Montblanc-UNICEF-Solitaire-Doue-Classique

Pen Review: Montblanc for UNICEF Solitaire Doue Classique and UNICEF Blue Ink

June 10, 2017

Conventional wisdom says that as you fall deeper and deeper down the stationery rabbit-hole, you start to develop a taste for more expensive products, whether that be a $1000 fountain pen or a $5 pencil. I don’t think that’s necessarily true in the sense that most people think - that you lose your enjoyment for the "simple things" - because I still enjoy a $20 Lamy Safari as much as I do a very expensive pen such as this one, just in a different way. I do think, however, that you start to develop a better sense / appreciation for why certain pens command the pricing that they do, and if your budget allows, become more willing to pay for artistry over pure function. The Montblanc for UNICEF Solitaire Doue is a great example of this.

Background on the Montblanc for UNICEF Line

Before I jump into a review of the pen itself, I wanted to talk a bit about the Montblanc-UNICEF partnership and the idea behind this pen (as well as the other pens in this line and the limited edition ink). UNICEF (short for the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) promotes the rights and wellbeing of children around the world, especially those in impoverished and/or war-torn areas. Montblanc has partnered with UNICEF for years to raise money and awareness - more than $10 million since 2004 - but as far as I know this is the first time Montblanc has released any sort of UNICEF-themed product.

All of the Montblanc for UNICEF pens feature an inlaid sapphire.

In April, Montblanc and UNICEF announced that they would be continuing their partnership. Montblanc’s collaboration with UNICEF focuses on providing access to education, with a particular focus on helping children learn to read and write. Around the same time, Montblanc released a new line of UNICEF-themed pens, as well as a limited edition “UNICEF blue” bottle of ink. Montblanc donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these products to UNICEF.

“Montblanc, in partnership with UNICEF, aims to improve learning conditions for over 5 million children around the world by providing quality learning materials and better teaching. ”

— Montblanc

The Montblanc website sets out the full details of the promotion: “Unicef does not endorse any brand or product. For every piece in the ‘Montblanc for UNICEF Collection’ sold from April 1 2017 to March 31 2018, Montblanc will donate 3% of the proceeds to support UNICEF and its literacy projects, with a minimum amount of $1.5 million being guaranteed by Montblanc.”

3% of each pen sold is not a huge percentage. (To illustrate, 3% would mean that for every $1000 of pen sold, UNICEF would receive $30.) That said, a major aspect of this sort of project is the raising of awareness about the organization, and kudos to Montblanc for choosing UNICEF. I’d also note that Montblanc does not appear to be making money off of a “UNICEF markup.” The pricing is similar, if not a bit lower, than their other “Solitaire Doue” limited editions such as the “Blue Hour”. Given the UNICEF model's platinum plating and trim, inlaid sapphire, and the intricate design and workmanship, this is, in all likelihood, an expensive pen for Montblanc to make and my guess is that the overall profit margin is slim. I’m not at all trying to cast shade on the Montblanc-UNICEF collaboration or any other corporate-charity partnership. UNICEF has been partnering with Montblanc for more than a dozen years, so one can only assume they find the collaboration valuable. The only reason I mention the “real numbers” behind the special edition is because (1) I know people are going to ask, and (2) someone shouldn’t purchase this pen thinking that he or she is making a $1000 contribution to UNICEF. If that’s what you want to do, you’re better off donating to UNICEF directly, and I’d invite you to visit the organization’s webpage to learn more about it.

A Design Inspired by the Rosetta Stone

The design on the cap is “inspired by the Rosetta Stone, an ancient artifact used to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics.”

Now, on to the pen itself. The particular model featured in this review is the Solitaire Doue Classique (145). What does that mean? For starters, the 145 signals that it’s Montblanc’s smaller cartridge-converter pen, as opposed to the larger, piston-filling 146 or 149. (It’s not the smallest fountain pen Montblanc makes. That honor goes to the "W.A. Mozart".) From what I can gather, Montblanc uses “Solitaire Doue” to signify that the pen has a metal cap, which on this pen is platinum plated and engraved with the first letter of alphabets / calligraphies from around the world. Like all models in the Montblanc for UNICEF line, the cap also features an inlaid 1.3mm sapphire. With so many different design elements, you might worry that they would clash or look “too busy,” but Montblanc brings them all together very nicely. Overall, this is a very understated and classy writing instrument that I wouldn't hesitate to break out anywhere, especially in a business meeting.

