Hands On With the TWSBI Diamond 580 Smoke and Rose Gold II Fountain Pen

April 24, 2021

Disclaimer: I am an authorized TWSBI retailer and sell select TWSBI products in my shop. My goal, as it has always been, is to offer detailed discussions and overviews of products so that you can make an informed decision about what you ultimately decide to purchase. I strongly encourage readers to do as much research as they can, including from sources other than me, before making any purchasing decision.

The original TWSBI Diamond 580 Smoke and Rose Gold quickly became something of a coveted collector’s item, alongside the TWSBI Micarta, since it turned out to be one of TWSBI’s “experimental” runs intended to test a new design element. Dissatisfied with the look of the original rose gold plating and its durability over time, TWSBI did not re-release a rose gold pen for several years. The latest version, dubbed the “Smoke and Rose Gold II, features the same improved plating found on the rose gold ECO fountain pens, modified to increase both durability and visual warmth, and in my opinion looks much better. It might be my favorite TWSBI currently on the market.

The nibs on the Rose Gold ECO, left, and the Rose Gold 580, right. While the 580 does feature the replaceable nib units, as of the time of writing TWSBI does not sell rose gold units separately.

Rose gold trim has grown in popularity in recent years, and has made up a sizable percentage of my own recent acquisitions. In addition to the White/Rose Gold TWSBI ECO, I’ve also added a Montblanc 149 and a Leonardo Furore. While I don’t dislike standard yellow gold on fountain pens, and have plenty in my personal collection, the reddish warmth of the rose gold (created by adding copper to the alloy) gives the pen some character and makes it look, well, a touch less ordinary. Here, the combination of TWSBI’s rose gold plating and transparent smoke black acrylic on the grip section, cap, and piston knob looks fantastic.

I don’t intend to re-review the TWSBI Diamond 580 fountain pen - you can read my comprehensive review here, as well as the “Workhorse Pens” writeup in which I discuss how I remain a devoted TWSBI 580 fan even as the TWSBI ECO sometimes seems to take center stage as the latest internet darling. Let’s just say that as TWSBI has reiterated and improved upon the design of its flagship piston filler over the years, I personally think it’s gotten to a point where I have a hard time justifying purchasing similar-looking transparent demonstrators at five to six times the price. As a result, I have a lot of TWSBIs in my collection, and usually have at least one in rotation.

The TWSBI ECO has been attracting more and more attention for good reason: The inexpensive piston filler fountain pen comes in a wide array of colors and finishes, and sits at a price point that makes it easy to rapidly expand your collection.

In addition to just showcasing how good this pen looks, I do want to talk a bit more about the 580’s overall value proposition and why I continue to love TWSBI as a company. TWSBI has always striven to position itself as a manufacturer that creates fountain pens that punch way above their price, offering a great writing experience, a generally high level of quality control, and responsive customer service. The Smoke and Rose Gold II presents a case in point: here you have a piston-filling fountain pen with rose gold plated trim priced at $84.99. To me, that’s a very attractive offering, even if it does nudge this particular pen a touch above the standard $50-60 for a standard TWSBI Diamond 580 Clear or Diamond 580 ALR. Pricing is always relative - what is inexpensive for some is not always the same for others - which is why the having the ECO as a lower-cost alternative presents such a great option.

But how do you maintain quality control on a pen like this at the sub-$100 price point? All I can speak to personally is this: In the past two years I have acquired approximately a dozen TWSBI pens from multiple sources, and I have had no issues. And while I have experienced minor issues in the now-distant past (i.e., more than two years ago) I have never had a problem that TWSBI has not promptly fixed, mostly involving dry nibs and one instance of a minor plastic crack. TWSBI has remained on my Recommendations Lists for years, and it wouldn’t be there, much less stocked in my own shop, if I didn’t have confidence in the manufacturer and their willingness to stand behind their product.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I love TWSBI pens, and as long as they continue to release knockouts such as the Smoke and Rose Gold II, they will feature prominently in my collection. Personally, I’m still holding out for a Micarta reissue, and maybe another run of the 580 RBT, which was the Taiwan tribute edition with the red cap and blue piston. (Something tells me I may be waiting for that Micarta for a long time.)

I currently stock select TWSBI pens and inks in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, including pens from the Diamond 580 and ECO lines. The Diamond 580 Smoke and Rose Gold II retails for $84.99, and is available in all TWSBI nib widths (EF, F, M, B, and 1.1mm Stub).

