Looking over all the new pens that have been launched by the greatest pen-makers like Pelikan, Pilot, Conklin and more, we've noticed a great deal of blue this year. Without further adieu, let's check out all the awesome blue pens that are currently available :
Pilot Vanishing Point Matte Blue Fountain Pen (View)
2016's latest line extension of the ever-popular Pilot Vanishing Point ("Capless" if you're outside of the US) retractable fountain pen. This royal blue is finished with a satin feel and stealth black trims. A black plated 18kt gold nib is installed to complement the furniture and clip.
Conklin All American Lapis Blue (View)
We were so stunned by the vibrant, marbled blue of the Conklin All American that we had to do a video overview on this pen to capture its gorgeous color.
Pelikan M205 Blue Transparent (View)
A re-issue of the same style that had been a hit success back in 2011 with a slightly updated finial top. Not much changes with these Pelikans, and that's a good thing! If you're a fan of high-performing demonstrators and the color blue, this one is a must have for your collection.
Pelikan M805 Vibrant Blue (View)
This special edition for Pelikan does not disappoint. The barrel and cap are made from a translucent, marbled blue acrylic that is a marvel to behold and feel in hand. Check out our video review, which has been lovingly called "pen porn," here.
OMAS Arte Italiana Vintage 556F (View)
While this isn't a new pen, we recently got our hands on the very last of this classically designed OMAS pen because we fell in love with the simplicity and the richness of the resin color. The navy blue is paired with either gold trim or platinum-plated trim. The demure and subtle quality of this combination is not to be overlooked.
To match these wonderfully blue pens, we'd recommend the following inks and notebooks :
Mont Blanc Leo Tolstoy Sky Blue Ink (View)
A limited edition ink, this Leo Tolstoy is one of our best sellers in Mont Blanc fountain pen inks.
Rhodiarama Webnotebooks (View)
The high quality paper in the Rhodia webnotebooks can handle most fountain pen inks and nibs. The sturdy hard cover and elastic band ensure your writings and sketches stay protected in your daily travels. The Rhodiarama collection has a color cover to match every personality, with several shades of blue to match your blue pens & inks.
tl;dr... Pelikan has released the new Dunkelgrün Dark Green 4001 ink to replace the Brilliant Green, which is now discontinued.
The Pelikan 4001 ink series stands as one of the most reliable set of colors for your fountain pen. Not only are the recommended for optimal performance of your Pelikan pen, they are also safe for many other plunger-filling, converter type fountain pens as well. The 4001 series is also more affordable, in comparison to the Pelikan Edelstein line of luxury inks, at $10 per 30mL bottle. Other than the blue-black being discontinued some years ago, the lineup has remained mostly the same for years and years.
Effective April 2016, the lineup has made a change to remove the "Brilliant Green" and replace it with "Dark Green," or Dunkelgrün.
I know, Earth-shattering news, right? Although I didn't lose any sleep about it, I'm sure that some would at least be interested to know the difference between the two inks, which is slight, but definitely noticeable.
In terms of performance and safety with your fountain pen, you can still expect the same level of quality from the new Dunkelgrün. I would feel comfortable in putting this ink in any Pelikan, from a Pelikano to a Souveran M1000. To test out the color, I went to a vintage 1940's Waterman Stalwart fountain pen with a semi-flexible 14kt nib.
As one might expect from the name, Dunkelgrün is a darker shade of Brilliant Green. It seems to take on a cooler, blueish hue when compared against the lighter green. Brilliant Green is less saturated, so it does shade a bit better and is less water resistant than the new darker green color.
Dunkelgrün's color seems to be an homage to the dark green that is synonymous with Pelikan's brand. From the striped Souveran fountain pens to the historical models of yesteryear, the German brand is forever associated with dark green.
What do you think of the change? Are you going to miss Brilliant Green? As of this writing, we have both colors readily available in-stock. Hit the 'Spot to pick up a bottle, international sized ink cartridge or the giant size ink cartridges.
There are many blue pens that exist in the world of fine writing. Pelikan has not just made another blue pen, but the blue pen that separates itself from all others before it.
The Souveran M805 Vibrant Blue (launched April 2016) is the blue you've been searching for all your life.