In my opinion, the Montblanc for UNICEF line has some of the better-looking special edition pens that Montblanc has released.

The barrel is Montblanc’s standard polished “precious resin,” with a twist: a metal end cap, which has the effect of nicely balancing the pen when using it unposted. Presumably, the design is inspired by the metal piston nobs that Montblanc has included on certain of its piston fillers, such as the Meisterstuck 146 Ultra Black. I initially wondered why they would include a similar feature on the cartridge-converter Classique, but after writing with this pen I understood. Despite its comparatively small size, the Solitaire Doue Classique is an extremely comfortable writer. The standard all-resin Classique, which I’ve owned in the past, it a touch too light for me to use without posting the cap, which as all Montblanc owners know will scratch the resin over time if you're not careful.

Nib and Writing Experience

The nib on the Solitaire Doue writes a nice wet line, and I had no trouble with ink starvation, hard starts, or skipping. As with my Heritage 1912, the quality control was exceptional.

The UNICEF Solitaire Doue features a rhodium-plated 18k gold nib, which is not only very soft but, to me, slightly stubbish. This particular pen has a fine nib that writes more like a medium. I’d compare it favorably to the nib on my Heritage 1912, meaning that it’s soft and offers a touch of line variation, but wouldn't be considered flexible or semi-flex. I’ve personally enjoyed Montblanc’s smaller rhodium-plated nibs more than the larger nibs that appear on the 146 or 149, which tend to be more firm.

The Montblanc for UNICEF Pens Are Accompanied by a Limited Edition UNICEF Ink

Along with the pen, Appelboom sent over a bottle of the limited edition Montblanc for UNICEF Ink, which is UNICEF’s signature turquoise. It’s a beautiful color, which has just a touch of sheen and a lot of depth. Like all Montblanc inks, it flows well, dries quickly, and has limited feathering and bleed. I’ll definitely be picking up a bottle of UNICEF blue in the future, but this particular bottle will be given away on the blog early next week, courtesy of Appelboom!

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The pens in the Montblanc for UNICEF line are easily some of my favorite Montblanc special editions in years, and this particular pen is my favorite of the bunch. Barring some unforeseen major expense disrupting my plans, this pen won’t be making its way back to the Netherlands. I enjoy the design, which serves as a nice conversation piece, and the nib on this pen is nothing short of phenomenal. While they're not within my budget, you may also want to check out several other items in the Montblanc for UNICEF collection, including the UNICEF 146, the Blue Solitaire 146, and the Skeleton 149 models.

You can currently purchase this pen (and the ink!) from Appelboom in Laren, the Netherlands. Pricing with VAT included is $1033; without VAT the price is $855. Appelboom is an authorized Montblanc retailer that carries the full Montblanc line, and can fit your pen with one of Montblanc’s specialty nibs such as an oblique broad (OB), oblique medium (OM), or double broad (BB) if you so desire.

Disclaimer: Appelboom loaned me this pen and the ink free of charge for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this review.

Pen Review: Introducing Benu Pens (and Another Giveaway!)

May 24, 2017

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Kate Dmitrieva, the co-founder of Benu, a pen company located in Moscow, Russia, asking whether I'd be interested in reviewing some of their products. Intrigued by the unique designs and some really cool looking materials, I agreed and a couple weeks later the pens arrived at my door. Overall, I'm very impressed with the design and the quality of the writing experience, though many might consider the price point a touch high. Benu will be launching a Kickstarter for a new collection at some point in the future, so be on the lookout.

Design and Build

Benu bills their products as "casual chic writing instruments for work and leisure," that are "designed to surprise and delight." There's definitely a certain playfulness to these pens that make them fun to use, somewhat reminiscent of the many different variations Kaweco has released in its "Sport" line. The compact size, light weight, and streamlined "bullet" shape makes these pens a good choice for pocket carry. Benu pens sells its pens in two "collections": the "MINIMA" collection, which is more of a true pocket pen, cartridge-only, and does not post, and the "Essence" collection, which is slightly larger, accepts an international converter, and does post. (Comparison photos are available in the gallery below.)

