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.
Not counting the Star Wars collection, two of AT Cross' flagship limited editions that are slated for 2015/16 involve a Monkey and Skyscrapers, so I couldn't help but combine the two together in my mind, and it makes me smile.
Cross Chinese Zodiac 2016 Year of the Monkey Special Edition
Firstly, the latest release in the Chinese Zodiac Series, the 2016 Year of the Monkey takes the curvaceous, Cross Sauvage body style and compliments it with a decorative engraving of a snub-nosed monkey. Indigenous to the mountainous forests of Southwest China, this majestic, endangered species represents the 9th sign of the Chinese Zodiac. The monkey symbolizes status, magical power and good fortune.
Left to Right : Tibetan Teal & Brushed Platinum Plate
The Year of the Monkey will be offered in two colorways - a vibrant Tibetan Teal lacquer with gold plated appointments and a Brushed Platinum Plated silver, also with gold trim. As you can see in the detail shots, both finishes appear to have a textured feel to the barrel and cap,. The playful monkey can be seen engraved the full way down the barrel and cap. The engraving is more contrasted in the Teal version, as it is filled / plated in gold to stand out from the blue.
This limited edition collection will be available October 1st and will be offered in 3 modes : twist-action ballpoint pen, selectip rollerball and fountain pen fitted with an 18ct gold nib. Each pen is accompanied by special edition packaging unique to the Year of the Monkey theme.
Cross Peerless Citizen Special Edition
The grandiose Peerless 125 collection is being expanded with a special edition of three finishes that are crafted after architectural motifs related to three major cosmopolitan centers of world culture : London, New York and Tokyo.
The London's 23ct gold plate engraved finish is inspired by the Gothic Revival architecture of London's Elizabeth Tower. New York City is engraved in platinum plate and borrows design elements from the iconic Art Deco of New York's Chrysler Building. Tokyo's steely, satin black takes its design cue from the Neo-Futuristic architecture of Tokyo's Skytree Tower.
From left to right : Tokyo, London, NYC
Each Peerless Citizen has a brilliant Swarovski crystal set in the top of the pen's crown. The city's name and the latitude / longitude of the city are engraved on the ring right below the crystal. This monumental collection is available as either a twist-action ballpoint pen or a fountain pen with an 18ct gold nib. Coming February 2016.
Do you collect the Cross Chinese Zodiac pens? Are you excited for this new Year of the Monkey edition? Have you tried the Peerless? Let us know if you're excited about these new pens from Cross. If you would like to place a pre-order, be sure to call us at 800-963-7367. If you would like to be notified when these pens will become available on our website, please SIGN UP for our E-MAIL NEWSLETTER 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.
I have my credit card out and ready for Pilot to take more of my fountain pen monies.
This Fall, we're anticipating this year's 2015 Vanishing Point limited edition, along with all-new colors for the Metropolitan (MR) line and super adorbs Iroshizuku ink bottles.
The 2015 limited edition Vanishing Point is called "Twilight" and has a ombre style gradient that blends from a chilly ice blue to a royal purple down at the nib end. 850 pieces are expected to be distributed within the United States. We are expected to have a few when they are released in October. If you are interested in placing a pre-order, please contact our customer service department directly and we will secure one for you.
The Pilot VP Twilight is expected to list for $240 and is available with the factory-installed medium point 18kt gold nib with rhodium plating. Upon request, we can exchange that nib for any available rhodium-plated nib size, including extra-fine, fine, medium, broad or the new 1.0mm stub. Each pen is presented in an exclusive edition gift box seen in the image above.
The Pilot Metropolitan (MR) has quickly become a staple item for every beginner fountain pen user. The low price point, smooth writing experience, elegant style and reliable construction make this pen a great everyday writing pen. The new Retro Pop line extension adds more colorful fun to the line.
Pilot Metropolitan MR Retro Pop - Which is your favorite?