People who favor blue are said to revel in its tranquil, calming qualities. The layered, acrylic material of the M805 Vibrant Blue hits those serene notes with its pearlescent, marbled barrel and cap. Light penetrates the semi-translucent, blue material, creating a stained glass effect.
Turning the cap to unscrew it from the section, the 18ct gold, rhodium coated nib can be spied through the translucency, as if it were submerged in shallow water. Bringing the pen's barrel to light, the ink that is held within the body can be seen sloshing around and should clearly indicate when a refill is soon needed.
As with other M800/M805 model Pelikan pens, like the Stresemann we reviewed last year, the Vibrant Blue has an oversized profile, more suitable for larger hands.
Top to Bottom : OMAS Ogiva Cocktail, Pelikan M805 Vibrant Blue, Pelikan M215 Blue
Souverän M805 Vibrant Blue Dimensions
Length Capped : 5.5"
Length Posted : 6.5"
Length without Cap : 5.00"
Barrel Diameter : 0.52"
Section Diameter : 0.42"
Weight : 0.89 oz
Ink Capacity : 1.2mL
18ct gold goodness
The large nib on the M805 rhodium coated to match the gleaming silver color of the palladium trims and signature Pelikan "beak" clip. The silver trim is a perfect compliment to the deep, placid blues of the pen body. As with other Pelikan 18ct nibs that I've personally experienced, this one had a small case of baby's bottom. For the uninitiated, baby's bottom is the over-polishing of the nib's iridium tip that can cause a gap in the nib's writing contact surface and lead to some missed strokes and starting issues. Writing on a coarse surface, like a brown paper bag, is usually recommended to remedy the problem. However, I prefer using micro-mesh instead. With a little slight scribbling, I was gliding around on paper like an olympic figure skater on ice.
I know, I know. You should be shocked that a pen of this caliber would not write anything but perfect out of the box, but it happens occasionally. If you have experienced this with any new Pelikan (or any fountain pen) purchased from us right out of the box, please do contact us if you aren't comfortable with nib adjustments / troubleshooting. We'll either get it working exactly like its supposed to, or replace it to make sure you have a writing instrument that you are in love with.
Written with M805 & Edelstein Aquamarine on Tomoe River Paper
Baby's bottom aside, this nib is super-smooth with a tiny bit of springiness. There's no flexibility to speak of, nor would anyone recommend to flex the nib to attempt any line variation. The pen writes a bit on the drier side. My writing sample for the demonstration is done with the Pelikan Edelstein ink of the year 2016, Aquamarine.
As the M805 Vibrant Blue is a special edition for 2016, I imagine this will be a design that will be sold quickly and will be a highly demanded collector's item a few years from now. At the time of this writing, we had received our first shipment of Vibrant Blue last week and they are currently on-sale at Goldspot.com.
A Few Choice Words
Summary :
Writing Quality : 18ct solid gold nib performs smoothly and with expected refinement. The weight and size is perfect for those with larger hands, but can work for those who can write un-posted. (grade A-)
Aesthetic Quality : That Blue... Oh man. Hard to resist just gawking at that blue and the translucency. (grade A+)
Utility : Pelikan always gets the checkmark on this category for the large internal piston-filling mechanism for its ability to hold a tanker-full of ink. This pen is on the larger side and may have a little difficulty fitting with some pen loops and pouches. (grade A)
Price : This type of quality and Pelikan brand-name craftsmanship does come at a hefty cost. The +$800 retail price may give most sticker shock, but, if you're in the market for a grail pen, we're offering a discounted street price that will be competitive to any US retailer. (grade B)
Final Grade : A
Pelikan has a knack for taking all the classical elements of their flagship pen model, this case being the Souveran, and forcing pen fanatics to fall in love again with new styles like this Vibrant Blue. Although Pelikan tends to be rather conservative in their everyday pen lines, these exotic special editions are perfect for writing enthusiasts to obtain a Pelikan that has more of a "vibrant" personality. If you're a blue lover like I am, this is going to be a pen you will want to sell other pens to justify adding it to your collection. Buy the Pelikan Souveran M805 Vibrant Blue at Goldspot Pens.
Need your help in putting together a nominations list for Pen of the Year 2015.
Every year, we (Goldspot Pens) run a "reader's choice" vote for Pen of the Year. We set up a poll online of all the nominees during the first week in November, coinciding the the US Election Day.
