Visconti Rembrandt Fountain Pen – Review

From an entry level writer to a fountain pen expert, the new Visconti Rembrandt is a perfect writing instrument for all range of writers. Distinctly designed, this fabulous Italian migrant features an appealing design that resembles with the most expensive Visconti pens.

The name speaks for itself. Inspired from one of the most influential artists of European art, the new Rembrandt series portrays a fabulous design reflecting motifs of Rembrandt himself. The pen is composed of variegated resin – a resin that has nice kinds of swirls into it. Its design imitates Rembrandt’s most practiced painting style commonly known to many as chiaroscuro painting technique. As other luxurious products from Visconti, this pen also flaunts a distinct design and delivers the brand’s promising theme. For daily writers, this fascinating pen can be a perfect companion. The sturdy construction of the pen defines finesse artistry of Visconti, and delivers a premium pen that reflects perfection from every ounce.

As per my personal opinion, Rembrandt pens are perfect for people who are looking for a luxurious pen at an affordable price. Just imagine how cool it would be to pull out a Visconti pen and jot down your words onto a piece of paper. If you have friends who fall in the circle of pen aficionado, they would be completely thrilled when they see this fabulous writing instrument from Visconti.

So, let’s go deeper into the topic. Today I will break it down for you guys, we will be talking about Rembrandt types, it’ construction, materials used and various other aspects about this fascinating Italian writer.

Visconti Rembrandt Types

The Visconti Rembrandt pens are available in six different colors, each reflecting a sophisticated design that evokes Rembrandt’s legacy and recalls one of his favorite style of painting.

·         Ivory White

·         Black

·         Blue

·         Purple

·         Red

·         Merry-Go-Round

Though we are talking about fountain pens, but this series of pens is also available in Rollerball  & Ballpoint pens.

  

Construction

Rembrandt series are precisely engineered for perfection. Experts at Visconti have sophistically picked each material to craft a perfect writing instrument. The body and cap of the pen is composed of variegated resin – a high quality material that’s used to craft the most expensive luxurious pen. Though these pens are classified according to their color, they specifically follow Rembrandt’s chiaroscuro painting pattern and are characterized by elegant swirls and lines.

To compliment its fabulous design a smooth metal grip is featured on the pen, the grip section fits snuggly between your fingertips and offers hours and hours of writing without any signs of hand fatigue. The pen also includes a magnetic cap, which is ideal for people who have to jot down quick notes on daily basis. With the magnetic cap closures, you don’t have to worry much about twists and turns. You can instantly pop out your pen whenever required and close it instantly after you are done. 

Appearance/Price

This fine Italian writer exhibits a luxurious design characterized by its high quality resin finish and stainless steel appointments. The hard work and dedication of Visconti experts are visible on Rembrandt series. The beautiful resin finish of the pen is highlighted by beautiful swirls and lines that clearly mark perfection. The pen comprises of a hefty cigar shaped profile that offers a balanced feel while jotting down your words on a piece of paper. The design of the pen is further enhanced by Visconti’s trademark clip and a subtle cap ring that gels pretty well with the design.

The price range of the Rembrandt series is not what you would expect from Visconti. Though the pen looks expensive, it has a reasonably fair price and might fit into the budget of every fountain pen enthusiast.

Nib

The Rembrandt pens feature a sturdy stainless steel nib with a plastic feed. Each nib is enhanced with an etched artwork of Visconti’s logo and an engraved name of the brand. The nib offers steady ink flow and lays down smooth and elegant lines whenever pressed against a piece of paper. The Visconti Rembrandts are available with a variety of nib options; you can choose between fine, medium and broad nibs. Choose the best one that suits your writing style.

Filling Mechanism

Visconti Rembrandts are designed to work with medium size standard cartridge and converters. Plus, the best part is that you’ll get a free cartridge and a converter with the pen, Fascinating isn’t it. With the new Visconti Rembrandt you can use any medium sized international cartridge. Obviously, the long cartridges will work as well but while changing they might get stuck inside the barrel. And you might have to waste your precious time trying to pull the cartridge out from the pen. Hence, it’s best to stick with medium size standard cartridges.

