The Caran d’Ache x Nespresso family: from right: Edition No. 4 Fixpencil, Edition No. 3 “Arpeggio” 849, Edition No. 1 in Dharkan, and the Edition No. 4 Swiss Wood set.

Something Completely Different, and Yes, a Little Weird: Nespresso x Caran d'Ache Edition No. 4

July 28, 2021

For the past several years, Caran d’Ache has released an annual special edition collaboration with Nespresso, and to date, the release has always been an 849 ballpoint, such as last year’s “Arpeggio” pen. All of the various Caran d’Ache x Nespresso products share one thing in common: they are made from aluminum recovered from recycled Nespresso capsules, as part of Nespresso’s capsule recycling initiative. (If you own a Nespresso machine, you are likely familiar with the prepaid recycling bags included with your capsule orders, in which you can return your used capsules to the company.) This year’s release, however, goes in a completely different direction in the sense that it expands the Nespresso line to include both a special edition Fixpencil and Swiss Wood pencil set, and also incorporates a new graphite consisting of 25% recycled Nespresso coffee grounds.

For starters, let’s talk about this coffee-grounds graphite. While it sounds a bit…weird…I didn’t notice much, if any, difference from Caran d’Ache’s graphite core found in either the standard HB Fixpencil lead or the standard Swiss Wood pencil. (For the Fixpencil, your writing experience with the “new” graphite will actually be limited to the core that ships with the new Fixpencil - as of now Caran d’Ache doesn’t sell refills, so you will simply refill with standard Fixpencil leads.) While the graphite might be a selling point for some from a sustainability perspective, I didn’t find that it changed the writing experience all that much.

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Visually, the orange Fixpencil in particular is stunning. I’m a bit biased, since I love orange finishes on writing instruments, and this sort of dark matte copper/orange color is somewhat uncommon. I also enjoy the “grippiness” of the finish on the various Nespresso editions, and No. 4 is no exception. I really do hope this particular Fixpencil sticks around for a while, or at the very least Caran d’Ache continues to expand the lineup.

With respect to the Swiss Wood Pencils, in addition to the recycled coffee grounds used in the graphite, Caran d’Ache has added a special inscription and metallic caps, which do not appear to be actual metal but rather a paint or coating, so there is no change to the balance of the pencil. If you’re a fan of the Swiss Wood, the Crayons de la Maison Caran d’Ache, or any of the other special edition pencils the company has released over the past few years, you’ll want to check these out.

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We currently have both Edition No. 4 products available for purchase in the T.G.S. Curated Shop. The Caran d’Ache x Nespresso Edition No. 4 Fixpencil retails for $40, while the Swiss Wood Pencil Set retails for $20. We do still have some limited stock of the Edition No. 3 849 ballpoint remaining, though I don’t know for how long Caran d’Ache will continue to make or distribute this pen since Edition No. 4 has now hit stores. Please check out these and our full range of other Caran d’Ache products, both standard and special editions!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of Caran d’Ache products an all other brands we carry. By shopping with us, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more.

Workhorse Inks Update: Water-Testing TWSBI Inks

July 13, 2021

Last week I wrote a post on TWSBI Blue-Black, a workhorse fountain pen ink that shows significant water-resistance to the point where I would consider the ink basically waterproof. Following that post, I received several questions about how the other TWSBI inks compared, so I decided to do a quick test.

Basically, the “test” was exactly what I did with the TWSBI Blue-Black: I dunked a sheet of Rhodia paper containing a writing sample of all five standard colors in a glass of water for five minutes. Admittedly, this is a pretty “extreme” test, so the effects are probably more akin to your notebook going through the washing machine than to a few raindrops or a spilled drink that’s quickly wiped away. Here are the results:

As you can see, TWSBI Blue-Black clearly performed the best, followed by TWSBI Black, which also showed significant water-resistance. TWSBI Midnight Blue also remained quite legible. Unsurprisingly, Sapphire Blue and Red showed little water-resistance, though both did remain legible to the point where you would probably be able to recover most of your writing.

Overall, I’m very happy with how the TWSBI Inks performed, and the Blue-Black, Midnight Blue, and Black inks will likely find their way into my permanent work rotation. I carry all five of these inks in the Curated Shop, and as I mentioned in the prior post, they’re priced competitively at $15.99 for a 70ml glass bottle. We also carry the full range of other TWSBI products, including the TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR in “Prussian Blue,” as well as the new TWSBI ECO Lilac, which we recently added to our offerings!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands we carry. By shopping with us, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

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Considerations in Choosing a Store-Exclusive Pen

July 10, 2021

This was an exciting week, representing a big milestone for T.G.S.: My first collaboration with a penmaker on a shop-exclusive pen! I realize that this isn’t anything particularly unique - pen bloggers, podcasters, Youtubers, Instagrammers, you-name-it, have been collaborating with makers and manufacturers for years on exclusive designs and colors. But I’ve held out until now. Today I want to talk a little bit about why I ultimately decided to take the plunge, the process I went through, and factors I considered before I partnered with Sunderland Machine Works on the new T.G.S.-exclusive Sunderland mk1.