Pencil Review: Retro 51 Tornado Pencil

April 10, 2021

I’ve held off writing much on Retro 51 over the past year because I wanted to first see what was happening with the future of the company. As many of you may have heard, Retro 51 announced last year that their owners were retiring, and that the company would be “wound down” over the first six to nine months of 2020. Many were surprised - and a bit puzzled, to be honest - as Retro continued to roll out a seemingly endless stream of special and limited editions, store exclusive pens, and new products throughout the year, only to announce in January 2021 that the company wasn’t closing after all, that it was being acquired by new ownership, and that most of the staff would stay on to maintain continuity of operations.

The Retro 51 “The System” Pencil designed by my friend, Mike Dudek of Dudek Modern Goods and The Clicky Post. I have a pen/pencil set, and it’s probably my favorite of all the Retro 51s.

While Retro 51 has never been one of my main collecting interests, the possibility of any pen company shutting down made me sad. While I’m glad to see the pens will still be available, and presumably all the Retro employees will keep their jobs, I will admit to some unease about how the company took an entire year to announce the “change in plans,” presumably knowing that fans were snapping up Retro 51 pens as “last chance” purchases because - as far as they knew - Retro 51 was shutting down. For now, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt until we know more details about what happened over this past year and the plans new ownership has for the company.

Shown here in-hand, the Retro 51 “Albert” pencil from the Vintage Metalsmith Collection.

But back to the substance of today’s review: the Retro 51 Tornado Pencil, a somewhat unique writing instrument that’s often overshadowed by its (much) more famous sibling, the Retro 51 Tornado Rollerball. Shape-wise, the pen and pencil versions of the Tornado are identical, save for the large (and very good) eraser on the pencil. The pencil even uses the same twist mechanism to retract the lead, which is an ultra-wide 1.15mm. In terms of weight and balance, the Tornado Pencil and Rollerball feel nearly identical, so if you’re a fan of one, you’ll like the other. IF you can get past the lead size….

That brings me to the main downside of this product. A 1.15mm mechanical pencil lead is extremely broad - almost as broad as a leadholder pencil, but still too narrow to sharpen in a lead pointer. That leaves you with a rather blunt pencil point. For me, it limits the utility because I can’t write small, and annotations/marginalia while reading are my primary use case for mechanical pencils. You also won’t find many refill options other than the Retro 51-branded option, as 1.15mm is an odd size, and you’re typically stuck with standard HB grade without the option to go darker or harder.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Overall, the Retro 51 Tornado is a good mechanical pencil, and I keep a couple in my collection. Since I enjoy writing small, the lead size on the Tornado Pencil makes regular use a challenge, despite the functional twist design and quality build. When I do use this pencil, it’s typically to jot quick notes to myself. Those with larger handwriting, or who prefer a broader pencil point for things like drawing, may not be bothered by the lead size, and if you find standard woodcase or mechanical pencil barrels too narrow, you may appreciate the more substantial Tornado.

Writing sample shown here against a Rotring 800 with a .5mm lead. Paper is the Write Notepads Engineer Notebook.

Retro 51 Tornado Pencils are available for purchase individually, or as part of a pen/pencil set, from most Retro 51 dealers such as our friends at Vanness Pens. stand-alone pencils are priced between $40-45 and sets anywhere from $60-80, depending on the edition. This pricing is consistent with most high-quality mechanical pencils and the Retro 51 Tornado Rollerball, which I consider good value. Refills are somewhat difficult to find, given the uncommon lead diameter, but are mostly available from Retro 51 dealers.

Mechanical Pencil Review: Ohto Sharp APS-280E

March 31, 2021

In belated celebration of National Pencil Day (which was yesterday), I decided to dig back through my “stationery drawer of shame” and pull out a product that I’ve owned for years but never formally reviewed. (To be honest, there are multiple “drawers of shame.” And cabinets. And storage bins. But we won’t go there.) Close at hand I found a quirky mechanical pencil that struck me as the perfect way to celebrate our appreciation for pencils both woodcase and mechanical: the Ohto Sharp .5mm mechanical pencil.

[Note: Since I didn’t post a review on National Pencil Day, I’m extending the National Pencil Day promotional code until 11:59pm ET tonight. Take 10% off your order of pencils and/or pencil sharpeners in the Curated Shop using the code “PENCILDAY” at checkout!]