And talking about converter, Visconti has provided a standard size converter with the pen. The design of the converter may differ from a regular standard converter, but it’s not a big issue. The main point is that it takes any kind of standard cartridge.

Performance

When it comes to performance, Visconti pens have always stood a notch above its competitors. And the cool thing about this pen is that it delivers the same quality performance that we expect from any Visconti pens, but at a cheaper price. The sturdy steel nib featured on the pen delivers fine writing experience without any signs of skips and scratches. Upon writing, the nib offers a balanced feel and lays down consistent ink flow. And as writers, it is one of the most crucial things that we expect from a good fountain pen.

Pros and Cons

Pros

·         Affordable

·         Stylish design with top class finish

·         Good for people who have to take down quick notes.

·         Lightweight

Cons

• ·         Wet nib, not good for writing on thin papers.
• ·         Not a good choice for people who tend stick with long standard cartridges.

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Writer Corner

There are many ways we find to express ourselves. In this fast paced technology world there is an abundance of ways to do so. Many well-known authors from the past and present prefer the feel of a fine writing instrument in their hand while composing.

Starting with his 1994 novel “Stardust” fantasy author Neil Gaiiman first used a Waterman pen with a large notepad. He enjoyed creating with a fountain pen. He now utilizes over 60 different pens which include, Visconti, Pilot Custom 823 Amber and Delta. Dylan Thomas preferred the popular Parker 51 fountain pen with its fast-drying ink. A comparable Parker pen today is the Parker 100 series. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the mastermind behind sleuth Sherlock Holmes, composed many of his works with a Parker Duofold pen. According to husband Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath constructed her writings using a Sheaffer pen.

http://www.penboutique.com/sheaffer-300-glossy-black-fountain-pen.html
http://www.penboutique.com/parker-duofold-lapis-lazuli-blue-gt-international-fountain-pen-fine.html
http://www.penboutique.com/waterman-hemisphere-essential-black-ct-fountain-pen.html

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This Christmas the new arrivals and presents go hand in hand.

I was quite proud of my local television broadcasters this year – I only saw one Christmas advertisement before Halloween. It was quite a shock, and even after a week I’ve only seen a dozen of them at best. (Though now that I think about it, it may have been because of the recent influx of political ads. Thank goodness that’s finally over.) Though Christmas seems to be taking a laid-back approach this year, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should. In fact, this is the perfect opportunity to get most, if not all, of your Christmas shopping done before the season gets into full swing.
So to avoid what will eventually become a serious case of “Last Minute Shopping” fever – which will undoubtedly end up with you fighting with a haggard middle-aged woman in the middle of Bed, Bath and Beyond over the last heated back massager – get your shopping done early and efficiently. Better yet, why not take the stress of leaving your house and hustling through crowded marketplaces for hours on end out of the equation entirely? Shopping online is quick, easy, and something you can do at home in your PJs with a cup of hot chocolate. (Which is probably the best way to do anything, now that I think about it.) So sit back, relax, and enjoy perusing the internet, because this season is bringing vast and varied collections that are sure to make the perfect gifts for the entire family.
First and foremost in this impromptu Christmas collection is the Parker Ingenuity Large Red. It is a beautiful limited edition piece that pays tribute to one of the most sacred mythical creatures in Chinese history. In honor of 2012 being the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar Parker has created a piece that is just as breathtaking as it is culturally inspiring. Its sturdy body is coated with vibrant, maroon-colored Chinese lacquer. A striking, gold-plated acid-etched dragon wraps around the barrel in a pleasantly exotic design. The gilded creature is beautifully complimented by the 1.2mm gold plated barrel, cap and gold PVD trims. Completely an already enticing offer is the Ingenuity’s legendary flexible tip. Famed for its intuitive adjustment to the user’s writing style, it provides an exceptionally smooth and fluid writing experience.

