Pen Review: The TWSBI Diamond Mini (AL Gold Model)

April 21, 2018

Since introducing the 530 several years ago, TWSBI has dominated the $50-100 price point, and has also made serious headway into the entry-level segment with the TWSBI Eco. But what about the TWSBI Diamond Mini, the pen that seems to get lost in the shuffle? Honestly, it's probably my favorite TWSBI pen, at least in terms of functionality.

Unposted, the TWSBI Diamond Mini is quite a bit shorter than the TWSBI 580.

There's no real need to go into the history of TWSBI again in-depth - I've already done this in prior reviews of the flagship TWSBI 580, the TWSBI Vac Mini, and the TWSBI Eco. The short version is that TWSBI is a Taiwanese manufacturer that has proven companies can bring a high-quality piston-filling fountain pen to market at well under $100. The Diamond Mini has never really attracted the same amount of attention as the Vac models and the 580, because I think many people tend to write the Diamond Mini off as a "smaller and cheaper" 580 that's a bit boring. In terms of looks, they're correct: there's not a lot to visually distinguish the Diamond Mini from the 580, other than - obviously - the shorter length and some different color schemes. Both pens have the same faceted barrel and similar nibs. So why do I like the Mini so much? Because it posts.

Posted, the Diamond Mini is actually slightly longer than the TWSBI 580. — Posted, the Diamond Mini is actually slightly *longer* than the TWSBI 580.

The piston knob on the Diamond Mini is threaded, so the cap not only posts, but screws on for maximum security. This feature is quite convenient for someone like me, who tends to write "on the go" a lot in situations where I don't have a table to place the cap. I don't typically recommend that people purchase a fountain pen for their primary "pocket carry," simply because they take longer to deploy, but the TWSBI Diamond Mini is always at or near the top of that list if you just can't bring yourself to use a ballpoint.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I always recommend TWSBI pens to people who are interested in trying a piston-filler fountain pen for the first time. The barrier to entry is lower than a Pelikan M200 or a Lamy 2000, and TWSBI generally offers a relatively inexpensive, reliable writing experience while still allowing people to dabble in the "limited edition" craze. For the past few years, TWSBI has released a series of AL (aluminum) trim models in various colors. If you like the AL Gold model pictured in this review, I'd jump on that pretty fast because they seem to be getting scarce, and TWSBI will likely replace them with a new color sometime this year. The standard Diamond Mini, however, is pretty much always available, and also comes in a black "classic" configuration. I typically order all of my TWSBI's through Amazon.

Note: The reputation of TWSBI's "Diamond" models (the 580 and the Diamond Mini) have suffered a bit in years past due to reports of barrels cracking. More recently, TWSBI seems to have improved both their quality control and manufacturing process. I've personally never suffered any sort of catastrophic failure or ink leakage, even on one Diamond Mini that developed hairline cracks on the section. (This was an initial run model from four or five years ago.) Regardless, TWSBI is known for having good customer service, so if you run into a problem, they will make it right.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own use. This post does contain affiliate links. Pricing and availability is current as of the time of this review.

Pen Review: The Moonman M2 Eyedropper Fountain Pen

March 28, 2018

Lately I've become a bit enamored with all the unique (and inexpensive!) pens coming out of China. Even just a couple of years ago, when someone in the pen community mentioned "eBay Pens" or "Chinese Pens," they were referring to extremely cheap pens by Jinhao, Baoer, and others that could be found priced at $5 or less. These pens are, of course, still available, and there's a reason they're so cheap: manufacturers perform little to no quality control, and it can be a total crapshoot whether or not you receive a pen that actually writes out of the box. I most recently experienced this issue with a Monteverde Monza, which I've since learned is a rebranded Jinhao.

The acrylic on the Moonman M2 is well-polished, both inside and out.

The overall landscape, however, has changed over the past year or so. Whether it's a question of manufacturers actually upping their game, or simply different (and higher-end) Chinese pens being made available internationally for the first time, I've recently purchased several sub-$20 fountain pens that significantly outperform their price point and are legitimately good pens. The overall winner so far is the Moonman M2, a clear acrylic eyedropper fountain pen with one of the best out-of-the-box steel nibs I've used.

I use the Moonman M2 as a desk pen, shown here sitting atop my Logitech K780 Keyboard. I typically use the keyboard's tablet/phone holder as a pen rest.

