The new Caran d’Ache + Nespresso collaborations are on the way. This year it won’t be a ballpoint!

Sunday Reading for May 23, 2021

May 23, 2021

Snap Cap Fountain Pens (via Left Hook Pens). “Snap cap,” or “friction closure” fountain pens can represent the ultimate in convenience, allowing you to quickly deploy your fountain pen and get to writing without spending extra time screwing/unscrewing the cap.
Opus 88 Jazz Demonstrator Fountain Pen (via Pencilcase Blog). A slightly more classic, streamlined design than other Opus 88 demonstrator pens, I agree with Dries that this is the closest to a “mainstream” design that Opus 88 has come, and could be a big hit provided they can keep retailers stocked.
Laban 325 Lagoon (via Rants of the Archer). This one really is reminiscent of the beach. They don’t get a lot of attention, relative to other brands, but Laban makes some great looking pens, and their lineup is quite diverse.
Sailor Manyo Kakitsubata and Ukikusa (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). I’ve more or less given up trying to keep track of Sailor’s various ink lineups and where to start, but the Manyo series has some great colors, and still come in 50ml bottles.
Parker Sac Replacement Revisited (via Dapprman). For those interested in starting to restore vintage fountain pens, read as much as you can on the ins and outs or sac replacement. It will get you 90% of the way there.
Karas Kustoms Bolt v.2 (via Writing at Large). I found the original Karas Kustoms Bold too long for my taste. I loved the design of the pen though. I need to give v.2 a try.
New Paper Search Tool Now Available (via Fountain Pen Love). John has developed a paper search tool that allows you to sort fountain pen paper recommendations by specific properties. Check this one out!
Snippets: Teal Breaker, Otto Hutt, Gravitas, Benu, and more… (via UK Fountain Pens). So I need to get my hands on an Otto Hutt Design03….
Sakura Craft Lab 005 Gel Ink Pen (via Pen Addict). I’m not sure I understand this one at all, but it’s an interesting pen but the price point strikes me as insane.
Platinum Procyon Fountain Pen (via Gourmet Pens). Azizah reviews what I would call Platinum’s “mid-range inexpensive option”, the Procyon. While perhaps a bit pricey for what it is, the Procyon is a nice size and balance in the hand.

In Case You Missed It…. GIVEAWAY ENDS TONIGHT!

This week I reviewed a pen that’s been in my queue for some time: the Tibaldi N.60, in the beautiful “Samarkand Blue” acrylic. Otherwise, I had to balance my crazy day job with getting a TON of new items listed for the shop so I could clear them out of my home office. Check out this brief write-up of the Traveler’s Notebook “July Start” Planner refills, including in the Weekly + Memo format. Finally, don’t miss the TRU RED Giveaway courtesy of Staples.com. It ends tonight at 11:59pm Central Time.

New in the Curated Shop

As I mentioned, we’ve had a ton of new stuff arrive in the last couple of weeks, as well as a full restock of all Caran d’Ache products, including most models of the 849 ballpoint, the 844 mechanical pencil, and the 849 fountain pen. We also stock TWSBI fountain pens and ink, Midori MD notebooks and writing pads, and Traveler’s Notebooks, refills, and accessories.

Caran d'Ache

Traveler's Company

TWSBI

Midori MD

Visit T.G.S. on Reddit, and Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and More!

As I noted above, I’ve been trying to expand into social media beyond Instagram, due to my dissatisfaction with the direction that platform is taking. Currently, you can also engage with me on Twitter, Facebook, and now on Reddit. (Honestly, I’m active on Twitter and Reddit moreso than Facebook, but I do read all the Facebook comments, eventually.) Mainly, I’m doing this because of Instagram’s algorithm-driven approach that buries content unless you’re endlessly posting to their various formats (“Reels,” Stories, posts, etc.) and actively monitoring your account to where you’re basically having to respond to comments and DMs in real time. This is impractical, because as Ana points out, you end up spending all your time on their platform and not actually writing or running your business, and then most of this content is temporary (24hrs) and you have to jump on the “hamster wheel” again. Many people just want an easy way to receive updates on when I post new content to the blog. Twitter and Reddit allow me to do that reliably. If there’s one thing you can do to help support T.G.S., it’s sharing our content and spreading the word!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. We’ve discussed our thoughts on pen shows restarting, recent arrivals in our personal collections, and more. I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live!