Second is a pen that, instead of being held back by its seemingly simplistic style, is curiously liberated by its translucent design. The Visconti Opera Crystal Demo Fountain Pen is made of a special material that displays its clear showcase resin. It possesses a durable, chromium 18 SmarTouch tubular nib that is beautifully engraved with the Visconti logo. It uses a finely cared double reservoir Snorkel Filler that is included in the striking black and cream colored case. (It’s almost like gift-wrapped snow!)

Next is one of the many cleverly constructed pieces in Pilot Namiki’s Vanishing Point collection. While the many others have been bright and fluorescent, the Gunmetal Black Matte has a sleek and stylish look all its own. Its retractable, 18K gold rhodium-plated nib has the ability to completely disappear into the Black Matte’s durable metal body. The smoky, dark-silver coloring gives the barrel a decidedly noir look that compliments cool, crisp Christmas nights.

Finally, there is Porsche’s new TechFlex collection. Now that they’ve proven they can build something more than some of the world’s nicest cars, Porsche is trying its hand at revamping its very first collection. The TechFlex’s chic, basic black coloring provides a sleek and exciting new look for this classical series. The extraordinary barrels are made out of fine stainless steel threads that are finished with a special PVD coating. The front and end areas are reinforced with a scratch-resistant PVD coating. The fountain pen’s elegant look is effortlessly polished off by a beautiful, completely rhodinized 18K gold nib. Please note that right now new techflex are Preorders and they would be just in time for Christmas . Now if ordering techflex as a Christmas gift is an risk go for the ever popular shake pen with the new 2 colors Black and Silver .The Porsche Design Shake Pen is regarded as a high-tech pocket ballpoint pen. A particularly impressive feature is the innovative “shake” technology: A short, quick flick of the wrist causes the cartridge to extend or retract.


Every one of these lovely treasures would make an excellent gift this holiday season. From the Parker Ingenuity Red’s fiery appeal to the Vanishing Point’s exotic allure, these pieces can cater to everyone’s preferred type. Whether they like dazzling fluoresce, radiant simplicity or refined stylishness, none of these pieces will fail to impress. Each and every one is top notch, top of its class and is sure to be at the top of your list this holiday season.

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Visconti Rembrandt Review

Visconti Rembrandt Fountain Pen

The Visconti Rembrandt has become a staple of the Italian pen maker’s line.  It is priced well, attractive and handles beautifully.  The body and cap are constructed of a variegated resin, which gives it a look reminiscent of chiaroscuro (hence the Rembrandt moniker).  This pattern of light and dark varies between each pen, meaning that any single piece will differ from the rest with its own unique look.  Visconti has taken a different approach to the Rembrandt line by utilizing a magnet inside of the cap to keep a secure hold onto the body of the pen while not in use.  This alleviates any chance of damage to the pen through cross-threading.  The cap posts onto the back of the body via friction.  The stainless steel nib resides within a metal front section which provides a nice color contrast as well as some weight to the body of the pen. There is not a dramatic step-down in size between the body of the pen and the front section, which along with the lack of threads provides for a very comfortable experience while writing.  International size cartridges are used and a converter is included.

The Rembrandt is without a doubt a smooth writer.  I do find that it balances better when the cap is posted, as the magnet in the cap adds weight to the rear.  The use of international size cartridges is a huge plus as it opens your ink selection to a wide variety of brands and colors and especially if you do not want to use the converter for any reason (travel, etc.).  The fact that the nib can be easily removed from the front section is a boon to a thorough cleaning and something which I have come to appreciate when cleaning pieces we have demoed for customers.  The size of the Rembrandt is just right – not so large as to be an encumbrance, but not so small as to lead to cramps while writing for long periods.  This is obviously a personal preference, but I have found this series to be a good fit for most.

If you’re looking for a quality piece that doesn't break the bank and yields a great writing experience, give the Visconti Rembrandt a hard look.  I think you’ll be happy with the results!

