Pen Review: Taccia Spectrum

Many smaller pen brands perennially get lost in the noise and excitement surrounding new product announcements from well-established companies such as Sailor, Pilot, Aurora, etc. To me, Taccia is a perfect example. Taccia has released and hyped some odd pens in the past, that appeal to more of a niche customer than the wider market (the Taccia Savanna, anyone?). This year, that changed, when they announced the release of the Spectrum and the Pinnacle - two classic-looking pens that received mainstream attention. I had my first opportunity to handle the Spectrum at this year's Baltimore Pen Show, and while the pen impressed, I felt the price point was high. I also thought the pen was maybe a touch - boring? - but the main sticking point was value. In my mind, I kept comparing it to the Platinum 3776, which offered similar aesthetics and an exceptional gold nib at a similar, and sometimes lower, price.   

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The Taccia Spectrum compared against what I'd consider to be its closes "rival," the Platinum 3776 Century. The two pens have a similar shape, but different hardware. 

The Spectrum gained some momentum through the year, and because I kept hearing so much about this pen I wanted to give it a more thorough review than my initial "pen show" impressions. As I mentioned above, Taccia started out selling these pens for $160, the high-end of the market for a rather basic pen with a stainless steel nib, and a price point that placed the Spectrum in direct competition with the Platinum 3776 and the Sailor 1911 Standard. Retailers have since lowered the price of the Spectrum to $127, which is a MUCH better deal, and brings this pen into a range at which I can comfortably recommend it.

Build and Writing Experience

The Spectrum is a classic, cigar-shaped pen that I could comfortably use posted or unposted. With the rounded ends, the shape reminds me, again, of the Platinum 3776 or even a Nakaya Portable writer. I did find myself wishing that the cap posted just a touch deeper, like the cap on the Platinum, but I probably value this sort of versatility more than most - I'm a hardcore "poster." There's also a bit of a step from the body to the grip section and metal threads. Neither bothered me, but be advised of the potential issue if sharper threads and steps on pens have a tendency to dig into your hand.  

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The Spectrum comes in three attractive shades of translucent acrylic: Merlot (which is a brighter red than the name would suggest), Ocean Blue, and Forest Green (reviewed here, which in person looks lighter and a bit more teal). These technically qualify as "demonstrator" pens, but the effect is more subtle here since the acrylic isn't completely transparent. 

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The one design choice I wish Taccia had done differently was the logo - this appears to be an applied logo - not etched - so I worry it may wear off over time. 

Taccia and Sailor share a U.S. distributor (Itoya), and Taccia has leaned heavily on their relationship with Sailor when marketing this pen. Both the Spectrum and the Pinnacle feature Sailor stainless steel nibs. The Taccia representative in Baltimore indicated that a gold-nib option was available for a sizeable upcharge, but I've not seen this option available at retailers so far.

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No complaints whatsoever about the Sailor stainless steel music nib - it was super smooth, with a ton of tipping material. 

The stainless steel music nib on the Spectrum is more appropriately characterized as a stub - Sailor music nibs don't have three tines, as you would find on a classic music nib. My Spectrum wrote quite smoothly, with a surprisingly even ink flow more suitable to my writing style than the wetter 14k or 18k Sailor music nibs I've tried in the past. I didn't experience any skipping or hard starting. 

The review ink here is Monteverde Caribbean Blue. This Sailor steel music nib gave me decent line variation, and wrote a slightly narrower line than its 18k and 14k equivalents. 

Takeaways and Where to Buy 

At the current price point, Taccia is competing not only against other high-quality steel-nibbed pens like the Diplomat Aero and the Pelikan M205, but also against the Platinum 3776 and the Sailor 1911 Standard, both of which feature very nice 14K nibs. Based on my brief experience with the Spectrum, it should hold its own, though this market segment can be difficult to thrive in given the extent of the competition. The nib is the key selling point here, and if you're a fan of Sailor nibs and like the aesthetics of the Spectrum you won't be disappointed.    

Many thanks to the awesome team at Anderson Pens for loaning me this pen to review. Anderson Pens stocks both the Taccia Spectrum and the Taccia Pinnacle in a wide range of nib options, from extra fine to music. The Spectrum is currently priced at $127, and the Pinnacle at $119. 