New Arrivals: Traveler's Company Mid-Year (July) Start Planner Refills!

May 21, 2021

If there’s one product that I’ve leaned heavily on during this past year, it’s been my Traveler’s Notebook. Currently, it serves as a combined Planner/Life Log/Journal/Notebook/Commonplace book, all combined into a compact and versatile format that allows me to carry what amounts to my entire working life around with me at any given time, especially as I prepare to start traveling again. Arriving just in time for an eventful (hopefully in a good way) second half of the year are dated Traveler’s Notebook Planner Refills with a July 2021 Start Date. In the Standard Size, we have both Weekly Vertical and Weekly + Memo dated formats, and in the more compact Passport Size we have the Weekly Vertical.

The Undated Weekly Vertical Planner Refill.

Personally, I find the Weekly + Memo format insanely practical, providing a versatile week-on-two-pages format that lets you keep your schedule on the left-hand page while taking notes, making lists, logging daily activities, or even keeping a short-form journal on the right. I’m currently using an undated version (pictured), but since I’ve been using it regularly, I will likely switch over to one of the “July Start” dated formats once my current refill runs out next month.

If you’d like to read more about how I use my Traveler’s Notebook (which is a Blue Standard Size), you can check out this post, and read more about my five favorite Traveler’s Notebook Accessories here. The T.G.S. Curated Shop carries the full range of Traveler’s Company products, including Traveler’s Notebooks, Refills, and Accessories (including pens).

The Gentleman Stationer and the T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of Traveler’s Notebook Products.

Pen Review: Tibaldi N.60 in Samarkand Blue

May 20, 2021

Italian brand Tibaldi has a long and storied history in the pen industry dating back to 1916, when it was founded in Florence. Over the years, Tibaldi pens have alternated between prominence and obscurity, most recently achieving a degree of fame/infamy for their absolutely gorgeous - and now scarce and absurdly expensive - “impero” celluloid. After several changes in ownership and management over the years, I understand that Tibaldi is now owned by the Aquila family, which per the Tibaldi website also has an ownership stake in Montegrappa. Given that Tibaldi has been headquartered in Bassano del Grappa (home of Montegrappa) since 2004 (as well as the line of pens released at some point dubbed “Tibaldi by Montegrappa), it’s clear to me that there is common ownership and that Tibaldi is a Montegrappa “sub-brand,” though I can’t find anything online where the companies expressly confirm that relationship.

Until I started researching this review, I was actually unaware of the relationship between these two Italian pen companies, but now that I think about it the business strategy kind of makes sense. I enjoy Montegrappa fountain pens, especially the materials they use, but they do get knocked for their high (some would even say astronomic) price points, even on their introductory or “lower-end” offerings. Since Tibaldi pens seem to top out at less than $250 (and even under $200 depending on where you buy), I would surmise that the strategy is to protect the “premium” image of the Montegrappa brand by releasing a more accessible line of pens under the Tibaldi moniker. It’s not a bad strategy, though I do think Tibaldi might have an easier time catching on if more people readily understood the connection to Montegrappa, an established modern brand.

Design and Build Quality

Any time a pen company releases a fountain pen featuring blue-flecked tortoiseshell material, either celluloid or acrylic, I’m going to buy it. (Don’t ask me - it’s one of those things.) This material reminds me of the blue tortoise celluloid used in my Faggionato Petrarque, though of course this Tibaldi uses acrylic and not celluloid. Regardless, the material is beautiful. The pen itself features a classic vintage-inspired design, reminiscent of various vintage fountain pens from Tibaldi and other brands. The triple cap band is a nod to some of my favorite vintage pens (though this Tibaldi is of course much larger - more on that below). The Tibaldi N.60 shows very little in the way of branding, with only a subtle “Tibaldi” engraved right above the cap band.

Build quality seems solid. The metal clip feels secure and tight, and the cap threads are smooth, opening with less than two turns. Inside the barrel, the acrylic is thick, with just enough room for the converter to fit without rattling.