A size comparison between the Benu "MINIMA" Skull Pen (right) and the "Essence" in Silver Galaxy (left) — A size comparison between the Benu "MINIMA" Skull Pen (right) and the "Essence" in Silver Galaxy (left)

Benu describes their pens as handmade from a variety of interesting "pearlescent" and "adventurescent" acrylic resins, and certain designs feature intricate etchings such as geometric and skull patterns. The four pens I was sent for review include the Classic Black Skull with gold trim and Mystical Green Silver from the MINIMA collection, and the "Silver Galaxy" and "Purple Night Silver" from the Essence collection. All of the acrylics are eye-catching with lots of depth, and I found the detailing on the Skull Pen to be very attractive.

A close-up of Benu's "Silver Galaxy" Resin (left) and the Skull Pen (right)

Nibs and Overall Writing Experience

Benu uses high quality stainless steel nibs from Schmidt. To be honest, the Schmidt nibs surprised me with how well they wrote directly out of the box. The broad nib I tested could almost qualify as a stub, and laid down a thick wet line of ink, while the fine nib wrote equally as smooth.

A shot of the broad, gold-plated Schmidt nib on the Benu Skull pen. Check out the almost stubbish shape of the nib!

The first thing some people might notice is that the section features a relatively large "step down" from the barrel, but this should end up being a non-issue for most people unless they grip the pen very high. The long section offers plenty of room for a variety of grip styles, and never caused me any problems.

Despite the steep "step down," the long section should provide plenty of room for most hands to get a comfortable grip.

While both the "Essence" and the "MINIMA" pens were quite comfortable to hold, I found the slightly larger "Essence" pen to be the most practical for longer writing sessions, due to just the touch of added length, better balance, and the ability to post the cap.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I've enjoyed using the Benu pens for the past few weeks, and I can definitely see them entering my "pocket fountain pen" rotation. The skull pen was an especially pleasant surprise, as I found the somewhat "wild" design to be more understated in person. Benu has been making the rounds lately on the pen blogs, so I'd expect to see more of them in the future as they expand their line and increase availability. The one potential sticking point I see is the relatively high price point (discussed further below), which might intimidate some potential buyers, since Benu is an newer brand that sells exclusively online and doesn't yet have much of a track record in the larger pen community.

Currently, you can only purchase Benu pens directly from the company's website, though I've also been informed that there will be a Kickstarter project to launch a new collection at some point in the future. Pricing on the Benu Pens ranges from $80-120 for the MINIMA fountain pen collection, and $90-120 for the Essence fountain pen collection. The MINIMA is also available as a ballpoint for $90, and the Essence as a rollerball for $95.

While this price point seems high, it's comparable to pricing on the Kaweco Art Sport, which is Kaweco's higher-end collection that periodically features unique resins and acrylics. From what I can tell, however, the Art Sports are limited-run pens that don't seem to be part of Kaweco's permanent lineup, which gives Kaweco a bit more pricing leeway. Over the long term, I'd like to see the pricing on the Benu pens come down by about $15-20, which would make these pens competitive, given the relative lack of serious competition in the $50-100 price range and how well these Benu nibs write. That said, I have no idea how expensive/labor intensive it is to make this particular pen design, especially with some of the crazier materials like Silver Galaxy or the detailing on the Skull Pen.

Last But Not Least - Two Pens to Give Away!

Benu was kind enough to send me multiple pens to review, and I will be giving away two to readers: one MINIMA Fountain Pen in "Mystical Green", and one Essence Fountain Pen in "Purple Night". Giveaway Rules and Conditions are as follows:

In order to enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this blog post indicating which pen you want. While you don't need to provide your full name, be sure to leave at least some identifying information. (A first or last name plus an initial is generally sufficient.) I've included links to the Benu website in order to provide details on each pen, including pictures and retail value.
The giveaway will end at 11:59pm Central Time on Sunday, May 28, 2017.
At the close of the giveaway, I will assign each entry a number and pick two winners using a random number generator. I likely won't be able to ship the pens until early June, since I will be traveling over the next couple of weeks, but I will announce the winners on the blog the following Monday or Tuesday and give each winner exactly one week to contact me to provide a shipping address. Information submitted by entrants and/or winners will be used by me solely to ship your item and will not be sold or otherwise provided to Benu or any other sponsor. In the event more than one person indicates a preference for the same pen, the person who reaches out to me first to claim their prize will have first refusal.
Limit one entry and one prize per person. Your odds of winning are directly proportionate to how many people enter. This giveaway is open to everyone, non-U.S. residents included, though I will have to use the cheapest shipping option available, which may not include tracking.

