Goldspot Pens Fine Writing Blog

Our Cover-Worthy Pelikan Pen Just Got Better

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:45:00 +0000

The Pelikan M200 special edition demonstrator that graces the cover of our new 2013 Goldspot Pens Catalog got an upgrade this week. For a pen that retails for $175, we felt that our customers would enjoy a higher quality nib from the original stainless steel that is installed on each demonstrator pen. After obtaining the proper nibs from Pelikan (nibs parts themselves retail for $170 each), we've fitted the M400 Souveran 14kt solid gold nib on the M200 pen to create an even more special, special edition.

Above is a silhouetted picture of the M200 with the 14kt gold nib installed. It is a bi-color nib, which means there are both silver and gold tones to the design. This nib is traditionally installed on Pelikan Souveran M400 fountain pen models. Note that the M200 pen on the cover is depicted with the gold tone nib that is gold-plated, stainless steel. Having the solid gold nib on the pen adds the additional comfort, smoothness and degree of flexibility that the material offers over the stiffer stainless steel.

For a limited time, we are offering the M200 Demonstrator with the 14kt solid gold nib for only $60 more than the stainless steel version ($139.95 steel vs $199.95 gold). Inventory on this is limited to the number of 14kt nibs we have on hand and it will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Visconti Turquoise Ink Review

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

The first appearance of the uniquely innovative Visconti V-Bottle on this blog. Visconti makes a high-quality writing instrument, but what of its ink? We explore Visconti turquoise using a nib that really allows the ink to shine - the Monteverde Prima Stub nib.

The turquoise is a bright, baby blue with solid saturation, excellent shading and a decently low dry-time, even with a stub nib. The V-bottle distributes the majority of the ink capacity towards the top two-thirds of the bottle, allowing for easier access to fill your pen. A great addition to any ink collection.

Change to our Newsletter Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Now, everyone has another chance to win at our newsletter giveaway and you don't need to be signed up for our e-mail newsletter to get the second chance.

Currently, the way the giveaway works is that anyone who is actively subscribed to our e-mail newsletter is eligible to be chosen for the monthly prize. At the end of the month, we randomly select one of these subscribers and ask for them to contact us with their current address so we can ship the prize off to them directly. We are now giving the selected winner 30 days to claim the prize. If we are not contacted within that time, we will open up the giveaway to our Facebook and Twitter followers.

When we open the giveaway, we will ask for Likes and Tweets to get your entries. Anyone who likes, replies to our tweet or re-tweets our link to the giveaway on our blog will be entered and we will randomly select one lucky user on Twitter or Facebook to receive the prize.

We first started our Monthly Newsletter Giveaway in June of 2012, as mentioned on our blog.

Noodler's Kiowa Pecan Ink Review

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

When you go "nuts" for fountain pens, chances are you might know Kiowa Pecan first as the lovely, warm brown color from Noodler's Ink as opposed to the sweet, easy-to-peel legume. Searching "kiowa pecan" on google will net at least one mention of the ink within the top 5 search results.

The ink behaved well in the Edison Herald it was used in. No issues with flow, which is something I periodically encounter with a Noodler's ink. The color is a lovely, rich brown that offers some shading quality. This will certainly be a brown that I will go back to again when I get into the autumn mood.

Sneak Peek at Lamy AL-Star Matte Black

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:14:00 +0000

Lamy follows up the release of the AL-Star Pearl with the new Matte Black AL-Star that is estimated to arrive in the US within the next few weeks. With the Pearl being such a quick sell out (fountain pens are all but gone), Lamy looks to satisfy its fans with a black-on-black, "stealth" model of its renown, aluminum bodied AL-Star design.

The AL-Star's black matte aluminum barrel and cap is matched with the black wire clip and a black stainless steel nib fitted to the fountain pen. Each mode has a translucent front section that is signature to the AL-Star collection. Click top ballpoint pen uses the M16 ballpoint refill while the capped rollerball uses the M63 rollerball ink cartridge. The fountain pen is supplied with a Lamy T10 ink cartridge in blue.

Be sure to sign up for our New Pen E-mail Newsletter List to get notified when the AL-Star Black will be available for sale on Goldspot.

Food for Thought on Earth Day 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:08:00 +0000

1.5 Billion

What would this number represent?

The dollar amount revenue of a major corporation? The number of citizens in a densely populated country? The gallons of gas we consume in a year? The number of stars you are gazing at in the night sky?

