In an effort to educate readers about fountain pens, I have embarked on a series of articles about their technical aspects. In last week’s article, I listed the three factors that affect the writing experience with . . . → Read More: An Examination of Feeds and Ink in Fountain Pens]]> This post is second in a series about the technical aspects of fountain pens. — by Tracy McCusker

In an effort to educate readers about fountain pens, I have embarked on a series of articles about their technical aspects. In last week’s article, I listed the three factors that affect the writing experience with a fountain pen: the nib, the ink, and the type of writing paper. The nib provides the baseline scratchy/smoothness that must be taken into account when you are writing. While a nib that is truly a dud can be tweaked or replaced by a nibmeister, for our purposes, the nib is the “given” that can’t be easily changed.

Ink and paper, on the other hand, can be varied quite easily. Changing the ink in a pen is as easy as buying a new cartridge, or using a converter with a different ink. Paper, too, has a lot of variance. Paper that you find in a copier or laser printer isn’t high-quality stuff; it only takes a bit of looking to find pads from Rhodia or Clairefontaine that are more accepting of fountain pen ink.

Based on my experience with finicky nibs, I have found that in most cases, my complaints (writing is too scratchy, line is too thick) were complaints about how a particular ink interacts with a particular nib. So, before chucking that pen that’s giving you an unpleasant writing experience, let’s look at little more closely at the role ink plays in the pen.

More Pen Anatomy

No two fountain pens are alike. How the tip of the nib is ground, or how the tines slope toward the tip account for some of this uniqueness. The other factor is the pen’s feed system. The feed system is the mechanism through which ink is delivered to the tip of the pen.

Demonstrator Fountian Pen

If you look at a demonstrator fountain pen–a pen that is entirely clear so you can see its innards–you can see that a pen has fairly simple parts inside it. It has a reservoir of ink and a comb-like piece of plastic that stretches from the body of the pen to near the tip of the nib. This comb is the feed system. On many modern fountain pens, the feed is visible under the nib. On certain pens, like the Waterman Carene or Parker 100, there is a smooth underside to the nib; the feed is hidden behind plastic.

The feed brings ink to the tip of the pen. The breather hole on the nib allows air to flow back into the ink reservoir to replace the ink flowing to the nib. This feed system is designed to work at standard pressure. At cruising altitude on a plane, the air-exchange can cause leaks or breaks depending on the quality of the feed. It is good to be cautious when traveling and store fountain pens upright either completely full or empty (I prefer empty) to avoid complications with the feed system.

Feeds are often marked more by when they go wrong than when they are functioning. Feeds can sometimes become misaligned to the nib, causing all sorts of fun problems like start-and-stop blobby writing. Flipping a pen over, the feed should be centered on the fountain pen tines. If it is skewed to the side, you can usually gently push it back into place with a finger. A properly functioning feed should be fairly invisible–not a part to fret about. When a feed goes wrong, usually the pen must be handed over to a professional for repair or replacement.

Inks

Because the feed system is a part that can’t be tweaked without considerable expertise on most modern pens, it is much like a pen’s nib. These are factors that you have to work around. Depending on the characteristics of the feed system and the nib, a fountain pen will interact with inks in different ways. Some inks may move through a nib sluggishly and provide for a dry, scratchy writing experience. Some inks may be very liquid and provide a very wet line.

Good ink is worth the price.

Reviews can point you towards which inks are more likely to provide an enjoyable writing experience. A good ink reviewer will provide visuals of writing with the ink. Most reviewers will provide samples of the ink from different pens/nibs or on different papers. A color that strikes your eye is the starting point for selecting an ink. This is important. If an ink doesn’t look good on the page, you aren’t going to want to write with it.

Depending on what a user is looking for, there are a variety of considerations that go into choosing an ink. An ink that “Works well” is a personal standard. It is usually based on qualities like the ink’s dye on a page (is it a dark, saturated color?), how well it flows from the nib (is it a dry or hard-starting ink?), and if it provides the thickness of line desired by the user.

Some drawbacks to inks are “feathering” (when the ink spreads on the page unintentionally) and “nib creep” (when the nib spreads out over the fountain pen nib, possibly corroding or staining the nib without proper care & wiping the nib).

For those who wish to use fountain pens to sign documents, there are waterproof inks called “bulletproof” by Noodler’s Ink. These inks are cellulose-reactive inks that become water-proof and bleach-proof when they come in contact with paper. The drawback to bulletproof inks is that they can be hell to get out of clothing. If you’re a bit liberal with the ink as I am (and end up with spots of it in strange places), bulletproof inks can be hell on clothing.

Almost all fountain pen users have a favorite ink that they find works well in most fountain pens. My ink of choice is Private Reserve’s Ultra Black. I love how dark the ink appears on a page (it is one of the deepest blacks I’ve found), and it moves through most nibs fairly well. It provides a wet line on most papers. Although it has the tendency to feather (little lines spread from the original line) on papers that aren’t up to a certain quality, I prefer the super-dark line more than I care to find an ink that feathers less on cheap paper.

For fountain pen users starting out, Private Reserve is one of the low-risk inks that I encourage users to try. They have an excellent range of colors, a neutral pH (and thus won’t corrode a nib), and are fairly free-flowing inks.

No Two Pens Are Alike

As I have said before, and will repeat ad-nauseum: no two pens are alike. Even if they are the same model.

