanship for a great value. 

Pick up any two Santa Croce models from our website and you will receive free shipping and a free $10 Goldspot Gift Card. Hurry, as this offer will not be around for very long and can expire abruptly without notice.