Montegrappa Alchemist Sterling Silver Collection

Montegrappa Alchemist 

There is something about Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist" that makes me want to read the novel again and again. The book has become a source of inspiration for many. Every strong word mentioned in the novel lets us see the world with optimism and tell us everything is possible until we really want it to happen. 

The purpose of the new Montegrappa Alchemist edition is somewhat the same!!! The pen is designed with a keen appreciation for the artist's thoughts and is inherited with vivid symbols and meanings illustrated in the renowned novel. In short, we can say Montegrappa Alchemist series is a beautiful interpretation of Paulo Coelho's famous novel 'The Alchemist'. Montegrappa Artisans have carefully embedded the motifs of the story on the pen to create a lucrative appearance, while keeping the functional side on their mind. Like all other pens from Montegrappa, this fine series also carries the legacy of the brand and reflects a finesse design marked with perfection. Made of special metals and embedded with precious gemstone, this fine pen exhibits the creativity of Montegrappa artisans. Like the name suggests, Montegrappa have converted their master craftsmanship and fine elements into a graceful product which even surpasses expectation, and named it - "Montegrappa Alchemist Series". 

The series is available in two different writing modes (fountain pen and ballpoint pen) and four different designs - air, water, fire and earth. At Pen Boutique, we are selling the sterling silver edition which is limited to 1000 pieces. Each enamel coated sterling silver pen represents one of the four elements. Only 125 fountain pens and 125 rollerball pens are made in each color. The evocative design of each Montegrappa Alchemist series makes it a wonderful collectible for pen aficionados, while inspiring others to follow their dreams. 

Montegrappa Alchemist Sterling Silver writing instruments sit at the epitome of novelty and perfection!!! These fine writing instruments are conceived in the purest form and are coated with several layers of enamel to preserve their timeless elegance. These fine writers are handcrafted in the historic town of Bassano Del Grappa, Italy. Each writing instrument is finely inspected until they acquire the highest level of precision. The pen features a hefty and evenly balanced profile designed to offer a robust grip while writing. Its ergonomic grip section sits perfectly between your fingertips, while allowing you to rejoice every bit of your writing. As splendid as the pen looks on the outside, the functional side of this fine writer is also synonymous to its appearance.

Montegrappa Alchemist Sterling Silver fountain pens are fitted with a sturdy 18kt gold nib with an etched designed of a peacock fanning its tail. Gliding over the paper, the nib is flawless and doesn’t scratch nor has inconsistent ink flow. The nib is a pleasure to work with and sums up a joyous experience. The body of the pen is embellished with small details to project Paulo Coelho's words inscribed in the famous novel - 'The Alchemist'. The overall appearance of the pen illuminates Coelho's message, and its finesse design inspires the users to follow their dreams. Each pen comes in a beautiful wooden case which prevents the pen from receiving any external casualties. 

The stupendous design of the Montegrappa Alchemist Sterling Silver Collection definitely lives up to its name. The eye-catching appearance and minute detailing makes it a perfect writing instrument for both pen enthusiasts and collectors. The only downside of this series is its limited quantity. Then again, if this writing instrument were available in abundance, it wouldn't be so precious. 

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A Comparative Analysis of Rollerball and Ballpoint Pens

People have their own preference over things; one cannot insist others to choose a particular item against their will. But, understanding the value before buying can make a big difference. In the world of writing instruments, most pen enthusiasts choose a writing tool by relying on the outer appearance. Question yourselves “Why would you choose a rollerball pen over a ballpoint pen", you would probably point out that rollerball pens are loaded with smooth gel ink which glides smoothly on the writing surface and makes writing process convenient. But, a single point doesn't conclude the whole decision. There are various other criteria that one has to look into before choosing the correct writing instrument.

Ballpoint Pens

Ballpoint pens are simple writing tools. They were invented around 1950's as a convenient writing device to put an end to the monopoly market of what was at the time the only option - fountain pens. Ballpoint pens quickly made fountain pens dissipate and reigned as the most demanded writing instruments.

Every ballpoint pen includes a small tube (refill) filled with paste ink. The paste ink backs up the small ball tip, and when you roll the ball across the page it draws the ink onto the paper.