The new Metroplitan Retro Pop colors are due to arrive in the USA by November. The six finishes will be available in ballpoint, rollerball and steel nib fountain pen. They will be available on Goldspot Pens for pre-order a little closer to the date of their arrival.
Although the Pilot mini Iroshizuku ink bottles have already made their way into the US with some customers ordering direct from Japan, Pilot USA intends to start carrying the 3-pack of inky cuteness in the late fall. Initially, there will be a release of 850 bottles and they will retail for $40 for a 3-pack.
Last, but not least, Pilot has started to ship their replacement nibs for the Vanishing Point fountain pen in the 1.0mm stub nib. This will be offered on select Pilot Vanishing Point fountain pens and sold separately so you may swap out your current VP nib.
As always, be the first to know when these new pens are in-stock by signing up on our e-mail newsletter.Besides a weekly newsletter of goings on, we also e-mail new stock alerts and sale opportunities.
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. ;-)
When a $10,000 fountain pen comes walking through your door, it's hard to resist sharing the hands-on experience.
You may have heard about the Montegrappa Q1 back when it made a flashy debut in Baselworld earlier this year. A fountain pen that can change ink color at will. At first, one could imagine that this is a "game changer" of a pen. The idea of being able to change ink colors on the fly would be revolutionary and hard to replicate with current cartridge / converter technologies. Then, I saw the price tag.
A whopping $10 G's.
Well, at least the idea is noteworthy. Although wildly impractical for the average fountain pen end-user, the years of development and investment in patenting this concept may eventually translate into a version of the pen that can be somewhat accessible to the other 99%.
Courtesy of Kenro Industries' Blog
The Q1 is limited to 100 pieces world wide and is crafted from solid titanium and genuine Italian leather. The design of the pen is reminiscent a revolver pistol. The cap and blind cap unlatch with a bolt-action lock mechanism. The blind cap is attached with a piece of leather to keep the cap from being misplaced while changing ink colors.
The active chamber slot has the piercing feed mechanism that leads to the nib's feeder. The other three chambers are plugged with a small metal stopper that prevents the ink from the open cartridges from leaking or drying out when not in use.
Courtesy of Kenro Industries' Blog
The solid 18kt gold nib is standard issue for Montegrappa on a limited edition pen of this value. The heft and weight in-hand is quite significant, like holding a .45 caliber pistol in your hand. The sample piece that our representative had brought to the office had a broken nib, otherwise we would have inked it up for a writing sample.
Although the pen is way out of the ballpark in terms of price, it certainly is noteworthy and interesting to look at. Hopefully, Montegrappa will use this patented technology to bring a more economic version of this pen to market.
What do you think? Would you be interested in a fountain pen that can change between 4 colors on a whim? Or is it just a novelty that wears itself thin quickly? How much would you pay for such a fountain pen?
In Japanese culture, bamboo is considered to be a symbol of prosperity and hardiness. The strength of the roots is thought to keep the earth together, even in turbulent earthquakes.
In 2015, the Japanese fine writing manufacturer Pilot Pens, extended their best-selling Vanishing Point collection of retractable fountain pens by introducing the Bamboo editions in Black and Cherry. Typically, Pilot releases a new, limited edition Vanishing Point fountain pen every year that is crafted from a new and exciting finish, with only a relatively small number of pens manufactured. This edition is not the yearly limited edition you would come to expect. However, the Bamboo Vanishing Points are given some special treatments with a fancier gift box and a higher price point.
For those of you who don't know what a Pilot Vanishing Point is, and why it is a trend-setting pioneer in the fountain pen realm, the VP (for short) is a retractable fountain pen that fills by ink cartridge or converter and operates with a firm click. The design has been around since the 1960's and is also called the "Capless" outside of the United States. The pen is exceptionally engineered and is a perfect blend of convenience and elegance.
For the purpose of this review, we are focusing directly on the Bamboo finishes and will talk less about the Vanishing Point pen in general. If you love VP's and have at least a couple, you already know how awesome they are.