Last year, Edison Pen Co completed a 4-peat with their 2014 Pen of the Year, the Glenmont limited edition.
What qualifies as a Pen of the Year 2015 candidate, you say? Any pen that was released during this year, including new colors and styles of established pen models (like the Pilot Vanishing Point Twilight, for example).
Here is a list of what I've got so far :
Edison Collier LE Black Rose Acrylic Ltd Ed
Pilot VP 2015 Twilight Ltd Ed
Pelikan M205 Amethyst
Pelikan M800 Stresemann
Pelikan M200 Cafe Creme
OMAS Ogiva Cocktail Ltd Ed.
Sailor Pro Gear Galaxy Starburst Ltd Ed
Retro 51 Tornado Popper "Liftoff" Ltd Ed
Cross Townsend Star Wars Darth Vader
Lamy Al-Star Copper Orange
Kaweco Brass Sport
Please COMMENT BELOW any others that you feel should be on this list.
Ink of the Year 2015
For the first time, we're also going to have a simultaneous vote for the Ink of the Year, 2015. This will be run in a similar fashion with an online poll that we will run here on our blog. Inks have become such an integral part of the fountain pen experience that some "blockbuster" inks truly deserve recognition.
Here are the nominees I came up with :
Diamine Shimmertastic Inks
J. Herbin 1670 Anniversary Emerald of Chivor
Pelikan Edelstein Amethyst
Sailor Storia Pigmented Inks
Mont Blanc Blue Hour Blue-Black
Again, please COMMENT BELOW any other inks that you feel should be on the list of nominees.
The voting page will be up on Tuesday here on the blog. So, check back here or sign up for our newsletter so you can get the update directly in your e-mail inbox.
Last Friday, we were honored to participate in Pelikan Hubs, a worldwide event that gathered pen enthusiasts from all over the globe to celebrate the revered Pelikan brand. At 6:30p local time, registered pen addicts congregated to their respective meetup locations in major metropolitan areas like New York City, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, Madrid, Toronto and beyond. Sal & Tom, along with a few members of our NJ Pen Club, attended the Philly meetup, which was shepherded by flock-master Joshua of Pelikan's Perch.
So, what do you do when you get a bunch of fountain pen fanatics in a room together?
For those who have never attended a pen meetup or pen club meeting, here are 3 takeaways for people who love fine writing.
Joshua's Flock of Pelikan Pens
1. Experiencing New Pens
One of the necessities of a pen club meeting is that attendees bring some pens to show off. At the Hubs meeting, Joshua brought his entire flock of Pelikans, including virtually every tradition series 200/205 model that has ever been produced. Now, I know what you're thinking and, no, you don't need to bring 100 pens to a meetup. A few favorite pens in your everyday carry would suffice.
The point of bringing your pens is that everyone at the meeting can see, touch and (sometimes) write with pens that they wouldn't normally experience. With fountain pen brick-and-mortar retail stores so few and far between, it's rare to be in the presence of so many different writing instruments. Think of it like window shopping at a pen store without the pressure to buy anything.
At Friday's meetup, James spotted a Pelikan M1000 in Joshua's collection. He never experienced holding the largest of the Souveran fountain pens and was quite taken by its huge 18ct gold nib and stately size of this fountain pen. I think it shot up to the top of his wish list after he receives the Nakaya he's been patiently waiting for.
Writing with other people's pens can be a sensitive topic at pen meets. Fountain pens nibs are delicate and, if someone writes with a heavy hand or at an incorrect angle, a nib could be taken out of alignment and cause its owner quite a bit of grief. It is always appropriate to ask the pen's owner if they mind you writing with their pen.
Goldspot brought the M600 Pink, M805 Demonstrator, M805 Stresemann, M205 Amethyst and Stola III to the meet. These are all the new Pelikan designs that were produced in 2015.
The Pelikan Hubs Ink Sampling Station
2. Sampling New Inks
With an ever-growing number of varieties being brewed in the US and beyond, ink has become a big topic of discussion. Besides finding the perfect hue, pen lovers are concerned with other ink properties like shading, sheen, shimmer, lightfastness, water resistance and ease of maintenance. Attending a pen meet affords the opportunity to try new inks. Most attendees will either bring ink samples, bottles or have inks loaded in pens to try.
