Waterman Hemisphere 16 Luxury Cuivre CT Fountain Pen Review

Waterman Hemisphere 16 Luxury Cuivre CT Fountain Pen

The first Waterman writing instrument that I got my hands on was the beautiful Waterman Perspective Blue Fountain Pen. The pen featured a contemporary design and had a gleaming appearance. However, the pen didn't compromise on quality and was the first writing tool that got me into the world of fountain pens. Since then, Waterman fountain pens have been a prominent choice for me. The latest Waterman Pen that I added into my collection is the new Waterman Hemisphere 16 Luxury Cuivre CT Fountain Pen. Though the series is available in three different models - Bronze, Saphir and Cuivre, it was the Cuivre that won my heart. 

Frankly Speaking, the pen is a total disguise. The modern technology used to design the pen completely lurks beneath the contemporary appearance of the pen. The mesmerizing appearance of this fine writer was the first factor that allured me towards the pen and compelled me to take this pen along with me. 

The pen comes in a beautiful box; inside you'll find the pen along with a cleaning cloth and a user manual. At first glance the pen looks perfect, symmetrical slim body, gleaming stainless steel cap etched with "Geographical flow of Art Deco creation" and Waterman Paris engraved trims. The pen looks astonishing and is easy to hold as well. The slim profile of the pen fits snugly between your finger tips and offers a balanced feel. The elegant design of this fine German writer is complemented by a sturdy steel nib. Though made of steel, the nib performs precisely like gold alloy nibs and is built with sturdiness that Waterman is famous for. Overall, the clever construction of the pen is remarkably admirable and strikingly gorgeous.

The Waterman Hemisphere 16 Luxury Cuivre is a cartridge/ converter pen, it takes all standard international cartridges but performs best with Waterman Ink Cartridges. If you are not into fountain pens, the series is also available in rollerball and ballpoint versions.

Perfectly balanced, elegantly designed, sturdy, the description about Waterman Hemisphere 16 Luxury Cuivre Fountain Pen can go on and on. The timeless elegance and thin price tag makes this writing instrument a premium choice for fountain pen enthusiasts and students alike. Like other pens from Waterman, this unique masterpiece also carries the determination of Lewis Edson Waterman and offers an exquisite writing experience. The premium design of the pen evokes Waterman's traditional approach and is labeled with a thin price tag. Overall, I would say that the pen is worth every penny and makes for a great everyday writing instrument. And, it's not the kind of deal that you get every day in the world of writing instruments. 

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Recording Family History

Family bibles uses expand beyond being just religious scripture document. Many have also served the purpose of providing a home for records of important events that happened such as deaths, births, graduations and weddings for centuries. Many family bibles even include traditions, recipes and family anecdotes.

Recording electronic family history may now be the norm, but hi-tech solutions are not essential. The preference for keeping detailed paper records, including handwritten biographical outlines for each ancestor, family group records and pedigree charts, in a family bible or beautifully adorned journal is once again gaining momentum.

Even though most people are completely comfortable working with a computer, there is something to be said for keeping a fine penmanship record of your ancestors’ past. You not only keep your family history alive you also contribute to preserving the keeping of private and public records using the fine art of handwriting.

It may be time to treat yourself, and future generations, to a fine heirloom pen that can not only record your family’s current activities; it can be used by your great-great-grandchildren in many years to come.

Here’s a good starting point of suggested pens to get your search going:

http://www.penboutique.com/parker-sonnet-sterling-silver-cisele-gold-trim-rollerball-pen.html
http://www.penboutique.com/aurora-ipsilon-satin-blue-rollerball-pen.html

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Lamy Wild Rubin (ruby) Studio Pens

Lamy Wild Rubin Studio Pens

The Lamy Wild Rubin (ruby) Studio pens have finally arrived!  The pictures I first saw of the Wild Rubin reminded me of the Lamy Royal Red color.  Boy, was I wrong.  The true color of the Wild Rubin does not come through in the pictures.  The Ruby color is shimmery and bright, not a matte color at all.
The Wild Rubin has a stainless steel barrel and polished chrome accents.  It has the iconic propeller clip.  The fountain pen and rollerball are the same style as previous colors, but the ballpoint is now tapered and has a longer front section.  The finish is smooth and lacquered, not the usual satin metal finish.
The fountain pen is available with a stainless steel nib or a 14k nib, both pens come with a converter and ink cartridge to start writing right away.  The 14k fountain pen arrives in a gift box with a bottle of blue ink.
All in all - these are beautiful pens and a great addition to any pen lovers collection.