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

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Visconti Amerigo Vespucci Limited Edition Pen–Discover America’s History

During the 15^th century, the countries of Europe began to compete with each other on a global scale. It’s not like they hadn’t been competing before this particular century, it’s just that the insurgent competition over economic, military, philosophical, cultural and religious dominance over their neighbors was enough to make the Cold War look like the Lukewarm War, or the Room Temperature War. The powerhouses of England, Spain and France (Pre-Reformation France, anyway), Portugal and Italy were desperately trying to outpace one another, and all of the wealth that was being accumulated with the colonization of Africa only spurred their imperialism at a more feverish pace. With all their advancements and intellectual societies, however, Europeans were still terrified that if they sailed too far off the coast of Lisbon they would fall off the face of the earth.

 
Christoffa Corombo, more famously known in the Western World as Christopher Columbus, wasn’t so easily scared. He was sure that instead of sailing all the way around Africa, there was a much shorter path to the wealthy trade routes and exotic materials found in India. So, he decided to sail west in search of India; an idea that, within the European world, was thought of as utter stupidity. In fact, it took the native Italian two years of lobbying to the Spanish King and Queen for ships for the voyage, and in the end they never expected to see him again.

To the amazement of everyone in Europe, he did come back, and along with his sons, Columbus made three more voyages across the sea. What immortalized him in history however, is his discovery and subsequent exploration of a new supercontinent. Now, don’t let anyone tell you that he was the first European to discover the Americas (that honor belongs to Leif Ericson of Norway, who discovered what is believed to be Newfoundland, Canada over 500 years before Columbus was even born) but he made the first lasting European contact with America; it was the genesis of a whole new era in colonialism. Still, America is not quite India, and finding the latter was the point of the entire trip. Even still, Columbus christened the natives he met indios (Spanish for “Indians”) and whether that was out of embarrassment or ignorance is up for debate.

It would not be until Amerigo Vespucci, another Italian, would travel to the “New World” and appropriately identify it as not being a part of Asia at all, but a whole landmass unto itself. In 1497, Signore Vespucci sent a letter to Lorenzo de’ Medici (Lorenzo the Magnificent), the de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic during the Italian Renaissance, about his discoveries and explorations of the New World. It cause such a baccano, or ruckus, in Italy that when the first map of America was drawn, the continent was named after the feminized Latin version of Amerigo’s name: Americus Vespucius, or America. Vespucci was a skilled navigator and traveled to the "New World" on four separate occasions, discovering Rio de Janeiro and giving Venezuela, or "Little Venice", its name. King Ferdinand II of Aragon (which will subsequently become Spain) appointed Amerigo "Piloto Mayor de Castilla" in 1508, placing him in charge of new expeditions and training sailors in the use of the quadrant and the astrolabe. (I used to own a parrot, but I am neither a pirate nor a sailor, so please don’t ask me what those objects are.)

2012 marks the 500^th anniversary of Amerigo’s death, and one of the world’s most renowned pen companies that makes its home in his native land did not do something to commemorate his accomplishments. Not to worry though, Visconti’s Amerigo Vespucci Marine Bronze Limited Edition has taken symbolic events from Vespucci’s life and the famous 1507 map of the continent and effortlessly interlaced them into a pen of astonishing perfection. It would have been impossible (and a serious pain to look at) to reproduce the entire map upon a pen, so there are only certain, key sections depicting Europe and America. The images are engraved upon the cap and barrel’s ivory surface using Visconti’s unique scrimshaw technique. Scrimshaw is the delicate, precision-based art of scratching designs and images upon ivory, bone and other hard surfaces. Engraved into a dramatic light-dark design reminiscent of chiaroscuro, the final results are simply astonishing. Topping off this pinnacle of Italian design is a 23k dreamtouch palladium nib fueled by a power filler. The pen is presented in a specially designed, carved wooden box in the form of an intricately designed astrolabe. (And no, I’m still not sure what that is.) The Visconti Amerigo Vespucci is a true work of art, and a fine testament to a man who made an unequivocally groundbreaking impact upon the history of human civilization.