I don't know much about Moonman, but from what I've read elsewhere, it's a brand run by stationery and pen enthusiasts who source their pens from a factory and then further tunes/customizes them. Their enthusiasm shows - Moonman plainly has put a lot of attention into the M2. While the pen itself is a straightforward design, the acrylic is well-polished, and the pen sports an attractive red anodized cap band that looks especially good if you have the pen filled with red ink. (Montblanc Alfred Hitchcock is my current choice.)

Note that this pen is eyedropper-only. If you prefer to use a cartridge/converter filling system, this won't be the right pen for you. Kudos to Moonman for including a very nice glass eyedropper in the box alongside the pen. I like this eyedropper better than the one that accompanies the Opus 88 Koloro pens, since this one has a "needle tip" that makes it easier to get the ink down into the barrel with minimal mess.

As I mentioned earlier, the nib on this pen is a stunner. I wouldn't call it a needlepoint, but it's definitely a true extra-fine that's been perfectly tuned for smoothness and flow. Don't be thrown off by the lack of a custom imprint and the "Iridium Point" engraving - someone who knows what they're doing has worked on this nib. I also don't think my pen's an outlier - the reviews I've read have been uniformly outstanding.

The Moonman M2 is a great length. posted or unposted. The section is comfortable, with unobtrusive threads that take about 2 turns to open and close.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The extra-fine nib on my Moonman M2 might be the best nib on a "cheap" pen that I've ever experienced (and certainly the best Chinese-made nib I've ever used), making this a no-brainer purchase for me to recommend, especially if you like eyedroppers. Which brings me to the question of where to buy them. Since Moonman pens aren't stocked at retailers outside of China, as far as I know, and are made in relatively small batches, you may have to consider a variety of avenues to get your hands on one. You can find them easily on eBay at a range of listed price points, though you should pay close attention to the shipping charges which usually causes the total price to average out into the $10-15 range.

Perfect Pairing: Faber-Castell Loom Fountain Pen and Colorverse Quasar Ink

March 24, 2018

Sometimes you run across a pen and ink combination that works especially well, and you just have to review them together. Such is the case with the Faber-Castell Loom and one of the new inks I received last week, "Quasar" by South Korean company Colorverse.

The Faber-Castell Loom: Budget Workhorse?

First off, I've written about Faber-Castell pens before, and in my opinion, the German company sells some of the best steel-nibbed fountain pens on the market. I've never had a Faber-Castell pen with issues, and I've owned several. The nibs always write smoothly and have especially good ink flow. The Loom is no exception.

Since you can purchase the Loom for as little as $40, you might ask why it's taken me so long to review this pen. Well, in pictures, I was always a little put off by the cap. I thought it looked chunky and heavy, and suspected it would throw off the balance of the pen when posted. I was wrong. The cap on the gunmetal versions pictured here is a lightweight plastic, which posts fairly deeply on the aluminum body. I've been writing with the Loom nonstop for the past week and it's extremely comfortable to use for long periods of time.

The Shiny Gunmetal version, which I demoed in-store at Vanness. The pen sits nicely in the hand, and is a great length.

The only real critique I would have is with the grip. The section has raised ridges to give it some texture, but it's still pretty slick, even on the matte pen. It wasn't that big of a deal for me, but I know some readers are sensitive to this issue. I believe the "Piano" versions of the Loom add even more texture to the section in the grip area, which may help.

The Faber-Castell Loom that I actually took home with me was this matte version. I like both Gunmetal versions (matte and shiny), but this one spoke to me more.

Colorverse Quasar: A Sheeny Ink You Can Actually Use

That reddish-purple sheen is insane. And it dries relatively quickly. No smearing three days later like some other sheeny inks.

So what's been my favorite ink to use in the Loom? So far, I've had great luck with one of the new Colorverse inks that I received in the mail last week. Colorverse Quasar is a rich, dark blue that features a reddish sheen, reminiscent of other inks I've tried such as Akkerman Shocking Blue and Diamine Majestic Blue.

I love the fact that Colorverse includes two bottles with every purchase. You can use the smaller bottle for travel, or - even better - you can trade the smaller bottles among friends, making it easier to collect all the colors!

The Faber-Castell Loom ended up being a perfect pen for this ink because the medium nib was wet enough to show off some of the sheen, but not such a gusher that I ended up with bleedthrough or smearing issues. One thing I've loved about the Colorverse inks is the fact that for such saturated, sheeny inks, they seem to be relatively low maintenance, especially with respect to dry time.