The Benefits of Bamboo
We've seen a number of pens made of different types of wood, few of which feature bamboo. So, we wanted to take a deeper look into what makes bamboo a good candidate for pen material.
Bamboo is more resilient than other building materials
Bamboo is able to withstand earthquake shocks and hurricane (or cyclone) force winds. Habitat for Humanity is using locally-sourced bamboo to help construct homes and shelters for earthquake victims in Nepal. If it can withstand an aftershock, maybe it will hold up to being dropped on the floor...
Bamboo is more sustainable
Anyone with Bamboo in their backyard can tell you that their growth rate is off the chart. Some species grow several feet per day. A bamboo forest can be harvested every six years whereas other hardwoods may require decades between harvests.
Bamboo is lighter
Some would imagine a wood pen would have some heft to it. Not the bamboo Vanishing Point. It is actually a few grams lighter than the standard Vanishing Point counterparts. In the construction world, bamboo's light weight means no need for heavy machinery to lift it, which saves construction costs.
But, How Will it Hold Up as a Fountain Pen?
In the process of writing this review, I wrote to Pilot to ask a few questions that came to my mind about the application of Bamboo on this pen. The texture, weight and feel of bamboo is cool, but I wondered, as I assume most people would, how this material would hold up to the rigors of everyday pen use.
I've read that bamboo is prone to splitting when using traditional construction fasteners and does not bear weight width wise, which raises some concerns about durability. Pilot explained that the pen is built with only a thin layer of bamboo and is not solid through and through. Structurally, the pen is more reliant on the existing internal construction and the bamboo only serves as a "veneer" to the body of the pen.
Bamboo's natural waxy coating does not lend itself to painting. To produce the black & cherry color, Pilot had stained the bamboo wood, then coated it with a special material (they didn't specify) that prevents fountain pen ink from staining the wood. This coating is also supposed to protect the bamboo from being affected by excess moisture (from hands & environment) or oils in your hands. To Pilot's knowledge, no issues have been reported in regards to the finish degrading.
Pilot Vanishing Point Bamboo vs. a Standard Vanishing Point
The shape and length (5.5" closed) of both Vanishing Point pens are the same, as one would expect. The lighter bamboo material does offer a very slight difference in weight, coming in at 26 grams versus the 30 grams of a standard VP (Black with gold trim, for example). The lighter weight makes the pen more convenient, especially when taken into account the click-action retractable nib.
The texture of the bamboo has the feel of wood with a matte grain. It feels quite comfortable to hold in the hand and warms as you write with it.
My fingertips enjoy commanding the pen around a sheet of paper while mostly holding onto the grain of the bamboo. Only the tip of my index finger touches the chrome section tip.
The box of the VP in Bamboo is an all-black, clamshell-type box with a ruffled, black satin interior where the pen sits upon. The Pilot logo is stamped in silver on the top-half of the box. The Namiki/Pilot Guarantee / Care & Use Guide is included in a compartment inside of the box. Under the guide booklet lays a cartridge cap and an ink cartridge. The pen itself is supplied with a converter inside of the pen.
Writing with the VP Bamboo
What? Only available in medium?
Yes, you can write with any point size of the Vanishing Point Bamboo, so long as it is medium...No, we had to change that.
The 18kt solid gold with rhodium coating (to match the silver clip and appointments) is the same that is also offered as a replacement nib to any VP that has silver trim. Despite the fact that the pens themselves will come with only the medium point installed, Goldspot is offering either Bamboo pen in the full array of nib sizes (Extra-Fine, Fine, Medium and Broad), which I had to try all of them out for the purposes of this review.
**Simply write in the Special Instructions section in your Goldspot shopping cart which nib size you would prefer (EF, F, M or B) and we will honor your request.**
Pilot's nibs run a bit thinner than their Western counterparts. So, a medium in an OMAS, lets say, is more like a Pilot broad nib. An extra-fine Aurora is equivalent to a Pilot Fine and so on. Experiencing all the Pilot nibs one after another, its noteworthy to mention that the fine and extra-fine can feel more feedback and a tad scratchy. The line width, especially on the extra-fine is exceptionally thin, better suited for those who write very small and deliberately.