Tibaldi N.60 Posted

Tibaldi N.60 Unposted

Nib and Overall Writing Experience

The N. 60 is, to me, a larger pen, though in terms of modern sizing it’s best characterized as a mid-size pen. It posts securely, though feels a touch top-heavy when you do post. Most people will probably write with this one unposted. The section is on the shorter side, causing me to tend to grip the threads when writing, though because the threads aren’t sharp I never experienced any serious discomfort.

The nib is where Tibaldi has attempted to distinguish itself from other brands targeting the $150-200 price bracket. While there is nothing necessarily special about the stainless steel nib itself, Tibaldi has paired it with an ebonite feed, typically the hallmark of much more expensive Montegrappa pens. The presumptive benefit of more consistent ink flow, however, doesn’t really appear here. While my N.60 isn’t a dry writer, I’m not sure I can discern that much of a difference between this nib and any other stock Bock or JoWo nib paired with a standard plastic feed. I did experience a couple of hard starts when the pen was new, but those have largely disappeared following a short break-in period of me writing with the pen consistently.

Writing sample with a stainless steel medium nib, Sailor Ink Studio 140, on Write Notepads Dot Grid Paper.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

If I had to point to one thing that would make the Tibaldi N.60 worth buying, it’s the materials Tibaldi has chosen, particularly the “Samarkand Blue” and the “Amber Yellow”, as well as certain design touches such as the triple cap band which give the N.60 a higher-end feel than its price point would suggest. Otherwise, I feel like the N.60 struggles to distinguish itself from its competitors in terms of writing experience, and I guess I expected a bit more ink flow from my ebonite feed. Don’t get me wrong - this isn’t a bad pen, and if you love the look of it, you will get a nice writer that feels built to last. If I had to pick a pen for a close comparison, I would say that the N.60 strikes me as a more upscale Levenger True Writer, which many people love, and which shares some of the same design language.

Similar materials: I like the Samarkand Blue acrylic almost as much as the “Honey Noire” on my Conway Stewart Model 100.

I purchased the pen featured in this review from Appelboom, which carries the full line of Tibaldi pens. The Tibaldi No. 60 is currently priced at around $175, depending on the exchange rate, and in addition to the “Samarkand Blue” model shown here, comes in black and three other marbled colors: Ruby Red, Emerald Green, Amber Yellow, and Emerald Green.

Disclaimer: This post does not contain affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported via pledges from the T.G.S. Patreon Program and sales through the T.G.S. Curated Shop.

Codex-style bindings are among my favorite, as they allow a notebook to lie completely flat.

New Shop Arrivals from Midori MD + Tomoe River, Plus a TRU RED Giveaway!

May 18, 2021

Looking to restock on fountain-pen friendly paper, perhaps in a format that’s a little different? This past week saw two new products arrive in the Curated Shop: the Midori MD Notebook Journal in a “Framed” blank layout, as well as the oversized, 350+ page Codex day-to-a-page journal! Both of these are awesome additions to the Midori MD notebook lineup, especially for those who like to journal. In addition, we are fully restocked on Tomoe River Paper loose sheets, now including A5 size in 52 gsm, white and cream. As before, A4 size is available in both 52 and 68 gsm versions.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of Midori MD Paper, including Midori MD Cotton, as well as Tomoe River paper.

TRU RED Giveaway Pack Courtesy of Staples.com!

Last week I reviewed a recently released product from TRU RED, the Starter Journal from TRU RED’s Expert Notetaking Collection. You can read the review here. Our friends at Staples.com were kind enough to send over some additional products for giveaway, including not just a Starter Journal but a pack of their Quick Dry Retractable Gel Pens and Rollerballs! As with all T.G.S. Giveaways, you can enter using the Gleam widget below. The giveaway is open to anyone 18+, and will run through Sunday, May 23, 2021 at 11:59 pm Central Time. See the Gleam widget for full details, terms and conditions.

Trying out Nespresso in its various forms.