- Joy (Pen Boutique LTD, Suite 115, Columbia, MD 21044)

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Graf von Faber-Castell Tamitio Fountain Pen Review

Graf von Faber-Castell Tamitio Fountain Pen 

The Graf von Faber-Castell Tamitio line brings the high quality and craftsmanship of the luxury brand to the affordable price levels of the workhorse Faber-Castell lines.  It is an elegantly designed piece which is constructed of a metal body covered by multiple layers of varnish.  This varnish imparts a matte finish which is non-reflective and smooth to the touch.  The front section, rear section and cap are all polished metal.  The nib is stainless steel and plated with Rhodium.  The body has fluting which not only gives the pen a sleek look but also allows for a solid grip.  The Tamitio is available in Black, Rose or Taupe and all share the same polished metal accents.  It is offered as a fountain pen, rollerball, finewriter, ballpoint or mechanical pencil – the finewriter uses a felt-tip/fineliner type refill.  The fountain pen includes a Graf von Faber-Castell converter, is compatible with short international cartridges and is offered with an Extra Fine, Fine, Medium or Broad nib.

The attention to detail and finish on the Tamitio line really shine through on this piece.  This is a weighty pen, no doubt due to the metal and varnish used extensively throughout the body.  I found the fluting in the body to be both grippy and comfortable.  The pen sans cap is weighted very well, and posting the cap did not throw that balance off too much.  The Rhodium plated nib is very smooth, though the Medium was a little on the wet side for my tastes.  I do like the black shield located at the top of the cap – it draws the eye and sets the logo apart from the silver colored metal.  The nib unscrews from the front section, making cleaning extremely easy.

From sight alone, the Tamitio fountain pen is unmistakably from the expert craftsmen at Graf von Faber-Castell.  The lines of the cap and quality materials utilized are sure signs of this German manufacturer.  The pen is a smooth writer, with a nib that is easy to use and easy to clean.  The Tamitio is an easy and affordable step up from Faber-Castell pieces into the luxury pieces offered by Graf von Faber-Castell.

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

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Cross Luxury Peerless 125 Review

Cross Peerless 125 Luxury Collection

The newest pen in the Cross Luxury collection is the Peerless 125.  The original Peerless pen was introduced by Cross in 1889.  These pens are beautiful in their finishes of Black Lacquer, Platinum and 23k Gold Plate.  Each pen has an individual serial number, on the cap, that you can register with Cross.  The Navy Blue and White box is a show piece on its own.  The inside is white velour and each pen comes with a clear Cross pen stand for displaying.

The Obsidian Black Lacquer has the Platinum trim, the Platinum is available with either Platinum or 23K Gold plated trim and the 23K Heavy Gold Plate is all gold plated.  The top of each pen has a Swarovski faceted cut crystal.  The pens have the legendary Cross lifetime mechanical warranty.  The combination of classic Cross style with a gorgeous finish, makes these pens desirable as an heirloom to be passed down to future generations.

The Fountain Pens all come with a solid 18K Gold/Rhodium plated nib and are available in a Fine or Medium size.  The cap is threaded and weighs 1.5 oz.  It is 5.7" capped and 6.16" posted.  Price range is $450.00 to $550.00.

The Rollerball cap is threaded and weights 1.8 oz.  It has the same dimensions as the fountain pen.  It comes with the Black Cross Gel Rolling Ball refill.  The refills are available in Black, Blue, Red or Purple.  Price range is $225.00 to $325.00.

The Ballpoint pens arrive with the Black Medium Satnink refill.  Additional refills are available in Black or Blue, Fine or Medium.  It weighs 1.5 oz and it 5.68" long.  Price range is $175.00 to $275.00.