At Friday's Hubs meetup, Pelikan generously provided the entire selection of Edelstein ink bottles for attendees to sample and swab. At $30 a bottle, these inks would normally be quite expensive to sample. However, at a pen meet, anyone can write, scribble and swab to see, in person, if the color is going to be a new favorite or a fizzle.
Be sure to bring a pad of paper you would normally use for writing so you can test out several inks. If the meet is expected to have several bottles of ink to try on-hand, you may want to have a few empty pens to fill up. A cup of water, paper towels and q-tip cotton swabs are also recommended to help with keeping your pen, and the meeting venue, clean.
The Pelikan Hubs Philly Group
3. Get Experienced Tips and Advice
Arguably the most valuable part of getting together for a pen meet, aside from the socialization, is the free exchange of knowledge. People who are new to fountain pens, or pen collecting, can benefit greatly from the experience of others. From routine maintenance tips to adjusting nibs, open discussions at pen meetings are a treasure trove of information that help you be a better pen enthusiast.
Friday night, Karen brought a couple of Pelikan pens she owned for some years, but was unsure about the specific model. After a minute with Joshua, she knew exactly which models she had (M250's) and a brief history of their creation (they were created exclusively for the retailer Levenger).
Pen aficionados can talk about their inks much like beer & wine connoisseurs discuss craft brews and varietals. Besides reading online reviews, pen meetups offer real viewpoints about which inks are safe and fun to use.
Ultimately, a pen meet is about providing a real life experience that doesn't exist in online forums or in brick-and-mortar retailers. Instead of clicking on links and looking at handwriting sample scans, a meetup gives you the opportunity to sample the ink in person, hold the pen in your hand and receive honest, face-to-face advice.
Are you interested in participating in a pen club near you? Check to see if there is one in your area by logging into Fountain Pen Network or the FP Geeks forum to find if a local group is meeting.
If you're in the NJ tri-state area, the recently-formed NJ Pen Club has a few meetings under our belt since June. If you're interested in joining our club and would like to attend a future meeting, please feel free to leave a comment with your e-mail, twittter handle or FPN screen name and we will add you to our pen club e-mail notification list.
Coming soon from Germany, the Pelikan Stola III is a new line of professional writing instruments that rivals the Lamy AL-Star and Pilot Metropolitan in contemporary style and affordable luxury.
Did I miss the Stola I & II? What was it about?
The Stola III is part of a trilogy of pen designs from Pelikan that are similar in model with some minor design differences. Chartpak, Pelikan's US distributor, is only going to bring in the Stola III at this time to test the market. Although Pelikan's website does have information and images of Stola I & Stola II for you to check out, we're going to focus on the third act, since that is the one we are going to have in our hands shortly.
Acting as an entry-level point for emerging professionals and students who are looking for a high-quality and sharp-looking writing instrument, the Stola III has the weight, finish and writing quality to compete with other well-known pens in the $30-$45 price range.
The Stola style has an elegant, contemporary look. Sleek, polished and well-designed with a high-degree of utility in mind. Multiple layers of silver coating give the impression of a metallic, automotive paint finish. The black, stainless steel clip is outlined in the shape of the iconic Pelikan beak with a modern twist. The pen's cap sits flush with the barrel, creating a streamlined look to the pen body. The rounded, black end of the barrel has an "Apple"-esque flair.
The Stola III Fountain Pen
The Stola has a significant weight in hand that feels more luxurious, thanks to a brass-lined barrel and front section. The fountain pen comes with an ink cartridge to start, but also accepts a Pelikan converter (sold separately). The German-made, stainless steel nib writes fluidly and smoothly from the get-go, with excellent flow. The Stola III is only available in medium point, which is the most common nib size for fountain pen newbies.
The snap cap fits securely over the front end when the pen is capped. The cap itself is made from aluminum, and doesn't add much weight when posting it to the backend of the pen while writing. Posting the cap is a tad difficult, as you have to be quite forceful to get a secure fit.
Fountain Pen Specifications : 4.625" length open, 5.313" closed, 6.188" cap posted, 0.438" width at thickest point, 1.2oz, 0.375" diameter at section.