The medium and broad gold nibs had a flow that was more my personal speed, allowing the quality of the ink to show nicely on the page. The ink I used? Why it's Pilot Iroshizuku, of course. Chiku-rin (Bamboo forest), to be exact. Chiku-rin is a light, greenish-yellow ink that has a nice degree of shading, which is evident more in the medium and broad nib sizes.
Pilot Vanishing Point Bamboo Cherry with Iroshizuku Chiku-rin Ink
A Few Choice Words
Summary :
Writing Quality : 18k Solid Gold nib with Rhodium trim write thin like you would expect for a Japanese nib. Not the smoothest right out of the box, but break-in nicely over time. Clip position can be a problem for some, which is common with any VP. (grade B+)
Aesthetic Quality : The natural feel and lighter weight of the bamboo is a pleasure to hold and behold visually. (grade A)
Utility : The Pilot VP remains to be one of the most convenient, utilitarian fountain pens due to its click-action, retractable nib mechanism. The lighter weight and resiliency of the bamboo material should be able to withstand wear and tear. (grade A+)
Price : Most Pilot Vanishing Point pens are listed at $175.00 retail price ($140 street price). The Pilot VP Bamboo, however, is up at $360 retail ($288 street price), double the cost of a regular Vanshing Point pen. Is the bamboo worth doubling the cost of the pen? (grade D)
Final Grade : A-
The sticker shock stings quite a bit, but this is quite a stunning pen that ought to be considered if you are a collector of Vanishing Points. Also, if you haven't jumped into owning a Pilot Capless already, if you made this one your one-and-only Vanishing Point, then you may be able to justify the extra expense.
Remember, the 18kt solid gold nib is the same nib that is on the standard VP, so the extra cost is all about the thin layer of bamboo. If it weren't for the cost, this pen would be right up there with the rest of the Pilot Vanishing point pens, which we regard very highly for their utility, durability and value.
The past two years have cultivated a sense of revival within the brand's aesthetic motif. During that time, the Duofold line added 3 colors based upon historical favorites like the "Big Red." Parker's IM & Urban lines added a "Vacumatic" set of colors that took its design cue from the layered, pearled striping of the Vacumatic pens initially released in the 1940's. Since the introduction of the Parker Ingenuity 5th mode in 2011, there really hasn't been anything "new" to talk about within the brand.
Until now.
The Parker Sonnet line is expanding with the "Great Expectations" Editions of contemporary design pens. The model itself is the same, reliable, balanced - yet weighted pen profile that many writers enjoy as an everyday luxury pen.
The core Sonnet line features classic color combinations - black & gold, black & silver, stainless steel and a red with gold trim. The "Premium" line of Sonnets become more adventurous with grid patterned designs, sterling silver pens, rose gold and pearl white. Parker's new Great Expectations designs seem to fit more with the higher-end, premium models, featuring some stylish, yet sophisticated designs.
The aesthetics of the pen finishes are a departure from the conservative, appearing more European in the fashionable and stylish sense. Each design combines an unconventional color or pattern with the traditional to create a contrast within the pen's appearance.
Parker's preview of the line includes six finishes :
Sonnet Contort Purple Cisele - Plum violet cap and front section paired with an ivory pearl barrel. Cap is patterned with a rose gold grid and complimented with rose gold trim and clip.
Sonnet Subtle Pearl and Grey - Pearl grey cap and front section paired with an ivory barrel. Trimmed in rose gold with a rose gold Parker arrow clip.
Sonnet Secret Black Shell - Matte black cap and barrel with a dark ruthenium grey trims and clip. The metal front section is patterned with a herringbone engraving.
Sonnet Subtle Big Red - Glossy black lacquer cap, barrel and section with an anodized red cap band and trim ring toward the front section.