Established in 1929, Ohto is a long-standing Japanese stationery brand that is best known for their mechanical pencils, ballpoints, and rollerballs. (Reviews of Ohto fountain pens are best described as, ahem, “mixed.”) While Ohto makes a wide range of different writing instruments, the one that’s repeatedly caught my eye is the Ohto Sharp .5mm pencil, in which the company has hollowed out a traditional woodcase pencil body and inserted a .5mm mechanical pencil mechanism. The knock, (or “clicker”) is inserted into the ferrule and includes a traditional pink eraser. While it does rattle a bit as you write, overall, I was impressed at how well this contraption actually works.

The eraser pops out of the Ohto Sharp, exposing the tube that holds the pencil leads. (You can also purchase replacement erasers.)

So why does this product exist at all? Apart from just being a neat design idea, the Ohto Sharp caters to those who enjoy the feel of a woodcase pencil, but either (1) write very small and don’t enjoy constantly sharpening a pencil to maintain a needle point; and/or (2) prefer their woodcase pencils at a specific length, namely when they’ve been sharpened a handful of times. I fall into both categories, and marveled at how much fun it was to use this pencil to make tiny notes and annotations in a way that you can only really do with a mechanical pencil, yet with the comfort and balance of a hexagonal woodcase pencil at what I consider a great length.

I love woodcase pencils when they are just about this length - probably sharpened 3-5 times, depending on the pencil.

Shown next to a Blackwing Volume 3, which I would estimate has been sharpened approximately 4-5 times.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I’ve enjoyed the Ohto Sharp, and will probably keep one in my regular pencil rotation, especially when I’m traveling and don’t have a convenient opportunity to use a sharpener. (I was going to say that I plan to pick up another, but while I was writing this review, further digging in the “drawer of shame” revealed another Sharp, still sealed in its packaging, this time in a natural finish!) While I’m set for the .5mm version, there’s also apparently a 2mm leadholder version, which I have not used.

I should mention that the Ohto Sharp is, effectively, a disposable mechanical pencil. While I’ve owned this particular pencil for several years without incident, others have had issues with the Ohto Sharp jamming, and if so, you likely will not be able to disassemble the pencil in order to repair it. This doesn’t bother me too much - priced around $5, it’s not too expensive to replace, and as I mentioned, I’ve used one of my Sharp pencils on and off for about three years without experiencing any problems.

I acquired the pencil featured in this review at Kinokuniya Bookstore in New York, with my own funds, for my own personal use. I was not compensated for this review and this post does not include affiliate links. Ohto products are available online from a variety of retailers, and this is one that I may look to add to the Curated Shop in the future.

Vintage Gem: The Dixon Ticonderoga Woodgrain Pencil

January 27, 2021

While the standard Ticonderoga sold in stores has been on and off my “favorites” list over the years, depending on quality control at any given time, recent iterations have been on the lower end of the quality spectrum and it’s fallen out of favor. Fortunately, I have a “healthy” stock of vintage pencils, including a few dozen of the coveted Ticonderoga “Woodgrain” pencils.

I took mainly pencils with me while I was away this week, including the Ticonderoga Woodgrain and Blackwing 10001. (As an aside, I’m not sure I’m digging the five sides on the latter. It’s weirdly uncomfortable.)

I’m not a pencil historian, so I don’t know exactly when these were sold, but since mine are marked “U.S.A.,” I’m going to assume they’re well over ten years old. (Dixon ceased production in the U.S. sometime in the 2000s.) If I had to guess, these pencils likely date from the late 1990s, early 2000s, and have aged well. The erasers remain soft, and the wood sharpens better than many of the more expensive pencils in my collection.

The Ticonderoga actually sharpens better than this particular Blackwing Volumes edition (maybe due to the odd shape of the latter?). Point here is done with a M+R Castor.

While the graphite on this pencil is a touch harder than I prefer, the finish is absolutely beautiful. To think that not so long ago, you could get a pencil like this in an office supply store for a few bucks a dozen makes me sad (and a little angry, honestly), given that the closest equivalent I have in my collection now costs more than $3 per pencil.

Both of these pencils felt oddly locale-appropriate.

Since the Ticonderoga Woodgrains are no more, you’ll need to resort to scouring eBay. While standard vintage U.S.A.-made Ticonderogas are fairly easy to find (you can still get a half gross for around $45 shipped), the Woodgrain variant is rare. I actually received these as a pleasant surprise, when I purchased a larger eBay lot and found that it included three dozen of the pencils shown here.