The Stola III Rollerball Pen
With the free-flowing, Pelikan rollerball ink cartridge installed, the Stola rollerball provides a smooth and liquid writing experience. Similar to the fountain pen, the rollerball also has a brass-lined barrel and front section to give forward weight-in-hand while the cap is a lighter aluminum. The cap snaps over the front send with a satisfying CLICK between writing sessions.
Rollerball Pen Specifications : 4.625" length open, 5.313" closed, 6.25" cap posted, 0.438" width at thickest point, 1.2oz, 0.375" diameter at section.
Pelikan Stola III Ballpen - I am not a hand model :-)
The Stola III Ballpoint Pen
The twist-action ballpen has a unique design characteristic in the front end grip area. The section flares out to 0.438" in diameter, which provides finer balance and more comfort for your grip. The Pelikan ballpoint refill that is included can be replaced with any Parker-style type ballpoint or gel ink refill, which makes it very easy to find refills for your pen, since you aren't tied down to a particular manufacturer.
Ballpoint Pen Specifications : 5.438" length open, 5.313" closed, 0.438" width at thickest point (grip section), 0.9oz.
Comparing the Stola III with the Lamy AL-Star & Pilot Metro Fountain Pens
It is hard not to immediately want to compare this new Pelikan model up against some of its tried and true competitors that dominate the entry level pen arena. The closest analog (especially since it's also made in Germany) is the Lamy AL-Star. The aluminum-bodied AL-Star has a more utilitarian look, as most Lamy pens are designed in the Bauhaus style. It is also larger in size, as you can see from the comparison photo above. The brass-lined Stola fountain pen is 55% heavier than the AL-Star at 1.2oz versus 0.77oz. The retail price points are nearly the same, with the Stola winning out by a few dollars less than the AL-Star.
The Japanese-made Pilot Metropolitan is similar to the Pelikan Stola III in its streamlined profile, sleek design, metallic barrel and black front sections. The Metro fountain pen is lighter by a third of an ounce, while being only slightly longer. The Metro comes with a converter to start with and is priced under $20, which is half the price of the Stola. However, I felt (and this is my opinion) that the nib on the Pelikan was much smoother than the Metro.
I can see the Stola III being a great option for an entry-level Pelikan that has more style and elegance than a kid-friendly Pelikano. Will it be in the conversation for "best beginner fountain pens?" One could certainly argue that such a well respected fine writing brand like Pelikan should have their name in the mix, but only time will tell. One thing I would suggest for Pelikan is to offer this pen in multiple nib sizes.
The Stola III ballpoint is really intriguing and I think will be a pleasant surprise for Pelikan fans and those who need a solid, everyday carry ballpen. The engorged front grip area and brass-lined barrel is great to experience and comfortable to hold.
We expect to have the Pelikan Stola III line available within the next few months. If you would like to be notified of when these pens will be available for sale on our website, please SIGN UP to our E-MAIL NEWSLETTER to be the first to know.
The Fall will be plentiful with new Pelikan items flying in from Germany.
2015 has been a banner year for Pelikan with the popular releases of the M200 Cafe Creme, M800 Stresemann and the M805 Clear Demonstrator. It certainly looks like Pelikan is not going to let up on the gas in the fourth quarter. Slated for the fall, we have three new color extensions of the M205, M800 and M600. Plus, an old favorite is coming back that will really knock your socks off.
The Classic M205 Amethyst Demonstrator
Recently announced officially by Pelikan, the M205 Amethyst Demonstrator fountain pen is due to arrive in September. The Amethyst color is intended to match the Edelstein 2015 ink of the year by the same name. The popular ink color has been hard to keep in-stock at Goldspot, so I would expect this pen would also be a hot seller as well. With Lamy failing to heed the call for a purple Safari pen for yet another year, there should be a good market for people looking for a purple plume.
The M205 Amethyst Demonstrator is described to be a "frosted" demonstrator, which will be interesting to see in person and compare to another tinted demonstrator, like the M205 Cognac of 2014. The Amethyst Demo will be offered as a package set with the bottle of Amethyst ink. The fountain pen is fitted with a stainless steel nib, offered in extra-fine, fine, medium or broad tip sizes. Retail pricing is expected to be about $175 for the fountain pen, $135 for the matching ballpoint and $215 for the fountain pen & ink set.
