Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Top European Pen Makers Currently at Pen Boutique
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
How to Clean Your Fountain Pen
How to Clean Your Fountain Pen!
- Increases the longevity of your pens- If pens are not cleaned regularly it can cause problems depending on the inks that are used that negatively effect the writing experience. The ink can dry in the feed which can hinder ink flow, it can also get stuck and dry in the piston mechanism which would render your pen useless until you send it for repair. Cleaning your pen and letting it properly dry can return your pen to close to what it was new which is the best way to store your pens long term, just make sure to turn the piston knob once in a while to avoid it locking up.
- Makes your ink colors true- Leaving residue from a previous ink in your pen and then inking it up with a different ink can change the color of your new ink which is less than ideal, especially when you just buy a new ink and are excited about the new color. Inks can also have different chemical makeups that aren't generally good to mix up, nothing crazy will happen but you shouldn't make a habit of mixing inks until you look into if they are the same makeup.
- Satisfying- The process of cleaning your pens can be a deeply meditative activity and is also pretty satisfying to see the water finally run clear after cleaning your pen, I usually throw on some music or a movie while I clean and before I know it I've cleaned all my pens!
Cartridge & Converter Mechanisms
Piston Mechanisms
Vacuum Mechanisms
Eyedropper Mechanisms
Tuesday, June 8, 2021
Father's Day is Fast Approaching!
Father's Day 2021 Gift List
Father's Day is coming up pretty soon and you don't want to be caught out without a gift but your in luck because this list will go over some ideas to give your father the gift of writing this year! Whether it's a pen or something to go with it like paper or ink, we've got you covered. Please keep in mind that this list is in no way a definitive gift list and that the items are in no particular order, Pen Boutique carries a lot more than what is mentioned on this list so treat this as more of a starting point and check out our website for more options. I will be showcasing 6 different pens, 2 roller, 2 ballpoint and 2 fountain, and then go over a couple of ink and paper options as well so without further ado let's get into the list starting with the pens.
Fountain Pens
- Pelikan M1000 Green Stripe- Pelikan's flagship model of their Souverän line is one of the best flagship pen models offered from any modern brand and just happens to be my favorite as well because it has a spectacular nib. The M1000 has an eye catching design that is classic but still has a bit of an interesting look which is pretty difficult to pull off, the clip is shaped like a Pelican's bill and the body has an interesting striped design that allows the user to see the ink level when the pen is held up to light. The green and gold color combination is also one that feels very regal and elegant and would be a fantastic addition to any shirt pocket or pen case! The M1000 is a piston filler which means that it has a larger ink capacity but can only be used with bottled inks which is something to keep in mind. The nib is comparable to the larger #8 size and lays down a rather thick and wet line which feels excellent but if you don't prefer a thick line I would definitely recommend going down one from your regularly preferred size. The Pelikan M1000 can be purchased from Pen Boutique for $832 and with this you get a fantastic luxury pen that is one of the best performing in it's price bracket!
- Pilot Custom 823- My other favorite pen to recommend as a gift is this beautiful Vac filler, the Pilot Custom 823, which is one of Pilot's most cost effective pens and one of the best value pens in the whole hobby. This is another pen that doesn't stray too far from the classic look but also has a bit of an interesting design feature in that it is a massive demonstrator. The pen comes in the above amber smoke and a regular smoke that is more of a translucent grey color but both allow you to keep an eye out for your ink level before leaving the house which means you won't be caught out with an empty pen. Another nice aspect about this pen is that it comes in a very nice looking gift box and also includes a bottle of Pilot blue ink with your purchase so you can get writing immediately after opening the box. This pen is also an ink bottle only pen because it is a vacuum filler which allows for one of the biggest ink capacities outside of eyedropper and if you get a full fill the whole barrel can actually fill with ink which also adds a little weight to the relatively light pen. The Custom 823 can be purchased from Pen Boutique for $288 and for this price you get a fantastic gold nib pen with a huge ink capacity and a bottle of ink!
