Goldspot Pens

Vote for Goldspot Reader's Choice "Pen of the Year" 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:08:00 +0000

Voting is open until November 15th. The winner will be announced by e-mail with a special promotion code to use on our website.

Review : Tombow Zoom 2000 Rollerball Pen

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:13:00 +0000

This special request review comes from Chris C. over on our Facebook Fan page. If you would like to request a review of a product that we carry on our website, please feel free to tweet, comment or post on our Facebook fan wall.

The Tombow Zoom 2000 gives me the impression that it is a writing utensil of the future. It looks like the Terminator dropped it on his way back to help John Connor save the world. It has a brushed chrome finish and an unique "spacepod-like" shape. Diamond-like cuts repeat in a pattern along the central band of the barrel. The design is simple, yet extremely intriguing as you turn the pen in the light. The grooved pattern flashes its facets like fine crystal.

The smallish cap would be the payload of this futuristic writing missile. It fits very tight on the business end of the pen, ensuring that the liquid rollerball refill will not be dry when you pick it up to write. It posts nicely on the back-end of the pen and doesn't add any significant weight to cause imbalance when writing.

Speaking of the weight, although the pen is solid metal, it is lighter in the hand than you would think. However, it does not give the impression of being flimsy or cheap. My only issue with the overall design is the grip. The brushed chrome barrel drops off to create an uncomfortable edge between the front section and the rest of the pen. When holding and writing with it, I feel like my grip is further away from the point than I would prefer.

Aside from the slightly awkward grip, writing with "sputnik" is a smooth, enjoyable experience. The Tombow rollerball refill is smooth, rich with a dark line and fine-pointed (also available in extra-fine). If you are used to writing with fountain pens all the time, this is definitely a good alternative. There is a slight amount of bleed-through on Levenger Circa paper, but nothing more than what fountain pen ink would usually produce.

Summary:

Writing Quality : Tombow 05 Fine rollerball ink flows very nicely. The light weight and balance of the pen make it easy to write for longer periods of time. I gripe about the grip, but that could just be me. (grade A-)
Aesthetic Quality : Very space-age with high-tech appeal. (grade A)
Utility : The small cap can easily be misplaced. The firm snap of the cap ensures ink refill freshness. Clip is well build and attaches smoothly to the pocket. (grade A-)
Price : At $100 retail (on sale for $79.95 at Goldspot.com), the bargain would be the Tombow rollerball refills, which we sell for $2.10 each in a variety of colors. Compare that with a Waterman or Parker, which rollerball refills cost $4.70-$5.75 each. (grade B+)

Final Grade : A-
If you like the space-age aesthetic and smooth-writing rollerball refill, the Tombow Zoom 2000 should definitely be on your Christmas list for an everyday writing pen.

NaNoWriMo - A Perfect Excuse to Write

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:29:00 +0000

Ever say to yourself, "one day, I would love to write a novel?" Sunday is your day to start.

November 1st begins National Novel Writing Month. For the entire duration of November, your objective is to crank out at least 50,000 words (about 175 pages total) of fiction. The "upcoming month of literary abandon," to put it in the words of the folks over at NaNoWriMo.org, will be your chance to join the motivated masses that share the same goal. They have been organizing the event since 1999, which started as a noveling binge between 21 friends in the San Francisco Bay area. In 2008, the number of participants blew up to over 119,000, with more than 21,000 crossing the 50k word mark.

So, you have what it takes to commit to writing 1,667 words per day for an entire month? Sign up for a FREE account at NaNoWriMo.org where you will be able to update and track your progress as the month goes by. I won't go into the details of how the tracking works, but you may find the nitty-gritty details here.

I realize that since this is a blog about fine-writing, there will be a few Luddites out there who would opt to do this on pen and paper. There is a less-technologically advanced way of verifying your word count. According to NaNoWriMo's frequently asked questions page :

What you do is write your 50,000 words, then have someone you trust verify that it is, indeed, 50,000 words. Then using something like the Lorem Ipsum generator, submit a file of the exact number of words of your handwritten manuscript to our word count validator.

For people who prefer doing a little bit of both, load up a trusty fountain pen and write several pages and then transpose them into your word processor of choice. Not only will you get the satisfaction of putting pen to paper to write your novel, but you will also sharpen those typing skills. If you don't have the portability of a laptop at your disposal, this would be a good solution when you are away from the desk.

Besides the online social aspect of writing with others around the globe, there also local "regions" that you can join which can hold local "write-ins" where you can meet and write with other WriMo's.

If you would like to join and have a bit of friendly camaraderie, Tom @goldspotpens will be participating in the NaNoWriMo. Note: he will not be writing about fountain pens, although they may make a cameo appearance. If you would like to be his writing buddy, visit his profile here.

Happy Halloween!

Review : Online Vision Blue Fountain Pen

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:23:00 +0000

Released in Summer of 2009, the ONLINE Vision series is a sturdy, aluminum-based writing instrument that strikes a harmony between ergonomic utility and modern, elegant style. The lightweight characteristic of the aluminum body affords the writer hours of pain-free writing comfort while the molded plastic front section ensures a secure grip.

A neat feature on this series of fountain pens is the interchangeable nib option. When you order most ONLINE pens on our website, you can make a special request to have the nib be swapped for a fine, medium, broad, 0.8mm calligraphy, 1.4mm calligraphy or 1.8mm calligraphy nib size. The nibs are also sold separately for a modest $11.20 per nib. Just search "online nibs" on our website store and you will find all available sizes. All of the ONLINE fountain pens are sold with medium as the default. So, that is why I decided to write with a medium for this review.

