Pen Review: Sailor Pro Gear Realo "Soleil" Limited Edition

April 12, 2017

The Sailor Professional Gear - known to most pen nerds as simply the "Pro Gear" - is my favorite fountain pen of all time. I appreciate it's compact form factor, comfortable shape, and excellent 21k nibs. As of the time of writing, I own four Sailor Pro Gears, and I usually keep two inked. My collection includes the Pro Gear Imperial Black Edition, the Pro Gear "Sky" Limited Edition, a Pro Gear Classic in yellow, and the pen I'm reviewing here, the Pro Gear Realo "Soleil," a limited edition pen that Sailor made specially for retailer Bungubox (or Bung Box) in Hamamatsu, Japan.

Comments on the Soleil

Yellow pens are one of "my things," and this is an especially bright, sunny shade (hence the name). The color stops just short of Lamy Safari/AL-Star neon - which is a good thing - and the yellow gold trim complements the material nicely. I could do without the "Soleil" engraving on the barrel, but this is such a unique piece I don't really mind.

This special edition Pro Gear Realo has "Soleil" engraved on the barrel.

This particular pen sports a H-F, or "Hard Fine," nib. If you prefer stiff, slightly dry writers, then the Sailor HF will probably work for you right out of the box. I tend to prefer pens with slightly wetter ink flow, so this one will probably take a trip to Mike Masuyama at the Atlanta Pen Show for a tuning. It's also a touch toothy for my taste and can hard start every once in a while, but nothing that keeps me from regularly cycling this pen through my rotation.

The Pro Gear Realo Soleil comes with the standard 21K Sailor Gold Nib, with the typical Sailor "1911" engravings.

Side Note: In general, I've noticed that the rhodium plated and black coated Sailor nibs tend to write a bit smoother and, at least in the case of the black nibs on the Pro Gear Imperial Black and 1911 Black Luster editions, write a bit softer than the standard yellow gold nibs. I assume this has something to do with the fact that these nibs are plated/coated.

I've always kept this pen loaded up with an orange ink - fitting, no? The ink featured here is the now-discontinued Sailor Jentle Apricot. For a similar color in Sailor's current ink lineup, check out Sailor Jentle Kin-Mokusei,

Realo vs. Pro Gear Classic

So what about the bigger question: if you're looking to buy a Sailor Pro Gear, do you go for the "Classic" model or the Realo? If you prefer piston-filling fountain pens, then you really only have one choice: the Realo. The Pro Gear Classic is a cartridge-converter pen. Some people quibble with the quality of Sailor converters - and I agree they're not great - but I also hesitate to recommend that people pay nearly $100 extra just to get the piston filler on the Realo, especially given the limited range of colors in which the pen is available.

A shot of the Pro Gear Realo Soleil Compared to my yellow Pro Gear from the Classic "Color" Series. I like both pens, but overall I prefer the shade of yellow on the Classic. Sort of like the vintage Parker Duofold Mandarin. — A shot of the Pro Gear Realo Soleil Compared to my yellow Pro Gear from the Classic "Color" Series. I like both pens, but overall I prefer the shade of yellow on the Classic. Sort of like the vintage Parker Duofold Mandarin.

While the Realo is a good pen, with a quality piston and a convenient ink window, I think the Classic has a cleaner, more balanced look overall. The Realo also tapers more towards the piston knob, which makes it look "pinched," in my opinion. That said, I post my pens when I write, so I don't really notice.

Where to Buy

Sorry, but you can't buy this particular version of the Realo anymore, at least not from a retailer. Like many of Bung Box's other Limited Editions, the Soleil sold out relatively quickly and you're now limited to whatever shows up on the secondary market. I picked this one up secondhand from an eBay seller, and jumped on it the minute I saw the listing.

That said, if what you're looking for is a piston-filling version of the Pro Gear, most Sailor retailers (such as sponsor Pen Chalet) carry the standard Realo model, but the color/trim combinations are few outside of the periodic limited editions. The standard Pro Gear Realo comes in two colors: black or burgundy, both with gold trim, priced at around $330. Currently, Classic Fountain Pens (nibs.com) is offering a 22nd Anniversary Yellow and Black Limited Edition, but it's pricey at $520. I love my Pro Gears, but I'm not sure it justifies that sort of expenditure.

Ink Review: Robert Oster Melon Tea and Fire and Ice

April 8, 2017

Many thanks to Lisa and Mike at Vanness Pens for providing me with some more samples of excellent Robert Oster Inks to test out! The two I'm reviewing today are Melon Tea, a brownish green (or greenish brown, depending on how you look at it), and this year's new hotness, Fire and Ice, which as you might expect from the name is a teal blue with a red sheen. I thoroughly enjoyed both of these inks, and look forward to picking up a bottle of Fire and Ice soon. (I already bought a full bottle of Melon Tea at the Baltimore Pen Show.)

