Thursday Drops: Christmas in April from Kaweco, Lamy, Tom's Studio, and More!

I joked last week in my Patreon newsletter that April can feel like the holiday season for stationery nerds, with a seemingly endless stream of limited and special edition releases hitting the market every week. As of today, we have the new Kaweco Sport Piston Filler in stock, as well as the new Lamy AL-Star pens, a restock of the new Lamy Safari pens, and the Kaweco Collection Apricot Sport. We are also fully reloaded on the Lamy 2000, and now offer the “Blackwood” and “Taxus” ballpoints in two beautiful woodgrain finishes.

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Tom’s Studio “Studio Pocket” fountain pens!

The second wave of big news isn’t necessarily a limited or special release, but rather a new brand that we have been exploring over the past couple of weeks. UK-based Tom’s Studio makes a wide range of fountain pens, calligraphy supplies, and refillable fineliners that have captivated our attention. We currently have a small selection of their fountain pens, fineliners, and specialty nibs in stock, and will consider expanding in the future.

1. Kaweco Sport Piston Filler Fountain Pen. The wait is over. After YEARS of demand from Kaweco fans, Kaweco has released the Sport pocket fountain pen with a piston. The initial release comes in black aluminum, and given the demand, we only received a handful of these. Sold in a set with a bottle of Kaweco Royal Blue ink and a commemorative tin.

2. Lamy AL-Star 2024 “Fiery” and “Aquatic” Special Edition Fountain Pens. The latest Lamy AL-Star releases hit the shop Tuesday, including not just the fountain pen but a rollerball, ballpoint, and an Aquatic mechanical pencil. We also have past AL-Star special edition pens in stock, while supplies last, as well as a restock of the popular Lamy Cursive nibs.

3. Kaweco Collection “Apricot Pearl” Sport Fountain Pen. In addition to the Piston Sport fountain pens, we still have stock of the recently released “Apricot Pearl” Sport fountain pens, which is a beautiful translucent orange.

4. Tom’s Studio “Lumos” Refillable Fineliner Pens. A discussed in yesterday’s review, we recently brought in the “Lumos” series of refillable fineliner pens from UK-based Tom’s Studio, which feature as many as 11 different fineliner and other fibre-tipped fineliner-style points to choose from.

5. Tom’s Studio “The Studio” Fountain Pen. Tom’s Studio also makes a well-regarded series of fountain pens in bright anodized colors. The “Studio” is Tom’s Studio’s traditional full-size fountain pen, designed to be used for either calligraphy or everyday writing.

6. Tom’s Studio “The Studio Pocket” Fountain Pen. Not simply a pocket-sized version of the Studio, the “Studio Pocket” features an octagonal cap design and a pen body that posts to full-size. The anodized aluminum finish features textured ridges that provide a nice feel to the barrel, and prevents slippage.

7. Tom’s Studio Specialty Fountain Pen Nibs. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the Tom’s Studio line is the availability of their specialty fountain pen nibs, including two different flex options, a cursive italic, and one of the best stock architects I have used. Nib units are purchased separately and compatible with Tom’s Studio fountain pens.

8. Lamy 2000 Ballpoints in “Blackwood” and “Taxus” Woodgrain Finishes. Chalk up another one for the “underrated and overlooked” category! Those who wish the Lamy 2000 would come in a regular finish other than Makrolon or Stainless Steel need to look at these woodgrain versions, as they are gorgeous. While they’ve been around for a while, I’ve actually never seen one in person before! (All other Lamy 2000 models are also restocked as of this morning.)

9. TWSBI Indigo Blue and Bronze ECO Fountain Pens. After being out of stock, this hit release from last season is back in stock. The dark blue and bronze combination has been a runaway favorite.

10. TWSBI Creme and Rose Gold ECO Fountain Pens. Another popular addition to the TWSBI lineup is the Creme and Rose gold, also back in stock after a hiatus!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. We thank you for your support!

The Lamy 2000 also comes in two different woodgrain finishes: the gorgeous Taxus (left) and Blackwood (right).

New Arrivals: Lamy AL-Star "Fiery" and "Aquatic" Special Edition Pens Are Here!

While this year’s Lamy Safari special editions landed last month, members of Team AL-Star were waiting on this next release. Well, the wait is over and the pens are in stock and available to ship immediately! This year’s AL-Star pens come in two different finishes: “Fiery” (a cool metallic red) and “Aquatic” (a cool metallic blue). Lamy has paired each metal finish with a matching translucent grip section - red for the Fiery and blue for the Aquatic - as well as matching cap finials.

The Aquatic finish comes in a .5mm mechanical pencil version, which is what caught my fancy from this batch. I’m keeping one!