As you will see in the first photo, the packaging is no-frills, much alike Lamy, who value utility over unnecessary elaboration. The black carboard box has a clear, plastic window and a magnetic closure. The pen arrives only with international-size ink cartridges aboard. For those who fuel with ink bottles, remember to buy a standard "Schmidt" converter with your order.

I loaded the pen with a Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue ink cartridge and wrote the review. My initial impressions on the nib were this : really wet and toothy. The toothiness does vary on how you angle the nib and your writing style. The ink flows very generously, even more than I would expect for a medium point. No skipping or starting issues. Overall, I would not rate it among the better of the stainless steel nibs, this one is just O.K.

The cap has a very solid snap to the front end of the pen. It posts well to the chrome-plated back end of the pen, but the metal sheath inside of the cap will end up leaving scratches on the chrome after extended use. The clip is solid and feels like it is spring-loaded when you press the very top of the cap.

As far as aesthetics are concerned, the Vision series uses a series of geometric patterns that are matched up with each color finish. The effect is very modern and sleek. The contrast of the matte color finish against the polished chrome appointments is a nice touch.

Summary:

Writing Quality : German-made, Stainless Steel nib (available in fine, medium, broad, 0.8mm, 1.4mm, 1.8mm calligraphy) writes very wet and is a bit toothy, but not unbearable. (grade B)
Aesthetic Quality : Modern, sleek appeal that is understated, but not underrated. (grade B+)
Utility : Clip has a nice, spring-loaded feel. The lightweight aluminum is very easy to write with and the plastic grip adds to that comfort. The only problem is the inside of the cap easily scratching the back part of the pen while posting. (grade B)
Price : At $50 retail (at Goldspot.com), this is a great value for a versatile, stylish writing instrument. (grade A)

Final Grade : B+
At this price, the Vision is a "recession buster" in the fine-writing market right now. With brands like Waterman and Parker still cranking out pens north of $300 retail, it is good to see that some manufacturers understand the modern pen consumer. Great value for writers looking for a solid, dependable pen to use as a daily writer.

We Now Sell Montegrappa, Italia Writing Instruments

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:32:00 +0000

Goldspot is proud to announce that we have added Montegrappa Pens to our ever-expanding selection of fine-writing instruments. Italian-made since 1912, Montegrappa is the oldest Italian pen manufacturer. Their style is articulated in the finest resin, celluloid, sterling silver and gold used in pen production.

As some pen aficionados may know, Montegrappa has been under the umbrella of Mont Blanc distribution for the last several years. Prices became bloated and customers stopped buying. This year, it has been sold back to the original family in Italy that brought the brand to its prominence. With the change in hands, retail prices have dropped up to 40%. This is unheard of in the fine-writing industry.

Some special offers I think you should know:

The Eternal Bird Limited Edition. Our mouths nearly dropped to the floor when we saw this pen for the first time. The wrap-around sterling silver engraving is finely detailed and absolutely breath-taking. With the purchase of any Eternal Bird fountain pen, the matching inkpot, which is valued at over $3,000, is included for free in the order. Here is a pic of this finely-crafted inkpot:

If investing over $3,000 in a fountain pen and inkpot is not in the budget, there is a more enticing offer with another limited edition Modigliani fountain pen.

Tributo Modigliani. This limited edition was created in tribute to one of the most well-known portrait painters in the early 20th century. The Montegrappa pen abstractly recreates some of the features you would find in the artist's portraits. For a limited time, purchase any of the fountain pens in this series and you will also receive a complimentary ballpoint pen in the same series, shown below:
For $1,080 retail, the fountain pen and ballpoint pen combination is a great value for a limited edition of such high quality.

Of course, we will also be selling the regular lines of Montegrappa pens, such as the Emblema, Picoola, Espressione, Miya, Micra and the NeroUno. For those who have looked at Montegrappa before from other pen retailers will be pleased to see the drop in price on our store.

Nominations for Pen of the Year 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:40:00 +0000

Since we had so much fun voting in last November's Goldspot Pen of the Year, we decided to do it again. As opposed to last year's format, where we picked the nominees, we are asking YOU, the pen public, to weigh in on your favorite pen of 2009. I realize that this may chaff some vintage pen fans, but we are looking at pens released in 2009 ONLY. However, new color releases may be considered for a pen model that has been in production for years (e.g. Pink Lamy Safari, Vivid Red Namiki Vanishing Point, etc).

For those of you who may not remember, last year's winner by vote was the ONLINE Newood Calligraphy fountain pen set. As part of the victory celebration, we ran a promotion on this item the week following the election. We will do the same this year, provided that the elected winner is a product that we sell on our website.

Comment on this post with your nominations. You may also nominate by tweeting or posting on our Facebook wall. If your favorite pen of 2009 is already nominated, 2nd the nomination! Most importantly, have fun!

Winner of the Traveling Pen Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:02:00 +0000

Congratulations to Sara of Miscellaneous Ramblings of a Thirty-Something DIYer for winning the Traveling Pen Giveaway with her fine feline photo:

Her caption read : "My feline muses support my fountain pen addiction and encourage my journaling habit. "

She will be receiving her prize of a $25 gift card to our store at www.goldspot.com. Although the entry field was small, her photo was definitely deserving of merit. Congrats again!

Review : Taccia Merit Fountain Pen

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:43:00 +0000

Bold, bright colors and chrome (or gold)-pressed appointments accent Taccia's newest release, the Merit Collection. Although this pen has an overall body shape that is pleasing to the eye and comfortable to hold, the first distinct feature you will notice is the transparent ink window.