Sonnet Contort Black Cisele - Matte black barrel and cap with silver trim and grid-patterned cap design. Silver metal front section on the fountain pen and rollerball.
Sonnet Secret Blue Shell - Blue lacquered cap and barrel with silver trim and clip. Front section on the rollerball and fountain pen have a thatch patterned metal section.
Each pen color and design combination have a distinct look and personality unique to each style. The "Contort Cisele" styles seem to be the most high-end and distinguished. The Black Shell and Blue Shell are more conservative, with exception to the front section of the rollerball and fountain pen. I'm drawing the conclusion that the "Secret" is in reference to the intricately engraved section that would be revealed when the cap is removed. The Subtle Pearl and Grey and Subtle Big Red utilize interesting color combinations to create an elegant and professional-looking look.
Since we have yet to receive definite information here in the States regarding this collection, some of the details may change and we may not see all six finishes here in the states. As it has happened in the Past with Parker, some pen variations were kept only to the European market. We'll update our blog when the pens are released to reflect the pens will be available to the US market. **EDIT** 10/06/2015 - All 6 finishes are available in the USA.
I know many fountain pen fans will be wondering about the nib. The nibs are crafted with 18kt solid gold that is either plated in gold, ruthenium or rose gold to match the trims of the pen. The rollerballs will use the standard Parker rollerball cartridge and the twist-ballpoint pens will use the ever-popular Parker-style ballpoint pen refill.
These designs are certainly intriguing and call for another look at the modern Parker brand. We hope that this is just the beginning and Parker returns to its roots as an innovating company that creates a fine writing instrument with mass appeal that is both affordable and durable. What do you think about these new designs? Looking forward to ordering them or seeing them in the flesh? Or do you think that this is just another re-hash of the same product?
Waterman, Paris introduces the 2015 special edition Ombres et Lumieres to follow up their 2014 Blue Obsession line extensions of their most popular pen models. This time around, the Carene, Perspective, Expert III and Hemisphere get a noir makeover inspired by the chic Parisian fashion trends that focus on the interaction of light and shadow.
The glossy black lacquer seems to dissolve into the matte white, silkscreened with dots that scatter down the end of the pen. It can remind one of the glittering lights of Paris against the dark or the bright lights reflecting on the rippling waters of the river Siene.
The Ombres et Lumieres is an elegant and tasteful finish that fits well with Waterman's European fashion sensibilities.
The Carene Ombres et Lumieres is the lone fountain pen in the group that sports an 18k solid gold nib in either medium or fine and is rhodium plated to match the palladium silver finished trims.
All other fountain pens in the collection use a stainless steel nib. Nibs will be available in fine or medium point sizes and fill using ink cartridges or converter.
Matching ballpen and rollerball pens are also available in every Ombres et Lumieres model. Each pen is gift boxed and wrapped with an exclusive themed sleeve.
The arrival timeline for the Ombres et Lumieres is early April. We will be adding them to the current Waterman lines on our website and will accept pre-orders soon.
---Edit : May 29th, 2015 - Ombres et Lumieres is now available and we have stock on sale at Goldspot Pens.
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.
Soon, #MusicNibMonday might become as popular as #FlexNibFriday on Instagram.
The eagerly-anticipated Noodler's Neponset fountain pen is due to be released on Friday. According to Luxury Brands, the US distributor of Noodler's Ink, we should have a very limited supply of these music nib fountain pens by early next week (November 5th, tentatively).
What's so great about the Noodler's Neponset?
Well, you may have heard about the Neponset through a giveaway that Nathan from Noodler's had done a while back as part of an art contest. The pen was given away, then the person who had received it sent it to two prominent fountain pen bloggers, Azizah from Gourmet Pens and SBRE Brown. To view the pen in action, check out the short video from Azizah below.