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Taccia pens on display alongside some gorgeous celluloid Platinum 3776s at the Anderson Pens table at the 2017 D.C. Pen Show.  On the far left, the Taccia Pinnacle, followed by two Taccia Spectrums in Blue Ocean and Merlot. 

Further Reading 

The team at Hand Over That Pen reviewed the Taccia Spectrum a few weeks back. Check out their review here. Apparently their review units were provided directly by Taccia, so they had the opportunity to sample both the steel and gold nibs. 

Disclaimer: Anderson Pens loaned me this Taccia Spectrum for review purposes at no charge. This post may contain affiliate links. 

Pen Review: Visconti Rembrandt Back to Black Edition

Of all the major pen brands, Visconti might be the one with which I have the least amount of experience. I own one Visconti pen - the Homo Sapiens Dark Ages - but very few of their offerings have spoken to me to the point where I would be willing to pay the premium prices that most Visconti pens command. Sure, there are a few special and limited editions that have made my "someday" short list (i.e., something with the Wall Street celluloid), but what's kept me from diving into Visconti in the same way that I have with other brands is Visconti's reputation for having QC issues with their nibs. Given that Visconti's signature 23kt palladium "Dreamtouch" nibs are somewhat high-maintenance, I wanted to see how the company did with something more basic. Appelboom was kind enough to loan me a steel-nibbed Visconti Rembrandt "Back to Black" for review.  

Design and Build

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The Visconti Rembrandt features a classic streamlined profile with very few adornments or flourishes, other than the finial and the engraved cap band. The most notable feature of the Rembrandt is the magnetic closure, which reminds me a bit of the cap on the Steel & Flint pocket pen in that it makes a slight "pop" when you cap/uncap it (though not as audible). The Rembrandt also features Visconti's signature spring-loaded "bridge" clip, modeled after the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, which appears on most other Visconti pens. People either love this clip or hate it - some think it looks ostentatious, but I find it to be one of the more understated elements of Visconti design, which can be ornate and a bit over the top. The clip doubles as an excellent roll-stopper.  

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Visconti's signature "Bridge Clip"

Visconti clearly intended the Rembrandt to serve as a "workhorse" pen. It's nicely balanced and a comfortable writer that I was fine using either posted or unposted. Some might find the metal section slippery, though generally ruthenium plating tends to add some "grippiness." Also, note that there are NO THREADS on this pen due to the magnetic closure, allowing for maximum versatility in how you grip the pen (low, high, etc.). I don't generally have a problem with section threads hurting my fingers unless they're exceptionally sharp, but if this is something that regularly poses an issue for your, the Rembrandt may be worth checking out.

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Visconti "My Pen" Finial

The Rembrandt features Visconti's "My Pen" system, which you can use to swap out the finial on the cap for a personalized initial, zodiac sign (yes, I'm not kidding), or birthstone.

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Nib and Writing Experience

As much as I wanted to love this pen, things fell apart with the nib, which was dry and "squeaky," for lack of a better term. The pen wasn't necessarily scratchy, but I could definitely feel and hear a LOT of feedback from the nib. I suspect this is probably due to the coating applied to the steel nib to give it the "blacked out" look. I've experienced variations of the same thing with other coated or plated steel nibs, but not this severe.

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If you're considering this pen (or really any Visconti, for that matter), I'd add $40-60 to the cost to cover your nib work. You may luck out and get one that writes perfectly out of the box, but you're just as likely (if not more likely) to get a dry writer, hard starter, or skippy pen. To illustrate how all over the place Visconti's nib QC can be, check out Matthew's review of a different, unplated Rembrandt nib over at Nib & Ink, where he had a completely different (positive) experience.  

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This broad nib definitely needs to be smoothed and have the ink flow increased. The ink is Kaweco Paradise Blue. 