Following the recent upward trend in transparency in pen design (i.e. Monteverde Mega fountain, Pelikan M205 Blue Demo, Aurora Optima Demo), the Merit offers the writer a glimpse into the converter (or cartridge) to view the ink level. The collection is offered in a matching rollerball as well.

There is also an ink window on the rollerball model as well, which is pretty useless considering the rollerball cartridge is opaque.

I tried out the Onyx Black fountain pen in medium point. The large nib is German stainless steel with iridium point. I filled the converter with Noodler's Bulletproof Black and gave it a test run on some Levenger Circa paper.

Initial impressions : plastic, but done well. The body is made from polished resin through and through. No brass body to the pen or cap. The ample girth and polished trims really save this pen from looking, or feeling cheap. The light weight is actually a positive in my book, as it is more comfortable to write with for long periods of time.

The nib flows very wet without scratching or any intermittent flow issues. Even with Bulletproof Black, which tends to not flow so generously through my Pelikan M215 Fine Point, the lines are very smooth and rich. The Medium is great for signatures and faster handwriting styles. The nib quality is on par with some of the best steel nibs that are out there.

A few pet peeves I have about the pen are cap-related issues. One : the cap posts very loosely on the back of the pen. This is a make or break for many fountain pen people out there, including me. Also, the cap does not screw back on to the business end of the pen very smoothly. I usually have to try once or twice to get the threads aligned properly.

The major selling point of the Merit collection is the price. At a retail value of $95 for the fountain pen and $80 for the rollerball, the Merit is a great value and can be compared to pens that are twice as expensive. When you order them from Goldspot Pens, every finish goes for $75.95 Fountain / $63.95 Rollerball.

Summary:

Writing Quality : Large, German-made, Stainless Steel nib (available in fine, medium or broad) writes wet and flows nicely. Top pick amongst other Stainless Steel FP's (grade A-)
Aesthetic Quality : Simplistic, but nice choice of vibrant-colored resins. (grade B)
Utility : Fountain pen Ink window lets you know when to fill up before the ink runs out. However, the cap does not post tightly on the back and the screw threads to close the pen are not very smooth. (grade B)
Price : At $95 retail (on sale for $75.95 at Goldspot.com), this is a very affordable value for a pen that can easily be considered in the same tier as a Parker Sonnet, Waterman Perspective or an Aurora Ipsilon. (grade A-)

Final Grade : B+
We can give a lot of "merit" to the price of this line, given the current economic climate, but I will choose to give credit to the high-quality nib and the usefulness of the ink window.

The Facebook Traveling Pen Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:50:00 +0000

Enter to Win a $25 Gift Card to Goldspot.com
No purchase necessary. Gift Card not redeemable for cash.

Partly inspired by the "roaming gnome" prank and the recent Twitter pen & paper community topic #dailyarsenal, coined by @DIYSara, Goldspot Pens is conducting a month-long giveaway through our Facebook Fan page called "The Traveling Pen."

Pens can become office utensils, status symbols, travel companions, workhorses and confidants of our innermost thoughts, etc. We want to see how your pens fit into your life. Snap a picture of your writing instrument of choice in an environment that tells a story. For example, if you are always buried with paperwork at the office, you may want to take a picture of your Lamy 2000 resting atop a stack of papers that rest in your "inbox" on your desk. If you're a big Star Wars fan and love pens, take a shot of your MB Starwalker resting against a Luke Skywalker action figure as if it is his lightsaber. The more creative, the better.

Here's how we will run the Giveaway :

Entries must be submitted through our Facebook Fan page in the "Fan Photos" Album. If you are not a Fan yet on Facebook, Find us Here.
Upload a photo and title it.
Enter as many pictures as you would like from now until Wednesday, September 30th. The winning photo will be picked by the Goldspot Staff.
The winner will be contacted through Facebook to obtain their mailing address to send the $25 Goldspot gift card. The photo will also be published on this blog, with the photographer's consent, of course.

Some Ground Rules :

No inappropriate or pornographic images, please. If Facebook doesn't automatically delete them, we sure will. Goldspot reserves the right to remove any image that is found offensive.
Family members of Goldspot employees are ineligible to win the giveaway. Sorry, Dad.
No purchase necessary.
Gift Card cannot be redeemed for cash.

Judging Criteria :

Creativity
Photo Quality / Clarity
Representation of Theme

Have fun taking your pics! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask and comment on this post.

Some quick links related to this post - #dailyarsenal topic on Twitter, @DIYSara's Blog, Traveling Gnome Prank on Wikipedia, Goldspot's Facebook Fan Page.

Must-Have Back-to-School Supplies

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:50:00 +0000

As the calendar flips to September, kids are taking the first step on the school bus, students are being handed out their syllabuses and teachers are hurrying to complete their curriculum for the coming school year. The first day is always nerve-racking, yet exciting. Meeting your teachers and classmates for the first time, you quickly set expectations and get yourself prepared for the semester ahead.

Getting armed for the oncoming school year is always a daunting task. You ask yourself, "how many notebooks to I really need?" "How am I going to keep track of all the assignments, quizzes and tests?" "Will the teacher mind if I write in Dragon's Napalm Red?"

Not to worry, Goldspot is here to provide some helpful suggestions for your back-to-school supply shopping.

Before I start, lets set some ground rules : If the teacher hands out a checklist of specific items to purchase for the class, it is best to follow it to the "T." There is usually a rhyme to the reason and it will reflect better on your instruction-following skills if you come back the next class with every item on his or her checklist. The other rule would be to always have a pen handy that writes in blue or black ink for standardized tests. And I don't mean Ottoman Azure or Red-Black ink. Getting creative with your individuality is great for taking your own notes, but going outside the lines on important tests will cause problems on the report card.