- Joy

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Sailor 1911 Fountain Pen Review

Sailor 1911L Fountain Pen

In 1981, Sailor introduced their 1911 series as a celebration of the company’s founding in its namesake year.  The line can be had in a number of different sizes, shapes, colors, and nib configurations.  The 1911L, which stands for Large, is a step up in size from the 1911S (Standard) both in diameter and length.  Other than the nib, clip, and decorative rings, the pen is made entirely of resin.  This imparts a light weight that is easy to handle, even in this larger iteration.  The 21k Gold nibs range from Extra Fine all the way up to Music, and includes Sailor’s Medium Fine for those that find the Medium too broad but the Fine too thin.  The 1911 series traditionally uses either cartridges or a converter, though Sailor has recently created the piston filled Realo line.  Both the cartridges and converter are proprietary Sailor designs, and the cartridges are available in Black, Blue, Blue/Black, Red, or Pigmented Black or Blue/Black.  The pigmented inks are waterproof, but extra care should be taken when using these as the tiny particles that cause this characteristic may create issues if the pen is not used or cleaned regularly.

In general, Sailor’s nibs tend to run a size smaller than a Western counterpart – i.e. the Fine writes like an Extra Fine, the Medium writes like a Fine, etc.  In testing a Fine nib, I found this to be true as the pen laid down a very thin line.  Despite the Extra Fine-like width, the nib was smooth, no doubt aided by the 21k Gold construction.  The pen was comfortable to use both posted as well as with the cap left off – another advantage of the light weight.  The larger size compared to the Standard version allowed for a solid grip without much effort, which is something I have come appreciate when having to write for long periods.  I did notice that the nib had a little flex to it, lending a slight variation to line widths if I was so inclined.  This led to a line that was more akin to a Western Fine.

The 1911L looks good and writes well.  Sailor has done a fantastic job in creating a piece that is large enough to use comfortably yet light enough to not fatigue your hand while doing so.  If you are looking for a thicker pen with a smooth nib and classic good looks, the 1911L should definitely be at the top of your list.

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

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Porsche Design TecFlex Fountain Pen Review

Porsche Design TecFlex Fountain Pen

The Porsche Design TecFlex Fountain Pen is a head turner.  One can’t help but notice the basket weave design of woven stainless steel covering the body of the pen.  This design is reminiscent of the protective cabling used for the fuel and brake lines on Porsche automobiles.  The non-weave portions of the pen are Palladium coated.  The nib is rhodium plated 18k white gold and is available in Fine, Medium or Broad.  A converter is included, though the pen is also compatible with international size cartridges.  The TecFlex line includes three different color schemes – stainless steel, stainless steel and gold, and black.  They can be had in Rollerball, Ballpoint or Pencil.  The Ballpoint and Pencil are worth noting as their weave actually compresses when extending the refill or lead – very cool.

The TecFlex Fountain Pen has a good weight to it – not too heavy, but not too light.  It is also a good sized pen and is comfortable in the hand.  The weight does seem to be concentrated to the rear, so I found it more balanced to leave the cap un-posted while writing.  The 18k gold nib is a pleasure to write with, though it does seem to lay down a wet line.  That being said, it is smooth as silk and starts and stops on command.  The rear of the pen has three small protrusions, resembling ball bearings, which keep a sturdy hold on the cap when posted.  This is easily one of the most attractive pens I have had the pleasure of handling and testing.

If you are a car buff, or know someone who is, the Porsche Design TecFlex line is hard to beat.  It looks good, writes well, feels substantial and has design cues taken straight from their vehicles!  Even non-buffs will appreciate the workmanship and style that have gone into this line.  Since the TecFlex is offered in all four writing styles, this line should be able to fulfill the requirements of anyone looking to add a quality piece to their collection.

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

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Pilot E95 Black and Burgundy/Ivory Fountain Pen Review

Pilot E95 Burgundy/Ivory Fountain Pen

The Pilot E95 is the latest in a long line of 14k gold nib pens.  It comes in two versions, black and burgundy/ivory, both with gold trim.  The standard Black with Gold trim is nice, but the Burgundy/Ivory really caught my eye.

It is a shorter pen, only 4.7" capped and 5.8" posted, but perfect for my hands.  The pen would probably be too small for someone with large hands. It has that vintage look from the 1960s and still is very classy and sleek.  The scripted "E" on the cap and the gold inlaid nib add to this look.  The cap is threadless so I don't have to worry about unscrewing the cap every time.  I can just pop it off, post and go.

The pen accepts the standard Namiki ink cartridges and also comes with the Con-20 converter.  I'm not a big fan of the Con-20 and so tried the Con-50 and Con-70, but both are too large to fit in this pen.