Disclaimer: I was sent the pens featured in this post free of charge by Benu Pens for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this review. This post may contain affiliate links.

Pen Review: Michael's Fatboy High Voltage TeslaCoil

May 13, 2017

Many thanks to my friend Bob over at My Pen Needs Ink for letting me spend the day with this TeslaCoil pen from Michael's Fatboy. In case you're unfamiliar with Michael's Fatboy, the company is most famous for its large (hence the name) retractable ballpoint/gel pens, though they also sell rollerballs and fountain pens as well. Michael himself is based in Indiana, and is a fixture at some of the larger pen shows, including the Washington, D.C. Supershow and the Los Angeles Pen Show.

Build/Construction

The TeslaCoil series of pens is self-explanatory by virtue of its namesake: the defining features are the copper wire and stainless steel bolts lining the barrel, which is pretty chunky and definitely gives you something to hold onto when you're writing. That said, once you have it in hand, this pen is surprisingly comfortable to write with and is no novelty: it's meant to be used.

The Fatboy features a spring-loaded clip that's bolted onto the pen - it's not going anywhere. That said, I mainly clipped this pen to a pocket inside my bag. It was too bulky to carry comfortably in a shirt pocket.

This particular model has a red and black color scheme, which I love. The lower part of the barrel is lined with what appears to be vulcanized rubber, creating a nice surface to grip. With a metal pen of this size and weight, you need some sort of padding and/or texture, otherwise the pen would slide around and become difficult to manage during longer writing sessions. The pen accepts standard Parker-style ballpoint or gel refills. Here, I believe Bob swapped in a Schmidt EasyFlow 9000, which is my favorite Parker-style ballpoint/hybrid refill.

The length and balance on this pen is perfect, but it's a little too "fat" for me to hold comfortably for long periods of time. To compare, the pen has a similar feel to fatter fountain pens like the Pelikan M1000, Montblanc 149, Delta Dolcevita Ove… — The length and balance on this pen is perfect, but it's a little too "fat" for me to hold comfortably for long periods of time. To compare, the pen has a similar feel to fatter fountain pens like the Pelikan M1000, Montblanc 149, Delta Dolcevita Oversize, or even a Jinhao 159.

Sold separately: a machined metal pen stand with matching trim that rotates on ball bearings. The pen and the stand make for a very nice-looking desk set, and the stand is worth the small upcharge.

Takeaways/Where to Buy

Michael's Fatboy makes some unique pens that brings a different aesthetic to the market, and I'm glad that I was able to try this one out. Despite its size, the pen is generally comfortable to write with, and I can see how someone with larger hands than mine could use this as an everyday writer. Because I have only moderately-sized hands, at the next pen show (probably D.C.) I'm going to test out the "S-Model" series, which is a slimmer pen.

Because of the attention to detail and obvious quality control that goes into manufacturing these pens, they command a premium price. Fountain Pen Hospital has the largest selection that I'm aware of, and the TeslaCoil pen featured in this review goes for $219, with the rotating pen stand available for an extra $45. The slimmer "S-Model" series that I discussed above is less expensive, starting at $85 and up, depending on the material/design you choose.

Pen Review: Sailor 1911 Black Luster

May 10, 2017

This was a very hard review for me to write, and it's been in the works for quite some time. Not because I don't like the pen: to the contrary, the Sailor 1911 Black Luster is one of my favorite writers, alongside the Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black. But while I enjoy the build quality, the "blacked out" color scheme, and the excellent all-around writing experience that this pen offers, I do believe that it's priced too high, at least in the U.S. market.