On to the list : Firstly, lets get organized. Filofax offers a great system that can act both as a notebook, diary, address book and planner. Styles range from the luxurious, faux-alligator print leather to the sturdy, academic, vinyl covers. Their newest offering, the Filofax Mode, is a vinyl cover that features a punched, geometric pattern that shows off the contrasted interior color. A stretchy silicone band securely closes the organizer. With the purchase of any new Filofax organizer, you can expect a full complement of calendar, notepaper and other refills to get started. More refills, including all 2010 calendars (for current Filofax owners), are available for purchase on our website. It is always a good idea to stock up on extra notepaper and other organizational items that you can imagine yourself using (i.e. zip-lock envelope, hole punch, index tabs, etc). View the Filofax Mode Series Here and our Filofax refills Here.

As multi-tasking becomes the apparent necessity in our modern lives, we need a great multi-tasking tool to battle the onslaught of book reports, essays and term papers. One of my top selections for Multi-function pen is the Parker Executive. The style and function of the pen is reminiscent of the ever-popular Rotring 600's and Trio's that have been long discontinued. This pen is a workhorse and is exceptionally easy to operate. The selection system is gravity-based, which means that when you want to select a black color refill, you pick up the pen, look at the icon for "black" at the top of the clip and press down on the click-top. To retract the point, press the top of the spring-loaded clip. This ensures that you will never accidentally clip the pen to your shirt pocket without retracting the point. The Matte Black model uses a black refill, blue refill, 0.5mm pencil and an orange highlighter refill. The Shiny Chrome finish gives you an option between the orange highlighter an a touch-screen PDA stylus. Click Here to find the Parker Executives on our website.

A close runner-up to the Parker Executive would be the ACME 4FP series. Fun and functional, the "world's thinnest four-function pen" offers an array of eye-catching designs at a lower price ($39.00). The selection mechanics work on the same as in the Executive. Your refills are a black ballpoint, orange highlighter, 0.7mm pencil and PDA stylus. You can check out all of the styles Here.

A good, ergonomic pencil is always a useful tool, especially for those who make mistakes (it's OK, we all do). Keep the Dixon Ticonderoga #2 and a sharpener on the side for Scan-Tron tests, but when you are sketching out an algebraic equation, 2-point perspective or writing notes to your BFF a few seats ahead of you, pick up the Lamy Scribble. Available in both a 0.7mm pencil and a 3.15mm sketch pencil, the Scribble is a handy companion for both quick ideas and long sessions of writing (or drawing). Its removable clip and 4 3/4" size gives you the freedom to grip the Scribble any way you like. Starting at $27.95, you may find our Lamy Scribble selection Here.

Every backpack needs a ballpoint pen that won't quit, especially for pop quizzes or when all of your disposable Bic pens run out of ink. The Caran d'Ache Goliath ballpoint cartridge is heralded as being the best in the biz for longevity and smoothness. These cartridges can be found in the Cd'A Metal Collection. Select from over a dozen colors, including fluorescent, day-glo shades, metal-x colors and lacquer finishes. Starting at $15.95, they are so inexpensive, it is hard to buy just one. Find them on our store Here.

If the new school year is a good excuse for you to buy a new fountain pen, we've got the hottest, special production Pelikan pen that has been a huge hit among pen aficionados since its debut in early August. The Pelikan M205 Blue Demonstrator is a piston-filler pen (bottled ink-filling only) made from crystal blue resin, accented with chrome-plated trims and steel nib (available in extra-fine, fine, medium and broad point sizes). Pelikan is synonymous with exceptional, German-engineered writing quality and durability. Several of their special editions are valued in the thousands, but this series is being sold at an amazing value of $87.95 each. Buy yours today on Goldspot Pens Here. May I also suggest a bottle of Noodler's Navajoe Turquoise to complement the color of the pen?

If you've purchased a few of our selections already, good for you! Now, you need a place to protect and transport them back and forth to school. You don't want your new pens rattling around in your book bag or briefcase, getting scuffed up and possibly leaking all over your other supplies! Libelle, NY offers a variety of genuine leather pen pouches and cases to fit the size of your #dailyarsenal (thanks to @DIYSara for coming up with that hashtag topic on Twitter). Whether you have 20 writing instrument or just one, there is a leather case for you. Browse our selection of Libelle leather goods Here.

I hope you've become inspired by our run-down of the Must-Have products for back-to-school 2009. I would love to hear any additional suggestions that you may have, so please do comment on this post. As always, thanks for reading.

Pelikan M200 Italic Special Production Review

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Building off the popularity of the M200 italic nib that was released last year and promptly sold out across American pen stores, Pelikan re-issued the Black Tradition Series 200 with medium italic nib earlier this year. Try one today from Goldspot Pens.

This special production has the exact same body and piston-filling mechanism as the standard Tradition Series 200 fountain pens. One minor difference between the stock image and the actual product is that the translucent ink window is actually tinted green as opposed to the black-tint you see in the above picture. I personally think the dark green adds Pelikan's personality and identity to the design. Check out all of our Tradition 200 series pens here.

One question that seems to be coming up from our customers interested in this model is, "how does the italic compare with the standard medium and fine steel nibs?" I went to task and produced a sample writing sheet that shows the capability of the italic nib.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm no calligrapher. If anyone has the M200 and wants to show off the true potential of an experienced hand with this pen, please post a pic of your writing and we'll feature it on our site. Don't fret, non-calligraphers! There is a small booklet included with the pen that gives you two basic lettering styles to copy and learn from.

