My Top 10 Favorites

At Pen Boutique I have seen it all when it comes to pen. I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly, and while it is easy to pick out the rotten of the lot, it is never easy to pick out a favorite. Well, the list of good pens does run longer than the list of bad. But even if it were otherwise, the task of picking out the top 10 favorite pens would have been tough. At least it is for me, because I have always felt that my decision would hurt “the feelings” (of course, I know things don’t have emotions and NO, I am not crazy) of those which I don’t pick. So, whether it is a movie, a book, a shoe from my wardrobe or food, I can never decide my favorite. Yet, despite the agonies, just for you dear readers I have churned out a list of my top 10 favorite pens ever. So hold your breath and live this moment; I don’t do this very often.

In no particular order (for the fear of getting a stroke), here is my list of 10 favorite pens.

1. Namiki VP Carbon Fiber (M)

A fountain pen that is retractable – need I say more. And it is beautiful. Namiki Vanishing Point pen in carbon fiber finishing is a stunning example of art meeting architecture. I love the smart designing that has been put into the pen and it is a unique model that is worth investing in. And if design and structure wasn’t enough to get it scoring, the 18k gold nib fitted in the Vanishing Point is butter smooth. I have a medium nib in use and it is faultless. No wonder, it is in my list of favorite pens.

2. Visconti Demo Fountain Pen(F)

I have always had a great liking for transparent things, like the clear raincoat and umbrella. There is just something reassuring and comforting about being able to see what is going on behind the scenes. I have similar emotions for the Visconti Demonstrator. And while there are other transparent pens, what makes Visconti Demo stand out is that the clear barrel works double as an ink reservoir. A piston knob is at the end of the barrel for ink filling purpose. The pen is of a nice weight and the SmarTouch nib from Visconti gives a smooth performance on paper. It looks fantastic and writes well; what else does it take for a pen to be counted worthy for a “favorite list”.

3. Montegrappa Nero Uno Linea Rollerball Pen

Montegrappa Nero Uno Linea Rollerball pen stole my heart with its unpretentious style. While the traditional octagonal shape of the brand has been retained, it has been given a contemporary twist of conical alignment and grid patterns on the barrel and the cap. Made of deep, black resin, the pen feels great on hand, which encourages me to pick it up every time I write.

4. Waterman Carene Amber Shimmer Fountain Pen (M)

I share a fair amount of affinity for Waterman Carene Amber Shimmer fountain pen, because while it boasts a rather professional look, the lacquer work on it exudes of mischief and fun. There is something about it that is secretive and playful which is very appealing to me. I love the gold trims and the 18k gold nib which doesn’t fail when demanded of. And it has a comfortable weight when writing which is a bonus point to its already super fantastic performance.

5. Monteverde Artista Crystal Transparent Medium Demo

This just goes to show my aforementioned emotions towards transparent demo pens. And it comes in fun color options. Made of high quality acrylic resin, Monteverde Artista Crystal Transparent Medium Demo pen is light weight and writes decent with the iridium stainless steel nib. It easily fits the slot of an everyday pen and is super cool at being that.

6. Monteverde Impressa Fountain Pen (M)

I am fond of good pens, but I am fonder of good pens that come at surprisingly reasonable price. Speak of a pen that looks like $100 but costs $50 and you don’t have to look further than the Monteverde Impressa Fountain pen. With no engraving or embellishment of any kind on the entire body, the pen is the definition of “beauty in simplicity”. Coated in lacquer and highly polished, the fountain pen is presentable and writes very well too.

7. Monteverde Catalina Fountain Pen (M)

The resin body comes in three color choices and each one is reminiscent of the island the pen is named after. Just looking at the pen is enough to have you dreaming of warm, wet sand and cool, salty breeze of the sea. But what helps it make it to my favorite list is its deceptive size. The pen boasts a rich thickness but when held to write, it doesn’t have the heft you would expect. Pair this with a nice ink and you would add this to your everyday pen list.

8. Lamy AL-Star Fountain Pen (F,M,B,1.1)

Inspired by the Safari series of Lamy, the Al-Star fountain pen has inherited a lot of likeness to Safari, but has a sturdier aluminum body. It is the reason why the Al-Star is my preferred Lamy. Plus, while it is stocked with comfort, durability and rich color choices, it is not expensive. Add to that the interchangeable nib feature of Lamy and it scores another brownie point.

9. Fisher Space Pen Purple Passion Bullet Ballpoint Pen

First of all, I love the bright, succulent purple hue on the pen. It is just very attractive. Now, getting to why the Fisher Space Pen Purple Passion Bullet Ballpoint Pen is my top 10 favorite pen – it is a great pocket pen and it never fails to perform. It would top the list of an everyday pen for sure.

10. Fisher Space Infinium Titanium Nitride Ballpoint Pen

There was no way it was not going to be in this list for the simple reason that it will never run out of ink as long as I live. It seems to go on forever. And it has killer, tough looks and feels very comfortable when writing.

Let me know what would be on your “Top 10 Favorite Pens” list. Any thoughts on what should and should not have been on my list? Let me know.

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Pilot Namiki Vanishing Point Copper Fountain Pen - Review

Meet Pilot’s newest addition to the Vanishing Point line, the 2014 Limited Edition Copper.   I had been admiring the Vanishing Point pens for a couple of years now, waiting to see if they would come out with a model that I couldn’t resist.

As bright as a shiny new copper penny, this pen really called out to me. It is almost as much fun to just look at as it is to write with.  The 2014 Copper pen comes with rhodium appointments on the barrel and clip and a rhodium-plated medium 18k gold nib, which I found to be a little wetter than I had anticipated and could possibly be too broad for some writers who are used to the finer points of most Japanese pens. Inverting the nib allowed me to write in a finer font than when holding it in its normal position.