Information has already leaked on a couple other new fountain pens due in the Fall. Since images have already leaked and information has been dispersed through the web, we'll briefly discuss each pen.
The Souveran M800 Special Edition Burnt Orange with Dark Brown Cap
Perfect for Autumn, this M800 Burnt Orange has an warm, orange barrel with a dark brown (almost black-looking) cap, section and piston knob. The color invites you in like a cup of spiced apple cider from a brisk day of raking leaves. The M800 is trimmed in gold and has a large 18kt two-tone, solid gold nib in extra-fine, fine, medium or broad sizes. Suggested retail will be around $850.
The Souveran M600 Special Edition Pink with White Stripes and White Cap
Although the aesthetic is considered to be a ladies' pen, this beautiful bird is sweet like a piece of striped candy. I feel the M600 Pink with White Stripes can be enjoyed by anyone with a sweet tooth for luscious Pelikan pens. Suggested retail is estimated to be $625 for the fountain pen and $395 for the ballpen. Each pen is presented in a special, dedicated gift box that is laced up with red ribbon like a corset.
More Pelikan?
What hasn't leaked yet (to my knowledge) is that an old favorite within the M200 series is making a come-back and will be launched November 2015. I can't say much more than that, but if you stay tuned and subscribe to our blog, you'll be the first to know. ;-)
On Memorial Day weekend, Saturday to be exact, convened the inaugural NJ Pen Club Meetup at the Hazlet Library. We had a fine turnout of enthusiastic pen-lovers and talked pens, inks and paper for a solid 3 hours on the Holiday weekend.
Part of the activities that Goldspot Pens sponsored was a giveaway raffle for a brand-new Pelikan M200 Cafe Creme fountain pen. Everyone wrote their names on little pieces of paper from their new, complimentary Rhodia pads and we picked one out of a coffee cup. Larry was our lucky winner.
Larry with his new Pelikan M200 Cafe Creme Fountain Pen
We kicked off the meet with an icebreaker where we went around the table and talked about our favorite pen currently in-hand. The collections each person came with were as diverse as the personalities that brought them. Edison, Mont Blanc, Nakaya, Pilot, Pelikan, Sailor, Delta, TWSBI and Visconti were all represented as favorites of the group.
Besides sharing our absolute favorites, when we started talking amongst each other, showing off our personal collections, it was apparent the "addiction" ran strong with this crowd. Some of us brought vintage pens, flexible nibs, pens modified by nib meisters and custom-made pens. We "oo'ed" and "ah'ed" at the meticulous handwriting and ink keeping records that some folks brought with them. A bag of ink samples was passed around for anyone who wanted to take some colors that were no longer desired by the original owner.
Tom with Goldspot (left) trying out a Vintage Pelikan 400NN with Dan
We took a survey prior to the meet to see if there were any special requests for pens that people wanted to see at the meet-up that we can bring. We filled up a Monteverde Zipper Case full of pens to try out, including a Pelikan M805 Stresemann, Conklin Crescent Filler with a Stub nib, Lamy AL-Star Copper Orange, Sailor 1911L in a Zoom nib and a Pilot Namiki Falcon. We passed around pens and tried scribbled some "quick brown foxes" on note paper to get a feel for the pens we were sampling.
Pens, Laughs and Goodies Galore
Goldspot put together goodie bags that were handed out to every attendee. Every bag included some pen-related treats from Pilot, Pelikan, InkJournal, Rhodia and ink samples to try.
As for the next meeting, the summer is upon us, which means vacation for most people. However, we're looking to squeeze another meet up in soon. Up for discussion was the focus and location of the next meet. The Hazlet Library was gracious to provide us the space for our first meeting, but a more central location within the state may be better suited for most of our attendees. We may take more of an in-depth approach to discussing nib maintenance and tuning, but are looking for someone in the area who would be more technically adept at leading a nib tuning workshop.
We may also look to link up with the Philly Pen Posse and/or the Big Apple Pen Club for a future mega-meet-up at a mutually agreed upon location.
1. Rhodiarama Webnotebooks - Mom will love how these notebooks handle her fountain pens with smooth, 90g paper in either blank or lined formats. Available in a wide spectrum of colors to suit any taste. The leatherette cover has a great feel and the elastic band makes sure to keep any of her writing private and intact.