Takeaways and Where to Buy

While I appreciated the look, feel, and balance of the Visconti Rembrandt "Back to Black," the coated steel nib didn't do it for me, though at Appelboom's attractive pricing you may still have room in your budget for a nib tuning. If I were going to purchase this pen, I'd personally consider paying extra to upgrade to the 23kt Palladium "Dreamtouch" nib. While those have their own issues, and typically need some minor adjustments, they are capable of being outstanding writers with a lot of character. 

Appelboom is currently offering the Visconti Rembrandt Back to Black edition for $129 US (excluding VAT). The "Dreamtouch" upgrade to the 23kt palladium nib costs an extra $140. 

Disclaimer: This pen was loaned to me for review purposes by Appelboom. I was not otherwise compensated for this review, and all views expressed here are my own.

Pen Review: Montegrappa Fortuna in White, Silver, and "The Mule"

Montegrappa is one of those brands that didn't make it onto my radar until relatively recently, when I was offered the opportunity to borrow one of their higher-end Passione pens in a stunning red celluloid. My positive experience with that pen got me interested in learning more about the brand, so I placed an order for a Montegrappa Fortuna in white with ruthenium trim. At the same time, Cary at Kenro Industries (Montegrappa's U.S. distributor) loaned me two additional pens: the recently released Fortuna Silver and one of last year's "it" pens, the Montegrappa Mule, which is essentially a copper and steel Fortuna. (You may recall seeing photographs from "Mule parties" on the pen show circuit.)

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First Impressions

Aesthetically, the Fortuna ticks all the right boxes for me. I love the shape of this pen, which is a variant of the classic cigar shape and fits into my hand nicely. I also appreciate the classic, understated design - not always something that I can say about Montegrappa pens, especially on some of their more elaborate creations.

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The coating on the brushed stainless steel Fortuna Silver reflects the light in a way that makes the pen appear to have varying shades of light and dark. The effect is very attractive and gives what would otherwise be a relatively plain stainless steel pen a more unique look. 

The build on these pens is quite sturdy - you don't have to worry about the Fortuna (and certainly not the copper and steel versions) holding up to the rigors of everyday use.  All feature very tight "rollerball" clips, and if I had one critique on the build it would be that the clips are too tight - it's often hard to get this pen to clip to a shirt pocket or a pen slot in one of my bags. 

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Montegrappa Fortuna engraved cap band and "roller" clip

These pens also feature metal threads, which is likely a good thing for durability, but at least on my white Fortuna causes the threads to "squeak" a little bit when capping/uncapping. The noise is less pronounced on the all-metal pens, so it may have something to do with the black coating on the trim.  One thing I do appreciate is that while the barrel threads are metal, the internal threads (on the inside of the cap) are plastic, even on the Mule and Fortuna Silver. That way, when you post the pen the threads won't scratch the barrel, as pretty much always happens to any other pen with a metal cap. (Montblanc, take a hint here.)  

Writing Experience

All three of the Fortunas were extremely comfortable writers. The acrylic pen is a fairly light pen, and the easiest to write with for an extended period of time.  The metal threads at the front of the pen give it a nice forward balance with good control. Even the (much) heavier Fortuna Silver (made of stainless steel) and the Mule (made of copper) don't feel too heavy, due to the shape of the pen and how the weight is distributed.  I could use any of these three pens posted or unposted, which surprised me a bit because all-metal pens typically tire my hand out after about a page. Montegrappa did an excellent job of designing around an issue which could potentially make the Mule and the Fortuna Silver unusable for a lot of people. 

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While some have experienced flow issues with the Fortuna nibs, these three pens all wrote well without any hard starting or skipping.  Should you experience problems with your nib, I'd first clean the pen with a bit of soapy water (use diluted dish soap) or pen flush to rinse out any manufacturing residue (oils, debris, etc.), and if the problems continue notify your retailer or Kenro, who will take care of you.  I've not heard much about this recently, so Montegrappa may have resolved any production issues.   

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Of these three pens, the white is my favorite, mainly because of the nib.  For some reason that I've not (yet) taken the time to research, black ion or ruthenium-plated nibs tend to be a touch softer than standard gold or steel nibs.  They're not "flexible" by any means, but they do have a bit more bounce to them. The standard steel nib on the Fortuna Silver and the Mule was definitely drier and stiffer than the black plated nib on the white acrylic pen.  I've noticed the same thing on my black ion-plated Sailor Professional Gear Imperial Black and Sailor 1911 Black Luster fountain pens - they're both softer than the standard Sailor gold nibs, which are notorious nails. 