Design and Build Quality

The Sailor 1911 Black Luster compared to a Montblanc 146.

I've reviewed the regular Sailor 1911 Large before, and as I observed in my previous review, to the untrained eye this pen would be a dead-ringer for a Montblanc 146 (without the Snowcap and piston-filler, of course). The 1911 Black Luster, however, does have some significant differences, featuring black ion-plated trim on the clip, cap band, and barrel. It also has a metal ion-plated section, which gives the pen a totally different feel in-hand. It's front-weighted, which when paired with the somewhat softer ion-plated nib (discussed further below), makes for a comfortable writing experience without throwing off the balance. Ordinarily I'm not the biggest fan of pens with metal sections, but something about this one is different. Perhaps the ion plating gives it a slightly "grippier" texture? For whatever reason, I haven't had any issues with the section slipping out of my fingers.

Nib and Writing Experience

Like most Sailor nibs, this Hard Fine (or H-F) was an exceptional writer straight out of the box, and wrote a very fine, yet still wet, line. The 21k ion-plated nibs on the Pro Gear Imperial Black and the Black Luster are somewhat "springier" than the standard Sailor nib. They're not flexible, or even close to semi-flex, but they have a bit more cushion and write a slightly wetter line than the hard-as-a-nail H-F or H-M non-plated nibs.

The scrollwork on the Sailor nibs looks especially nice on the black ion-plating.

On a cautionary note: since these blacked out 21k nibs are softer, they are VERY easy to bend and/or spring. I've had to send a couple of them off to be adjusted/straightened due to minor drops that probably wouldn't have affected a 14k (and certainly not a stainless) nib.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Sailor 1911 Black Luster is one of those pens that falls victim to Sailor's strange pricing differences between the U.S. and Japan. While Sailor always prices their "blacked out" pens higher than their other models, here the U.S. "street price" of a 1911 Black Luster is $392, compared to $248 for the regular 1911 Large. To make things even more difficult for U.S. retailers, Japanese sellers typically have the Black Luster listed anywhere from $200-260 on eBay, while there's not nearly as large of an "eBay discount" on the regular 1911.

Note: I'm not going to link to any specific eBay sellers here, because I haven't put any serious effort into vetting specific individual sellers and any eBay purchase should be made only if one is well-aware of the risks (i.e. potential fakes, long shipping times, bait-and-switch, etc.).

I love this pen, but at the nearly $400 price point, I would say that you'd have to want this pen pretty badly to pay Sailor's current asking price. While the ion-plated nib and section obviously adds some cost to the pen, the total price strikes me as a bit steep. That said, I much prefer the balance and the nib of the 1911 Black Luster over the Montblanc Meisterstuck Ultra Black, and the pricing on the Black Luster compares favorably to the Montblanc. If you're considering spending $650+ on the blacked-out Montblanc, I'd consider the Black Luster as an alternative.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own collection. This post contains affiliate links. Any discussion of pricing and availability is current as of the time of publication of this review.

Pen Review: Cleo Skribent Classic and Colour

May 4, 2017

After years of pen blogging, It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find brands that I haven’t tried. Sure, new brands come out occasionally, but it’s rare that I come across an established pen manufacturer with which I have little to no familiarity. When I visited New Orleans last month, I made sure to stop in at Papier Plume in the French Quarter, one of the few retailers of Cleo Skribent writing instruments in the United States. I ended up purchasing two pens: the Classic Palladium (piston filler version) and the Cleo Skribent Colour edition in burgundy.

Both the Classic Palladium (right) and the Colour (left) have the Cleo Skribent logo set into the cap finial.

About the Brand

Cleo Skribent is based in Bad Wilsnack, Germany, in the Prignitz region. Because the brand developed and emerged in East Germany prior to German reunification, Cleo writing instruments are less well-known in the United States and Western Europe, but have a storied reputation for quality in Eastern and Central Europe.

The Cleo Skribent branding on the Classic Palladium is tasteful and understated.

The Company now, of course, sells worldwide, and bills itself as “one of only a few companies to truly produce completely in Germany.” While they operate their own factory, it is unclear whether or not the Company manufactures all of its parts in house, or source components such as nibs from other German manufacturers like Bock and JoWo.