Melon Tea

A writing sample on Tomoe River paper from my Hobonichi Planner. The pen used here was my Kanilea Pen Co. Mauna Kea with a medium nib.

I'm a big fan of green ink, especially darker shades of green-black or "racing green" inks. Robert Oster Melon Tea undergoes a bit of a color shift as it dries. When I was writing with this ink, I found that it appeared more green when wet, but as it dried the ink darkened and the brown shades became much more apparent. This ink was well-behaved and gave me no trouble whatsoever. It flowed well in the pen, dried quickly, and I didn't experience any smearing or bleed-through on any paper, other than the cheapest of recycled office garbage.

Fire and Ice

One thing that I love about Robert Oster inks is the fact that the company has been able to achieve such vibrant colors without oversaturating the inks with dye, which typically leads to problems with smearing, slow dry times, bleedthrough, etc. I'd ordinarily be hesitant to try a "crazy" color like Fire and Ice, but this ink received such rave reviews that I had to go ahead and try it for myself.

Another writing sample, this time photographed in the light and from the side. Check out the sheen!

Fire and Ice is usually described as a dark teal or turquoise that is famous for its red "sheen," which in fountain pen ink terms refers to a layer of color (usually red) that appears on top of an ink as it dries. Other famously "sheen-y" inks include the legendary Parker Penman Sapphire, J. Herbin Emerald of Chivor, and Diamine Majestic Blue (at least in the old formulation). Robert Oster Fire and Ice doesn't disappoint, and is one of those rare hyped inks that functions perfectly well as a daily writer, in addition to having a little something extra to keep things interesting. Like Melon Tea, this ink dries very quickly and doesn't smear at all. I was somewhat shocked at how low-maintenance this ink was.

Where to Buy

You can purchase both Melon Tea and Fire and Ice, along with many other colors of Robert Oster inks, from Vanness Pens. Robert Oster Inks are reasonably priced at $16 for 50ml, which is a bargain for ink of this quality. As I mentioned earlier, I love the form factor of the Robert Oster bottles, which are tall and skinny and make for easy storage in a drawer. They even include a label and color swatch on top of the cap!

If you missed my previous review of some other Robert Oster colors, check them out here!

Disclaimer: Thanks to Vanness Pens for providing me with the inks featured in this review. I was not otherwise compensated for this post in any way.

Pen Review: Lamy 2000 (Original Makrolon Version)

April 5, 2017

I can’t believe that in the nearly four years I’ve been writing this blog, I’ve never done a proper review of the Lamy 2000, a pen that I often recommend and which headlines my recommendations for a best first fountain pen over $100. I currently have three of these pens in my personal collection - a standard EF nib, a fine nib ground to a cursive italic by Mark Bacas, and a Stainless Steel model with a medium nib that Mark ground into a reversible “Italifine” nib with a cursive italic on one side and an extra fine point on the reverse side. While you may or may not appreciate the design, this is a classic, well-built fountain pen that everyone should try at least once.

History

It’s safe to call the 2000 Lamy’s flagship pen. Designed by Gerd Muller in 1966, the pen has been in continuous production, and the design hasn’t changed, for the past 50+ years.

The integrated ink window, brushed stainless section, and hooded nibs are hallmarks of the Lamy 2000's design.

According to Lamy, the 2000 was the first pen to feature an “even surface of both stainless steel and plastic,” presumably referring to the way in which the brushed stainless steel section, Makrolon body, and other components are flush with one another. Because Lamy's manufacturing tolerances are very high, the seams between the section, body, and piston knob are all but invisible. The Lamy 2000 also claims to be the first pen with a solid stainless steel clip. Note the subtle engravings not only on the outside of the clip ("Lamy"), but on the inside as well ("Germany"). Details!

Why do I like this pen so much?

The Lamy 2000 engenders strong feelings in people. They either love the pen or hate it. Many claim that it looks “boring” or “generic.” Personally, I don’t find this pen boring at all - the simple, straightforward design reflect the pen’s Bauhaus-inspired aesthetic, not a lack of creativity. While I have my own penchant for loud colors (red and yellow, especially) and patterned celluloid, sometimes I just want an understated workhorse pen that holds a lot of ink and won’t draw a lot of attention in crowded meetings or in court. The Lamy 2000 fits the bill.