Before we move forward I would like everyone to know that ballpoint pens are designed as a utility tool and not for the pleasure of writing experience. The first point that I would like to bring out is versatility. Ballpoint pens can be used with almost all kind of writing papers without the fear of smearing and they leak rarely compared to their counterparts. Though some of the words can be imprinted on the back of the page but it doesn't bloat the paper like fountain and rollerball pens. Another point I would like to point out is its compatibility with left-handed writers. Unlike fountain, rollerball and fineliner pens, words written with ballpoint pens dry very quickly without smudging your hand or paper.

Rollerball Pens

Rollerball pens are upgraded version of ballpoint pens. The working mechanism of a rollerball pen resembles with a ballpoint pen but instead of using paste ink it uses gel based ink. With rollerball pens your words will be darker and uniform, and while purchasing a new refill there are more color options to choose from.

When it comes to consistent flow, rollerball pens stand a notch above ballpoint pens and are considered best by pen enthusiasts who prefer writing experience similar to fountain pens. Unlike ballpoint pens, rollerball pens require less pressure on the paper and are comfortable to write with. Another best part about writing with a rollerball pen is the ink on the paper will be more dramatic and clearer. And without putting much pressure in hand and the writing instrument you will be able to jot down your words.

 Now that we have learned about both ballpoint and rollerball pens, let’s tap into some of the factors that will help us to choose the right writing instrument.

Expenses: Ballpoint tips use less ink compared to rollerball tips, which means with ballpoint pens you will require less refills. And because ballpoint pens include paste ink there is less chance for the ink to dry out when the pen is not in use. Besides, ballpoint pens are comparatively cheap than rollerball pens.

Choice of Paper: Ballpoint pen refills are filled with oil-based ink, with ballpoint pens your words will flow smoothly on the writing surface regardless of the paper quality. But, when it comes to rollerball pens, the ink from its tip may soak into the page depending upon the paper quality. For thin paper its best to use ballpoint pens. Plus, rollerball pens are not the best choice for people with tiny handwriting. Upon writing the ink from a rollerball pen tends to sink into the paper and results a horrible writing experience.

Feel: Rollerball pens are much smoother on paper and offer exquisite writing experience like a fountain pen. With a rollerball pen you don't have to push down hard to jot down your words on the writing surface like a ballpoint pen. Due to this factor, rollerball pens are considered best for pen enthusiasts who are prone to hand injuries like carpel tunnel syndrome and arthritis.

We have discussed much on the benefits and downside of rollerball and ballpoint pens. But what about usability and user preference? A recent study on 100 pen enthusiasts revealed the following stats.

When it comes to user preference rollerball stand a notch above ballpoint pens, but in practicality ballpoint pens are more into action.

Summary

Advantages of Using a Rollerball Pen

• ·         Consistent flow.
• ·         Reduces hand pressures and fatigues.
• ·         Ink on the paper will be clearer.
• ·         Best for people who love to write fast.

Advantages of Using a Ballpoint Pen

• ·         Good for writing in low quality papers.
• ·         Eliminates bloating issues.
• ·         Less leaking problems
• ·         Best for left-handed people.

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Pen Trivia: Rollerball Pens

Of course, choosing your pen is a personal preference, a subjective experience. Although rollerballs are the newest entry into the world of fine writing, with fountain pens and ballpoints paving the way, they gain more in popularity each year.

Rollerball pens were introduced in 1963 by Ohto Japan who were at the time known as Auto Japan. There are two main types of roller ball pens: liquid ink pens and gel ink pens. The first type uses an ink and ink supply system similar to a fountain pen and they are designed to combine the convenience of a ballpoint pen with the smooth "wet ink" effect of a fountain pen.

• Less pressure needs to be applied to the pen to have it write cleanly. This permits holding the pen with less stress on the hand, saving energy and improving comfort. This can also translate to quicker writing speeds. This is especially true of liquid ink pens.

• The inks usually have a greater range of colors due to the wider choice of suitable water-soluble dyes and/or to the use of pigments.

• They tend to write more clearly than ballpoint pens do.

Question: What fine writing pen brands has the best selling rollerballs?




























Answer: Lamy’s Al-Star, Safari and their 2000 lines are the top selling rollerballs.

http://www.penboutique.com/c-8-rollerball-pens.aspx?manufacturerid=18

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Music, Inspiration and Writing

Listening to music, while writing, has always provided an inspired backdrop. Writing with a musical related fine writing instrument will also motivate one to pen creative works.