Since these pens feature black trim, the fountain pens pair perfectly with the Lamy Cursive nibs, which are now back in stock. Rollerball and ballpoint options are available in both the Fiery and Aquatic finishes, and Lamy has released a .5mm Aquatic mechanical pencil. As noted above, all of these pens, as well as the restocked 2024 Safari releases, are available to ship immediately!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of Lamy pens, and carries a selection of many different models. T.G.S. is supported entirely by purchases from The T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Thursday Drops: Underrated and Overlooked? Pens and Stationery You Shouldn't Sleep On!

Since yesterday’s review of the Pilot Explorer fountain pen, I’ve received a few comments and messages thanking me for spotlighting what many consider an underrated fountain pen that often goes overlooked in recommendation lists. That’s a big part of what I’m trying to do here, both on the blog and in the shop: curate a selection of writing instruments and stationery with a focus on those items that I feel don’t necessarily get the attention they deserve. It’s easy to get distracted by the FOMO of new releases, limited editions, etc. (and those can be fun), but if you’re looking for a pen that you can actually use to write reliably on a daily basis, don’t sleep on some of the more “standard” offerings.

Recent arrivals include the latest Kaweco Collection release, “Apricot Pearl,” as well as a new ballpoint from Tombow (the Zoom L105)!

1. Pilot Explorer Fountain Pens. While the Metropolitan is a nice pen in its own right, the Pilot Explorer should have broader appeal, given its light weight, rounded grip, and the same reliable nib. The colors also really pop, even if they’re technically more demure than some of the wilder Metro patterns. Check out the full review from yesterday.

2. Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pens. Pilot still offers a relatively broad range of gold nib pen options at the sub-$200 price point, led by the Custom 74, which I would equate to a “higher end Explorer” because it generally takes on the same shape and feel in the hand, only with several steps up in build. Currently available in multiple transparent demonstrator colors and four nib options!

3. Lamy Studio Fountain Pens. The Lamy Studio (both the steel and 14k nib versions) are the unsung heroes of the Lamy lineup. Even if you don’t enjoy a rounded metal section, check out the “All Black” Studio, which sports a matte finish for added grip texture.

4. Lamy Pico Ballpoint Pens. It really surprised me at the Arkansas Pen Show how many people had never picked up a Lamy Pico ballpoint pen! These pocket ballpoints expand to a full-sized writing instrument with the press of a button.

5. Craighill Caro Pen. I carried a “wallet pen” for years, and the Caro Pen builds on the same idea only with EDC/keychain functionality. The slip cap attaches using a garter spring, so it’s quite secure, and to date I’ve not had any issues with this pen coming loose even with my keys in my pocket. More on how I use this pen here.

6. Kaweco Collection Fountain Pens. There are some excellent colors in the Kaweco Collection “Sport” line, especially the muted pastel blues. And of course, don’t forget the latest release in “Apricot Pearl”, which just hit the shop last week!

7. Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball Pens. While I love the original Caran d’Ache 849 for its portability, the 849 Rollerball is probably more versatile due to the fact that it takes Parker-style refills. The Caran d’Ache Rollerball refill is exceptionally good, especially in the fine tip, but you can also swap in your ballpoint of choice if you’re one of those who feel that the standard Caran d’Ache 849 is too narrow.

8. Anterique Brass Ballpoints. Anterique has expanded the range of colors in the brass-barrel offerings. The brass lower barrel adds a nice weight/balance to this vintage-inspired click pen.

9. NJK Pencil Sharpeners. Japanese sharpener specialist NJK continues to release excellent pencil sharpeners at an insanely good value. I keep several of these in rotation, at each of my work stations.

10. Viarco Pencils. Portuguese pencil maker Viarco has been making pencils in their factory for generations, and it’s one of a handful of pencil factories remaining in Europe. We offer a range of their vintage-inspired pencils,

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

New Arrivals: Don't Sleep on Tombow as a Brand!

Tombow remains a deeply underrated “sleeper” Japanese stationery brand. Known more in the states for their art supplies than writing instruments, Tombow also offers a deep lineup of pens and pencils. We’ve long carried the Tombow 2558 woodcase pencils - one of the best standard office pencils around - as well as the high-end Tombow Mono in various degrees of graphite. This year, we’ve expanded our selection of Tombow “shaker” mechanical pencils, and just recently added pens, including the L105 ballpoint and “Airpress” pressurized pen!

The L105 belongs to a class of ballpoints that I’ve recently come to enjoy: full-sized retractable ballpoints (as opposed to multi-pens) that use the universal D1-sized refill. The L105 is a cylindrical twist pen that ships with a standard .5mm Tombow ballpoint refill, but which is also compatible with other D1 cartridges like the Uni Jetstream and the Zebra Sharbo gel refills. Similar to the mechanism in the Craighill Kepler pen, the D1 refill attaches to a longer “holder” inside the pen body, allowing you to use a full-sized twist or click mechanism to extend the tip.