The hooded nib on the Lamy 2000 makes it difficult for the casual observer to distinguish the Lamy 2000 fountain pen from a standard rollerball or a ballpoint, which is why this is a great pen for use in situations where you don’t want to draw atten… — The hooded nib on the Lamy 2000 makes it difficult for the casual observer to distinguish the Lamy 2000 fountain pen from a standard rollerball or a ballpoint, which is why this is a great pen for use in situations where you don’t want to draw attention to yourself.

Construction

The body of the pen is made from Makrolon, a polycarbonate/fiberglass composite that is both strong and lightweight. The section is made from brushed stainless steel, which adds just enough weight to give it a nice balance in the hand. While there is an ink window, it’s translucent and somewhat narrow, only providing you with a general indication of how much ink remains in the pen. The pistons on my pens all operate smoothly, and they hold a good deal of ink, which I would peg at around 2ml (nonscientifically).

A shot of the cap on a Makrolon Lamy 2000. Note the matte finish on the body and clip, compared with the polished end cap.

A note on cleaning: It IS possible to disassemble the Lamy 2000 for cleaning the inside of the barrel, feed, and nib, though the pen contains multiple small parts that can easily get lost. If this sort of “deep cleaning" is needed - and it shouldn’t be necessary on a routine basis - make sure you’ve set up a workspace where you can keep track of the parts.

Writing Experience

While I’ve known a couple people who have purchased Lamy 2000’s with nib issues - mainly caused by misalignment of the tines - every single one of the pens that I have purchased over the years (four total) has written just fine out of the box. The 14k gold nib offers a fairly wet, slightly springy writing experience, and as a result I would say that these pens tend to write on the wider side of their designation. For example, if you want a medium nib, I’d recommend that you try a fine; if you want a fine nib, consider the extra fine, etc. (The broad nib is very, very broad, at least for me.) I would say that there’s no true “extra fine” nib size available - if that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll likely need to have someone work on the nib aftermarket.

I prefer to use the pen posted, thought many people find it pleasant to use unposted as well. Posted, the pen is just under 6.2 inches; unposted 5.5 inches, so it’s a respectable size either way, neither too big nor too small.

Where to Buy

[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.

Great Pen Stores: Papier Plume in New Orleans, Louisiana

April 1, 2017

As you may have seen on my Instagram, I've spent the past few days at a conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, and my regular posting schedule been a bit "off track" (as should be expected). But that doesn't mean that I didn't take at least some time to visit one of my favorite pen stores around, Papier Plume on Royal Street in the French Quarter. If you ever make it to New Orleans, this carefully curated stationery store is a must-visit. Papier Plume has their own house brand of ink, and they also carry some smaller brands of fountain pens and stationery goods that aren't easily found elsewhere.

I passed on the black and yellow dip pen last time I was in the store.  Not so much this time. — I passed on the black and yellow dip pen last time I was in the store. Not so much this time.

On this trip, I picked up a pair of Cleo-Skribent fountain pens, a Murano glass-nib dip pen, a couple bottles of Papier Plume ink (Midnight Blue and the limited edition Streetcar Green), and a leather portfolio by Orna 916, which I plan on using to replace my current worn out U.S. Senate Portfolio that was a farewell gift from an internship long ago.

So far I've been impressed by the steel nibs on these pens from Cleo-Skribent, a smaller German brand that you don't see much in the States.

I'll definitely be writing more about all of these things in the future, so stay tuned!

From the Vault: Favorite Pilot Pens

March 29, 2017

I'm facing a hellish week of work travel, so I decided to dig some older reviews out of "the vault" and highlight them for newer readers and those who may have missed them the first time around. I selected some reviews of Pilot pens for this retrospective - these pens are some of my favorites, and I've been getting a lot of questions about my preferences among the various Pilot models. If you haven't already, check out the following reviews:

Pilot Custom Heritage 92. Probably my favorite pen in Pilot's current line. This piston-fill demonstrator is not only easy on the eyes, but it's the perfect size for me. Pilot, please bring the color demonstrators to the U.S.!
Pilot Metropolitan. I've been deep into this hobby for years, and I still use the Metropolitan regularly. I have two inked up as we speak. Don't forget to check out the new version with the stub nib.
Pilot Custom 823. A true workhorse, this large ink tank holds enough to last for weeks. Though vacuum fillers are becoming more common nowadays, this is still the best, and one of the highest-capacity.
Pilot Custom 74. The "in-between" size between the Custom Heritage 92 and the Custom 823. I've owned two of these over the years, and I still regret selling one.

Happy reading! Things should settle down and get back to normal this weekend.

Comments on the Soleil

Realo vs. Pro Gear Classic

Where to Buy

Further Reading

Melon Tea

Fire and Ice

Where to Buy

History

Why do I like this pen so much?

Construction

Writing Experience

Where to Buy

Further Reading

Featured Posts