Bring Back Jumbo Pencils as a Standard Stationery Item!

December 17, 2020

Or, at the very least, make good ones more available. Over the years, I’ve written several different posts about my love for jumbo and “mini-jumbo” pencils, ranging from humble school pencils such as the beloved Ticonderoga Laddie to the more exotic (and now discontinued) Caran d’Ache Black Wood. Why do I love these oversized pencils so much? It pretty much comes down to comfort.

A well-made round or hexagonal jumbo pencil offers one of the most comfortable writing experiences around. The problem seems to be (1) availability and (2) the fear of looking like a little kid writing with a giant pencil. IMHO, these two things go hand-in-hand. If the only jumbo pencils on the market are designed for, and marketed to, kindergartners, well, that’s going to affect perception and negatively impact demand. I’m doing my best to change that.

What sharpener put that point on the Black Wood? It’s the Classroom Friendly Jumbo Sharpener, which I’ve previously reviewed. While you may pay a premium for the smooth Caran d’Ache graphite, the pencils have excellent point retention, and my Black … — What sharpener put that point on the Black Wood? It’s the Classroom Friendly Jumbo Sharpener, which I’ve previously reviewed. While you may pay a premium for the smooth Caran d’Ache graphite, the pencils have excellent point retention, and my Black Woods have lasted me a ***long*** time.

Five years ago, Swiss Brand Caran d’Ache sold a hexagonal jumbo pencil called the Black Wood, which I mentioned above. The Black Wood packed an oversized core of high-quality, Caran d’Ache HB graphite into a sleek black pencil which, to me, became the ultimate pencil for journaling and drafting longer pieces of writing by hand. Even ardent pencil lovers appreciate how a standard hexagonal pencil can get uncomfortable if you’re writing for hours, and this larger format offered both bigger facets and softer edges to grip. I bought a half-dozen or so, and as luck would have it, when I went to procure a larger supply, they had been discontinued.

This is one of the better pictures I’ve been able to take, in terms of duplicating the Klein Blue pantone on a screen.

This fall, Caran d’Ache announced a collaboration with the estate of French artist Yves Klein, known for his signature shade of ultramarine, “Klein Blue.” Caran d’Ache reissued a number of products from their catalog in this color, including a jumbo pencil! Of course, to my chagrin, when I went to order the line for the store, the jumbo pencil was the one item that sold out immediately. A month or so later, Caran d’Ache apparently decided to release more, because I was recently received a few dozen of what they refer to as the Klein Blue “Maxi” HB Pencil, which appears to be a Black Wood reborn in a Klein Blue barrel, featuring the same smooth oversized HB core. (I might have put a few aside for myself this time. We do need “shop testers,” after all.)

A size comparison for jumbo pencils, from lower right: Caran d’Ache Klein Blue “Maxi” HB, Blackfeet Indian Pencil (a vintage classic from my childhood), Caran d’Ache Black Wood, Caran d’Ache Swiss Wood, and the Klein Blue Fixpencil, which is now sol… — A size comparison for jumbo pencils, from lower right: Caran d’Ache Klein Blue “Maxi” HB, Blackfeet Indian Pencil (a vintage classic from my childhood), Caran d’Ache Black Wood, Caran d’Ache Swiss Wood, and the Klein Blue Fixpencil, which is now sold out but standard versions are in stock.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

To summarize: I think jumbo pencils are great, but there’s a paucity of quality ones on the market. “School pencils” such as the Ticonderoga Laddie and “My First Ticonderoga” that you see at Target and Wal-mart are certainly available - and the Laddie is an excellent cheap pencil for everyday use - but the quality can vary wildly. A safer, more consistent choice for an inexpensive jumbo, in my opinion, is the Musgrave Cub.

When they’re available, Caran d’Ache offers the ultimate jumbo pencil experience. I have a decent stock of the Klein Blue “Maxi” pencils currently available for purchase in The Curated Shop, but my understanding is that this is a limited run and these pencils will not be available as part of the standard lineup. That’s a shame, because based on what I’ve seen to date in terms of demand, Caran d’Ache could sell a lot of these pencils and I would love to have these as an option for everyday writing. Maybe if we make enough noise they’ll bring back the Black Wood? One can dream.

The Gentleman Stationer Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of Caran d’Ache products. Sales through The Curated Shop, the TGS Patreon Program, and affiliations with other sites and retailers are how I fund The Gentleman Stationer. Your support is greatly appreciated!

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