No issues with bleedthrough, feathering, or smearing on Baron Fig Mastermind paper. Even on office paper, this ink performed decently.

Take that last comment with a grain of salt, because it's more of an initial impression than a final verdict. I plan to do a more thorough write-up of the Colorverse inks in the future after I test more of the line. I have additional colors on the way. That said, I'm impressed so far, and others whose opinions I trust have had equally positive experiences.

You also get some fun extras in the box, including stickers, a pen rest, and a bookmark. (They also throw in a Colorverse cocktail napkin, which I've heard some people describe as "blotter paper." It's not. It's a cocktail napkin.)

A note on Colorverse pricing: At first glance, the Colorverse inks might appear expensive at $36 apiece, but once you break that down a bit it's not that bad. For each color, you get not one, but TWO bottles (65ml and 15ml) for a total of 80ml of ink. That comes out to roughly $0.45 per ml, which on a per-ml basis is similar to the new Sailor Jentle inks ($0.44) and Iroshizuku ($0.40). All calculations were done using Pen Chalet's best pricing.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Faber-Castell Loom took me by surprise. This pen represents excellent value and has one of the best nibs that I've used in the $40-55 price range. Vanness currently has a large stock of these pens in various colors, but unfortunately the "Gunmetal Matte" version is sold out. During my visit to Vanness Pens back in December, I was torn between the matte pen and the "Gunmetal Shiny" version (which I photographed in the store), as well as the "Piano White", both of which Vanness still has in stock.

While I expected to like the Colorverse inks, simply because the "space/astrophysics" concept behind the brand was so well thought-out and intriguing, I didn't expect these inks to work as well as they do for everyday use. As I mentioned, I've ordered more, and look forward to testing the other colors. You can purchase all three "seasons" of Colorverse inks from Pen Chalet, who (along with Vanness) carries the entire line.

Disclaimer: Vanness Pens provided the Faber-Castell Loom for review purposes, free of charge. Pen Chalet supplied me with the Colorverse Ink. This post contains affiliate links.

Laban-Expression-Fountain-Pen-Oyster-Yellow

Pen Review: Laban Expression Pocket Fountain Pen

March 14, 2018

Here’s something different for you! Our sponsor Goldspot was kind enough to send over a pen from Laban, a brand that I’ve never tried before. The model featured here is the Expression, which has to be one of the smallest pens I’ve ever used. We’re talking Kaweco Lilliput small.

Size comparison, from left: Laban Expression, Lamy 2000, and the TWSBI Mini AL (Gold).

Unless you have TINY hands, the Expression is going to fall squarely in the “pocket pen” category. Design-wise, there’s a passing resemblance to the vintage “purse pens” made by Esterbrook during the first half of the 20th century, though this one may be even smaller. Most people won’t be using this pen to write a novel, only quick jots in your pocket notebook or planner.

That said, for its size the pen sits well in the hand, and the metal section and blind cap do a nice job of balancing it out. I can only use this pen posted, otherwise it’s simply too short.

The stainless steel nib looks like a JoWo or a Bock - I can’t tell which - but it has a nice custom engraving on it and it writes very well, with moderately wet ink flow. Given the size of this pen, it’s definitely cartridge-only, unless you can find a mini converter somewhere that fits.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Laban is a brand that has been around for some time, and maintains a strong pen-show presence, but doesn’t necessarily receive a lot of attention. That puzzles me, since this little pen is very well-built, and provides an enjoyable writing experience. I’m definitely going to check out a pen from their larger “Mento” line in the future, since I really like some of the materials that they use.

You can purchase the Laban Expression from Goldspot Pens, currently priced at $55. The pen is available in a wide array of colors, from the “Yellow Oyster” (pictured here) to the “Black Pearl”, in both fountain pen and ballpoint versions.

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me free of charge, for review purposes, by our Sponsor Goldspot Pens. Thanks to Tom and the team at Goldspot for making this review possible. This post contains affiliate links.

The Lamy 2000 along with another great daily workhorse, the Seiko SNZF17J1 "Sea Urchin".