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Another note on the plated nibs - they have a tendency to corrode when used with inks containing iron gall.  I made the mistake of using Montblanc Midnight Blue (old formulation) and Montegrappa Blue Black with this nib, which resulted in the plating wearing away around the nib slit and at the base of the nib. Be warned. 

Montegrappa nibs, in my experience, also write narrower than their designation. The Mule and the Fortuna Silver both had broad nibs that to me were really classic mediums. I'm typically not a "broad nib" person because I do a lot of copy editing and margin annotations at work and need to write fairly small, but I could use this Montegrappa broad nib easily. Even so, I still preferred the medium nib on the white/ruthenium pen. It wrote a consistently wet line and even offered some stub-like line variation on the cross strokes.    

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

Most Montegrappa retailers such as Vanness Pens and Pen Chalet will carry the Fortuna, especially since Montegrappa seems to be making the Fortuna line its primary - and certainly its most accessible - line of pens. That said, "accessibility" is relative, and these pens still come with a luxury premium on the price. The White/Ruthenium Fortuna retails for $290, and the Mule sells for $375.  The recently released Fortuna Silver is priced at $395.  Montegrappa is fairly insistent on retailers adhering to their standard pricing, and while you can sometimes find a slight discount off of MSRP, it's rare.

Are these pens worth the money? As always, it depends on what you are looking for. You can certainly find excellent writers with gold nibs for less money, and I'd personally be hard-pressed to choose the Fortuna over a Sailor Pro Gear, which can be less expensive and is possibly my favorite pen of all time. Price notwithstanding, the size and feel of the Fortuna make it an extremely comfortable pen to use, and Montegrappa has released this pen in some unique, beautiful designs and color schemes, which is the real value here. I highly encourage you to check out the Mosaico Marrakech, as well as the upcoming Fortuna "Heartwood" line.

A big thank you to Kenro Industries for making this review possible, and I look forward to seeing what else Montegrappa has in store for the Fortuna line.  

Disclaimer: I received a discount on my purchase of the White Fortuna directly from Kenro, who also loaned me the Montegrappa Mule and Silver Fortuna for review purposes. This post contains links to affiliates and sponsors.       

Pen Review: Pelikan M101N Bright Red

Pelikan's annual release of its vintage-inspired special edition M101N fountain pen has become a bit of an event, with collectors anxiously awaiting each announcement. Pens in the series have included the M101N Tortoiseshell Red, the M101N Tortoiseshell Brown, and the M101N Lizard. All recreate the look and feel of vintage Pelikan pens from the 1930s. Many thanks to Appelboom for loaning me this year's model, the M101N Bright Red. 

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The Bright Red acrylic does a fairly nice job of mimicking the appearance of vintage celluloid.

Appearance and First Impressions

The Pelikan M101N is larger than I originally anticipated. For some reason, I expected this to be a smaller, almost "pocket-sized" fountain pen. That's not the case - it's a decent sized pen at 4.5" unposted and 6.2" posted. Pelikan packages each pen with its customary white "penvelope," and includes a special bottle of Pelikan 4001 blue "Konigsblau" ink with a vintage-inspired label. It's very attractive packaging, and certainly complements the pen. 

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A nice bonus - this Pelikan 4001 vintage-style "Konigsblau" ink bottle.

To me, two things make the M101N's design distinctive: the cap and the ink window. The cap features an elongated "cap head," with the clip set lower on the cap than you would ordinarily see. It's an interesting look - again, vintage-inspired - but it's not really my thing. The pen also sports 24kt gold trim, and I do appreciate the double cap band. The yellow ink window offers nice visibility, and on this particular pen it provides some variety to what would otherwise be a solid red pen.  