Two Four-Leaf Clover Montaguts with the exact same outards proved this point to me quite clearly last year. One nib was smooth as butter, the other was scratchy out of the box, and was only approached the smoothness of its sibling with diligent care. My solution to this problem was to change out my usual ink, Private Reserve Ultra Black, with Noodler’s Borealis Black. The Borealis Black smoothed over some nib issues, but finally, I simply choose to use the smooth-nibbed Montagut and give the scratchier nib away to a budding pen collector who was branching out into new types of pens.

Changing inks can change your writing experience for the better, but it can only modify the baseline of the nib.

If you have never owned a fountain pen before, it can be bewildering to understand them when you run across one for the first time.  Most fountain pens look gorgeous. The bare . . . → Read More: Understanding Fountain Pen Nibs]]>

This post will be the first in a series about the technical aspects of fountain pens. — by Tracy McCusker

If you have never owned a fountain pen before, it can be bewildering to understand them when you run across one for the first time.  Most fountain pens look gorgeous. The bare nib is their most striking feature. Aside from the price (which can span from twenty to two thousand dollars), it can be hard to understand the pen beyond its appearance. Despite a fetching lacquer & chrome trim, the appearance of a fountain pen will tell you nothing about how it writes.

The truism that “fountain pens are not ballpoints” should be kept in mind. Ballpoint pens have standardized points that vary very little from refill to refill. The writing experience with a fountain pen, on the other hand, is highly individual. If you ask the opinion of ten different people, each of them will likely desire a different kind of “feel” to their pen.  You will often hear the “feel” of a fountain pen described on several continuums of “smooth or scratchy,” “springy or stiff,” “flexible or nail.”

There are three factors that go into the writing experience with a fountain pen: the ink, the paper, and the nib. Two of these factors can be controlled by choosing different papers, or different inks. For example, a pen may feel scratchy on printer paper but smooth in a journal. The one variable you cannot change is the quality of nib. That is why when you buy a fountain pen—and mean to write with it, rather than display it—you buy it for its nib.

Anatomy of a Nib

The fountain pen contacts paper with a nib rather than a ball (as in a ballpoint or rollerball). The nib is

A loupe will help you see your nib close up.

made up of several parts, though only a few are important to us right now. The breather hole is the small hole (usually on top of the nib) that allows air to replace the ink that moves out of the pen. The slit is the small space between the tines of the nib that allows ink to travel down to the tip. The tip of the nib is coated with an extra-hard tipping material that stands up to the pressure exerted during writing. This tip is often small enough that you would need a loupe (a jeweler’s magnifying glass) to actually see what you write with.

The breather hole, tines, and slit control the amount of ink that follows to its tip. In turn, the tip of nib affects how scratchy or smooth a writing experience is. Tipping a fountain pen nib is so common that descriptions will not mention it. If they do, they often call it “iridium tipping,” even though iridium is hardly used.

Nib Materials

Modern fountain pen nibs are made from various materials such as palladium silver, titanium, gold, gold-plated steel or stainless steel. Nib materials need to be corrosion-resistant because inks are generally acidic.

14k gold, 18k gold, and stainless steel are the three most common alloys used in nibs. Stainless steel nibs are seen as workman-like and are generally inexpensive. Stainless steel has shorter shelf-life than gold, though a good stainless steel nib can last for twenty years or more. Gold nibs can last for a hundred if properly maintained, and can be heirloom-quality objects. Gold nibs are, however, expensive. Unless a pen has inlayed rare metals or stones on their body (and believe me, Krone is plenty guilty of that excess), a pen price over 200 dollars generally means that it has a gold nib. Recently higher-end pens like the Waterman Exception and Perspective have been released with rhodium-plated gold or polished steel nibs in place of traditional yellow-gold nibs. It is therefore important to check the material of the nib in the description to understand what you are paying for.

Gold nibs have a springy feel vs stainless steel which is stiff.

A word now on gold nibs, as they are associated with better writing experiences. Many collectors believe that gold nibs automatically equal better “feel”; many first-time pen buyers also assume that a higher price will equal a better pen.

Generally it is said that gold nibs are “springy,” or “supple” and stainless steel nibs are “nails,” or “stiff.” The assumption is that everyone prefers to write with a “springy” nib, and shuns the “stiff” nib. But these are relative terms and every writer has a different preference. I personally like to write with nibs that are stiffer than average; I currently favor two fairly inexpensive pens that use stainless steel nibs. The stainless steel nibs can stand up to a constant torrent of writing. I have also written with nibs that I would consider too stiff–one was a 14k gold nib on a Pelikan 205 Demonstrator. There is no substitute for actually trying the nib before buying a pen.

A pen-maker’s reputation often can serve as a guide for what their nibs will feel like. Several pen manufacturers are notable for their good stainless steel nibs–Lamy and Rotring are among the best. Other pen-makers, like Waterman, use truly amazing gold nibs in their higher-end pens that are a great mixture of springy & smooth.

Nib Sizes

The other important factor in the writing experience is the size of the pen nib. The size of the nib refers to the amount of tipping material that touches the paper. The broader the nib, the more ink flows onto the paper; thus, the broader the nib, the smoother the writing experience. Most pen nibs are available in fine, medium, or broad. Less common are extra-fine, double-broad, stub, italic, and oblique nibs. Medium is considered the “average” size nib that will serve the majority of writers. Stub, italic, and oblique nibs are nibs that offer a variation in line width that you see in beautiful samples of handwriting; italic and oblique nibs are often found on calligraphy pens, or specially ground by a nibmeister.

Nibs are generally bought & fitted to different types of handwriting. Those of us that write in small, tight

Size matters.

handwriting usually require a fine or extra-fine nib. Those who write in larger hands do well with medium, or broad nibs. Even if you love the smooth feeling of broad nib gliding across the page, if you can’t read your handwriting through the broad strokes of the nib, the pen is not going to be very suitable.