No, this is the amount of ballpoint pens that are disposed of, by Americans, each year. (source)

Think of all the Bics, promotional pens and bank pens that are carelessly tossed aside when they have exhausted their ink supply. Since the majority of them are not intended to be refilled, they are simply thrown away. People who receive these pens for free treat them as such and throw them away on a whim.

Be a responsible, Eco-friendly pen enthusiast and always carry your fine writing instrument with you. That way, you can always be sure you will never have to take another promotional or disposable pen for your writing needs.

Edison Beaumont Stealth Sold Out - Italic Nibs Now Available

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:32:00 +0000

As quickly and silently as they arrived on Wednesday, all of our Edison Beaumont Limited Edition Stealth Pens had flew off the shelves by the end of the day. They have all been shipped or in the process of being engraved and should arrive to their happy owners shortly.

To those that missed out on this limited edition - don't despair! We still have Edison's other collections, like the Beaumont (co-winner of Pen of the Year 2012) and the Collier (Pen of the Year 2011). To boot, you can now purchase them with these cool Italic Fountain Pen Nibs to add additional flair and character to your writing.

The pens aren't listed with the Italic nibs, but you may place an order for one of the Edison pens we have for sale and make a notation in your "Order Comments" on the form to request either the 1.1 italic or 1.5 italic nib. For pens with gold trim, we would match it with the two-tone, gold & silver nib and for pens that have silver trim, we would install the single-tone silver version.

The New 2013 Goldspot Annual Catalog

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:31:00 +0000

Printed, Stitched, Trimmed and ready-for-mailing, the new 2013 Goldspot Annual Catalog of fine writing instruments and luxury gifts will be arriving in mailboxes across the country within the next week! This year's catalog holds 40 pages of the best pens, including new releases from AT Cross, Delta, Stipula, Visconti, Parker, ACME Studios, Lamy, Colibri and Laban. We also have a dedicated 2-page spread of just fountain pen inks. You will also find notebooks and other awesome pen-related accessories to compliment your pen collection.

If you would like to request a copy of our catalog to be mailed to you, please visit our site and fill out the online Catalog form to complete your request.

Also, you can view an electronic version preview of the catalog here!

Check out a Behind the Scenes look at our catalog on the printing press...

A Stealthy Sneak Peek at a New Edison Pen

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Gliding in gracefully on the pale moonlight comes the new Edison Beaumont Stealth limited edition fountain pen. The solid black resin barrel and cap, matched with the dark, ruthenium trim, clip and nib will silently maneuver into your shopping cart like a ninja. Limited to 100 pieces worldwide, this cartridge/converter fountain pen will go quickly, so stay tuned to our blog and sign up on our e-mail list for a head's up on when we will have the pens available and ready-to-ship. This pen is exclusive to Edison Pen retailers only, and we have secured inventory that will arrive early next week.

Twilight Stars Robert Pattinson Gifts $40k Pen to Kristen Stewart

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:45:00 +0000

Hot on the celebrity gossip columns today is a story involving a very, very expensive pen. When Twilight co-stars and boyfriend/girlfriend Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart exchange gifts, they don't simply pick up a Hallmark card and chocolates from the local drug store. No, they take out the Black AmEx to spend the equivalent of what most would consider to be a down payment on a house. Pattinson reportedly spent $40,000 on a Tibaldi Bentley Crewe 18k white gold fountain pen.

That is certainly some pen. I would have loved to be the salesperson getting the commission for that sale! I think that would have deserved a vacation!

April 2013 Carnival of Pen, Pencil and Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 05:31:00 +0000

Welcome and step right up.

We're proud to host the April 2013 edition of the Carnival of Pen, Pencil and Paper. These are posts freshly picked from the wild of the internet blog-o-sphere that stoke your love of the writing process and its materials. Check them out! Maybe you will find a new blog to follow, a new pen to lust after or just a plain ol' good read.

EDITOR'S CHOICE

dowdyism presents My Fountain Pen Education: The Edison Pearl -- The Pen Addict posted at The Pen Addict.

PENS

Ed Jelley presents Sailor 1911 Professional Gear Imperial Black Edition Fountain Pen – Handwritten Review posted at edjelley.com.

TonyB presents 6 Sexy Budget Ballpoint Pens posted at Tiger Pens Blog.

Bruno Taut presents KMPN: Lamy Safari Neon Yellow (2013) posted at KMPN.

Sandra Strait presents Review of the Pentel Energel X Roller Ball Retractable Gel Pen #shopletreviews posted at Life Imitates Doodles.

