Red Ink Review: Tono & Lims "Superstar T"

July 17, 2021

I first heard about Tono & Lims inks on the Japan-centric stationery podcast “Tokyo Inklings,” which is an excellent listen for those interested in Japanese stationery, and especially the market for store-exclusive and specialized Japanese releases. Tono & Lims, a newer line of inks that represents a collaboration between a Japanese brand and a South Korean ink producer, is frequently mentioned on the show as the maker of many of the exclusive and limited edition inks for Japanese pen shows and clubs. Over the past year or so Tono & Lims inks have become available in the United States via retailer Shigure Inks, which stocks more than twenty “lines” of Tono & Lims inks for both fountain and dip pens, amounting to over 240 different colors at the time of writing. This might be intimidating to some, and even I had some difficulty navigating the various options. I would have appreciated slightly more guidance on the differences between the various collections and the properties of the inks in each line. That said, let’s dive in.

Tono & Lims uses a very simple square glass ink bottle, but I absolutely love the artwork on the box.

So far, I’ve only sampled one color from the expansive Tono & Lims lineup, but I’ve really enjoyed the experience. The color I chose - no surprise here - is “Superstar T” from their limited edition pen show line, described as a “dark maroon” fountain pen ink. The color didn’t turn out exactly as expected. I would definitely describe this ink as more of a rich blood red as opposed to what I consider “maroon,” and the color of the ink I received looks quite different from the swatch online. In any event, Superstar T is still a gorgeous ink which flows well in all the various pens I’ve tested, doesn’t bleed or feather on most papers, and dries relatively quickly. I’d describe the performance as similar to Sailor ink.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a red/burgundy ink review without a comparison against my favorite red ink of all time, Montblanc’s now-ancient limited edition Alfred Hitchcock. As you can see, the Superstar T is much more of a classic red than the Hitchcock, which has the purple undertones that I associate with maroons/burgundies.

I went ahead and swabbed a couple of other similar inks, including Vanness-Joey Feldman “Good Evening” collaboration ink and my own attempt to replicate MB Hitchcock using Platinum’s Mix-Free Inks. Paper used is the bright-white Write Notepads paper… — I went ahead and swabbed a couple of other similar inks, including Vanness-Joey Feldman “Good Evening” collaboration ink and my own attempt to replicate MB Hitchcock using Platinum’s Mix-Free Inks. Paper used is the bright-white Write Notepads paper that I carry in the shop, which I absolutely love for showing off reds.

Superstar T makes a perfect match for my PenBBS “Manjusaka” acrylic 456!

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I fancy myself a red ink connoisseur, and Tono & Lims Superstar T is an exceptional red ink that I can see myself using regularly. I’m definitely looking forward to testing out more of their colors. I purchased the bottle shown here from Shigure Inks, which as I mentioned carries multiple collections of Tono & Lims fountain pen and dip pen inks in addition to other brands of pens and stationery. Tono & Lims inks are relatively pricey, coming in at $22 for a 30ml bottle, but increased “per ml” pricing is probably unavoidable with smaller import brands that maintain such a large number of different colors.

One note on Tono & Lims: Read the descriptions carefully. Certain of their inks are intended only for use with glass dip pens, not fountain pens, probably because the inks have special properties that would cause them to stain, clog, or just not flow well in a fountain pen feed.

Disclaimer: I paid full price for the ink shown here, purchased with my own funds, and have no affiliation with Shigure Inks other than as a customer. This post does not contain affiliate links. Going forward, T.G.S is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Deals & Drops: Store Exclusives, New TWSBIs, Stálogy & More!

July 15, 2021

So much new stuff has arrived in the Curated Shop over the past several weeks that it’s been hard to ensure that it all receives adequate attention. Of course, we recently launched our new T.G.S. x Sunderland Machine Works collaboration, which has sold amazingly well and we are down to five from the first batch. Last week also saw the arrival of the TWSBI Diamond 580 “Prussian Blue” Fountain Pen and the ECO Lilac, as well as a new (to me) line of Stálogy notebooks. Happy Shopping, and feel free to message me with any questions.