2. Nemosine Singularity Fountain Pens - Mom needs a workhorse of a pen - reliable, durable and lightweight for easy writing. The Singularity is offered in number of fun colors, including a demonstrator and the fun Magenta pictured above. The stainless steel nib is available in a variety of sizes from Extra-Fine through Broad and 0.6mm / 0.8mm calligraphic nib sizes.
3. Pelikan Edelstein Ink of the Year Amethyst - Smooth, gentle on her pens and writes in a vibrant purple hue with shading to boot, Pelikan's new 2015 special edition ink won't be around forever, so be sure to snag a bottle for Mom (and for yourself!)
4. Filofax Saffiano Organizer - We don't know how Mom's do it, but we suspect they're able to keep on top of their to-do's, grocery lists and after-school sports schedules by using one of these handy and fashionable organizers. The fashionable Saffiano is fully supplied with a 2015 diary, address sheets and everything needed to get a modern, hectic-paced life in order.
5. Royce Leather Double Pen Cases - Don't let Mom throw her precious Parkers and Pilots into her purse, to be marked and roughed around by other items. These soft, supple leather pen pouches provide perfect protection from precarious purse predicaments.
In honor of National Draw a Picture of a Bird Day, our #writeitwednesday challenge for April 8th, 2015 is to draw a picture of a bird using a pen and taking a photo of it with the pen you used to write with it. It can be a cartoonish bird, a photo-realistic bird, or a poorly drawn bird, etc. It can be any bird species you prefer. Just don't flip the bird, if you know what I mean. The spirit of this day is to make someone's life a little brighter with a fun bird drawing.
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
Up for grabs this week is a Pelikan Twist Fountain Pen. A fantastic, fun and colorful starter pen, this pen has a twisting, faceted body, cap an grip section. The pen nib is a reliable stainless steel point and fills using ink cartridge or converter.
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.
Christmas came way early for us! Pelikan was able to send us one of these absolutely stunning Souverän M805 Stresemann fountain pens for us to review prior to their official arrival here in the United States. The first batch of these pens are due in by the first week of March. As of this writing, we are accepting pre-orders for these pens and will have them in-stock to ship out as soon as they arrive.
The Legend
There is a story behind the Stresemann, and why it isn't simply called the anthracite or Souverän M805 Grey. This edition is named after Gustav Stresemann, a Nobel Peace Prize winning, trend-setting, foreign minister of the Weimar Republic. His diplomatic efforts, in conjunction with Aristide Briand, reconciled relations between France and Germany after World War I. He also popularized the fashion of wearing a short, dark lounge suit jacket with the typical men's morning dress of the day. This type of outfit was further known to be the "Stresemann" and Pelikan pens of the day, with their striped barrels, were commonly acknowledged by the same name.
The Pelikan Souverän M805 Stresemann is of the same model of the Souverän 800 size.
Souverän M805 Dimensions
Length Capped : 5.59"
Length Posted : 6.57"
Length without Cap : 5.00"
Diameter : 0.52"
Weight : 0.99 oz
The M800 is designed to be a "big" pen for large hands. Whereas the M600 could be considered a unisex size, the the M800 is geared toward a more masculine demographic.
The Pen Details
The key identity to the Stresemann is embodied in the anthracite and black pinstripes tailored on the barrel of the pen. The grey stripes, matched with the polished, black resin and palladium plated clip and trims create an impression of a writing instrument that doubles for a luxury accessory to wear with formal attire. This pen would be a more impressive accessory than a pocket square, that is for sure!
The nib is crafted from 18ct solid gold, coated with rhodium to match the silver clip and furnishings. The engraved graphic on the face of the nib is emblazoned with the Pelikan logo and the gold designation "18C-750," along with the size, which is "M" in this case. When the pen is released, it will be available in the extra-fine, fine, medium and broad sizes.
The filling mechanism of the Souverän fountain pen is the patented Pelikan internal piston-filling system. Unscrewing the blind cap pushes the plunger inside toward the front section, expelling air from inside the barrel chamber. With the larger diameter of this pen, this pen can extract and hold a significant amount of ink. When rotating this pen in a 6 or 7 pen daily carry, I would anticipate writing off of the same ink refill for at least a month.