The flow of ink to a nib often changes with time. As I write with a pen it adjusts to my writing. Over time, the tip tends to broaden and put down more ink than it did at first. Thus after a few months, many of my fines start to write more like mediums, and some of my mediums more like broads.

Nib sizes are relative to the pen manufacturers. Japanese pen manufacturers like Namiki (Pilot), Sailor, Platinum and Tombow tend to have nibs on the smaller side than Western pen manufacturers like Waterman, Parker, Aurora, and Lamy. I own a Pilot Prera with a fine nib, and it writes smaller than even my extra-fine Lamy. If you have tiny handwriting like me, you may consider looking at Japanese pens to find a pen more suited to small script.

In closing, I have scratched the surface on the topic of nibs. It is important to keep in mind how the pen writes. More often than not, we have a very good idea about what we want our pens to look like. With fountain pens, however, it’s often more rewarding to go with a pen that compliments how you would like to write than what you’d like it to appear to be. A good pen shouldn’t be chosen like jewelry, and you may consider giving a chance to a pen that looks a little strange (or plain) if it offers you a good “feel” on paper.

Vincent Van Gogh was one of the greatest Dutch post impressionist painters of his time with an influence that reached far into the 20th century. Born into a wealthy family in the Netherlands, Van Gogh grew up in a religious family where he received both home schooling as well as . . . → Read More: Visconti Van Gogh Collection]]>

Van Gogh Self Portrait

Vincent Van Gogh was one of the greatest Dutch post impressionist painters of his time with an influence that reached far into the 20^th century. Born into a wealthy family in the Netherlands, Van Gogh grew up in a religious family where he received both home schooling as well as a Catholic School education. He was a serious and quiet child who’s love of art blossomed at an early age. It would be this love of art and of the impressionist painters of his time that would drive him to his physical and mental limits in becoming a master of his medium.

In his early adulthood, Vincent became an art dealer, just like his

Starry Night Fountain Pen

longtime friend and brother, Theo Van Gogh. This was a profession that he was very good at. Soon he was making a great deal of money. But, he became discouraged by the way art was treated as little more than an object of wealth. This coupled with relationship problems lead into a bout of depression and eventually he lost his job as his depression and hatred for dealing art began to show to his clients and employer. Shortly after losing his job, his family convinced him to move to England.

Sunflowers Rollerball

During this time, Van Gogh begins to experiment more consciously in his drawings. He begins to weave his expressions into his landscapes and forges a new style filled with somber palates and rough strokes. His art never slows and his penchant for capturing the essence of daily life in both his portraits and still life begin to take on an atmosphere of their own. His true climactic work comes later in his life were his post impressionist expressions truly shine.

Room Arles Eco Roller

It is from these later years of his life that Visconti draws from in order to pay tribute Vincent Van Gogh. The original Visconti Van Gogh collection enjoyed a decade of followers from around the world. Now, Visconti is ready to provide further inspiration and innovation by creating writing instruments inspired by the artist’s color and technique and his emotion captured in some of his individual paintings themselves.

Visconti has worked hard to formulate palettes of color that accurately reflect the technique and emotion of each of Van Gogh’s paintings like the Starry Night Fountain Pen and the Sunflowers Rollerball Pen. Never before have pens been created that were inspired from a specific canvas, like the Room In Arles Eco Roller. But, through meticulous and painstaking choice of color and palette mix, each Visconti pen has emerged to capture the spirit and verve of each specific Van Gogh painting.

Take a look at all the pens in the Visconti Van Gogh Collection and see for yourself why Van Gogh is such a treasure for all time.

All brands of pens have ranges within their own hierarchy. It’s part of the marketing game to make sure that you have products in your lines that speak to those pen lovers in all economic brackets. I’m glad they do. It’s a good challenge for pen designers to push the limits . . . → Read More: Waterman Clearance Pens]]>

Waterman Hemisphere

All brands of pens have ranges within their own hierarchy. It’s part of the marketing game to make sure that you have products in your lines that speak to those pen lovers in all economic brackets. I’m glad they do. It’s a good challenge for pen designers to push the limits of quality and aesthetics against the wall of everyday price points. What does a $50 designer pen look like, write like, feel like and smell like compared to a $20 version. How can the manufacturing process be tinkered with to create savings in the higher end pens. Experimentation is key and eventually the results of those experiments trickle down to the users. Us.

But, theres another way that pen collectors can get good deals on brand new pens rather than waiting for the brands to become more efficient or come out with a line that is more affordable. Quite simply you only need to take a look at the clearance section of the Executive Essentials online catalog.

Today I’d like to point you to the Waterman Clearance pens. Although the current stock of Waterman pens on clearance isn’t bursting at the seams, you will find 6 great pens at prices that are worth considering. So take the time the time to check out a few of these great deals on Waterman pens. But remember, we also have a great deal more Waterman pens in the Executive Essentials catalog that are worth looking at as well.

Waterman Hemisphere Mars Black

Blending prestigious materials, colour and a distinctive, vibrant personal style, WATERMAN continues to create some of the most elegant and inventive writing instruments in the world today. The Waterman Hemisphere, with its timeless lines is practical and discreet. It breathes modernity and a magnetic refinement. The simple contemporary elegance of this stylish chromed rollerball is made from lustrous black lacquer is as timeless as a little black dress or a tailored tuxedo. This particular pen is running $35 down from $75. A real steal.