The Extra Fine is very fine and so would be perfect for those who write small and fast.  The Fine is super smooth and the Medium is a nice wet writer.  The nib can be customized into many other options, including oblique.

I used Noodler's Black ink on Lokta paper for my test run and was very pleased with it.  The Extra Fine nib did not grab at the fibers in the paper, as I thought it may.  It did not feather and was smooth and quiet while testing.

I can't wait to continue to use this pen as I feel it may become my every day writer.

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

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Delta Horsepower Pen Review

Delta Horsepower Pen

"Have you ever wondered what it's like to go from 0 to 100 m.p.h. and back to 0 in 5 seconds? Look no further than the Horsepower from Delta! Very rarely can I simply look at a pen and get a rush of excitement. Maybe it's due to the already known high performance from Delta. Or maybe it's the stylish beauty of Italian resins and the woven carbon fiber. Either way, the Horsepower laps other pens on the paper race track with ease! Come for a test drive today and get a feel of comfort and great balance. It's wonderful balance of elegance and aggressiveness is exactly why I looked no further. "

- Julio (Pen Boutique Ltd, 7101 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda. MD 20817)

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Parker Duofold Lapis Lazuli Ballpoint Pen

The definition for Lapis - "deep blue, semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense color."

Gladly, Parker has brought the Lapis rich color back in their line-up with their newest run of the classic Duofold pens. The Duofold pen was first introduced in 1921 with the deep blue color following in 1927. Other popular colors of the time has been brought back. The ivory (originally called Ivorine) and the most popular historic Big Red (more of a scarlet tanger or "Chinese" red) are now available.

I find the ballpoints in this series the most distinctive. Unlike most most ballpoint pens, the design offers a flat top with a twist style that extends and retracts easily. Providing the ease of writing and the perfectly weighted alignment, this pen promises to be well worth the investment. The gold plated fluted top and features provide a unique look that will eliminate the worry of someone mistakenly thinking the pen belongs to them. Another plus is the abundant availability of finding the ever-reliable Parker ballpoint refill. If you decide to be a little more expressive, you do have the option of purchasing a Monteverde gel refill made to fit in Parker ballpoint pens, available in a multitude of colors.

Thank you Parker for bringing back a vintage classic into present day.!

- Vicki Marshall(Pen Boutique Ltd, Columbia Store)

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Pelikan Souveran M600 Fountain Pen

Pelikan Souveran M600 Fountain Pen

Pelikan has been manufacturing fountain pens for 85 years, and their experience shows in the Souveran M600 fountain pen.  I acquired the black with blue stripe model in the photo several years ago, and it quickly became one of my favorites.  The medium sized body and overall balance are great, the gold plated rings are very attractive, and the brass piston filling mechanism is a real pleasure to use.  Probably the best feature is the two-tone 14 carat gold nib decorated with rhodium, which writes so very smoothly, even in fine or extra fine (mine happens to be a fine, and medium or broad nibs are also available).

I've used this pen to send notes to friends as well as to address birthday and holiday cards.  Quite frequently people comment on seeing that I used a fountain pen, and they really appreciate the personal gesture in this world of fast-paced digital communication.  If you'd like to experience the pleasure of writing with a quality fountain pen with a solid gold nib (in my mind, there is no substitute), you can't do much better than the Pelikan Souveran M600.  Choose from a model in all-black, or black with red, blue, or traditional green stripe, and try some of the very colorful Pelikan and Edelstein inks as well.  You won't be disappointed.

- Robert (Pen Boutique Ltd, Montgomery Mall staff)

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Pilot Custom 823

In Praise of the Pilot Custom 823

By Wesley James Young

Pilot Custom 823

When I am asked what my favorite pen is, I always come back with the Namiki Custom 823. Now you are probably wondering what the name means. Thanks to that very same engine of procrastination which allows you to view this review, we can know the number represents year this pen was released, 82 years from the company’s founding in 1918, and the 30,000 yen price on that release date. As for the custom, well no one seems to have a good answer for that portion. My personal theory is that it is just there because the marketing people happened to pull that buzzword out of a hat. But don’t let the name drive your decision, this pen is more than an alphanumeric name.