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!

T.G.S. x. Sunderland Machine Works mk1. The latest T.G.S. collaboration product has arrived, and I’m down to about five pens or so out of this first batch! More are on the way, but it could be a few weeks once these sell. For more details on what went into this pen, check out this post.
TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR “Prussian Blue” Fountain Pens. The latest release in TWSBI’s Diamond 580 series is a gorgeous dark teal-blue, and includes the same textured ALR finish found on the brushed nickel version.
TWSBI ECO Lilac Fountain Pen. The latest release in TWSBI’s ECO series features a gorgeous light purple color that’s been quite popular.
Caran d’Ache “Black Code” 849. If I had to choose an “unofficial” T.G.S. Pen, it would be this one. This reliable, all-black workhorse from Caran d’Ache represents pretty much everything I look for in a daily writer.
Caran d’Ache Ecridor Racing .7mm Mechanical Pencil. Speaking of matte-black, the Ecridor Racing mechanical pencil takes the standard Ecridor and upgrades it, with a matte black finish and bright red racing stripe. Sold as a set with a beautiful black leather sleeve.
Caran d’Ache 849 Fountain Pens. Looking for a colorful, yet lightweight and portable, slim fountain pen that’s planner-loop friendly? Check out the Caran d’Ache 849, which we carry in all colors. Caran d’Ache “Chromatics” ink cartridges are also available.
Stálogy Notebooks. A popular, yet still somewhat under-appreciated, Japanese notebook brand that makes high quality softcover notebooks which many people use as undated planners. Stálogy notebooks come in 1/2 year and 365-day sizes, and I carry the grid version.
Traveler’s Notebooks and Refills in All Sizes. If there’s one thing I’ve dove into headlong over the past six months, it’s notebooks systems. Traveler’s Notebook is my preferred “system” of choice, due to its infinite customizability and long, narrower format. We carry all notebooks and refill options, including a healthy stock of Tomoe River “Lightweight Paper” refills and the new “B-Sides and Rarities” Collection.
Kokuyo Sketch Hardcover Pocket Notebooks. These slim hardcover books are back in stock in certain colors. One of my favorite stationery products for on-the-go writing, especially if you’re looking for a portable, yet durable, travel journal.
Pokka Pens. Looking for a portable writing experience to carry on your summer adventures? Consider adding a pack of Pokkas, plus accessories, to your next order. I have Pokkas in my car, on my keychain, and on the zipper pulls of most of my bags.

Customizing Stationery: If Your Ideal Product Doesn't Exist, Make It Yourself!

July 14, 2021

If you fall deep enough into the stationery hobby, you inevitably will find yourself customizing your gear. Whether that means having fountain pen nibs custom ground for your writing style, mixing your own inks with an ink mixing kit, or binding your own notebooks and paper refills, there are literally dozens of different rabbit holes for you to explore. Even for someone like me, who’s essentially “tried everything” over the years, I love that I can still create new ways to keep this hobby interesting!

A Traveler’s Notebook refill compared against a standard A5 softcover notebook.

One thing I’ve not attempted much over the years is customizing notebooks. I have neither the space nor the time nor the skill to try bookbinding, and I’m fairly confident that I’ve exhausted all the goodwill of the other members of my household with my various hobbies, so making my own books is out the window. But what about cutting down or trimming notebooks from my existing stash where the size isn’t something I use? I’m talking specifically about softcover A5 notebooks - somehow I’ve accumulated a dozen or more of these small, “single subject” notebooks over the years, but if I use a thinner notebook, it tends to be in the Traveler’s Notebook system. What if I just cut the larger notebooks down?