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A close up of the nib, ink window, and "Bright Red" acrylic

You all know that I'm a sucker for red pens, and Pelikan did a nice job with the marbled acrylic. You can tell that they tried to mimic the look of vintage celluloid, and pull it off fairly well (at least to the casual observer). The acrylic doesn't have the camphor smell or warmth of real celluloid, but it's still visually attractive. Both the piston knob and the "cap head" (Pelikan's term) are made from synthetic resin, which supposedly "polishes itself as it is used - meaning that Bright Red continues to shine." Huh. I've never heard that one before, but the material is shiny. Take it for what it's worth. 

Writing Experience

Like nearly all Pelikan pens, the M101N is a piston-filler. And like nearly every Pelikan pen that I've written with, the piston mechanism worked smoothly without a hitch and held a fair amount of ink. The 14kt gold fine nib was moderately wet and wrote what I would characterize as a traditional medium line. Again, this is something I notice with every Pelikan pen out there, and generally recommend that readers purchase one Pelikan nib size down from the size they actually want, if they haven't had the opportunity to try the pen themselves at a pen show. To get a truly extra-fine nib, you'll likely need to have the nib ground.

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Vintage-inspired engraving on the Pelikan M101N Bright Red

The M101N is a very light pen, and would serve nicely as an everyday writing instrument. Posted or unposted, it was comfortable to use, though I found the length a bit too "in-between" for me. The pen was slightly too short unposted, and slightly too long posted. Keep in mind that this reflects my personal preferences more than anything else, but I'd say that this is a pen you'd want to "try before you buy," especially at the price point.  

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Pelikan M101N is a solid pen, and provides an outlet for those people who appreciate the style of early vintage Pelikan, but may prefer to stick to modern writing instruments as their daily users. Though I'm one of those people, this particular model doesn't really speak to me aesthetically, and if I was to purchase an M101N my personal tastes gravitate more towards the Brown or Red Tortoiseshell models than the Bright Red. If you like the look of this pen, however, it's a Pelikan, and Pelikan's are great writers that should provide you with years of reliable service. 

You can purchase the Pelikan M101N from Appelboom for around $450 (excluding VAT). The M101N pens sit at a high price point, but they are special editions made in smaller production runs, and in any event the pricing is fairly consistent with Pelikan's other high-end piston fillers with a gold nib. While it's a special edition that won't be around forever, as a practical matter these M101N pens tend to remain in stock for at least a couple years.

Disclaimer: Appelboom loaned me this pen for review purposes, free of charge. Many thanks!

Pen Review: Kanilea Pen Co. Mauna Kea

I've been waiting for a couple of months now before publishing a review of what might be my favorite pen acquisition of the past year: the "Mauna Kea" by the Kanilea Pen Co. Kanilea is new to the scene, even if Hugh and Karol Scher, the proprietors, have been around the pen show circuit for years. Kanilea launched at last year's Washington D.C. Pen Show to much acclaim - certain models of their pens sold out immediately. Each piece in their lineup is inspired by a location or "element" in Hawaii, and is hand-turned from a custom acrylic reflecting the colors in pictures taken on family trips to the islands. Even though these pens aren't "custom" in the sense that they're designed to individual customer's specifications, every aspect of these pens has been custom-designed to the maker's specifications, and even the JoWo nib has been tuned to perfection. It's a unique product, and you're not going to find anything like it elsewhere. I don't give numbered "ratings" to reviews, but if I did I'd give the Kanilea Mauna Kea as close to a perfect score as any pen I've reviewed in the past two years.  

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Each Kanilea pen features a sterling silver or plated sterling silver medallion inset into the cap.

Design and Build

Hugh Scher turns each pen by hand, using custom acrylics made by Jonathan Brooks of the Carolina Pen Company. I don't own any of Jonathan's pens, but I can vouch for his ability as a material maker. Hugh's workmanship on the pens themselves is exceptional. With any handmade pen you should expect some degree of imperfections and inconsistency in each finished product - to a degree, that's what makes a hand-crafted pen unique - but I honestly haven't been able to find any such "flaws" on my Mauna Kea. The cap is centered, the threads are smooth, the edges rounded perfectly, and as I'll talk about a bit more later, the nib writes exceptionally well.  

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The depth of the material is what drew me to the Mauna Kea Model in the first place. 