Rollerball Pens
- S T Dupont Line D Firehead Guilloche- ST Dupont is no stranger to making luxury, eye catching pens and the firehead guilloche is no stranger to this with it's vibrant colors and meticulous guilloche work that is sealed with Urushi lacquer. The line D is also a substantial feeling pen coming in at around 64g but the ergonomic grip with ridges is sure to provide a good grip for comfortable writing sessions of any length. The snap cap design makes it a good option for quick notes as well because you don't have to spend a long time uncapping the pens like some other more expensive rollerballs. I mentioned a little earlier that this pen was coated in Urushi lacquer which is the hardest naturally occurring lacquer in the world, it is also fairly difficult to work with but is the only way for the guilloche to truly pop and stand out on this pen. Available in the amber color pictured above as well as an emerald green and amethyst purple, the firehead guilloche has a color for everyone for a variety of settings whether its an office or more causal setting. The Line D can be purchased from Pen Boutique for $700 and for this you get a hefty luxury pen that makes even the quickest note fun to write, check it out online or stop by to check it out in person!
- Diplomat Aero- If you are looking for something that's a bit more unique in terms of design look no further because the Diplomat Aero is quite the piece of modern design. Manufactured from Aluminum and then either anodized or flame treated like the one above, the Aero is a very solid feeling pen and similarly to the Line D the cap is a snap cap which allows for easy and quick removal for notes. The grooves on the pen are not actually only for design but also remove weight from the pen without augmenting the overall shape too much, without these grooves the pen would be to slippery and heavy to use really well. The flame treatment is hand done which means each pen will be unique which is why I really enjoy the heat treatment above the anodized colors. The Aero can be purchased from Pen Boutique in 12 different colors for the price of $156 for the anodized models and $292 for the flame treated.
Ballpoint Pens
- Visconti Homo Sapiens- The Homo sapiens is truly a unique pen and nobody really does it quite like Visconti because the materials in this pen are top notch along with the build quality which together make this pen a powerhouse for long and stylish writing sessions. This pen is actually made from lava rock taken from the Mt. Etna volcano in Italy which really reminds you of the brand's heritage along with the unique clip shape which is an homage to the Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence, the brand's birthplace. All the trim on this pen is brass which means that it will take on more personality the more you use it which is the same for the slightly hydroscopic lava material on the barrel of the pen. This is a twist action ballpoint which makes notes quick so it really is a perfect companion for everyday use. It is available with black and red trim but the lava can also be purchased in a red, sand or white color to add a pop of color. The Homo sapiens ballpoint can be purchased from Pen Boutique in six different colors for between $340-$380.
- Lamy 2000- Inspired by the Bauhaus design principles, the Lamy 2000 is an exceptional example of when excellent function comes from a sleek and minimal design without unnecessary frills or things to take away from the use of the object, in this case it would be writing. The original model was made from Makralon, a form of plastic that is reinforced with fiber glass, the pen can also be purchased in stainless steel or even wood to suit any preference. Don't let the minimalist design fool you, this pen is one of the best performing in its price bracket and if cared for correctly, will last years to come. All of Lamy's pens are made in Germany which contributes to the exceptional build quality and feel of these pens so when you buy the 2000 you are buying a piece of German engineering! The Lamy 2000 can be purchased in all the materials above from Pen Boutique and the price ranges based on which finish you decide on buying. The base Makralon model can be purchased for $62.40, $199.20 for the stainless steel, $103.20 for the wood, and $79.20 for the multi pen.
Ink Bottles
- Sailor- My personal favorite inks all come from Sailor and that's because most of the time when you buy a Sailor ink you are not only buying one color of ink but buying a color of ink that shades or sheens into a variety of other complimentary colors to make for a really stunning page of writing. Inside of the Sailor brand the Manyo line and their Ink Studio line are the ones that I find have the most character and shading, especially when used on a less absorbent paper like Tomoe River. The ink pictured above is Sailor Manyo Haha which is a great example of an ink with extreme color variance from purple to blue to green which is really amazing and changes the ink depending on what nib size you use it with! The Ink Studio line has around 100 colors, each one is unique and stands on it's own while the Manyo line has far fewer but still ones that hold their own against other similarly colored inks. The Manyo line will run you around $21.60 for a 50ml bottle and the Ink Studio will run you a little more per ml at $18.00 for a 20ml bottle but in my opinion you really can't go wrong with any Sailor made ink.
- Diamine- With over 150 inks on offer Diamine is sure to have something for everyone and their inks behave exceptionally well, the price point and volume of their bottles also makes them the best bang for your buck in my personal opinion. Most of their standard line comes in an 80ml bottle but should also be available in 30ml if you just wanted to try a color out or split it with a friend or something like that. They also have a range of reasonably priced shimmer inks that don't really have too much of a clogging problem which is nice to see with a shimmer ink because the last thing you want is to ink your pen with your new ink and then have it clog on you mid writing session. They also have a very nice line of holiday themed inks that can be used year round, pictured above is candy cane which is a nice red that has just a little bit of a dusty look when dried. The standard 80ml Diamine bottles will run you about $15 from us here at Pen Boutique with the shimmer and special editions being a little bit more.