Azizah Asgarali presents Review: Airmail 444 Eyedropper Fountain Pen - Flex posted at Gourmet Pens

Heather presents Dong-A Miffy Scented Gel Ink Pen 0.5mm posted at A Penchant for Paper.

Jackie Parkins presents Pilot Petit1 Mini Fountain Pens posted at Addicted to Pens and Paper.

INK

Ed Jelley presents Diamine Eau De Nil – Handwritten Ink Review posted at edjelley.com.

Azizah Asgarali presents Review: Sailor Jentle Grenade Ink posted at Gourmet Pens.

PAPER

Ed Jelley presents Leuchtturm 1917 – Jottbook – Handwritten Stationery Review posted at edjelley.com.

Azizah Asgarali presents Review: Moleskine LEGO Pocket Ruled Notebook posted at Gourmet Pens.

Aisazia presents Alternative Frugal Traveler's Notebook Pt 1: Cover + Sketchbook Binding posted at Ethereal Voices: Story/Art Progress Blog.

EVERYTHING ELSE

Liz Shaw presents Addicted to Office Supplies posted at Liz Andra Shaw.

Liron Yankonsky presents Art in the Middle East: Drawing Lesson - Sketching and Shading techniques posted at Art in the Middle East.

Thanks for reading this month's edition of the Carnival of Pen, Pencil and Paper. Stay tuned for the next issue coming May 7th over at the Rants of the Archer Blog. You can submit an article (requires log-in) if you have a post you would like to share.

Pilot Iroshizuku Ama-Iro Sky Blue Ink Review

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 13:30:00 +0000

In the spirit of the lighter and brighter colors of Spring and Easter Sunday, here is our review of the new Pilot Iroshizuku Ama-Iro "Sky Blue" color of fountain pen ink that was recently added to the Iroshizuku line of high-quality inks earlier this year.

We couldn't get our eggs to look quite like the nest above. To be honest, the wife and I were a bit disappointed with the quality of one of our egg dye kits. The colors simply weren't saturated enough and didn't coat the eggs in enough color. Alas, lack of saturation is sometimes a concern in a fountain pen ink, especially a lighter color. J Herbin Bleu Azur is a perfect example of a "barely-there" ink that just doesn't provide enough contrast on the paper to be adequately visible. Ama-Iro provides that saturation and the lighter, aqua color that would be perfect for dyeing eggs. But I wouldn't recommend dyeing eggs with fountain pen ink. No matter the pH neutrality.

Of course, as with any ink of the Iroshizuku line, I've found Ama-Iro to flow nicely and behave well in my Pelikan M215 piston-filler. The color lives up to the name in being a very pleasant, light blue. Anyone else have an Easter/Spring ink they are writing with this weekend?

When I see a Notebook

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 13:30:00 +0000

When I see a notebook...

When I see a notebook, I think of the stories that have yet to be told.
The notes that have yet to become ideas fully manifest.
An unrequited love, a terrible shame to bear.
Loops, swoops and curls. Writing for writing's sake.
Some thoughts that barely make it out of the pen, only to be erased.
Proud moments in our lives that remind ourselves the struggle is worthy.
I see the quiet, contemplative thoughts that surface after a day of turmoil.
The to-do's, plans well laid that never go as planned.
The cursing, dark thoughts that have their place on pages instead of the internet.
A roller coaster with peaks of optimism, followed by troughs of pessimism.
An appreciation of beauty in all of its amorphousness.

It's life as a human being, inside of a human being.

--This ode to the notebook has been brought to you by the wonderfully colorful Rhodiarama notebooks, which just arrived at the office this afternoon. I can't help myself when I see such a beautiful cover, full of silky smooth ivory paper.

Noodler's Antietam Ink Review

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:30:00 +0000

I think this dos equis meme best describes my introduction to this ink.

Even the red in the XX is appropriate, considering the variations that come with Noodler's Antietam. I'm usually not fond of red. It reminds me too much of seeing marked up test papers and essays. Looking for a nice ink for autumn, Noodler's Antietam really hits the spot with its rich saturation and lovely variations of tones and shading. It flowed very nicely from the Visconti Van Gogh steel nib that I used and had no trouble with cleaning nib creep, as it would sometimes happen with other Noodler's Inks.

Yes, the date on it is pretty old, but better late then never.