I keep one of these Tombow extendable Mono erasers in my pencil case at all times!

Finally, we recently expanded our range of Tombow Mono extendable erasers. Now available in three different formats (rectangular, 2.3mm round, and 3.8mm “Mono Knock” round), Tombow makes some of the best erasers on the market. The “Mono” line sets the standard for me personally, whether it’s a retractable stick eraser or the standard Mono block erasers. They erase cleanly and without much residue. Pencil lovers should have at least one stand-alone Tombow eraser in their kit!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of Tombow and other brands sold. TGS is supported entirely by purchases from the Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Thursday Drops: New Kaweco, Kuru Togas, and Tombow Precision Erasers! [Plus An Updated Easter Sale]

While the big news from this week was the arrival of the Kaweco Collection “Apricot Pearl” fountain pen, we’ve also gradually been restocking many of our core brands, including Caran d’Ache, Craighill, and more! The Uni Kuru Toga Elite/Roulette is now available in a silver finish in addition to black, and we have a wide range of mechanical pencils, leadholders, and wood pencils you can choose from. We recently brought in the Blackwing line, featuring their excellent wood pencils and accessories such as sharpeners and pencil caps, as well as the Viarco pencils from Portugal. Happy Shopping!

The print blanket covers feature a unique natural rubber/cotton blend!

Update: Take an extra 10% off your order this weekend using the coupon code “SPRING” at checkout. The code is valid on most orders but due to brand restrictions must exclude Pilot, TWSBI, Roterfaden, Nahvalur, and Kakimori. Orders over $100 this weekend get extra TGS Swag, including one of our new extra-large holographic water bottle stickers! Also, we have two of the A4 Print Blanket Roterfadens remaining after the Arkansas Pen Show. Since I’m changing things up a bit, the next couple of restocks likely won’t include this particular design, so if you’ve been on the fence about these now’s your chance!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the TGS Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

1. Kaweco Sport Fountain Pen in Kaweco Collection “Apricot Pearl”. The new “Kaweco Collection” release hit shelves this past week, and we have this pearlescent orange pocket pen in stock for immediate shipment in nib sizes EF through BB. We also have the rest of the Kaweco Sport “Kaweco Collection” pens available for purchase, including the popular Olive.

2. Kaweco Art Sport Fountain Pens. The Art Sport collection features an integrated clip and turned resin, as opposed to the plastic on the standard Kaweco Sport. The four designs from this year’s release are all good, but after three months the Terrazzo remains my favorite. Read more here.

3. Uni Kuru Toga “Elite” Mechanical Pencil. We now offer the Kuru Toga “Elite” model (also known as the “Roulette”) in both black and silver finishes. The Roulette was my first Kuru Toga years ago.

4. Craighill Caro Keychain/Pocket Pen. As I mentioned in yesterday’s Arkansas Pen Show recap, people were picking up these little pocket pens all through the weekend. The keychain design allows you to keep your pen on you at all time, and the garter-spring cap closes securely. I’ve been carrying my pen for a couple of months now and have not personally had issues with it coming loose.

5. Caran d’Ache “Blue Lagoon” 849 Pen and Pencil Set. Gradient finishes are all the rage this year, and Caran d’Ache has released this cool blue/white/green 849 limited edition, which is sold only as a ballpoint/.7mm mechanical pencil set.

6. Nahvalur Nautilus Ruby Koi and Original Plus Matira Graphite / Lovina Quartz Special Edition Fountain Pens. We have remaining stock of both Nahvalur limited releases, and we’re down to our last couple of Ruby Koi pens! If you’ve been considering this one, I believe we have one gold nib and one steel.

7. E+M Clutch Pencils and Sharpeners. I’ve been really happy with the reception these E+M Clutch Pencils have received, as well as the stand-alone sharpeners capable of handling the wider 5.5 and 5.6mm leads.

8. Kaweco “Sketch Up” Clutch Pencils. For those who enjoy the faceted Kaweco Sketch Up, as well as the black and yellow “Softfeel” finish, we are restocked on all of the various colors, as well as the Kaweco refills.

9. Penco Prime Timber 2.0 Leadholder. Enjoy the functionality of a mechanical pencil but would prefer a thicker lead? This leadholder from Penco features a wood barrel with a click-to-advance mechanism.

10. Caran d’Ache Fixpencil. If you’re into leadholders, or merely looking for a starting point to test one out, the Caran d’Ache Fixpencil is a modern classic. We also have some remaining stock of the limited edition “Creative Nomad” set designed in collaboration with Swiss lettering artist Rylsee.

The new Kaweco Collection release is a light orange finish that’s both translucent and pearlescent!