Paper
- Montblanc- You may have seen their writing instruments but their notebooks are works of art as well, Montblanc makes some of the coolest looking themed notebooks available here at PB and the quality is top notch. Each notebook comes installed with a cloth bookmark to keep track of your place when picking up the book to write again or keep track of a page previously written on. The covers are made from high quality leather and can come with a theme like the homage to Moctezuma which is pictured above but are also available in solid colors for a more toned down and classic look. The paper performs well and the nature of this notebook makes me tend to recommend it for special things like a wedding book or a journal dedicated to one subject in particular because at this point it is more than a notebook. Another great aspect is that they are available in a wide variety of sizes for different uses, from taking quick notes to things that take larger pages like maybe a presentation plan or something like that. These are luxury products and they come at luxury prices, the Montblanc notebooks at Pen Boutique can be purchased for prices between $45-$150 depending on size and edition.
Thursday, June 3, 2021
Sleek & Elegant designs shipped in from Germany
Otto Hutt Design 7, A Closer Look
Specs:
- Description- A hefty Sterling Silver pen that harkens back to classic German design but with a modern feel.
- Nib- 18k gold (EF-B)
- Material- Sterling Silver (also available with lacquer over the SS)
- Filling Mechanism- Cartridge or Converter
- Weight- 65 grams capped
- Measurements- 5.5 cm capped
- Ink Capacity- 1ml converter
History & Origin
Appearance & Packaging
Nib & Performance
Pros
- very solid construction
- cool minimal design
- 18k gold nib that's also removable easily
- each pen has a serial number
- sterling silver
- a lot of thought was put into the design and it was executed very well
Cons
- nib is on the smaller side of most flagships which have #8 nibs
- no option for piston fill
- may be a little too heavy for some
- fingerprint magnet
Final Thoughts & Price
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Fountain Pen Q&A Part #1
Frequently Asked Fountain Pen Questions
What are the differences in material other than plastic?
What is Urushi Lacquer?
What pens can be eyedropper filled
Why use a fountain pen over a ballpoint or rollerball?
Feel Free to submit more questions to us and we'd be happy to answer them!
Friday, May 28, 2021
What nib is write for you?
A Comprehensive Guide to FP Nibs
Nib Sizes for line width
- Extra Fine- The finest nib size available from most brands is the EF and is great for fine margin note taking. I would suggest not using any shimmer or waterproof ink in an EF because the large particles in the ink are more likely to clog the small EF opening which can be frustrating to deal with. Since EF nibs also have less tipping material to make the line thinner they are more likely to have some feedback where you can feel the nib on the paper and is less likely to be glassy smooth like a Broad can be. EF nibs also tend to have very crisp lines and make the ink your using look pretty monochromatic which can improve legibility when used with some hyper-shading inks.
- Fine- The next step up is the F nib which is a little more generous and usually are a little more smooth than the EF but can still be really fine depending on the brand you buy from. This and the Medium nib are usually where I would tell people to start because they are the middle of the road and can show you what your pens can do and I see the EF and B nibs as amplifying this to an extreme level. Fine nibs are also really good for note taking because the smaller the nib the more writing and notes you can get into a smaller space so I'd suggest EF and F for note taking the most because they also preform better on cheaper paper like the ones used in schools and offices because they put down less ink.
- Medium- The true middle of the road nib is the medium and I think its also the most common nib that companies offer the most of usually because it is so popular. This is also where nibs can start to get super smooth and juicy, laying down a moderate amount of ink to get a bit more shading and character out of your inks, I would also recommend M or higher when using shimmer or permanent inks because it won't clog as easily. Medium nibs are really all around writers that are in such a size that they are pretty good for everything, some may be a little too wet to use on bad quality paper but they are great for journaling and writing on higher quality paper stock. I'd suggest Medium nibs as the best nibs for people getting their first fountain pen because you will have an idea of a starting point that you can either go down or up from.
- Broad- My personal favorite is the broad nib which put down a really fat line and provided the best character and shading from your inks, especially when paired with Tomoe River paper. These are also usually the smoothest nibs because they have the largest amount of material on the tip to provide a thicker line. A downside to B nibs is that they can take a while to dry on the page which means they aren't the best for quick notes due to the smudge factor but when doing something like journaling where there is no rush and can air dry for a little bit they perform great. When I first got into pens I started on the opposite end of the spectrum with the finer nibs but have since grown to really love the broader nibs and once you see how well the ink looks coming from a B nib I guarantee you'll add at least one to your collection.