The italic takes some getting used to, especially if you've never used a fountain pen before. You need to be more deliberate and apply a slight degree of increased pressure to ensure all of the strokes are well-represented on paper. It forces you to slow down and contemplate the ART of each letter. The line variation is ample and the down-stroke almost appears as thick as a broad-tip stroke.

As far as the overall design of the pen, the M200 is made of resin with no metal inner barrel, which makes for a fairly lightweight pen. The balance with the cap posted is extremely comfortable. Filling and cleaning the Pelikan piston-filler is easier than using a converter, and it holds a ton more ink.

Summary:

Writing Quality : gold-plated, stainless steel italic nib is a pleasure to use and offers a decent amount of line variation with good smoothness. (grade A)
Aesthetic Quality : Classic Pelikan style black w/ gold-plated trim. Sophistication without the frills. (grade A-)
Utility : Cap posts securely on the back-end and writes well posted. Lightweight resin body and cap balances well in the hand. Good for long writing sessions. However, more time and care has to be taken with each stroke, which slows down your writing speed. Not ideal for taking notes in a meeting or in class. (grade B)
Price : At $125 retail (on sale for $99.95 at Goldspot.com), this is certainly a great deal for a pen of this quality. The only reason I do not give it a higher grade is because you can purchase a normal M200 nib for $20 less. Most companies that offer an italic nib don't charge that much of a difference. (grade A-)

Final Grade : A-
Pelikan sure knows how to please their avid customers and collectors. This is a true "writer's pen" that requires more time and a fine appreciation for penmanship. With that said, they accomplished their task at building a product to satisfy the lack of high-quality, specialty nibs that are sold in the contemporary pen market.

Can I have your John Hancock?

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:22:00 +0000

This weekend, I was having a discussion with the family over breakfast regarding handwriting, specifically signatures, and I thought the topic would be very appropriate for the readers of this blog.

The conversation started when my wife, who is a school teacher, mentioned that the modern-day curriculum included less and less cursive writing instruction for younger children. I chime in to say that the kids are getting in front of the computer earlier and learning to type efficiently is actually more important in the modern-day workplace, and will become even more significant in the future. My wife and Mom champion for the importance of learning sound handwriting technique. "You still have to sign legal or business documents," my Mother reasoned.

"People sometimes write an X or an undulating line for all they care," I argued. My Mother works at a doctors office, so she has seen her share of illegible signatures. My Father, the token skeptic, blurts out that the doctors purposely have poor handwriting to prevent against possible forgery of prescription orders. Then, we get to the subject of John Hancock.

Possibly the most recognized signature of all-time, a "Hancock" stands for boldness, artful expression and individuality.

This leads me to imagine the broad spectrum of signatures that are out there, and about the people who create them. I broke the signature spectrum into several parts:

The Symbol - an "X", wavy line or a simple check-mark. You wonder if the person invented the font "Wingdings."

The Squiggle - Maybe one letter is recognizable, but the rest looks like an erratic EKG readout or like the person was trying to get the ink flowing out of their ballpoint pen again. Example (Louis XIV's signature):The Somewhat Legible - Sloppy, but the overall shape of their handwriting gives you a clue as to the author's real identity. It's like a 3-d Magic Eye poster; some people get it right away while others are staring aimlessly. Example (guess who):
The Somewhat Good - Most letters are well-defined and legible. Many signatures fall in this range, especially if you have good handwriting but are in a rush. Example (Gerald Ford) :
The Exquisite (a.k.a. the John Hancock) - This type of signature wears its flair proudly. You feel the need to crop everything else out of the document and present this person's signature to an art gallery. Maybe they are a part-time calligrapher? Or maybe they had their knuckles rapped with Sister Mary's ruler every time they didn't do their cursive lowercase "z" correctly (The "Phil Rirruto" part from Billy Madison comes to mind).

I would love to hear from our readers on this topic. Talk about your own handwriting and how your signature has developed into its current state. Which of the above signature types do you fall into? At what age did you develop your "signature" style? Have you noticed its change over time? Does your signature vary depending on what you're signing? Do you hate electronic signature pads because they ALWAYS distort your signature? Do you think we should be spending more time practicing our cursive and our signatures?

Feel free to send pics of your signature, but be aware that anyone can be on this blog watching, so upload with caution.

Signature graphics are courtesy of Anna Koren's Graphology Center website.

Goldspot Selected for First "Carnival of Pen Pencil and Paper"

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:41:00 +0000

Hey all,

Come one and come all to the first-ever Carnival of Pen, Pencil and Paper, as hosted by the Blog Notebook Stories. Here you will see a bevy of current pen, paper and office supply blog articles submitted by blog-writers from across the globe. The host was so kind enough to recognize our latest post that took a sneak peek at the new AT Cross fall 2009 releases.

Along with writing instruments reviews, you will also be able to find notebook reviews, sketch art and unique stories from collectors and writing enthusiasts. Many of the articles are well-written and very detailed. So, if you like writing and are a pen and paper enthusiast, check out the Carnival and you will probably find a few new blogs worthy of an RSS subscribe.

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On the Goldspot front, we are close to putting the finishing touches on the new catalog. We will have loads of new products to share with you in the coming months for "Back to School." Subscribe to our blog's RSS feed, follow us on twitter @goldspotpens and check out our Facebook fan page for up-to-the-minute news on all things pens.