My Workhorse Pens: Lamy 2000

March 10, 2018

Few pens jump more quickly to mind when I think of a "daily workhorse" than the Lamy 2000. Its no-nonsense construction and straightforward, distraction-free design allows you to forget the pen and just get stuff done. Though I prefer the fountain pen, Lamy manufactures a full range of writing instruments in the "2000 line," which at the moment includes a rollerball, a ballpoint, a mechanical pencil, and a "4 Color" multipen. I won't rehash the storied history of this pen, since I've previously reviewed it. This post is more of a personal reflection on why I find this particular pen so pleasant to work with on a daily basis, and why it's remained a key part of my pen case for nearly ten years. (I've also linked to my previous reviews of the various Lamy 2000 models at the bottom of the page.)

No excessive detail here: brushed stainless steel and makrolon (fiberglass) construction, with the branding as minimal as you can get.

So why is the Lamy 2000 such a great workhorse?

In short, because it ticks all of the boxes: understated design, light weight and good balance, the ability to post, a good nib that's not too wet, and a large ink capacity. As you'll see, I consider this pen to have a lot of "pros", with very few "cons". (Though as with all pen reviewing, that's a matter of personal opinion.)

Pros:

The pen disappears in the hand. Especially the Makrolon version, which is extremely light, and the threadless section and barrel make it more or less foolproof to write with this pen for extended sessions, whether it be journaling, drafting documents, or notetaking. The look of the pen won't distract you from the task at hand.
- The pen disappears in meetings. The Lamy 2000 and the Pilot Vanishing Point are two go-to fountain pens for those meetings where I don't want to be the focus of attention. Most people will assume that a hooded nib fountain pen is a rollerball or a ballpoint.
The pen posts well and is practical to use on the go. I've been pretty vocal about how I prefer pens that post, mainly because I often have to work in non-desk situations where I don't have a place to set the cap. The Lamy 2000's cap posts securely and deeply, and the pen also has good ink capacity, especially if you use the extra-fine or fine nib option. Practically speaking, I've found very little difference between Lamy fine and extra fine nibs. On the 2000, the medium nib runs fairly broad, and the broad nib tends to be a stubbish firehose, so if you're purchasing this pen to use on cheaper paper, go finer.
The pen is widely available (and easily replaced). Yes, I've lost a Lamy 2000, or, rather, I've had one stolen out of a hotel room. It stung my wallet a bit, but not as bad as, say, losing a Pelikan M800, MB 146, or even a Sailor Pro Gear. Because of how frequently I use the Lamy 2000 (near daily, or at least weekly), and given the context in which I use the pen (meetings, conferences, seminars, hotels, etc.) I've just accepted that it's likely I'll lose at least one or two of them over the years. For that reason, I typically keep more than one in my stockpile, and will pick them up if I see them on sale.

The Lamy 2000,  posted, is the perfect length for me. — The Lamy 2000, posted, is the perfect length for me.

Cons:

I'm probably biased in terms of how much I love this pen, but I don't see many cons to the Lamy 2000 if what you're looking for is a true "workhorse" that you're going to use for daily writing over a long period of time. Some people find the grip on the Lamy 2000 slippery, and others dislike the nib. Though Lamy's quality control on the nibs has been spotty over the years, I've never had a serious issue, and reports of major problems have been less frequent recently. That said, one of the reasons why I recommend people price-shop the Lamy 2000 is to leave yourself room in the budget to get the nib tuned if necessary. Honestly, if you plan to use any pen as a daily writing tool, It's worth the relatively small investment to get the nib tuned to your particular writing style, preferably at a pen show where the nib technician can watch you write and adjust the nib in person.

I find the 14k nib on the Lamy 2000 to be a pleasant writer, with a touch of bounce.

Where To Buy

One odd thing I've noticed about the Lamy 2000 is that they tend to hold their value relatively well for how common they are. You don't see them priced at that much of a discount at pen shows or in the aftermarket.

[UPDATE] As of April 2023, The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of Lamy Pens, so we are pleased to be able to offer this pen to you directly as part of our effort to become self-sustaining. We no longer rely on paid advertising or third-party affiliate programs, and enjoy having full responsibility over our readers’ experience with the pens we recommend, instead of relying on third parties to deliver quality service.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Further Reading

The Faber-Castell Loom: Budget Workhorse?

Colorverse Quasar: A Sheeny Ink You Can Actually Use

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Takeaways and Where to Buy

So why is the Lamy 2000 such a great workhorse?

Where To Buy

Further Reading

Featured Posts