- Stub- The last of the readily available nibs from most brands is the stub nib which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. The nib tip is more squared off than the B nib and offers a similar thickness but with a varying line width depending on if you write straight down or if you write to the side. Stubs can be made a few different ways with some of the lower priced ones not having any tipping at all and just having the actual nib touch the paper, the other way is just like any other nib where there's a squared amount of tipping material to give it the stub shape. The varying widths make these a popular starting point for calligraphy practice or if you like your casual writing to have quite a bit of character and varying widths but are a little less common than the other sizes we've talked about so far.
Sizes of the actual nibs themselves
- #5- The smallest size nib offered from Bock and Jowo is the #5 which can be seen on smaller pens like the Kaweco sport models or new Esterbrook J and is just a smaller sized nib. This doesn't really affect the quality of writing but I do find that its less common to find a pen that has a #5 nib made of gold for some reason. Generally speaking, the #5 nib is going to be on smaller pens and is usually an option between those two pens, an example of that would be with Sailor. Although they make their own nibs, Sailor offers two sizes on both their 1911 and Proper models with the small one having a #5 size nib and a #6 on the bigger.
- #6- The most common nib size that you'll see on most modern pens is the #6 which is sort of thought of as the standard size where the #5 is small and the #8 is big. #6 nibs are kind of like the M nib where it offers a good starting point to see what you like because you can either go down or up depending on preference. This is the size that is featured on most mid to normal sized pens and even on a few oversized pens like the Leonardo MZG where you have a choice between #6 and #8. The good thing about #6 is that since it's a standard size its available in all materials including steel, gold, and titanium and is more than likely to be the size featured on your first fountain pen.
- #8- Finally we reach the biggest nib size that is pretty much exclusive to oversized pens due to how large it is and how much space is needed to store it in a cap properly. To my knowledge, a #8 steel nib is pretty uncommon and they mostly are offered in either gold or titanium which makes the price of entry a little higher for the #8 size nib. These are often paired with an ebonite feed to keep sufficient ink flow to the large nib and they tend to be quite wet writers, at least all the ones in my collection are. The experience with writing with this size of nib is something that can vary because some people find them unwieldy and prefer the #6 but some people can't get enough of the larger nibs, it really comes down to personal preference.
Nib Material
- Steel- The most common material used in lower cost pens is stainless steel because it is corrosion resistant and thus will not rust or get funky with prolonged use. These nibs are usually paired with a plastic feed which provides the nib with the ink flow it needs to write a reliable line. Steel is pretty stiff and limits the amount of variance you can get out of a nib because you can push the nib to a wider length so usually is you buy a Steel M nib its just going to write a M sized line which is not always the case as you'll see when we get to gold. Steel is the most affordable choice and some steel nibs can write very well especially in wider nib sizes, more likely than not everyones first fountain pen starts with a steel nib.
- Gold- Once you start getting into the higher priced pens you will notice a change from steel to gold in the nib material, some steel nibs will have gold plating to make them look god but that's not what we are talking about here. The true gold nibs are made from solid gold in either 14, 18 or 21 karat and can be paired with a plastic, ebonite or in rare cases an aluminum feed. The draw of the gold is that it is softer than steel and will usually be a little more flexible which allows for more line variation and expression in your writing. These are usually only on more expensive pens although there are a few reasonably priced gold nib pens that start around the $160 mark.
Compatibility
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Become an Explorer with Aurora's New Collection
Aurora Ambienti Glacier & Tundra
Specs (same for both colors):
- Description- Two new special editions from Aurora based on the natural world, similar to the ocean series that they did a little while back.
- Nib- 18k solid gold with ebonite feed
- Material- Sterling Silver and Auroloide
- Filling Mechanism- Piston
- Weight- 42g total, 28g body, 14g cap
- Measurements- 5.1" closed, 6.1" posted
- Ink Capacity- 1.4ml
History & Origin
Packaging & Appearance
Nib & Performance
Pros
- Great nibs made in house
- Ebonite feed
- Sterling silver hardware
- great filling mechanism and clear ink window
- cool engravings on the section
- Great selection of nib options
Cons
- May be a bit heavy for some people
- Small limited edition so it will be hard to get in the future