Cross 2009 Fall Line Sneak Peek

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:45:00 +0000

Ramping up for what will hopefully be a busy and productive November and December, Cross will be introducing the release of three all-new lines of writing instruments, beginning in September. Having seen these pens first-hand, I would like to share some exclusive details in this sneak peek:

Masquerade
Some may recognize that this is the newest limited edition print, created in the same series as the Kalahari, Quasar, and Turismo. Available in three colors: Raven Black (shown above), Cardinal Red and Peacock Green. There are two major differences in this new release to the past editions. Cross has sold their past editions out within 3 to 6 months after their release. This edition is expected to last about a year on the market. Another difference is in the finish. Besides the colorful design that is wrapped 360 degrees around the barrel, the pen has deeply engraved lines that sport a metallic finish and adds to the overall glamor of the theme. ($65 retail)

Sentiment
Adorned with a heart-lock charm and accompanied with an interchangeable key charm, the Sentiment is a good pen for romantics. The design is a basic Century II model with the charm adornment and a finely engraved center band. It will be available in Ebony Black, Scarlet Red and Pearlescent Ivory (shown above). There will also be a Breast Cancer Awareness finish (pink) that will be released with a pink ribbon charm attached at the top of the clip. Prices range from $70 for the ballpoint to $110 for the fountain pen (steel nib).

Affinity
This is the series that really departs from Cross' usual style of pen-making. The Affinity is crafted from resin and features a screw-on/off cap in the rollerball and fountain pen modes. The lack of a brass base makes it much lighter and the girth is more comfortable to hold than the Classic Century or Century II. There will be an introductory price for this line's release, which will increase about $20 across the board. When we put them up for pre-sale in the coming weeks, definitely snag them while they are cheaper. Colors available : Black, Blue & Red (shown) Intro prices are $50 Ballpoint, $65 Selectip Rollerball and $80 Fountain pen (steel nib).

30 days, 30 pens on Fountain Pen Network

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:56:00 +0000

Hope everyone is enjoying their beautiful summer weekend.

I had to share this FPN Link with everyone since I am really enjoying my daily update from fellow Fountain Pen Network user Soapytwist. He could have been inspired by Morgan Spurlock's "Supersize Me," his large fountain pen collection or both. Every day, for thirty days, he is reviewing a fountain pen from his expansive collection.

So far, he's reviewed pens made by Pilot, Cross, Mont Blanc, Parker, Lamy, Waterman, Mabie Todd, and Caran d'Ache. He includes several hi-res shots of the pen, along with a writing sample of his review. The pens are well-cataloged, as each entry shows the make, model, approx. year of manufacture, nib size, where it was purchased and what he paid for it.

The project is on day 10 and I am very eager to see my e-mail notifications from FPN with a new review each day. If Soapy ever decides to make a book about his 30 days, 30 pens project, he should mimic the "Supersize Me" image and insert pens into his mouth instead of fries. Make sure they aren't inked, though.

Parker Sonnet Premium Gold Lustre Review

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:04:00 +0000

After a less-than-favorable review of the Parker Latitude fountain pen that was done over a month ago, it was decided that Parker should have another shot at redeeming themselves with a higher-end Sonnet review.

Parker refreshed its versatile Sonnet line back in summer 2008, introducing slight changes to the arrow clip, the cap band and to the nib graphics on every fountain pen. Along with the subtle design mods came this new line of chiseled pens called the Sonnet Premium. There are four different finishes : Gold Lustre, Silver Lustre, Chocolate and Carbon. Gold Lustre seemed to be the most attractive for this review.

As with each of the new Sonnets, every pen is sold with a black, suede-like, tri-fold pen pouch, which is way more useful than the clamshell box that older Sonnets were sold in. The pouch features a magnetic closure and has a loop in the middle to fit your pen, along with loops for two additional pens and two narrow "pockets" for refills.

The Sonnet Premium fountain pen has an 18ct sold gold nib that is available in either fine or medium point. It can be filled via cartridge or converter.

As the close-up shot can tell you, the attention to detail in the chevron-pattern design is top-notch. This pen is radiant with a sophisticated demure. You can run your fingertip over the barrel and cap to feel the ribbing produced by the intricate engraving.

Although the pen is mostly metal, the weight in-hand is not heavy. The size is average (5 1/4" capped, 5 7/8" open, with cap posted on back). Posting is a big deal for me, and this pen posts securely without adding too much weight to the back-end.

Inked up with the Parker blue ink cartridge that came with the pen, I grabbed my designated scratch pages and went to town.

The flow is smooth with no scratching, but a bit thicker than I am used to with a fine point. The issues I had with the Latitude were not as apparent with the Sonnet. Every now and then, it did not register a downstroke, usually on the first letter of a new word. It wrote better while holding the pen at a more acute angle to the paper. I don't know about everyone else out there, but the more perpendicular, the better for my handwriting.

Overall, it worked much better than the Latitude, but had the occasional hiccup. Some steel nibs perform better than this particular Sonnet gold nib, which should tell you where you're money is going to when you buy this pen.

Summary:

Writing Quality : 18ct gold nib performed up to the quality standard of a normal steel nib. Smooth, good flow, and it did pick up writing right away after being inked on the shelf for a week or so. However, you paid for gold and should get a better quality nib for the price. (grade B-)
Aesthetic Quality : Classy, sophisticated, yet sparkling appeal that would impress at formal affairs. The engraving detail is executed very well and shines beautifully in the light. (grade A+)
Utility : Cap posts securely on the back-end and writes well posted. The famous "arrow" clip attaches and detaches smoothly from the shirt pocket. Lightweight design makes long writing sessions easy and relatively cramp-free. The included pen case is extremely useful. (grade A)
Price : At $240 retail (on sale for $191.95 at Goldspot.com), the price level does seem like a bargain for the aesthetic value of the pen and the solid gold nib. However, the nib does not write any better than high-quality steel, and there is a lack of luxury presentation (like a hardwood box or leather pen case). (grade B-)

Final Grade : A-
Parker does redeem themselves from my last review. Although there is more to be desired from the nib, this pen's aesthetic value overpowers the slight shortcoming.