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Saint Patrick’s Day

Let’s paint the town green!

Saint Patrick's Day

Looks like, it’s the shared thought on everyone’s mind right now. With the arrival of 17th March this year, everyone is dusting off their green hats and either washing the old or purchasing a new green T-shirt. Legends have it that the color green makes a person invisible to leprechauns (elves) that will pinch someone if they see them. Save yourselves from the pinch, get your guards of green on; it’s Saint Patrick’s Day!

Along with the New York skyline above the empire state building, Sydney Opera House is lit green. Niagara Falls is flowing green and so is Chicago river plus the fountain of White house. London Eye, Tokyo Tower, Burj-al-Arab, all of them will go through the transformation that later erupts with Ireland’s shade of Green. This vibrancy of green will sweep through Italy, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Switzerland, USA and many other countries around the globe. You might want to follow the trend and get something green before you get pinched.

Why not modify the trend in a tasteful way? T-shirts and hats are done with; go for something that’s innovative, original and of course, limited. 

Retro51 LTD Green Acrylic Cellulose Double - Eight Tornado Fountain Pen

If you have always wanted to stand out from the crowd, you can be one of those 1951 happy owners of Retro51 LTD Green Acrylic Cellulose Double - Eight Tornado Fountain Pen MEDIUM POINT—since this is a limited edition. As heavy as the name might sound, you will be amazed at its lightness. The green marble designed barrel, gold trims and gold plated steel nib (Medium point) come together and build a slender, interference-free writing instrument that gives a sheer classic style comfort in writing. Retro51 is never out of Fashion and neither is Retro51 LTD Green Acrylic Cellulose Double - Eight Tornado Fountain Pen MEDIUM POINT.

Aurora Ipsilon

One of the reasons people wear green on St. Patrick’s day is because the catholic side of Ireland is branded with this energetic color. Science says, energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can always be transformed. Energy flows and I wouldn’t be off beam if I patronize Aurora Ipsilon Green Resin Fountain Pen which has the vigor to be the everyday pal for someone who studies as well as the untiring friend for someone who works. Available in various sizes, Aurora Ipsilon Green Resin Fountain Pen boasts of Green resin barrel, black lacquer ring, gold plated trims, light weight and great balance. The oomph can be sculpted according to your personality. Try evenly full of verve, Aurora Ipsilon Green Resin Rollerball Pen or Aurora Ipsilon Green Resin Ballpoint Pen, and see if you can resist the zest.

Though we talk of green much, the holiday was originally associated with the color blue. It’s believed that the change of color happened because of Ireland’s nickname ‘The Emerald Isle’. 

Pelikan Edelstein Ink

Talking of emeralds, did you know there has been an addition of a new range of garnet, sapphire, ruby and most outstandingly, aventurine in the treasure of compassion for smooth writing and fountain pens? The collection of brilliant nine colors inspired from gemstones structure Pelikan Edelstein 50ml Fountain Pen Ink Bottle. It’s no less than an impeccable jewelry. It’s of high value, it’s prosperous, detailed, perfect gift for yourself and the significant individuals in your life; and not to forget, and it’s limited to one year only. However, there are doubts Pelikan Edelstein 50ml Fountain Pen Ink Bottle Aventurine Green will last a year, especially when 17th March is just around the corner.
 

Visconti Dali Inspired Surrealist Fountain Pen

St. Patrick is a Catholic saint credited with enriching the island with Christianity and most famous for driving the snakes away from Ireland. True Fact: There are no snakes in Ireland. March 17th; a public holiday in Ireland is also well-known as a traditional day for spiritual renewal. Tradition, mind, imagination-all these words trigger the image of Visconti Dali Inspired Surrealist Fountain Pen in my vision. Dalí was well known for his uniqueness, creativity, and his exceptional character was the blend of respect for tradition and a determination for continuity. The eighteen–faceted design of Visconti Dali Inspired Surrealist Fountain Pen with gold and silver trim marks respect to all the traditions worldwide.