Going with a Store Exclusive Pen over a Limited Edition

The first decision I made, long before I chose a specific pen, was that I wanted a store-exclusive pen to sell for the long-haul, as opposed to a limited edition. It’s not just that I don’t like the “limited edition” marketing strategy, it’s also because taking that approach is inconsistent with what I want my site and my store to be about. If I put the effort and consideration into choosing a product to carry - especially if it’s something that I helped conceptualize - it’s important to me for that product to be available to anyone who wants to get one (at least for as long as it’s economically feasible for me to continue to have the pens made).

It was extremely important for me to choose a pen design that fits into most notebook pen loops, since the Sunderland mk1 fits into my personal rotation as a note-taking and “on the go” writing pen.

Choosing a Truly EDC-Friendly Design

In line with this goal, for my first collaboration I wanted to choose a design and model that would appeal to the widest possible range of pen users under the broadest array of circumstances. To that end, a fountain pen was out. Despite a large community of enthusiasts, most people - even fountain pen lovers - still use a gel pen, rollerball, or ballpoint for much of their everyday writing. These days, the gel pen has overtaken both rollerballs and ballpoints as the standard “office pen” of choice. So a pen built around one of my favorite gel refills - the Pilot G2/Juice - was a natural choice.

Similarly, when I refer to a pen being “EDC-friendly,” I’m referring to “everyday carry” in the literal sense that it’s a pen that can be used every day as a pen. While durability is a key consideration, I’m not really concerned with the pen being able to double as a glass-breaker, withstand explosions, being run over by a truck, etc. The Sunderland mk1’s streamlined shape was designed for maximum writing comfort, especially the hourglass-shaped section and internal threads. It’s slim and light enough to carry in a shirt pocket, and will fit in most notebook/planner loops, including the loop on my Traveler’s Notebook.

Choosing a Price Point

Finally, I wanted something at a price point accessible to most people. While it’s not inexpensive to produce a pen durable enough for everyday use - especially once you get into special finishes like the bead-blasting and DLC-coating used here, all of which require extra steps in the manufacturing process - $110 is appropriate for something intended not as a collector’s piece, but an everyday “workhorse” that should last for years, if not decades.

I hope you all enjoy the new T.G.S. collaboration pen with Pennsylvania-based Sunderland Machine Works. I certainly enjoyed working on this project, and my plan is for it to stick around in the shop for as long as readers and customers remain interested. A huge shout-out to my Patreon supporters, many of whom were instrumental in providing early feedback on the design and whose donations allowed me to fund this project on the front end. You can check out the pen for yourself here, and if for whatever reason this T.G.S.-exclusive color scheme doesn’t do it for you, visit Sunderland Machine Works for the full range of their offerings.

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T.G.S. x Sunderland mk1 Pens Are Now Available For Purchase!

July 8, 2021

As of early this morning, the pens are live in the shop! I’m quite excited to hear what people think of this collaboration with Pennsylvania-based Sunderland Machine Works. The Sunderland mk1 might be my favorite machined pen of all time, and for this special store exclusive we chose a bead-blasted, matte black finish with a bead-blasted DLC-coated clip. The section is a matte red/burgundy, with the overall color scheme designed to evoke the T.G.S. burgundy & black. Note that this will not be a “limited” edition - we commissioned an initial run of 50 pens, and I received the first half or so this week with more on the way. So if it sells out, don’t worry, I can and will get more! Visit the Curated Shop to purchase. All pens ship with a black Pilot .7mm G2 refill, and will also accept MB rollerball and fineliner refills. To read more about why I love the Sunderland mk1, check out my review of their standard model.

A key selling point of the Sunderland mk1 is the lack of any external threads that might interfere with your grip. The threads are actually inside the tip of the pen! — A key selling point of the Sunderland mk1 is the lack of any external threads that might interfere with your grip. The threads are actually *inside* the tip of the pen!

All orders automatically qualify for free domestic U.S. shipping, so be sure to combine your order with any other items you have your eye on in the shop! We carry a wide range of pens, paper, and desk and reading accessories. Recently, we also added the TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR in “Prussian Blue,” as well as the new TWSBI ECO Lilac, to our offerings!

Rhodia’s classic writing pads are available in both letter and A5 size, including dot grid, graph, and lined rulings.

Classics of Stationery: Rhodia Pads and Notebooks in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

July 6, 2021

While I’m always glad to see new paper brands emerging, and stationery enthusiasts nerding out over the latest and greatest new specialty fountain pen paper from Japan, the downside is that the constant search for the “next best thing” causes you to overlook the excellent (and often less expensive) options that are already available. Case-in-point are fountain-pen friendly pads and notebooks from French stationery company Rhodia, whose paper comes from the same mill as sibling company Clairefontaine. While I don't see much of a difference at all in performance, Rhodia products feature a more understated (some might say “office friendly”) black and orange design, as opposed Clairefontaine’s bright pastels.

We’ve chosen to stock our shop with a select group of Rhodia products, ranging from the ever-popular Webnotebook and Writing Pads, to the recently released Rhodia Composition Book, a more upscale, fountain-pen friendly take on the American classic. Visit the T.G.S. Curated Shop for our full selection of Rhodia products, along with Clairefontaine and Quo Vadis notebooks. Remember that all domestic U.S. orders over $75, and all international orders over $250, ship free!

You can read further on what we consider fountain-pen friendly paper, and why we choose to stock the brands we sell, via these links. Many thanks for your continued support!