The In-Hand Experience
Right out of the box, the Pelikan M805 Stresemann is a knockout. It is elaborately packaged in a Pelikan gift box that has an off-white leather pen pouch that contains the pen. Warranty booklet and care & use guide are hidden under the box platform and should be kept to use a reference or if you would need to contact Pelikan service in the future. As with any new Pelikan fountain pen, the new owner of a Souverän fountain pen could opt to exchange their nib without any charge. For US customers, this would be done directly with Pelikan's US distributor, Chartpak.
You better like whatever ink you're filling this pen with, because you are probably going to be writing with it for a long time. The piston mechanism flawlessly draws ink through the nib and feed, extracting an enormous amount of writing fluid. I chose MontBlanc Oyster Grey to go with the grey/silver theme of this pen.
The nib writes smoothly with a flow that is a bit on the drier side. The Oyster Grey is laid down in a warm grey color and shades darker wherever the ink pools within a letter stroke. The softness of the gold nib is slightly responsive to gentle finger pressure, but is not meant to be flexed. It only takes a delicate pull of the nib on paper to produce a rich mark.
Writing with this pen for an extensive period of time proved to be more pleasurable with the cap in-hand rather than posted on the back. I am more of the posting type, but this pen with the cap posted extends longer than is comfortable for my hands. The section has a substantial girth and the weight, while feeling substantial in-hand, was not heavy enough to cause hand fatigue.
A Few Choice Words
Summary :
Writing Quality : 18ct solid gold nib performs smoothly and with expected refinement. The weight and size is perfect for those with larger hands, but can work for those who can write un-posted. (grade A-)
Aesthetic Quality : The Stresemann is the 2015 power-suit of pens. (grade A+)
Utility : Pelikan always gets the checkmark on this category for the large internal piston-filling mechanism for its ability to hold a tanker-full of ink. This pen is on the larger side and may have a little difficulty fitting with some pen loops and pouches. (grade A)
Price : This type of quality and Pelikan brand-name craftsmanship does come at a hefty cost. The $800 retail price may give most sticker shock, but, if you're in the market for a grail pen, we're offering a discounted street price that will be competitive to any US retailer. (grade B)
Final Grade : A
When it comes to Pelikan releasing a new edition of their tried and true Souverän collection, they can hardly do any wrong. When Pelikan released the M800 in the brown tortoise in 2013, we couldn't keep them in-stock long enough to even do a review. We expect that the Stresemann will experience similar success. If you've longed for a Pelikan Souverän to be a part of your collection that could also be "worn" to formal occasions, you certainly could not go wrong with the Stresemann.
We've kicked off our Black Friday Weekend a day before Thanksgiving and wanted to let everyone know about the sale and the tremendous giveaway that we're hosting.
Combined with free US Shipping on orders of $49 or more, we are also including free gifts with orders that are $125 or more, including a bottle of Pelikan Edelstein ink color of your choosing. Place an order from today (Wednesday, Nov 26) through Cyber Monday (Dec 1) and enter one of the following promotion codes below to get your free gifts included on the order :
JinHao + Parker Case + Edelstein Onyx InkPromo Code GIFTONYX
JinHao + Parker Case + Edelstein Sapphire InkPromo Code GIFTSAPPHIRE
JinHao + Parker Case + Edelstein Garnet InkPromo Code GIFTGARNET
JinHao + Parker Case + Edelstein Topaz InkPromo Code GIFTTOPAZ
JinHao + Parker Case + Edelstein Jade InkPromo Code GIFTJADE
JinHao + Parker Case + Edelstein Adventurine InkPromo Code GIFTADVENT
JinHao + Parker Case + Edelstein Ruby InkPromo Code GIFTRUBY
JinHao + Parker Case + Edelstein Amber InkPromo Code GIFTAMBER
JinHao + Parker Case + Edelstein Mandarin InkPromo Code GIFTMANDARIN
JinHao + Parker Case + Edelstein Tanzanite InkPromo Code GIFTTANZ
In addition to getting complimentary gifts with your order, you will also be included in our drawing for an Edison Fountain Pen ($149 value). Which Edison fountain pen is completely up to you!
To enter the drawing without placing an order, you can enter by posting on social media (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram) with a picture of your favorite black pen, black ink or black notebook and using the hashtag #GoldspotBlackFriday
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. May your hearts and tables be filled with abundance and shared with those you love.