Quick Note About our Visconti Rembrand Calligraphy Kits

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Last week, we started to offer the Visconti Rembrandt Calligraphy Kits at a value discount. Through a special deal with Visconti, we are able to offer the kits complete with a Rembrandt fountain pen, 2 calligraphy nibs, converters, a bottle of Visconti black ink and blotting paper. Originally, when these kits were first offered about a year ago, the kits came with 2 calligraphy nibs and a standard medium writing nib. Unbeknownst to us, Visconti had sent our latest shipment of these kits without the medium nib and the nib sections are made of black resin instead of chromed metal like the original set was. Some sets have already shipped and we've received feedback from our customers regarding the discrepancy. We are responding to the situation in a manner we believe will resolve the problem.

If you have received a Visconti Rembrandt Calligraphy Kit from us that is lacking the medium nib, please contact our customer service and we will arrange for you to receive the replacement medium nib. We've ordered them from Visconti and they should be arriving within the next 1-2 business days.

Going forward, we have changed our listing description to reflect the rolling change that has taken effect with this set. We now only have inventory of the new sets with the 2 nibs & converters. We still feel that this is an amazing deal, so check it out before inventory is cleaned out!

Call for Blog Entries - We're Hosting the Carinval!

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:55:00 +0000

On April 9th, tune your web surfing dial right here for some old-fashioned pen and paper blogging goodness. We are hosting the next Carnival of Pen, Pencil and Paper the second Tuesday of April. If you are a blogger and have recently posted an article about writing, pens, paper, ink, notebooks, journals and everything in between, we would love to feature your story here! We are currently accepting blog post submissions on the BlogCarnival site. Please note that you do have to register and log-in to submit an article. The deadline to submit an article will be Sunday, April 7th.

For March's issue of the Carnival, please visit Journaling Arts to read all the currently published articles to catch up on all the best office supply, fine writing and product reviews that the pen blog-osphere has to offer.

The Carnival is for artists, writers, note-takers and anyone else who adores pens, pencils, notebooks, journals, blank books and sketchbooks. This carnival collects the past month's best posts with reviews, photos, new product news and more to feed the lust of all stationery and office supply fans.

Namiki Falcon vs. Pilot Metal Falcon Video Review

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:30:00 +0000

In this week's video review, our very own Michael Jones takes a look at the Namiki Falcon and the Pilot Metal Falcon.

In this video, we look at :

Unboxing the Pilot Metal Falcon and the Namiki Falcon
Pen Materials - Lacquered Metal with rhodium coated gold nib (Pilot Metal Falcon) and Resin with Gold trim and solid gold nib (Namiki Falcon).
Converters - The Metal Falcon uses a pump-action, push button converter (CON-70), while the Namiki Falcon uses a twist converter.
Filling each Falcon.
Test writing with the Falcon's unique Soft, solid gold nibs.

Overall, both pens are a pleasure to write with when taking advantage of the flexibility of the soft, solid gold nibs crafted to provide a smooth, variable line. The Metal Falcon has a distinct step up in the quality of the body and cap materials, and feels more rich and substantial in-hand. The Namiki Falcon, while only made of resin, does have a lighter feeling, but still offers the superior writing experience that the soft gold nib affords.

Introducing the Lamy Safari 2013 Neon Yellow

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:45:00 +0000

A new year, a new Lamy Safari to add to your growing collection of colorful writing instruments. 2013 brings the electric, Neon Yellow Safari. Due to arrive on US Retailer's shelves in mid-May, this new addition to the Safari collection is limited in production and should be well stocked here in the US for 8-10 months before becoming very difficult to find.

Previously released Safari colors include Apple Green (2012), Aquamarine (2011), Pink, Orange (2009), Lime (2008), White (2007), Blue & Red (2006). Previous year's editions become extremely sought-after by collectors and enthusiasts.

Monteverde Invincia Grand Prix Unboxing and Review Video

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:16:00 +0000

Last year, we introduced our first limited edition set of Monteverde Pens called the Invincia Grand Prix. The Grand Prix is an exclusive collection of racing-inspired pens available in twist-action ballpen, smooth-writing rollerball and old-fashioned fountain pen with a black stainless steel nib. It only took us a few months, but we've got our dedicated video reviewer Mike Jones to produce a video of his unboxing and review of the Invincia Grand Prix fountain pen in Laguna Seca Blue.

In this video, we review :

The exclusive Monteverde Invincia Grand Prix white box sleeve.
The Invincia Pen materials, body shape, nib and design.
Included Monteverde fountain pen ink cartridges (2 Black, 2 Blue)
Writing sample text using the supplied black ink cartridge.