Build

The Cleo Skribent Classic model has a nice ink window, and holds a good amount of ink.

These pens are both solidly built. Let’s start with the Cleo Skribent Classic with Palladium trim. I chose this pen in white, with the piston filler and large clear ink window. The piston mechanism is accessed via a vintage-style removable blind cap. Cleo Skribent also makes a cartridge/converter model of the Classic, without the ink window and blind cap. One of the more remarkable things about this pen is the weight: even with a piston, the pen is feather-light. Hand fatigue will not be an issue, even if you're someone who needs your fountain pen to churn out pages of notes or schoolwork on a daily basis. The Classic could be your workhorse.

You don't see this much anymore in modern pens: a piston-knob concealed by a blind cap.

Made from brushed aluminum, the Cleo Skribent Colour is heftier than the Classic, though still light enough to be comfortable for long periods of writing. The clip and the section are both accented in burgundy, are very "grippy" for a metal pen, and the hand-enameled nib lends the pen a unique look. The friction-fit cap closes securely and, important for me, posts deeply - this pen is a better length posted than the Classic, though the Classic’s light weight more than offsets any awkwardness. The Colour uses a cartridge-converter filling system.

Nibs/Writing Experience

I was going to purchase just a Classic, but the hand-enameling sold me on picking up a Colour edition as well.

I’ve written in the past about how good steel nibs can be, and some of the German brands such as Cleo Skribent, Otto Hutt, Diplomat, Pelikan and Faber-Castell excel at both smoothness and reliability, even where the pen companies don’t manufacture the nibs themselves. The nibs on both of these pens are exceptionally smooth writers, with no scratchiness or flow issues that you sometimes see with stainless steel. I opted for a medium nib on the Classic and a Broad nib on the Colour, and while I'm happy with both, I found, somewhat to my surprise, that the two nibs wrote on the narrow side of their designations: the medium writes more like a western fine, and the broad writes more like a traditional medium.

The writing sample for the medium nib was done with Papier Plume Midnight Blue Ink, and the broad nib shows off Papier Plume's limited edition "Streetcar Green".  (All of their limited editions are New Orleans-themed.) — The writing sample for the medium nib was done with Papier Plume Midnight Blue Ink, and the broad nib shows off Papier Plume's limited edition "Streetcar Green". (All of their limited editions are New Orleans-themed.)

While I found the nibs on these Cleo Skribent pens exceptional, my personal preference would be to have slightly less length and a bit more girth on the barrels. In other words, these pens are long and thin, and don't give those with larger hands much to grip. Again, that’s entirely a personal preference, and I must note that I could still use both pens comfortably for long periods of time.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

As I mentioned, I purchased both of these pens at Papier Plume in New Orleans, Louisiana. Papier Plume carries a wide variety of Cleo Skribent pens at various price points. Both pens sell for $110 as featured in this review. The Classic is available in a variety of other color and trim options, and the cartridge-converter model comes in slightly less expensive at $99. The Colour Series fountain pen is also available with aqua blue accents, in addition to the burgundy model.

At $110, I think these pens are a solid value. As others have done, I'd compare Cleo Skribent pens favorably to the Pelikan M200/M205 series, and Cleo Skribent sells at a lower price point. Whether or not you prefer Cleo or Pelikan nibs would be up to you. I would peg these pens as, overall, definitely better writers than something like a TWSBI. Overall, I'm impressed, and I'm excited to try one of Cleo Skribent's higher-end offerings at some point in the future.

Disclaimer: I purchased these pens with my own funds, for my own collection, and was not compensated for writing this review. This post does contain affiliate links.

Background on the Montblanc for UNICEF Line

A Design Inspired by the Rosetta Stone

Nib and Writing Experience

The Montblanc for UNICEF Pens Are Accompanied by a Limited Edition UNICEF Ink

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Design and Build

Nibs and Overall Writing Experience

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Last But Not Least - Two Pens to Give Away!

Build/Construction

Takeaways/Where to Buy

Further Reading

Design and Build Quality

Nib and Writing Experience

Takeaways and Where to Buy

About the Brand

Build

Nibs/Writing Experience

Takeaways and Where to Buy

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