Bring in anything Irish, greens, shamrocks and lucky clovers but St. Patrick’s Day’s celebration is absolutely incomplete without the parades, festivities and Céilithe, a type of social gathering. With a superior population of Irish in USA than in Ireland itself, The New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade is the largest parade in the world. Likewise, the world's shortest St. Patrick's Day parade is held in the Irish village of Dripsey that lasts only 100 yards.

It’s also said that finding a four-leafed clover on this very day is extraordinarily lucky. Any luck so far?

May I also ask you how do you plan to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year? What do you have in mind? Something GREEN probably!

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Visconti–Declaration of Independence 1776 Pen

Couple of the most aggressive brand to bring in new products this year is Waterman and Visconti. While Waterman brings elegance, Visconti brings creativity to the table.
Visconti has come up with this splendid idea of making a pen based on the Declaration of Independence .Visconti Declaration of Independence limited edition pen may be one of the finest creation by the Visconti Pen owner - Dante.


The unique feature about this pen is that Visconti has used their scrimshaw technique to embed the text of the declaration of independence into the barrel of the pen. The pen also comes with a magnifying glass to see and enjoy the intricate features of the pen.I don’t know how they could fit in so much words into it but its really amazing how they did that.
Visconti pens in the past has been inspiring us with their unique limited editions pens ,out of which the honorable mentions are Visconti The Bible Limited Edition and Visconti Knights Templar Special Reserve‏ Limited Edition Fountain Pen and this one stands apart from all the previous edition especially for United States as it marks the most important date in the history of US July 4th 1776.
This pen will be officially inaugurated today in the Philadephia Pen Show ( Jan 21st to Jan 23rd) and the state mayor himself along with the owner of Visconti would be there for the opening ceremony.
The pen and magnifying glass are packaged together with a scroll in a special collector's edition box made from American walnut wood. The top of the box is made from leather and is engraved with the names of the signatories from the historic act.

The most interesting part about the pen is the Fountain Pen’s plunger filler. It is shaped based on the Liberty Bell and the representation of the bell is so detailed that it also has the crack that can be seen on the original bel. The nib of the pen is made with palladium ( not gold) and in the last one year we have seen some raving positive comments on this new element for nib.

Original pen’s filler shaped like Liberty bell compared with the original bell at Philadelphia.

The Visconti Declaration of Independence Pen also has the important event in US history captured in picture. I believe one of them is Thomas Jefferson,third president of United States and the principal author of the declaration of independence

Visconti is releasing this pen in Sterling Silver Edition which is more common and also gold very limited edition. The details on the pen is very intricate and the workmanship is worth. In the past when talking to Dante ( believe it or not Dante has a hand in every pen made), he had mentioned that he makes one pen gives it to his staff to use it and then when they say that they feel good about that pen, then only he proceeds to make more of them with the same metrics.
Here are the details of the Product Specification.
Silver Edition: Limited to 776 pens in silver
Material: Natural resin
Nib: 23kt Palladium one tone white nib
Trims: Aged 925 Sterling silver
Fountain: $2,950
Rollerball: $2,850
Gold Edition: Limited of 76 pens in 18kt gold
Material: Natural resin
Nib: 23kt Palladium two tones
Trims: Aged 18kt rose gold
Fountain: $26,950
Rollerball: $26,750

The Gold prices are way to high(may be something to do with the current market prices of the Gold) but they are also very limited. Down the lane in future it may be priceless ,once the entire edition is sold out.
Close up view of the cap

We are taking on this pen, and you can call 1800- 263-2736 to reserve your pen. The shipping will be starting in February 1st week after the Philadelphia Pen Show.

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Back to school…Labor Day ,End of Summer..