Please check it out and feel free to drop a comment to let Mike know what you thought of his video.

The Introducing the ACME Hatch Pen - As Featured on WSJ

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:21:00 +0000

Although we could have used a product like this a few months ago when the flu was making its rounds across the country's schools and workplaces, the new ACME Hatch Pen ($104 on Goldspot.com) is a great writing instrument for those who take great care in minimizing their exposure to germs and other nasty microbes that can send you to the doctor. This antimicrobial pen is designed to kill bacteria and microorganisms that may linger on our hands. Surprisingly, it accomplishes this task with a very low-tech solution.

Much like how the traditional writing pen accomplishes the same written word as using a stylus on a fancy new tablet would, the Hatch Pen is designed around the innate properties of raw brass to kill microbes. No fancy polymers or nano-robots here, just simple, raw brass. See, within a few hours of contact with brass ions, bacteria and other unwanted microbes die. Simple as that! You can read more about the Hatch from the Wall Street Journal.

The product's designer, Karl Zahn, is known for creating products that combine contemporary materials and, often-overlooked, historical technology to build modern hybrids that solve problems of necessity using simple solutions that are more beautiful and sustainable.

The ACME Hatch Brass Antimicrobial Rollerball Pen is now available for Pre-Sale on Goldspot.com. Orders are estimated to be filled by mid-March.

New Spring 2013 Cross Edge, Townsend and Classic Century Designs

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:30:00 +0000

A new year and a new crop of Cross Pens are due to arrive to expand upon the success of their most classic and popular designs. Due to become available the beginning of March, we will start to accept pre-orders for the following new additions to the Cross Catalog of fine writing instruments.

The compact and convenient Cross Edge collection grows by two new finishes. The polished chrome finish is a gleaming, shiny retractable gel ink rollerball while the anodized red style is a nice complement to the existing bright colors of the Edge series.

The slim-profile Cross Classic Century line is being refreshed with the addition of capped rollerballs and fountain pens. The caps are twist-off and are capable of being securely screwed-on to the back end of the pen while writing. The new Classic Century rollerballs and fountain pens are to be offered in the Classic Matte Black with Gold Trim, Black Lacquer with Silver Trim, Chrome and Medalist (Chrome with Gold Trim) styles.

The elegant, professional Cross Townsend model is celebrating its 20th anniversary in style with this Special Edition Brushed Platinum finish. The distinctive, wide-bodied pen profile is plated in Platinum that is diamond-cut to create a stunning guilloche pattern that spans the length of the barrel and cap.

Initial shipments will be arriving the week of March 4th.

Sneak Peek - New 2013 Parker Limited Production Jotter Pens

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 14:30:00 +0000

The infamous click-top Parker Jotter is getting a few new colors for 2013 and Goldspot has an exclusive sneak peak preview just for you. This is the first time in a few years that Parker has released a new, colorful edition of their ever-popular Jotter ballpoint pen. This limited production set of pens are said to be blistercarded and due out on the (digital) shelves in April, so you won't have to wait very long to get your fingers on these pens.

As you may notice in the above photo, each color is a metallic, anodized aluminum finish with a chrome clicker mechanism and clip. On the chrome silver top section, there is a subtle pattern of line engravings, along with the updated Parker Pen arrow logo. Each pen will be accompanied by with a genuine Parker-style ballpoint ink cartridge installed in the pen. The predicted MSRP on each pen will be $25, which is a bit on the high side for a Jotter. However, after considering the metallic construction and the engraved design on this limited production pen, it seems like a fair price for what will be a very popular collector's item amongst Parker Pen enthusiasts.

Conway Stewart by Diamine Kingsand Ink Review

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:54:00 +0000

Renown British maker of fine pens, Conway Stewart, in concert with UK ink manufacturer Diamine, released a set of exclusive fountain pen ink bottles that just arrived on US shores in January 2013. There are six colors total - Bodmin Jet Black, Edgecumbe Lavender, Kingsand Ochre Brown, St Blazey Red, Tamar Royal Blue, and Tavy Denim Blue-Black. If you're scratching your head over the names, each color is dedicated to a landmark that is around Conway Stewart's Factory in Devon, UK. Each 80ml glass ink bottle is handsomely packaged and the inks themselves are fantastic as well. I tried Kingsand Ochre first and was really impressed with the flow, saturation and the hue.