Sunday Reading for May 16, 2021

May 16, 2021

Progress Over Perfection: The Venvstas Magna CC (via UK Fountain Pens). Apparently the proverbial heads have rolled over at Venvstas, and there is new management in charge. The results? A much better pen. Check out Anthony’s reviews for details.
Otto Hutt Design04 Wave White and Rose Gold (via Rants of the Archer). Otto Hutt is literally all over the place these days! I had not seen the Design04 compared against other pens, and it’s interesting to see that this particular model isn’t as small as I originally thought.
Inkuisition - Birmingham Pen Company (via The Poor Penman). Birmingham Pen Company apparently has released a couple of different ink formulations that reduce dry times and supposedly work better on inexpensive paper. This article tests out a couple of those claims.
Victoria’s Journals Smyth Fashion Flexy Dotted Bullet Journal (via Rants of the Archer). I only wish journals/notebooks like this were available in our local bookstore!
Pineider Arco Blue Bee (via Dapprman). I absolutely love the look of this material, regardless of whether it’s true “Arco” or not. I did not personally experience quality control issues with my loaner “Quill” nib, but apparently they are out there. This thorough review is worth reading if you are considering a Pineider.
Sailor Pro Gear Cocktail Kure Azur (via Pen Addict). Susan reviews this gorgeous transparent Pro Gear from Sailor’s “Cocktail” series - if only they could focus on keeping these exceptionally popular and well-designed colors in the main lineup.
TRU RED Starter Journal (via Mountain of Ink). Kelli also takes a look at the TRU RED Starter Journal, from Staples and Staples.com affiliated brand TRU RED. For my own look at this product, check out the links below.
Link Love: Cat(ch)-22 Edition (via Well-Appointed Desk). Ana’s discussion of Instagram here struck a chord with me, as I’ve been reconsidering my own commitment to the platform. I don't have a lot of time to devote to things like “Reels” and “Stories,” which makes it difficult to get any traction in the algorithm. Since my first love has always been writing and text-based interaction, I’ve tried to be more active on Twitter and now, Reddit, including r/fountainpens and the new r/gentlemanstationer. More on that below.
Kunisawa Executive Ring Notebook - Fountain Pen Friendly! (via Gourmet Pens). I reviewed Kunisawa notebooks a couple of years ago, but found the paper inconsistent. That issue has since been remedied.
Modern Fuel Adjustable Bolt Action Pen Prototype Preview (via Ed Jelley). Modern Fuel, makers of the Modern Fuel mechanical pencil, have been working on a bolt action pen that takes a wide range of refills. They’ve blown through their Kickstarter goals, apparently.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I published a post on some of my favorite ballpoint refills, and I already have a list of more pens to check out, based on your comments and submissions! I also reviewed the TRU RED Starter Journal, a product from Staples and Staples.com-affliated brand TRU RED. Finally, this week’s Deals & Drops spotlighted a new collaboration between Vanness Pens and Shawn Newton, as well as some ideas for accessorizing your office as many of us prepare to go back to work.

New This Week in the Curated Shop

This week, I received new stock from Midori MD, including the blank/framed version of the MD Notebook Journal, as well as dot grid and blank MD Notebook Journal “Codex” versions! The latter features 368 pages of Midori MD paper - a page per day, if that’s how you choose to use it, and a lay flat binding. Note that this particular journal is not compatible with standard Midori MD Notebook covers.

Hightide Sandglasses

Mark'Style Ballpoints

TWSBI

Midori MD

Visit T.G.S. on Reddit, and Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and More!

As I noted above, I’ve been trying to expand into social media beyond Instagram, due to my dissatisfaction with the direction that platform is taking. Currently, you can also engage with me on Twitter, Facebook, and now on Reddit. (Honestly, I’m active on Twitter and Reddit moreso than Facebook, but I do read all the Facebook comments, eventually.) Mainly, I’m doing this because of Instagram’s algorithm-driven approach that buries content unless you’re endlessly posting to their various formats (“Reels,” Stories, posts, etc.) and actively monitoring your account to where you’re basically having to respond to comments and DMs in real time. This is impractical, because as Ana points out, you end up spending all your time on their platform and not actually writing or running your business, and then most of this content is temporary (24hrs) and you have to jump on the “hamster wheel” again. Many people just want an easy way to receive updates on when I post new content to the blog. Twitter and Reddit allow me to do that reliably. I plan to continue using Instagram, because it can be fun. I just don’t intend on doing more to just “play the game.”