Appearance & Design

Pilot Namiki Custom 823

 

The color is rich amber color unlike anything you have likely seen on the market. Now I am usually not drawn to gold but the gold-plated trim on this piece compliments the amber too well to pass it over. The clip also embraces a beautacious simplicity by having the company name in a light weight font over a tapering surface ending in a large ball.  In contrast, the name of the pen is engraved in a significantly heavier weight. The barrel is translucent allowing you to see the amount of ink inside of the pen, at least 2.2 ml at a complete fill. 

Pilot Pens

Now I will point out that posting this pen is not something I would recommend. You can but it does not sit well on the barrel in my experience. I do not mind because I do to post most of my pens but if you are the sort who must do so, bear in mind that this pen will probably not work will in that area.

Construction & Quality

The coloring of the resin is consist. The gold is plated properly. I find no flaws with the build quality of the pen. The clip is you typical tension clip and a rather tight one at that so it will stay in the shirt pocket unless you tell it otherwise. After some months of use, the plunger mechanism has not failed me yet, nor have I read of others having issues of that sort with this pen.

Nib & Performance

Namiki Custom 823

Pilot is a Japanese company, so think a size down in terms of nib with if you are used to Pelikan Pens or Lamy Pens.  The nib on this pen is a size 15 nib in 14k and it is a fantastic write. Pilot’s 14k nibs have one of the best balances of springiness and smoothness to deliver a satisfying write as I move across the page. Available sizes are Fine, Medium, and Broad.

Filling Mechanism

This pen fills by a plunger filling mechanism. All you have to do is unscrew the blind cap, pull back the plunger rod, put the pen in the ink and push down. Seconds later you have about 2/3^rd’s of the pen full of ink. To get a compete fill, point the nib up and pull back on the rod till the plunger is just below the ink in the pen, then put the nib in the bottle and push down. 

Pilot Custom 823

Now some of you may notice the pen stops writing after a few minutes. This is not a problem with the pen but a result of the mechanism doing what it is supposed to. When the blind cap is fully screwed into the pen, the plunger cuts the feed off from the rest of the pen. To get the flow back in the nib, simply keep the blind cap unscrewed during extensive periods of writing.

Cost

The retail price is $360 ( our price is $288) . For that you get a box lined with silver colored cloth and a bottle of Pilot Blue ink. For a gold nibed fountain pen, that is not very high. For this pen, I think the price tag is thoroughly justifiable. Especially since this pen is a perfect everyday pen. Not too flashy, writes well, you can fill it on a Monday and likely see three or four Monday’s go by before you need to fill it again. If you’re like me and get bored with colors after a period of time, you will change them out long before you exhaust the ink in the pen.

Final Remarks

This is one of those pens every stylophile should have.

                Buy Pilot Custom 823  Click Here !!
                              

                We would love to hear from you...so do comment !!

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When time passes by...

Pen Boutique been online for 5 years and all these years we grew by learning from others. We looked upon others to learn how they do things. The dealers in writing instruments have experience of decades and we were a child in this whole scenario. We started when the recession was over and just with a hope that our passion can help us to channel our energy where our heart lies - Fine pens.

We were only thinking that we will have something very nice and small and help the niche customers.

"There were no big ambitions, just try to do something.. something with our lives to make it more meaningful..."

We were ready to put our hearts in customer service and make it the priority. What we did not expect was that there would be so much love from customers that we kept on growing at rapid pace. We never know how time files.. We were chugging through the recession and today we are one of the largest dealers of fine pens in US. We are one of the top dealers of Montblanc Pens , waterman pens, Faber castell pens , Pelikan pens. In between we opened up another store, also expanded our online operations.

The success can attributed only because of the love of the customers. We are blessed with one of the finest customer base. We recently sent out a survey to our customers hoping that there will be some reply and we can work on it to improvise. What we did not expect was an overwhelming response as to what we can do to make things even better. We have noted every one of your comments and we will try to implement them.

We always wanted to write a blog, express ourselves but in between our work and sleep we never had time :-) Hopefully, we will have a continuation this time and hoping that we will be able to communicate even better with our customers.

Thank you all for the wonderful support. Writing makes one remember things. When I used to be in college, the professor used to say that while reading if you want to remember the points to write, first read the book, understand it and then write it. If you are able to write all the points without seeing the book, you have understood it. Otherwise, you need to go back and start reading until you can write without seeing the text in the book.

It is been a wonderful journey so far and we are hoping that we can serve our customers even better.

Thank you,

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