Waterman Perspective

Waterman Perspective Ballpoint

The Waterman Perspective celebrates the dynamic purity of modern architecture. This elegant expression of contemporary design has a slim cylindrical shape decorated with a delightfully dazzling chrome finish throughout each pen. This ballpoint is made a silver colored satin lacquer that creates a shimmering tone effect and is decorated with the sharp beauty of architectural lines. It comes with a three year warranty and a twist action mechanism that is easy to use. Originally this pen cost $130, but now it is only $109 in the EE catalog.

Waterman Exception

Waterman Exception Slim Fountain Pen Raspberry

The pen that breaks away from all expectations and changes the rules…the Exception. With its bold square design the Waterman Exception has powerful presence, finesse and elegance. This fountain pen is the ultimate expression of seductive confidence. It is made of rich, luxuriant berry pink lacquer and bright white silver-plated trims for women who just love being women. To add to this stunning writing implement is an intricately engraved rhodium plated18-karat gold nib. Right now you can get a savings of $85 and have this pen in your hand for $300.

These pens and variations are available in the Executive Essentials catalog. And don’t just dwell on Waterman, Executive Essentials has a plethora of great pens on clearance everyday. Come on in and browse a little.

 It’s the end of the January! That means it is probably about time to do a month-end review of your resolutions.

We all have gut . . . → Read More: Goals and Goal Journals, The Longhand Edition]]> Hey folks! Guest blogger Tracy McCusker is back with a few suggestions for your New Years’ Resolutions and suggestions on how to keep them going strong well after January ends. 

 It’s the end of the January! That means it is probably about time to do a month-end review of your resolutions.

We all have gut feelings that most New Years’ Resolutions are broken–temporary at best. According to Psychology Today, research shows that 50% of resolution-makers abandon them by June–90% by the following year. These studies don’t even take into account the drive-by resolution makers who make broad resolutions (change diet, lose weight, be more successful), only to half-heartedly give up come February. The social script about resolutions is that they are not meant to be taken seriously.

If you’re serious about your yearly goals (and I believe that you should be), it’s important to take the time for a status update.

Pick a good pen that you’ll be comfortable writing with and set aside some time. It’s time to take a good look at what you want to achieve, and why you want to achieve it.

It’s important to pick a journal, notebook, or agenda that is separate from your school, work, and/or creative notes. The best goal journal is something that you like the look & feel of. If the design appeals to you, you will be more likely to carry it around with you during your day. And you will also be more comfortable writing in its pages. If leather agendas are your true passion, pick up a sturdy leather one. If you can’t bring yourself to write in anything nicer than a legal pad—then grab one and go for it. There are plenty of journals and folios in-between for those of you who don’t know what might strike your fancy. Cross, for example, offers a nice line of journals that have pen loops, perfect to stash in a satchel or briefcase.

Now it’s time to answer a few hard questions. How well are you doing with your initial goals? What daily progress are you making? Weekly? Are you actively working towards achieving your goals? Why or why not? Is it time to change your nebulous “get in shape” goal into a more tangible, actionable statement? What was your original motivation for your goal? Do you still have that motivation? Because of the dismal numbers for resolutions, I’m assuming that many of you at this point are struggling with your yearly goals. If you have the motivation, but aren’t on track, what’s going wrong?

Part of the problem with yearly goals is that long term goals are usually vague. My long-term goal is to “use my time more wisely and richly.” Why that goal? A few serious health problems landed me in the hospital last year. It has impressed upon me just how precious time can be. It’s my vague long-term goal. But a desire for change without a concrete plan is just a wish.

A desire for change with a concrete plan, and specific steps to achieve that plan–that is an achievable goal that can be tracked in a goal journal.

I dedicate a couple of pages toward the beginning of my goal journal to write a long and specific list of things that I want to do in 2012. The front of the journal is a good place to put it (or the back), because you’ll want to flip to this page constantly to see how you’re doing, and to hopefully cross items off as you complete them.

The key to a good list is its length (50-100 goals is good), and a mix of short goals and long goals. Having short goals that can be completed with a day’s effort and ongoing goals that take weeks or months to finish allows you to feel a sense of accomplishment as you cross small tasks off the list and work toward your bigger goals.

I use general guides to create the list by thinking about what “large heading” kinds of projects I want to work on (writing; drawing; seeing the sights in my own city; family time), but each item on the list is specific. “Visit Griffith Observatory”, “Host a family dinner party”, “doodle for 30 minutes a day”, “Write 100 poems”, “Publish a book of poetry”.

While I am a happy user of websites like 43 Things and Accompl.sh, it is so important to write these goals out longhand. When you write out information long-hand, that information goes into your brain along multiple paths. It’s called kinetic memory. Typing doesn’t have quite the same impact, because the worlds you type are locked into visual memory. To really have an impact on your mind, pair kinetic & visual memory by tackling your goals in a journal, notebook, or planner, then reading them back to yourself later.

The second important factor of the goal journal is that it will allow you to create action plans. A list is still just a list unless you have an action plan about when these goals will get done.

An action plan is a to-do list that’s tied to a goal, and expresses a motivational statement. An action plan charts your to-dos for a certain period of time (be it daily or weekly). It contains a task, a due date, and an explanation to yourself why each step / goal is important. It’s too easy to let your personal goals become subsumed by work, so it’s doubly important to remind yourself.

“To Do Friday: ‘write blog interview questions for Mr. X, a novelist and book reviewer. Email questions by Friday evening. This interview is part of my goal of 20 guest blog posts for the year. Remember that this interview is important because I love Mr. X’s novel To the Stars, and this interview is a way of giving back to a writer that’s inspired me, and to the community that he and I are a part of.”

