Retro51 Tornado - Love, Peace and Happiness Review

Retro51 Tornado Love, Peace and Happiness Rollerball Pen

The Tornado line has been and still is Retro51’s bread and butter.  Offered in many different colors and designs, it is a workhorse pen that blends comfort and reliability.  Each Tornado pen arrives with a capless rollerball, extended by twisting the rear knurled grip, which provides a smooth writing experience.  The body of the pen is brass and is generally covered in lacquer or a design, after which a layer of protective clear lacquer is applied.  The body tapers from back to front, with a clip protruding from beneath the branded ring at the back end of the pen.  Retro51 has released a good selection of numbered Limited Edition Tornado pens and their newest is the Love, Peace & Happiness edition in a run of 500 pieces.  This particular edition boasts an antique brushed look to all of the brass pieces, with the body covered in 25 different languages for the words “love,” “peace” and “happiness.”  The words expose the brass body beneath a matte cream lacquer.

This is a striking piece, helped in no small part by the antique brass accents.  The limited edition number is engraved into the ring above the clip and is finished in the same matte cream color as the body – a nice touch as it can sometimes be hard to locate this number depending on its placement.  The cream and brass complement each other very well.  As with most of the Tornado line this piece has a nice weight to it – not too heavy, not too light – and feels very well balanced when in use.  The diamond pattern grip at the rear makes it easy to extend and retract the refill.  An interesting note is that if you have a favorite Parker style refill which you prefer over the capless rollerball that comes with the pen, the Tornado line allows you to switch between the two.  This opens up the types and colors of refills that can be used in conjunction with these pieces.

The Retro51 Tornado checks all of the right boxes – affordable, attractive, is available in many different colors and designs, has a good weight and feels good in the hand.  Add to the equation that two different types of refills can be used and it makes these hard to resist.  The Limited Edition Retro51s always go fast, especially since they are priced at the same level as the other pieces in the line.  Whether you are a collector or an enthusiast, the Retro51 Tornado Love, Peace & Happiness is a great pen for just about everyone.

- Joe (Pen Boutique Limited, 5560 Sterrett Place, Suite 101, Columbia, MD 21044)