Despite it having no inherent celebratory traditions that I am aware of, Labor Day manages to be one of the most widely recognized holidays in North America. Not because anyone actually spends time to appreciate the working class (which I think is the actual point), but because it is the official “end” of summer. There are no more family reunions, bonfires, impromptu visits to the beach, amusement parks, pool parties, road trips and all the other things that make summers the highlight of the year. Like the dull feeling of dread you get before you go to bed on a Sunday night, Labor Day heralds forth a new season that crams together and intensifies feelings of stress and worry into one shopping-packed month that will make you never want to set foot into a WalMart or Target ever again.
Buying supplies for young ones is easy. Other than new clothes and a backpack to replace the ruined one from last year, the usual materials will be pens, pencils, colored pencils, notebooks, marble notebooks, and just to be safe a pack of markers. When kids get older, say High School, teachers inexplicably get the urge to send you and your kids on a city-wide hunt to collect the most absurd and utterly arbitrary materials you have ever seen listed on a sheet of paper titled School Supplies. This tiring crusade, which could take a couple days to complete, is so time-consuming and exhausting that it makes you want to drive down to the schoolhouse and demand to know what your kids could possibly be doing with the items requested. (Why is it mandatory for them to have HB-H1 drawing pencils in Art 1? A shaded baseball should be the most complicated thing they’re drawing at that point, and it certainly doesn’t require the aforementioned materials.).
College students, on the other hand, face a whole other type of monster. In their case, it’s not so much the amount of off-the-wall materials or the time it takes to acquire them, it’s the cost. It’s my personal opinion that a major reasons kids don’t go to college is because no one in their right mind wants to pay $145.00 to rent a textbook on Medical Transcription Techniques that they will use, hopefully, at least three times before having to give it back.
Despite all of these seasonal stresses, there is undeniably something a little bit exciting – in the beginning, anyway – about restocking your shelves, backpacks and briefcases with Back-To-School materials. There will always be something gratifying about the smell and feel of crisp, factory manufactured, paper crinkling softly as you leaf through the pages. There will always be something comforting about opening a new pack of multi-colored pencils and momentarily debating which one you want to write with first. There will always – and this is as close as I can get to a guarantee – be a freeing feeling when your pen glides across your papers and leaves a distinctive flourish with every swish and swipe of the nib.
For the little ones, the Pelikano Starter Nib Fountain Pen’s light heft, sturdiness and eye-catching fluorescent colors make it a perfect starter for their journey into the world of education and fine penmanship. The Lamy Safari Lime Green Fountain Pen is a little narrower and more sophisticated, but its bright green barrel doesn’t let it lose an ounce of playfulness. For those who want something a little more sleek and chic, the Joy Calligraphy Fountain pen is the way to go. This beautiful expression of personality and individuality boasts a shiny black plastic body that is stylishly complimented by a bright red spring brass wire clip and a stainless steel nib. For the more conservative spenders, the Sheaffer Calligraphy Maxikit possesses everything you will need to be a master calligrapher. There are three pen color-coded nib grades (fine, medium and broad) and two ink cartridges per pen that all come together to create a product containing all the ideal instruments for calligraphers of every level. For those who wish to spend a little extra in a gift for a loved one going off to college or starting a new corporate job this fall, the Visconti Rembrandt Calligraphy Pen Set is a truly heartwarming gift. The set includes 2 German made palladium-plated nib sections (italic 0.5, italic 1.5 and medium), a bottle of black Visconti ink, 2 pen holders, a Visconti calligraphy booklet, Visconti blotting paper and three converters. Made from variegated resin, each pen is made unique through subtle marbling of color in a stunning replication of the Rembrandt painting technique, Chiaroscuro. No matter what you get – or don’t get, depending on how frustrated you end up getting – this Back-To-School season, make sure they’re items that make you feel just a little bit warmer inside when you pull them out on the first day of school. Items that make you feel, secretly, somewhere in a tiny long-lost corner of your heart, that you actually genuinely enjoyed supply shopping.
Until Labor Day rolls around again, that is.

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