Pen-Spinning, Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:26:00 +0000

The other day, I posted a Lamy Pico pen-spinning video that I happened to stumble across on YouTube. I asked if anyone else was interested in sending in a video of themselves doing some tricks and certainly got what was asked for :

Courtesy of Steven from the Universal Pen Spinning Board.

Yes, so if you are interested at all in impressing your co-workers, classmates or your professors with your pen-spinning, there is a place for you on the internet to congregate with other spinners. Steven also sent me a link to a YouTube playlist of pen-spinning tutorials. Definitely check out those videos and make sure not to use any expensive fountain pens to learn spinning!

Thanks again to Steve for the links and info. Most helpful!

The First Step to Recovery

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:56:00 +0000

--Posted by Tom, Goldspot Pens' Blog Editor

"Hello everyone, my name is Tom," I speak sheepishly as my hands tightly clutch the podium edges.
The roomful of strange, yet friendly faces respond, "Hello, Tom."
I take a deep breath, swallow my pride and part my lips:

"I have a problem...with pens."

My first "fine pen" was an older-style Parker Sonnet Matte Black w/ Chrome Trim ballpoint that my then girlfriend gave to me as a present. If you want to go further back in time, my first nice pen that I remember owning was a Pilot Dr. Grip back in middle school. A few of my classmates heckled me roundly for spending $7 on a pen. One day, I let the pen out of my site and they lifted it from my bookbag, tore apart the soft, ergonomic grip and stuffed it into classroom radiator.

A few years ago, I started working in the fine-writing industry, where I have had the chance to nurture my pen philanthropy. With literally thousands of pens in our company's stockroom, it is hard for a pen addict to resist not buying a pen every working day. As any good addict does, I have built a system to enable my collection to grow. I'm going to let you in on my pen-buying rationale because I have a dilemma I may need to "crowd-source" to solve.

Pens are more sentimental if they are given or purchased at a special moment in one's life. My buying patterns are based around significant achievements in my life, almost like an award of accomplishment. Last year, I purchased a Pelikan M215 that coincided with me getting married. For completing the third catalog last year, I bought a Levenger True Writer Demonstrator. I signed my first-ever car lease, which I negotiated the heck out of, with a True Writer Starry Night fountain pen.

Now, I have till about the 2nd week of August to figure out the next one: Me and my wife are having a baby girl.

The idea is that I purchase the pen of exceptional quality and use it for the time being and keep it until my girl has graduated high-school. Then it will be cleaned out, fixed up and gifted to her.
So far, I have determined that it has to be more expensive than the Pelikan M215. It has to be a fountain pen, preferably a piston-filler in fine point. I can't break the bank on this, so there will be no $500 and above pens floating in my head. As far as colors go, I'm going to be using it, and my kid is not going to know what color she likes for a while, so I may go with what I like, which is blue.

I am totally open to our reader's suggestions. If you want to ask additional questions, comment on the post and I will provide further details. I do have to say this : there is no prize if I end up picking your suggestion. Just knowing that you assisted a fellow pen peer should be reward enough.

Thanks,
Tom.

Lamy Pico Pen-Spinning Video

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:20:00 +0000

This guy is a pro with his Lamy Pico. Unbelievably Awesome. If there are any talented pen-spinners out there, take a video of yourself and send it to us. We would be glad to post it up on our blog.

Congrats to Delta and Monteverde

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:05:00 +0000

Delta and Monteverde have been recognized in the fine-writing community by Pen World magazine. The Delta Capri, Blue Grotto was recognized as the best pen with a cultural theme. The Monteverde Walt Disney Signature Collection Sleeping Beauty received the award for best pen of high style. Congratulations to the Yafa pen co., who distributes both brands in the US market.

I don't know if any of our readers may remember from last year in November, but right around the election time, we held a two week-long vote for 2008's Pen of the Year. If anyone remembers the winner, comment on the blog and I'll send you a prize.

Although we don't have another general election this year, we had a great response from last year's vote and are looking forward to doing it again and making it a yearly thing. It would be like a Goldspot Reader's Choice for 2009 pen of the year. Not as illustrious as the Pen World trophy, but it's something. Are there any early nominations?

Jac Zagoory Champagne Pen Demo

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:57:00 +0000

Hey Pen People,

I just wanted to share this demonstration video we uploaded this morning of a Jac Zagoory Champagne ballpoint pen ($29.95 at Goldspot.com). I saw this at the National Stationery Show in NYC last month and thought this was the coolest thing ever when Jac showed me the *POP*. The potential for fidgeting is endless!!

Laban - The Holy Father's Choice

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:31:00 +0000

For the first time in the history of Christianity, the Pope has taken on sponsors.

In a bold move to help struggling Catholic parishes across the world, Pope Benedict XVI has embarked on a tour around the world, visiting major cities in an effort to spread faith in Christ and raise desperately needed funds to support the church.

The Holy Father is showing some old-fashioned grace and style with his new Laban pen, as he signs a guest book at a recent church visit. As you can see in the picture above, the pen rests in a deluxe Laban gift box.

It is not disclosed the vast sums of money that Laban paid for the spot. We do know that the sponsors are ecstatic about the few dozen people that attended the signing, along with the six YouTube hits that the video of the signing generated in the last week.