Now that’s an action plan.

Currently I’m hip-deep into my list with 16 completed goals out of 133. I’m on-track to completing the lion’s share of the items by the middle of the year. Only a handful of longer term goals will take until December to complete. This year, with my goal journal and a new action plan for each week, I am confident that I will achieve my long-term goal by paying attention to the short-term ones. How about you?

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s 2012. Time to say good bye to the fun and fortunes of 2011 and welcome in the year the Mayans predicted would be our last. Well, with every new year comes a batch of checks in the first week with all the dates scratched out and rewritten appropriately. . . . → Read More: Get Organized with Pen Stands]]>  

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s 2012. Time to say good bye to the fun and fortunes of 2011 and welcome in the year the Mayans predicted would be our last. Well, with every new year comes a batch of checks in the first week with all the dates scratched out and rewritten appropriately. Along with that comes a new year promise that we make to ourselves and those around us. My resolution for the new year was going to be to quit smoking. Surprisingly enough, I managed to kick this habit back in late October, leaving me to find another worthwhile resolution that would change my life for the better. It didn’t take me long to decide on one though.

Get organized.

Like most people with a family, my home is organized in the loosest sense of the term. Yes, we have a hall closet. Yes, it has jackets in it. Yes, it also has tennis rackets, old comic books, a vacuum cleaner and an odd assortment of other things that have no real place of their own. It’s not that we don’t have enough space, its just that we don’t take the time to utilize it efficiently. Now is that time and I’m suggesting it for others as well.

In the process of getting organized, so many other great things will happen to you that you’ll wonder if it’s Christmas again. In the process of getting organized, you will be forced to take actions that you forgot you were supposed to take. Like hanging the pictures you forgot about in the corner of the blue room behind the boxes of holiday decorations that you never took to the basement. Or finding those old comic books in the closet you misplaced the last time you were cleaning during the surprise visit from your in-laws. Yes, getting organized hurts a little bit, but it’s well worth the effort with all the treasures you’ll find and tasks you’ll accomplish.

For the pen collector, getting organized means an opportunity to check up on old pens that have been relegated to the desk draw for the bulk of the last year. It means taking stock of supplies and perhaps finding a better system to organize, catalog and perhaps show off some of your prized possessions for visitors to see. In fact, one of the best ways to organize your pen collection (besides a nice pen chest) is to show a few of them off on your desk with a decorative pen stand. And lucky for you, Executive Essentials has many to choose from.

You’ll find a few dozen statues ready and able to hold your pen tight and display it anywhere in your house in the EE catalog. My favorite is the Jac Zagoory Lion Pen Holder. This pewter statue has the lion in a lazy, yet powerful position where the pen will lay perfectly across is paws from front to back.

Second in line would be the Jac Zagoory Butterfly Symbol of Life Pen Holder. Again, this statue is made of pewter and depicts a butterfly with it’s wings slightly spread to hold not one, but multiple pens at a time. This is a great piece for showing of collections or for holding several pens with multiple uses.

For those feeling a bit dangerous, I’d recommend the Jac Zagoory Snake Pen Holder. This twisted, coiled piece of pewter has a menacing grace to it and at the least will keep small children from trying to run off with your prized writing instrument. Made of pewter it also has the ability to hold more than one pen.

These are just a few of the many pen holders at Executive Essentials. Go ahead and look around and treat yourself to a little gift for getting organized. Have a great 2012.

This is part two in our three part series by Tracy McCusker.Tracy is an avid pen buff & unrepentant word-slinger. Fascinated with pens from a young age, she converted to fountain pens in 2000 after being introduced to the Parker Frontier and Parker Vector. Today her pen collection numbers in the . . . → Read More: A Penaholic’s Gift Guide To Luxury Pens]]>

Tis the Season

This is part two in our three part series by Tracy McCusker.Tracy is an avid pen buff & unrepentant word-slinger. Fascinated with pens from a young age, she converted to fountain pens in 2000 after being introduced to the Parker Frontier and Parker Vector. Today her pen collection numbers in the hundreds. Tracy is a staunch advocate of “going analog” for writing & creative brainstorming. When she’s not hanging out at her local fountain pen shop, her digital presence can be found guest posting at the Surly Muse.

We’ve come to the part of the guide where the gifts are a little more expensive as we explore pens in the $100 to $200 range. So sit back and enjoy as Tracy reveals some of her favorite pens in this range.

Pens From 100 to 200 dollars

Fountain Pens: Cross C-Series (185.00) or the Pelikan M205 (109.00-115.00)

The Cross C-Series is a pen which does not get nearly enough love. It is my favorite pen under two hundred dollars. The aggressive chrome stylings on the C-Series have been called a masculine, an ode to chrome obsession. There is a mechanicalness to its design, but the C-Series strikes me more as “modern design” than “masculine.” The cap screws on in one of the more innovative systems I’ve seen. If you or your intended recipient can get their hands on the pen at a showroom or store, I’d recommend giving the pen a test-drive. The Cross C-Series is a very heavy pen. It is one of the heaviest I own, rivaled only by two very heavy Waterman pens (the L’Etalon and the Carene). I was sold after writing with the Monaco Blue C-Series and comparing it against every other pen in its price range. None of the others felt as smooth on the page. The C-Series rubberized grip is also a novelty at this price-point, but it keeps long writing sessions comfortable despite the pen’s weight. As a word of caution, Cross steel nibs can start off a little scratchy (toothy we call it), but a good nib will become smooth with use.