This pen is an absolute joy to write with when partnered with a smooth writing paper, such as Clairfontaine or Rhodia. Since I use my fountain pens for both writing and drawing I was elated to find that the 2014 Copper is not too heavy to hold for long periods of time.

This pen would be a great gift for any collector on your Christmas list. Even if that collector is you!

Linda

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Pilot Namiki Vanishing Point 2011 Limited Edition Pink Fountain Pen–In Stock

Throughout its extensive history, The Namiki Pen Company has garnered most of its fame from its masterfully-crafted Japanese-themed pieces. Styled by the best artisans Japan has to offer, the artwork sculpted on their classic pen barrels and the intricacies of their mechanics have made Namiki a powerhouse in the world of pens. From Tokyo to New York City and back again, the name Namiki carries an unmatched reputation for high quality and design. This unfailing tradition will be continued this year when Namiki brings out the newest addition to their prestigious Limited Edition Vanishing Point Collection. This colorful and charming family will welcome the Namiki Pink Limited Edition 2011 Vanishing Point to its ranks; a lovely little pen proceeded by an enormous reputation. This latest installment has been eagerly awaited by pen enthusiasts around the world for months on end, and its limited numbers have made these pens even more desirable. With only 2,011 available world-wide and only 850 being released in the U.S.A., this edition would be the crown jewel of any enthusiast’s collection.
 

From the very beginning you are greeted with an artistic leatherette box that is striking in its elegant simplicity. It is kept closed by a magnetic clasp that is stylishly charming in its boldness. Yet the true enchantment does not begin until you unhook the clasp, open the lid and behold a divine treasure precisely placed upon a soft gray cloth. Whereas most pens are nestled inside their own little slots inside their gift boxes, the Namiki Pink Limited Edition Vanishing Point is held down by a soft, smooth grey ribbon that is just tight enough to keep the pen in place. It is a stunning presentation that exudes an air of elegance with a subtle hint of practicality.
Now, let us take a look at the very treasure that called us here in the first place. Deceptively simple, the Pink Vanishing Point is a masterpiece of creative design and ingenuity. Despite all of its internal mechanisms and design aspects, it’s much lighter than you would ever suspect. It is one ounce of evenly distributed weight that will make your writing experience all the more pleasurable. The pen’s body is colored a comforting, warm pink that is bright enough to be bold but not enough to be blinding. Instead, the gentle color wraps around the barrel like a suit of undeniable attractiveness and irresistible charm. The body’s metal is smooth to the touch, but ensures a non-slip grip. (Isn’t it just so irritating when your pen is so smooth it slips through your fingers every three seconds when you’re trying to write?) Two rhodium-plated rings encircle the pen’s center, bringing a cool gray breeze to a limitless sea of pink.
 

The two distinct ends of the Vanishing Point are also rhodium-plated, complimenting the pen’s base color beautifully. On one end is an artfully crafted click-action top that heralds in a new age of convenience for writing utensils. Just about every fountain pen on the market has a cap, leaving you with the dilemma of having to keep it somewhere it will be safe without disrupting the weight balance of your pen. Easily overcoming this dilemma that has been plaguing the pen-collecting community for decades, the Vanishing Point offers a quick, clickable solution. With just one click the 18k gold nib engraved with its own serial number and manufacturer’s name is revealed. With another click the nib – lo and behold – vanishes back inside the barrel. When the pen is not in use a small trap door closes over the nib and keeps it in a seal-tight chamber so the ink doesn’t dry out. On this same end is a slender clip made out of the same material as the other accents. It’s a rather unusual design that may throw off first-time users, but never fear. You are sure to get used to it very quickly and after only a few uses it becomes a very endearing feature.
 

If a click-action pen is still just a little too inconvenient for you, or if you’re simply lazy – hey, there’s no shame in the game – you could always take a look at Lamy’s Dialog series and see if they’re up your alley. Namiki was the first to create a retractable nib for fountain pens, and Lamy has taken this idea and redesigned it in their own image. Instead of clicking, all you have to do is twist the bottom half of the barrel. A silver circular cover slides open and the nib, which is much larger than the Namiki one, slides out smoothly. Its convenience and versatility speaks for itself. Unfortunately, lacks the colorful yet tasteful appeal that Vanishing Points possess.
The Pink Namiki Limited Edition Vanishing Point is a work of art in its own right. It is part of a small, selective branch of limited edition pens that are known world-wide for their boldness, color and charisma that are impossible to replicate. The visual differences between the Limited Edition Vanishing Points and their Classic Vanishing Point counterparts are clear from just a passing glance. For example, the Namiki Vanishing Point Black Matt has a much more traditional air about it. Its charm lies not in its easily recognizable individuality, but in its solemn simplicity. Though it has the same 18k gold nib as the Limited Edition, its body is completely black. There are no silver accents, no breaks in color, no nothing. A sheet the color of a moonless night sky is carefully wrapped around the body of the pen, providing a vision of inexplicable beauty. No matter what your tastes, whether it’s vibrant colors and excitement or muted colors and serious traditionalism, Namiki has catered to them. Whether it’s the rainbow or the midnight sky, the choice is yours.

Pilot (Namiki’s mother company) has always produced practical, capable pens, and Namiki has always produced jaw-dropping, unimaginably beautiful ones. This year they have once again joined forces to create a pen that sets the standard for fashion, style, functionality and sensibility. Pens for The Limited Edition Vanishing Point Collection have always been created with the best of both worlds in mind, and 2011’s edition is no exception.

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