"The Pope's gone viral," one sponsor commented.

His Holiness' travels have only begun. In the coming days, we are expecting the Pope to use new products from his newly acquired sponsors BMW, Subway, Credit Suisse, Sony and Full Tilt Poker.

----
Back to reality: the Pope did actually use a Laban pen. The images were forwarded to us by the good folks at Laban. I could only imagine the honor that it must be to have someone of such religious and cultural importance to use your product.

PS : Just to clarify, the account of the Pope having sponsors is fictitious. He is not going viral.

Parker Latitude Fountain Pen Review

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:32:00 +0000

As per the request of fellow Twitterer and pen fan, @MrBill, I am writing about the Parker Latitude line of fountain pens.

The cigar shape and iconic arrow clip closely resembles a Parker Sonnet, with one key distinction being the concentric rings around the cap of the pen. The rings provide a sense of modernity and cutting edge style to contrast the classical Duofold and Sonnet collections.

As some readers may know, I'm a huge fan of blue, so I picked the Slate Blue to try out. The weight is a bit lighter than your typical Sonnet, probably due to the use of stainless steel for the barrel as opposed to brass that is found in other pens. The chrome-plated trims complement the light blue of the lacquer well. The rings on the cap are a nice subtle accent to the overall design.

Upon opening up the pen, I notice that the converter is not your typical twist converter, but a slide mechanism, which are also common to the Parker Facets. It certainly seems like the tank in the converter can hold as much as an international-size ink cartridge, which isn't much to crow about. My first complaint came when I was filling the pen with Noodler's Blue/Black ink.

I realized that the "sucker hole" or ink intake on this pen is all the way up by the front grip section. I wasn't getting any ink in until I came to the conclusion that the pen's design is going to force me to get messy. I submerge the tip further until ink covered the very end of the front grip area. With getting the air out of the converter and blowing bubbles in the ink, you are talking one messy pen.

I put the whole inking experience behind me and hoped that the writing experience was going to be more pleasant. It wasn't. I nicknamed the pen, "Skippy." After writing for 10 minutes, I was missing strokes, letters, and, on occasion, entire words. Convinced the pen did not like the taste of Noodler's, I stuck a Parker Quink blue cartridge and tried again. The flow did improve somewhat, but not by much. You can check the results below on Levenger paper:

Some of my notes can seem like Leonardo DaVinci's backward, cryptic handwriting. I assure you it is not my fault. Some words are missing letters because the Parker fell asleep behind the wheel. Overall, even with switching to the native Parker ink, the pen worked, but underperformed.

Summary:

Writing Quality : Medium Stainless Steel nib is skippy and scratchy. Subpar, even for stainless steel and for the price point. (grade D )
Aesthetic Quality : Very similar to a cross between a Parker Sonnet and a Waterman Hempishere. Nothing particularly outstanding. The concentric rings are nice and subtle, but they really don't "WOW" me. (grade B- )
Utility : Bottled ink filling is messier due to the design of the feed. Pen clips and caps good, is fairly light in hand. (grade B )
Price : At $95 retail for the fountain pen, I would rather put my money into a higher-quality Parker Sonnet. (grade C- )

Final Grade : C-

There are many pens that are at this price point that perform 10 times better than the Latitude. Parker is said to be releasing a new series by fall. Hopefully, it will be replacing any need for the Latitude. Sorry, Mr. Bill.

Ellen on Jac Zagoory's Scroll Pen

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:02:00 +0000

The Pen Addict's recently concluded Jac Zagoory Scroll Pen Giveaway prompted a You Tube search for a clip to show the ingenious design of the Scroll Pen. I found a funny clip on Ellen Degeneres that I decided to share:

Sherpa - A Perfect Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Goldspot Pens) — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:29:00 +0000

Here's a quick SAT analogy for the soon-to-be high school grads out there:

A Band-Aid is to adhesive bandage as
a Sharpie is to _______________.

Your choices:

A: Knife
B: Permanent Marker
C: Scissors
D: Toothbrush

If you answered B, you are well-aware of the ubiquitous Sharpie brand. We now have several multi-color packs on sale on Goldspot. Our latest addition to the site takes this popular, simple, disposable pen and gives it luxurious quality.

Snazz up your Sharpie, Uni-Ball or Pilot disposable pen by purchasing the Sherpa.

The Sherpa Pen is a unique pen shell that holds a variety of disposable pens and markers, treating them like refills. It has an innovative cap that seals tightly to keep your instrument writing bold and fresh every time. The Sherpa is compatible with :

Sharpie Fine Point Permanent Marker

uni-ball Vision

uni-ball Vision Elite

uni-ball Deluxe

Papermate Liquid Espresso

Pilot P-700

Pilot P-500

Pilot V-Ball Grip

Pilot V Razor

There are several colors and styles available that are meant to please a wide array of aesthetic tastes. The Shell quality and design is similar to that of an ACME pen, but under half the price.

One of the best features is that the refills are cheaper and easier to come by than most of the fine writing manufacturers. Your Sherpa includes a Sharpie with the purchase, but when your ink finally runs out, you can go over to the nearest Staples, Office Depot, Walgreens or CVS to pick another pen for under $2. With most of your big pen retailers, they normally ask $4-$8 per refill for a rollerball or felt-tip and they aren't usually found at your local drug store or convenience store.

Bottom line is that the Sherpa is a great gift for a pen fantatic, office products fanatic or anyone who uses a Sharpie in their daily lives. Suit up your Sharpie at Goldspot!