The Pelikan M205 is the smallest of its numbered series (which spans from 200 to 1000). It fits perfectly in my hand (which is diminutive). The larger numbered series (for example, the 600 @ 304.00) may be a more comfortable fit for larger-handed folks; however, the price increases as the pen size does, so it’s always important to ask, can this smaller pen work for me? While the grip area (delineated by the notches where the cap screws into the body of the pen) is the smallest I’ve seen on a pen, when the cap is posted it feels like an average-sized pen. The M205 has a steel nib that has a bit of tooth that gives the nib character. The M200 sometimes can be found with a smoother gold-plated steel nib; however, the nibs in the 205 should be interchangeable—and can be ordered separately from the pen if it doesn’t suit the user’s taste.

The Cross C-Series is recommended to everyone, even though its appearance may put off giftees (and givers) at first. This pen may need to be tried in-store before the giftee appreciates the workmanship of the pen. The C-Series is especially recommended for persons who love aggressively-styled pens.

The M205 is recommended as a good value pen, as it is made with the same precision as its more expensive brethren. As an added bonus, the M205 can be found as either a demonstrator or a highlighter pen (which uses its own special highlighter ink). If your giftee likes luxury pens for a purpose other than just taking notes (who doesn’t love a good highlighter?), the Pelikan M205 might be the right choice.

Visconti Rembrandt Rollergraphic

Rollerball: Visconti Rembrandt Rollergraphic (145.00) or Parker Ingenuity (160-190.00)

The Visconti Rollergraphic, or Eco-Roller as it is known in other circles, and the Parker Ingenuity are both unconventional rollerballs. The Visconti is filled with a cartridge or converter like a fountain pen, thus able to use your favorite inks (or to allow you to enjoy/try a much wider range of colors or inks that would normally be available to you). The Visconti Rollergraphic is inside the resin body of the Rembrandt line. Like the Van Gogh line, the Rembrandt has a light resin body that has a rich depth of color when held up to the light. No picture will fully capture the play of subtle colors in the resin, so if you can see a Visconti in person, do so! The “Eco-Roller” is thusly titled because if you are using the pen with a converter, you are wasting less plastic/metal/ink by not buying and disposing of refill cartridges.

The Parker Ingenuity, on the other hand, is not a rollerball at all. It uses its own unique refills that are like a combination of the rollerball, porous point, and fountain pen. The pen has a metal nib (that really serves like a hood). If I had to peg what this pen was closest to, it would be a rollerball since it is trying to have “the best of all worlds,” as the rollerball was between the ballpoint and the fountain pen. I have no experience with the Parker Ingenuity, aside from my favorable experiences with Parkers in the past. What the Parker Ingenuity is, is exciting. It’s a new piece of pen technology. The conversations that it might start when someone asks to borrow it might be worth the price alone.

The Visconti Rollergraphic is recommended for eco-conscious giftees who don’t want to make the leap to fountain pens. The Parker Ingenuity is recommended for early-adopters willing to take the leap without long-term feedback on how the “5^th technology” of this new pen works.

Ballpoint: Waterman Carene (150.00-265.00)

Waterman Carene

The Waterman Carene is one the most elegant pens that I’ve laid eyes on in the past fifteen years. Compared to any pen on this list, or in a high-end pen catalog, the Carene has a stand-out design. Its barrel is a heavy brass overlaid with lacquer that tapers into a rounded end. The characteristic Carene black button isn’t featured on the ballpoint; nevertheless, it retains the curvy, graceful profile distinctive to the line. The Carene ballpoint is heavy, but it has gotten lighter with successive generations. My chrome-trimmed Carene from 2007 is noticeably lighter than my gold-trimmed Carene from 2002. The pen comes in two different kinds of lacquers, the glossy lacquer featured on the Amber Shimmer and the matte lacquer featured on the solid-colored chrome trim pens. These lacquers create two different kinds of pens. The glossy lacquer pens are a bit slicker to hold. The glossy lacquer has some self-healing properties that hides small scratches. My ten year-old glossy Carenes show remarkably little wear. The matte lacquer pens, on the other hand, feel more comfortable when writing at length because there’s a bit more “grip” to the surface. The downside is that the matte surface show nicks and scratches very easily. Two of my matte-lacquered pens have started chipping badly due to poor care. If you decide to invest in a matte lacquer Carene, please do yourself a favor and purchase a pen case for it! Unlike some of the other workhorses on this list, the Carene needs to be given the care that a luxury item deserves.

The Carene is recommended for pen lovers, avid writers, and those that can give appropriate care for their writing instruments. This is a pen that needs to be taken care of!

For a First-Time Fountain Pen User: Pelikano JR (10.40), Parker Vector (24.00) or Namiki Vanishing Point (140.00)

Gifts are sometimes the best way to introduce an avid writer (or someone who could become one) to fountain pens. There is a great joy in putting a nib to paper. But we don’t all rocket from the ballpoint world right into the 18K top-of-the-line fountain pens. For a young writer (or someone who just likes big bright colors), the Pelikano JR is a good introduction to pens that aren’t the standard mass-produced disposables. The Pelikano JR has a smooth Pelikan steel nib (reportedly the same nib on the slightly-more-expensive P58). At such a low price-point, it’s not a big deal if the Pelikano nib suffers some wear & tear… actually, maybe you should consider buying two.

For a teenager / student looking to get into pens, the Parker Vector is a good jumping-off point into one of the major pen manufactures. The Vector has a nice black & chrome modern styling in its latest offering, a steel nib that can take the punishment of a heavy hand. Starting fountain pen users often write more heavily (or too lightly) than the pen requires. The Vector is very forgiving as the writer experiments with their writing. The Vector isn’t perfect—make sure to flush the nib before filling it (look up how to do it before putting the nib under running water). The Vector will be scratchier than a most good pens. If the Vector isn’t visually appealing, the Lamy Safari always can make a good entry pen too.