Four young lads from Liverpool set the music world on its ear starting in the sixties. Their influence and collectability of all things Beatles related merchandise still stands strong to this day, over fifty years later. For the true Beatles fan Acme offers an array of wonderful choices of roller balls depicting the Fab Four from various periods of their esteemed career.

The Beatles

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Pink Floyd’s masterpiece “Dark Side of the Moon” had mammoth long-running sales, with its years charting success. The album showcased the talents of the group’s diversity and inventiveness.

Did you know that there is an actual Pink Floyd writing font? The font is based on the cover writing of the band’s famous groundbreaking work “The Wall.” What better way to test this alphabet than with the limited edition of the Acme Pink Floyd Rollerball.

How many artists have their own designed drum sticks and writing instruments? The answer is jazz great Lenny White. White is an American jazz fusion drummer best known for being the drummer of Chick Corea's Return to Forever. He has been described as "one of the founding fathers of jazz fusion".

You can own this hip writing pen by following the link here.

Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons the 20th century, he is often referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll” or simply, "the King." Elvis is featured in these exquisite pens by Montegrappa. The royal treatment is given to these legacy collectible writing wonders.

http://www.penboutique.com/p-10757-montegrappa-elvis-aqua-ballpoint-pen.aspx
http://www.penboutique.com/p-10751-montegrappa-elvis-black-fountain-pen.aspx
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A music nib is actually a stub. But it’s not just any stub, it’s a special stub designed for a particular kind of usage. To write music, you need a pen that can make thin vertical strokes for the stems and flags of the notes, and fat horizontal ones very fast. To make it write music, you need to hold it a little differently than you might hold a pen when you’re writing text. There is a high angle of elevation in the way the pen is rotated in the hand so that its narrow stroke is vertical relative to the paper. Music nibs also write very wetly so that they can support the hasty style many musicians often use.
You do not have to be a musician to write with the music nib. You can write anything you like, and you’ll find that a music nib gives you nice line variation and the very smooth line. Many prefer using a music nib as their favorite form of writing expression. Sailor and Platinum both offer a wide selection of various colors with music nibs.

http://www.penboutique.com/sailor-1911s-gold-accents-14kt-gold-red-fountain-pen.html
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The Urgency of a Handwriting Comeback

Happy National Handwriting Day

A look at the open diary in front of me (which belongs to me) and the notebook that is carelessly tossed a meter away (which belongs to my colleague), and there is little doubt in my head about the dire need of a national handwriting day, every day of the year. We have that bad handwriting. The hypocrite that I am blames technology. With the advent of computers and mobile phones, we are habitual of typing instant text messages and send it in a jiffy.  What is the use of laboring over handwriting anyways when there are easier methods?

This National Handwriting Day, 23 January which is not only the birthday of the American founding father, John Hancock, whose signature on the Declaration of Independence is one of the most iconic piece of handwriting, but also a reminder of the fast disappearing act of handwriting, we want to evoke the need of handwriting, because it is beneficial for you.

Studies have proven time and again the importance of handwriting; neurologists and psychologist have found a significant interrelation between the art of handwriting and learning. An article in the NY Times summed up that neurologists have found that children learn to read more quickly when they learn to write by hand. The same article stated that writing improves idea generation and retaining of information. The article quoted Stanislas Dehaene, a psychologist at the College de France in Paris say, “When we write, a unique neural circuit is automatically activated. There is a core recognition of the gesture in the written word, a sort of recognition by mental simulation in your brain.”  She was quoted concluding, “And it seems that this circuit is contributing in unique ways we didn’t realize. Learning is made easier.”

Another study carried out by Virginia Berninger, a psychologist at the University of Washington demonstrated that children produced more words more quickly when writing by hand that on a keyboard. Also they expressed more ideas. But the benefits of handwriting aren’t limited to children only. Handwriting has proved to increase memory and ability to process new information in adults. So, while writing itself has been said to bring strong physical and mental health, which includes improvement in mood and happiness, why not accelerate the benefits by switching to handwriting.