Conway Stewart Kingsand on InkJournal Paper

Writing with Kingsand in my Aurora Optima has been an absolute pleasure. The one characteristic that is unseen in any writing sample scan is that this ink actually changes color slightly as it tries. As the ink travels from the point to the paper, it delivers a Terra-cotta color. Within the next 2 seconds, that color darkens to a warm brown. Perhaps if it were a thicker nib than the extra-fine that I used, it may alter the result of the color change. My theory is that with a thicker, wet nib, the color change would even be more noticeable. This is a theory that needs to be tested!

Overall, I'm impressed with the ink and am looking forward to trying the other colors. We have the bottles available on Goldspot ($12.95 USD for 80mL bottles) or on RefillFinder (same price, but quantity price discounts apply).

Monteverde vs. Lamy M16 Ballpoint Refills

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:30:00 +0000

Fans of Lamy Pens know that their beloved ballpoint pens are only filled using the Lamy M16 (or M22 in cases of the mini-sized Pico and other mini- or multi- style pens) refill. These types of refills have been traditionally made proprietary by Lamy, Germany, meaning that a common Schmidt or Parker-style refill would not fit inside of a Lamy Safari. That means Lamy fans are at the mercy of the manufacturer when it comes to the available choices of colors, point sizes and *gasp* the prices they set. In comes Monteverde to help by providing an alternative at a lesser cost and more variety.

Based out of California, Monteverde is the largest manufacturer of third-party refills that are made to fit pens like Lamy, Parker, Waterman, Mont Blanc, Pelikan and Sheaffer, to name a few brands. Their Lamy M16 ballpoint refill is engineered with Soft-Roll ballpoint technology, Swiss-made writing tip and low viscosity ink that produces excellent flow and smoothness.

Besides the usual Black and Blue ink colors that Lamy offers, Monteverde opens up the color palette with 8 additional hues, including turquoise, orange and blue-black.

The reputation of the Monteverde M16 refills grows with every piece of feedback we receive from our customers. The consensus has been overwhelmingly positive. Talk of the Monteverde M16 refill outperforming it's OEM competitor is apparent even on Fountain Pen Network. Have you made the switch? Please comment below. We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Sheaffer Celebrates 100 Years with Two New Limited Editions

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:30:00 +0000

100 years is a tremendous milestone for a company that has built their reputation on quality and customer satisfaction over the century. For Sheaffer, it validates the renown "White Dot," a symbol of quality craftsmanship on all Sheaffer products. The fact that the company continues to produce pens that are highly desirable among collectors and new pen enthusiasts alike shows that they are still a relevant, valuable brand. The Ferrari by Sheaffer collection is a perfect example of how the company succeeds to be current with the trends of the luxury market. To celebrate this historic milestone, Sheaffer is releasing two exquisite limited editions that showcase the brand's heritage and their modern manufacturing prowess.

The Sheaffer Centennial Legacy Heritage Sterling Silver Fountain Pen
This pen is finely engraved in sterling silver, producing relief images of the first Sheaffer Factory and founder Walter A. Sheaffer on the .925 sterling silver barrel and cap. This edition is limited to 1,913 pieces worldwide, signifying the first year Sheaffer was started. The 18K solid gold, rhodium plated nib (in medium point only) is inlaid in the black front section of the pen. The tapered profile is taken from the high-end Legacy Heritage design and feels like a solid, yet comfortable pen to write with. The Centennial Legacy Heritage is packaged in a high gloss, elegant "Sheaffer Red" lacquer gift box, complete with a commemorative booklet, certificate of authenticity and complimentary ink.

The Sheaffer Centennial Limited Edition Sterling Silver Fountain Pen
The Centennial Limited Edition is a specially designed, "vintage"-style fountain pen that features a cylindrical barrel and cap. The finely engraved sterling silver cap and barrel feature images of the first Sheaffer Factory and pay tribute to founder Walter A. Sheaffer and his son. Feeling this pen in-hand, the heft and grand size of his pen really makes striking impression of luxury and value. Might be a bit unwieldy to write with casually, but this is the type of collector's item you probably would want to keep new, unused and in the original deluxe gift box.

The Sheaffer Centennial Solid Gold Fountain Pen
Now, we're talking! Barrel and cap feature the relief design in solid 18k gold with gold trim and clip. Only limited to 45 pieces worldwide, this is certainly the centerpiece to an impressive Sheaffer collection. The white dot atop the clip is replaced by a 2mm diamond. Fair warning, the price tag is not for the faint of heart. Start saving now!