The pen's magic is in the music nib. This triple tined nib is affectionately called the the “Vishnu Victory” nib in honor of the 2.5 million World War II allied soldiers of India as well as the reference to the source for the ebonite used in the pen and the original Neponset Blimp. In the demo model that was reviewed, the nib performs smoothly on paper, giving the writer high degrees of line variation and flexibility.
The pen holds a large capacity of ink and sports the largest length of all the Noodler's pens models. You can find more details on the measurements on Gourmet Pen's blog post.
Like we mentioned earlier, the initial release will be of small quantity and will feature 4 different ebonite colors. There will be a Solid Black, Jade, Walnut & Chestnut Ebonite. The price will be $75 USD each. We will have them up on the website as soon as we check the pens in and get them photographed. We are not taking pre-orders at this time, since we are not sure of how many Neponset pens we will have in the initial shipment. Stay tuned and sign up on our e-mail list to be notified of the launch.
UPDATE 10/30/2014 : We are expecting to also have a limited number of "Red Rebellion" Ebonite Neponset pens. These will be the first of a series of limited production red ebonite pens that will vary in their patterns and/or colors from batch-to-batch. Below is what the first edition will look like. We're expected to receive a little over a dozen of these pens, so be sure to be signed up and follow us on social media for updates.
Ok Guys, so I've always taken a fancy to the Pilot Frixion Pen. You can make a mistake and, just like a pencil, erase and rewrite like you never made it. But unlike the pencil, the Frixion ink never smudges and you always get a fine point without ever having to run to a sharpener. Best part is, no pencil shavings.
Yesterday, I received the best early Christmas present ever. The New Pilot Frixon LX Pen in my favorite color "Blue". Unlike it's inexpensive counter part the Pilot Frixion Clicker, this pen is solid and extremely well made with a beautiful matte sheen. It holds comfortably in the hand and has a very nice weight to it, giving the impression of higher quality and reliability.
As with most high-end pens, my first instinct was to twist the pen to deploy the tip. No luck. After a few seconds of fidgeting I'm delighted to realize the pen simply opens with a click from the precision crafted chrome clip. And like you'd expect from Pilot, this pen writes like a dream. Smooth and Flawless! Removing the top cap allows you easy access to the Frixion "eraser," which is actually a plastic nub that creates the friction necessary to remove the thermo-sensitive ink.
Pilot is synonymous for quality and writing innovation and this Frixion LX does not disappoint. It is great to see the concept of the Frixion jump from the office supply line into the fine writing category with this high-grade version. This is a useful pen that you will be excited to take with you to the big meeting, that is for sure.
Following the addition of the Neutrino line, which we talked about last month, Nemosine has added 6 new color finishes to their best-selling Singularity line of fountain pens.
Meet the Nemosine Singularity in (from left to right) green, aqua blue, pink, white (not to be confused with ivory), magenta and blue marble. All pens are appointed with chrome trim, clip and cap band. The front section is black with the German-made, stainless steel nib attached. As with any of the Nemosine pens, a converter and (6) ink cartridges are included with the purchase of the pen.
You may be looking at this picture and thinking, "wait a second, the Blue Marble is bigger than the other Singularity pens?" Your eyes do not deceive you. It looks bigger posted because of the thickness of the acrylic used to make the marbled barrel and cap. The thicker cap doesn't allow for as deep of a posting than the solid-color Singularities. This could also be the reason that the Blue Marble is just a tad bit more expensive than the other Singularity pens.
With the wide array of colors and nib sizes (Extra-fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, 0.6mm stub, 0.8mm stub), it is easy to see why Nemosine fountain pens can be addictive to the pen enthusiast. They are affordable enough to own several for different purposes and situations where you would find yourself needing a fountain pen. Example - keeping a Nemosine in your desk drawer at work, one at home and one on your person (briefcase, purse or pen case). Also, if you love fountain pen inks as much as I do, you may have one pen dedicated to a particular type of ink. When you feel in a blue mood, take out the aqua blue or the blueberry and write away in some Diamine Aqua Blue. The combinations and possibilities are endless!