The depth of color and contrasting swirls of brown and white/ivory drew me to this particular model. As the name suggests, the pen is inspired by Mauna Kea, the volcano on Hawaii's "Big Island." Because the acrylic blanks are hand-poured, each Kanilea pen is unique in both color and pattern, even among the same model. In other words, my Mauna Kea has a different mix of browns, whites, and pearlescent swirls than any other Mauna Kea pen out there. When you visit Kanilea at a pen show, you'll have the opportunity to see this in person, handle the individual pens, and choose which one you like best.  

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The selection of Kanilea pens available at the Baltimore Pen Show, to hold and test out. (Less one Mauna Kea...)

Kanilea pens come in several different shapes, or "design profiles," but not all are available in every model. From speaking with Hugh at this year's Atlanta Pen Show, I learned that Kanilea makes each model in those profiles that best showcase the material. For example, the Mauna Kea is only available in the "Classic Flush" profile, a streamlined clipless design. Other models, such as the Pahoehoe, Nui Nalu, or Kilauea, are available in different profiles and have the option of adding a clip, which I might choose for my second Kanilea pen just to mix things up. If fountain pens aren't your thing, certain models of Kanilea pens are also available as ballpoints. 

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My Mauna Kea right after I purchased it, above the photograph that inspired the pen's design. 

Nibs and Writing Experience

Kanilea pens use No. 6 JoWo nibs, in either polished stainless steel, two-toned gold-plated stainless steel, or 18k gold. JoWo nibs are fairly standard in the custom pen world, and most pen makers use nibs manufactured by either JoWo or Schmidt due to their reliability. JoWo nibs are also about as close as you can get to having a "universal nib unit," since most pens featuring JoWo nibs use standard screw-in nib unit, and a Kanilea nib unit, for example, should be interchangeable with a nib unit sold by Franklin-Christoph, Scriptorium, or Edison Pens. 

I must say that the medium nib on my Mauna Kea is, hands down, the best JoWo nib I've ever written with (and I'm not the only one to say so.) Hugh works on each nib individually before handing over your new pen, and if you visit Kanilea at the pen show, you'll have the opportunity to have Hugh adjust it to your preference, in terms of ink flow, smoothness, etc. Kanilea carries a range of JoWo nib sizes, from extra fine (EF) all the way up to a 1.1mm stub nib.

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The shape of the pen makes the Mauna Kea an excellent writing instrument for longer sessions. The cylindrical profile, with the barrel tapering slightly towards the back, balances the pen nicely, and the lightweight acrylic ensures your hand won't tire. The concave section offers a comfortable grip, and the threads are both high enough on the section and smooth enough so as not to dig into your hand. You can't post the cap, but this is a larger pen so you probably wouldn't want to anyway.   

Takeaways and Where to Buy

If you're in the market for a unique piece to add to your collection, I highly recommend a pen from the Kanilea Pen Company. Kanilea doesn't sell through retailers (at least not yet), so you will need to purchase directly from them, either via their website or at one of the pen shows they attend. I'd highly recommend visiting them at either the upcoming DC Fountain Pen Supershow (August 3-6), or the San Francisco Pen Show (August 25-27).

It's not pictured here (because it's buried in my backyard) but the box comes wrapped in a biodegradable paper band with the Kanilea logo, which has wildflower seeds embedded in it!

Kanilea pens are not inexpensive, starting at $395, with gold nibs costing an additional $120. The price initially might seem high for an acrylic pen with a steel nib, but once you consider (1) the unique nature and cost of these particular custom acrylics; (2) the quality; (3) the fact that all Kanilea pens are entirely turned by hand; and (4) that all Kanilea pens feature a custom designed medallion crafted from sterling silver or 14K gold-plated sterling silver, the pricing makes sense. Each pen also comes with a "keepsake box" handmade from polished black walnut, which I keep on my desk and use as a pencil box. It's a high quality add-on, featuring a hidden hinge and a magnetic closure. I certainly feel that I got my money's worth. 

Disclaimer: I purchased this pen with my own funds, for my own collection. I was not compensated in any way for this review.