Namiki Vanishing Point

The Namiki Vanishing Point is expensive for a starting pen. It is over a hundred dollars. However, the Vanishing Point is aimed at those who might already be comfortable with fine pens. Specifically, with click-push ball pens that are a staple of the office since the arrow clipped Parker Jotter was introduced in the 50s. The click-mechanism of the Vanishing Point makes the fountain pen much more familiar to the average writer. The VP’s nib is semi-hooded—it writes uniformly and doesn’t dry out quickly. Namiki-Pilot sells replacement nib for these pens, so mishaps from dropped pen are minimized (as a side note: be sure to make friends with your local fountain pen repair shop!). It’s a good place to get a ballpoint enthusiast on the fountain pen wagon, or to at least dip a toe into the world of nibs, converts, and ink bottles.

For Someone Looking To Impress: Visconti Impressionist Collection (199.00-279.00),Visconti Opera Elements Ballpoint (265.00), or the Waterman Carene collection (150.00 for ballpoint, 275.00 for fountain pen)

The Visconti Impressionist Collection and the Visconti Opera are stunning pens. Visconti’s resins are, in a word, amazing. When you hold the Impressionist under the light, the layers of resin create a depth of color with a touch of translucence. The Visconti Opera’s swirls are equally striking. Unlike other pen companies that use plastic resins, Visconti uses vegetable resins as their color base, creating unmatched beauty. I know. I’ve held them. My Visconti Van Gogh constantly surprises me with its richness in color compared to the lacquers and resins of other brands. Impressionists are pieces of art to display on a desk, in the hand, in a pen stand. The resins of the Visconti barrel are by no means delicate, but they’re not as up to the rough-and-tumble as metal-bodied pens are. If you insist on using them at the local coffeeshop / on the slopes of Mount Lassen, be sure to protect them adequately from lose change or other small objects that could scuff their surfaces.

The Carenes, on the other hand, beg to be displayed everywhere. Take them wherever you go; write with them wherever you write. I’ve already gone on at length about the ballpoint, so I will keep my comments short. The Carene fountain pen is a pen for the ages. Unlike stiff Visconti nibs, Carene nibs are impossibly buttery. The inlaid nib on the pen body means that the nib is protected from drying out quickly. I have owned three Carene fountain pens, and each one was of fantastic quality. Carene gold nibs don’t need to be broken in. They write like champions out-of-the-box. The word of caution is for the weight of the Carene. The fountain pen is heavy, and is meant to be used unposted. Nevertheless, I am confident that if the look of the pen entices you, the Carene will likely become your favorite pen.

If you have your sights on a Waterman rollerball, may I politely suggest otherwise. Waterman rollerball refills are notoriously erratic. While you may be able to find alternative refills that fit the pen, I would just as soon recommend Visconti rollerballs over Waterman.

For Someone Looking for the Out-Of-The-Ordinary

Fjader Ballpoint (15.99), Monteverde One-Touch & Stylus (30.00) Lamy Dialog Ballpoint (99.99)

Fjader Ballpoint

The giftee who loves pens (or more generally) out of the ordinary, there are pens that may fit their personality. This list is by no means extensive; I encourage you to shop around to find something that fits their personality (do they like beads? Crazy colors? Strange patterns?). I’ve selected three pens which fit three different types of giftees. These pens throw traditional pen wisdom to the side.

The Fjader Ballpoint looks like a feather. I’ve never seen a pen quite like it—bulging to one side and tapering to a point; it certainly stands out from the crowds of tube-pens or fish-eye cigar-shapes. Being a ballpoint, the Fjader is a giftable pen to any and all who write. The Fjader low-price makes it tantalizing as a stocking stuffer, or as a gift to those who already collect pens and might appreciate how this harkens back to crow quills.

The Monteverde One-Touch & Stylus reminds me of the bright colors of the Tombow Object and the stylings of Retro 51. What earns it a spot on this guide is that until other traditional pens, it acts as a stylus for modern touch screens and it provides handy ink-based writing when the stylus won’t suffice. Even though I don’t have any touch screens, the small knob on the end of the pen actually seems to make the pen look better than the One-Touch without the stylus. For the tech-heads who need a stylus, or the design-heads who just think a pen might look funny without one.

The Lamy Dialog Ballpoint had to be included because the pen looks like the future. Twenty-five years in the future, pens probably will continue to be modern, retro; doughty and elegant; restrained and loud as they do now. However, with the Lamy Dialog, your giftee can pretend to live in a different future twenty-five years from now. One that’s boxy, white-on-gray and more than bit retro-futuristic–much like 60s architecture in LA. Check out the other Lamy Dialog pens. There is a different design for the ballpoint, rollerball, and fountain pen. The ballpoint is my favorite, but perhaps another might strike a chord with you!

For Someone Who Has Pain When They Write

It’s probable that there is someone on your gift list that has pain in their hands. Sometimes after a long day typing, the most relaxing thing to do is to unplug from the computer. Maybe catalog the day in a journal. But it’s hard to do this if you have carpel tunnel, arthritic joints, or other pronounced hand pains. My go-to pen of choice after long days of typing is Sensa’s Cloud 9 ballpoint. The gel grip on this pen feels angelic; it is a comfort after hours of hitting hard plastic keys. The cushioned grip is also quite thick, forcing a looser grip to be used when writing. For giftees who have deeper problems than stiff joints, the Yoropen may be an appropriate tool for them. The Yoropen has a unique (and kind of crazy-looking) design that relieves pressure on the hand by changing how your grip transmits pressure to the tip of the pen. If someone you know is suffering carpel tunnel or other joint-related problems, the Yoropen may be the best choice of pen for them. I can think of no greater gift than giving the gift of pain-free writing to a benighted writing enthusiast.

