New in the Curated Shop: Caran d'Ache 849 Mechanical Pencils in Black Code, Gold Bar, and Brut Rosé Finishes

For the longest time, I found myself wishing that Caran d’Ache released matching mechanical pencils in their premium finishes, but apart from the Ecridor Racing series, this wasn’t a possibility. Until now. Caran d’Ache recently announced the release of the 849 “Black Code”, “Gold Bar,” and “Brut Rosé” .7mm mechanical pencils, which complement the existing ballpoints. Personally, the Gold Bar is fast becoming my favorite - surprisingly, perhaps, given my love for all things matte black.

The Gold Bar finish is criminally underappreciated, IMHO.

These Caran d’Ache “Pop Line” mechanical pencils are priced at $42, the same as the ballpoint, and currently available for purchase in the Caran d’Ache section of the T.G.S. Curated Shop. If you’re looking for a matching set, purchasing both automatically qualifies for free shipping, with no coupon code necessary at checkout.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of Caran d’Ache and all other brands we carry.

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Both the Black Code (shown top) and the Brut Rosé (shown here) are impossible to keep in stock as ballpoints.

In the Shop: 2022 Planner Clearance - All Dated Planners on Sale

It’s time to make room for yet more new arrivals, and clear out some back stock as we hit mid-April. First off are 2022 dated planners, which are now at least 30% off. There’s still plenty of time for these to be usable, since many (such as the Midori Planner Stickers) go into 2023! Check out these options from Traveler’s Notebook and Midori MD. We don’t have a ton of stock but the sale will continue until everything’s gone.

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If you’re not into dated planners, I always opt for the undated version, since I appreciate the flexibility and always try to avoid wasting paper if I don’t use a particular month. You can start these planners at any time during the year, and carry them over for as long as you like until they are done. We not only stock undated planners from Traveler’s Company, Midori MD, Lochby, and Soumkine, but also carry the larger Write Notepads Weekly Planner (which can be used as a desk pad since it features a landscape orientation), as well as more traditional blotter-style desk planners from WMS & Co. The latter have been selling briskly and people seem to enjoy them!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands we carry.

Thursday Drops: Full TWSBI Restock, Caran d'Ache 849 Rollerballs and Ballpoints, and More!

In addition to the TWSBI Swipes in Pear and Salmon that dropped Tuesday, I also received a fresh restock of most of the TWSBI models, including the always popular TWSBI Vac700R Iris and the Diamond 580 in Smoke and Rose Gold. We also have the full lineup of the Caran D’Ache 849 Rollerballs, as well as the “Pop Line” 849 Ballpoints in Black Code, Gold Bar, and Brut Rosé. While the Brut Rosé is the one I can’t keep in stock, the Black Code remains my favorite and the Gold Bar the under-appreciated sleeper of the group. All of these pens make for exceptional workhorses!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of TWSBI, Caran d’Ache, and all other brands we stock.

1. TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen. As noted earlier this week, we now carry the TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen in all four colors, in all nib sizes. The Swipe’s biggest selling point, in my opinion, is that for well under $30 it puts you in a position to use cartridges OR bottled ink without any add-on purchases. It ships with not one but TWO converters. Read more here.

2. TWSBI Vac700R Iris. Setting aside the unique “Iris” finish on the trim, this fountain pen features a redesign of the original TWSBI Vac700 filling system, with adjustments made to the shut-off valve in order to ensure better ink flow. Additional details in my full write-up of this pen.

3. TWSBI Rose Gold Fountain Pens. By far the biggest TWSBI sellers currently in the Curated Shop are the TWSBI 580 in Smoke and Rose Gold, as well as the Smoke/Rose Gold Eco and the White/Rose Gold Eco. My personal TWSBI daily carry tends to be the Smoke 580 - I absolutely love this trim!

4. Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball. Last year’s big release from Caran d’Ache remains a top seller, with my personal carry a grey version fitted with a Uniball Jetstream Parker-style refill. Those who like a ballpoint but feel that the standard 849 is too narrow should try the rollerball - don’t be put off by the “rollerball” stock refill as any Parker-style ballpoint cartridge will work.

5. Caran d’Ache 849 “Pop Line” Ballpoints. The Black Code, Gold Bar, Original, and Brut Rosé versions of the classic 849 were originals in the T.G.S. Shop, and remain among my favorites. Don’t sleep on the Gold Bar!

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New Arrivals: TWSBI Swipes in Salmon and Pear!

A quick update for your Tuesday morning: We’ve received a TWSBI restock and we now have the TWSBI Swipes available in all nib sizes and all colors, including Smoke, Prussian Blue, Salmon, and Pear Green. The Salmon and Pear Green pens are eye-catching, especially if you decide to match them with one of the TWSBI inks.

You can read our full write-up of the Swipe here. In short, we think the Swipe makes an excellent daily driver for new and experienced fountain pen users alike, mainly because it ships with two different types of converters as well as a TWSBI cartridge. Available now, priced at $26.99. Note that as of this morning, we are now restocked on most TWSBI models, including the super-popular Vac700R Iris!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of TWSBI and all other brands we carry.

New Arrivals: Midori 70th Anniversary Fountain Pen Sets

As Midori celebrates its 70th Anniversary, it’s releasing a range of special editions from its product line, and the first to arrive include these limited edition Midori MD Fountain Pen and ink sets. Last year Midori released their own MD fountain pen in a color scheme designed to match the overall MD aesthetic, and for their 70th anniversary, they’ve released a transparent version of the fountain pen sold in a set with a converter, a cartridge, and a 30ml bottle of either grey, blue, or orange ink. (You may note that these color options are the same colors Midori offers in their colored pencils - points for continuity!)

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Midori 70th Anniversary fountain pen sets are available as of this morning in the shop for $65. I only have a handful of each color and as with past Midori anniversary products and special releases, they likely won’t be around for long.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of Midori and all other brands we stock. In addition to the fountain pens discussed here, we carry the full range of Midori MD notebooks, writing paper, pencils, and other desk accessories, including fountain pen friendly sticky notes and planner stickers that allow you to transform any notebook into a planner, and more!