As a writer, with a pretty bad handwriting I find fountain pens to help to some extent. The consistent flow of ink, and the richness it depicts as strokes form letter and then words, inspires any writer. It has been discussed that perhaps the reason why ideas form better when handwriting is due to the pressing of the nib on to the paper that keeps us focused. While typing, one is banging away on the keys and has his focus divided between what s/he is writing and the movement of the fingers. I personally find to be pouring more words and more ideas on the paper when writing by hand than when typing on the keyboard.

And yes, you could be writing with a ballpoint pen or a rollerball pen but there is something deeply satisfying about the flex of the nib on the fountain pen and the smoothness of the ink and the visual treat the profound, wet lines provide. The line variations that seem to bounce off from one extreme to another and the shades created by the fountain pen is special and nothing can compare to it. Also, with fountain pens there is a certain ownership which could be because of its comparatively expensive price or the fact that you intimately fill her up and cleanse her that motivates you to keep using it and writing with it. And then there is the ultimate fact that the best of calligraphy or handwriting is achieved with a fountain pen. Cursive handwriting, which studies has proven to improve patience and creativity in children and adults alike is the most beautiful when done with fountain pen.

So, this National Handwriting Day, take up a fountain pen, or any writing tool for that matter and write by hand. Scribble your deepest, darkest thoughts or your impromptu ideas. Create poems or fantasize stories and if not that just try and improve your handwriting. Write by hand; if not for the sake of reviving the art of handwriting and the creativity that follows it, then for your health sake, which has been proven to benefit when you handwrite.

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Montblanc Mark Twain

This is a long pending tribute to the “Father of American Literature” (By the way did you know Mark Twain was given this title by William Faulkner, who has a writer edition dedicated to him by Mont Blanc). MontBlanc brings out writers edition pens every year and after the hit of last year with Thomas Mann , MontBlanc is ready to release Mark Twain Limited Edition.


When I knew about Writers Edition pens from MontBlanc ,the first question I asked my sister (my sister is the most knowledgeable pen person in the entire world) was “Hey I want the Mark Twain Edition”.

You should have seen the expression on my face when I heard from her that “MontBlanc doesn’t have one on Mark Twain” . I was taken aback for a minute. I asked her “Do you mean to say that MontBlanc doesn’t have a pen on Mark Twain,the first author of America?” .

She always has a fitting reply to every question on pens “MontBlanc always waits for the right moment,probably they would come out with one in 2010,Mark Twain’s centenary ” ,she said with an ease which kind of put an end to my frown.Well,turns out she was right about it. (Did she have internal sources at MontBlanc who gives her coded secret message in cipher text with 256 bit encryption DES algorithm, may be,that’s German engineering )

Mark Twain Limited Edition Pen

As I sit in my office and write this blog, I can hear our customer care executives repeatedly asking a question “When is MontBlanc Mark Twain coming in stock?” . There has been a plethora of calls since the announcement by MontBlanc on this special edition and I think we just may not meet the numbers to satisfy every customer as the production is limited to: 12,000 Fountain Pens, 15,000 Ballpoint Pens 6,000 Rollerball Pens, 3,000 sets consisting of Montblanc Mark Twain Fountain Pen, Ballpoint Pen and Mechanical Pencil.

I were you,I would call 800-263-2736 and preorder one right now.I had the privilege to walk over to customer care and tell them take an order on my behalf( that is some special privilege of working in pen retail company). I have asked for the rollerball pen. I would have personally wanted to get the fountain pen,but as I own couple of fountain pen and ballpoint pens from MontBlanc, I decided to get a rollerball this time.

Lets see what they have to offer on each pen.

The design of the writing instrument is also inspired by the river that had a lasting influence on Twain and his work: The sinuous curving lines on cap and barrel, made of deep-blue precious resin, reflect the shallow waves of the river. The top of the cap is shaped to resemble the Mississippi steamboat chimneys, whose steam is illustrated by ivory-colored precious resin.

The clip is formed by a stylized jew’s harp, a musical instrument that was popular in the Southern states in Twain’s time. Platinum-plated mountings and the ivory-colored Montblanc emblem complete the distinctive character of the writing instrument. The crowning features of this unique Limited Edition are Mark Twain signature and the number of the pen on the cap ring, and the two fathoms engraved on the rhodium-plated 18 K gold nib.

Shipment from Germany is expected this month end and I can't wait to get my hands on this much awaited ones.

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