Phew. And that’s it for this holiday pen gift guide. We hope you’ve enjoyed Tracy’s in-depth gift guide as much as she enjoyed writing it. Don’t be shy about asking quesitons or leaving comments. Both are appreciated. And good luck out there finding the perfect pen gift for that special someone in your life this holiday season.

Cross Spire in Red

This is part two in our three part series by Tracy McCusker.Tracy is an avid pen buff & unrepentant word-slinger. Fascinated with pens from a young age, she converted to fountain pens in 2000 after being introduced to the Parker Frontier and Parker Vector. Today her pen collection numbers . . . → Read More: A Penaholic’s Gift Guide To Luxury Pens]]>  

Cross Spire in Red

This is part two in our three part series by Tracy McCusker.Tracy is an avid pen buff & unrepentant word-slinger. Fascinated with pens from a young age, she converted to fountain pens in 2000 after being introduced to the Parker Frontier and Parker Vector. Today her pen collection numbers in the hundreds. Tracy is a staunch advocate of “going analog” for writing & creative brainstorming. When she’s not hanging out at her local fountain pen shop, her digital presence can be found guest posting at the Surly Muse.

In an effort to help our loyal fans and customers find the perfect pen gift this season, Tracy has put together an in-depth guide culled from the experiences of her own pen obsessions. Last week she talked about buying pens in the up to $50 price range. This week she tackles luxury pens in the $50-$100 price range. Take a look at her suggestions.

Gift Pens from 50 to 100 Dollars

Fountain Pens: Lamy Studio (67.99), Libelle Nature Mosaic (94.99)
For the 50 to 100 dollar range, most fountain pens start to have steel nibs that are worth writing with. The Lamy Studio and the Libelle Nature Mosaic are both pens that come from well-respected

Libelle Nature Mosiac

pen companies. The pens mostly differ in their outward aesthetic. The Lamy Studio is a reserved German modernist design that prioritizes smooth lines over outward flashiness. The Libelle Nature Mosaic, on the other hand, has a glorious retro flourish from its chrome Grecian-inspired trim and its inlaid pearlescent resins. The Libelle Nature Mosaic is most likely similar to Monteverde Regatta or Paloma which also use inlaid resins—a heavier pen, more likely to be used for shorter tasks… or to sit on a desk as a piece of functional art rather than to be used as a heavy workhorse.

The Lamy Studio would fit comfortably into an artist, designer, or writer’s hand. The Libelle Nature Mosaic would be a great gift for someone who liked a retro touch of elegance on their home office desk, or in front of their yellow legal pad.

Cross ATX Rollerball

Rollerball: Cross ATX (65.00-75.00)
The Cross ATX Rollerball (and its smaller cousin the ATX Ballpoint) are the number one gift pen that I give out to friends and loved ones. I have given these mostly on the occasion of graduations—their serious exterior brings to mind the idea of future success—but they work as holiday gifts too. The ATX gently tapers at the ends to create a subtle and beautiful profile that it reminiscent of the Cross Verve (a discontinued pen; it would have otherwise earned its own spot on this gift guide). The ATX’s chrome appointments don’t overwhelm the pen’s final weight; it feels very comfortable in the hand. I have heard a few complaints about the chrome grip being slightly too slick for some folks with damper palms, but I have personally never had a problem with the pen being slippery or hard to hold, even after marathons of frantic note-taking. Cross pens are quality instruments. My oldest ATX has taken 10 years of beatings from being shoved into bags, jammed between desks, and run over by my office chair with little wear or chipping. Still, the ATX should warrant gentle treatment; with good care, this pen could easily last me another ten years. Cross rollerball refills are some of my favorite; they are dark, quick drying, and provide a reliable line.

The ATX is an all-purpose pen to give to anyone who enjoys writing. I’ve given mine to grads; the pen will look equally classy writing out notes to the latest novel as it is for doodling proofs to Fermat’s Last Theorem during lunch break.

Ballpoint: Cross Spire (75.00-95.00)
It should come as no surprise that this guide is biased towards thicker pens; however, for the lover of thin pens, there is the Cross Spire. Cross’ classic style thin pen is a staple amongst luxury gifts. If you’re familiar with a thin, silver or gold pen, adorning pockets of office workers around the world, you know what the standard Cross has to offer. However, Cross has recently revamped its classic look in the Cross Spire; even I am tempted to return to trying thin pens (even though the fat ones are much better for my carpel-tunnel addled wrists). The Gold, Black, and Silver cross-hatched Spires are like dressed-up Cross Century pens; hardly any weight, and a bit tricky to hold for long periods of time. The Black & Red Spires are the ones that really catch my eye. They’re like the classier big brothers to the Cross Sport, with an eye-catching triple ring around the twist-action mid-section and the glossy lacquer that makes me such a big fan of the Cross ATX.

The Cross Spire is useful with calendars, planners, journals, or any other leather accessory that might have a pen loop. The Spire, as a thin pen, fits well into compact spaces. If your giftee is a fan of thin pens, the Cross Spire is a must-buy.

So take the time to browse the Executive Essentials catalog to see these great gift pens. Also, remember to come back and hear Tracy’s suggestions on pens over $100. Not to be missed!