The great thing about standard Traveler’s Notebook refills is that they are the same length as A5, just narrower, so you only need to make one cut. Not only did I convert a few softcover A5 notebooks into additional refills for my Traveler’s Notebook (see photo at top), but I created a thicker bullet journal/undated planner for my personal Traveler’s Notebook using a 1/2-Year Stálogy notebook. I recently finished an undated Weeks + Memo Traveler’s Notebook Planner Refill, and found myself wanting something that would last six months or longer for work purposes. Check this out:

Stálogy paper is extremely thin, so my trimmed-down 1/2-year notebook easily fits in the Standard-size Traveler’s Notebook cover.

Getting Started

If you’re interested in attempting to trim down notebooks, I would start with a very sharp X-Acto or other craft knife (I used a No. 11 blade), a cutting mat, and some sort of straight-edge like a T-square that will help you make a straight cut. I purchased all of the above at Hobby Lobby for around $40. (I’m sure you can find it for less online, but I was bored on a weekend and wanted instant gratification.) I would NOT recommend using a “paper guillotine” or other paper cutter, unless you have access to a commercial-grade tool that’s been sharpened and calibrated so that it cuts evenly. On the notebooks pictured above, I tried to use the paper cutter in my office, but it made cuts that were neither straight nor clean, so I had to finish with the X-Acto. Based on my experience so far, very thin paper such as Tomoe River or Stálogy cuts the easiest with an X-Acto knife. Just be sure to practice on a less expensive refill first.

I do sell 1/2 year and 365-day Stálogy notebooks in the Curated Shop, in several different colors. As an aside, if you would like me to cut a notebook down for you, I’m happy to discuss, though it’s not an “official” service I offer or advertise so I can’t guarantee results. Please reach out and we can talk about what you need.

I wish I could claim credit for the idea to cut down the Stálogy Notebook, but credit goes to @stacysplans on Instagram. Follow her account for more planner-related ideas and content. While I am an authorized Traveler’s Company and Stálogy retailer, this post does not contain third-party affiliate links.

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!

Sunday Reading for July 11, 2021

July 11, 2021

Updating My Top 3 Pens for 2021 (via UK Fountain Pens). In his installment of Appelboom’s popular video series, Anthony shows off his top three pens from 2021, including one major new addition to his collection.
England v. Italy (via Dapprman). Great choices for each side!
Scribo Arancio di Sicilia (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). I have essentially the entire range of Scribo inks here in my office, ready for review, and after seeing the pictures of this orange it will definitely be one of the first I ink up.
Gravitas Entry Fountain Pen Black (via Rants of the Archer). In addition to some of their more wild designs, like the “Skittles” pens, Gravitas has an entry level model as well.
Profolio Oasis Summit Notebook Review (via Fountain Pen Love). I’ve not used the Profolio notebook series before, but the paper looks quality and the ruling on this one interesting.
Monteverde Jungle Collection Part I and Part II (via Mountain of Ink). Monteverde is at it again, releasing yet another set of interesting ink colors. While I’ve not used their pens much, their inks are generally high-quality.
Sailor Pro Gear Slim Mini Fountain Pen (via Pencilcase Blog). I owned a couple of Pro Gear Minis, back before I sold off a large chunk of my Sailor collection. These are very nice pens, especially if you value a pen that can go from compact to nearly full-size when posted.
Fountain Pen Quest Trail Log (via FPQuest). Ray has written a lot lately about his dark green Lamy Aion, and I have to say, despite the Aion not being one of my favorite entries in Lamy’s lineup, this pen looks really nice.
Platinum Procyon Review (via Pen Addict). Brad reviews the Platinum Procyon. I know that many people find this pen “boring,” but I find the shape insanely comfortable - moreso than the Preppy or Plaisir.
Lennon Toolbar Egret Paper (via Well-Appointed Desk). Let the Tomoe River replacement wars continue!

In Case You Missed It….

The big news on the site this week was the launch of my most recent product collaboration, a store-exclusive Sunderland mk1 gel/rollerball pen in bead-blasted matte black and red! I followed up with a post yesterday on why I chose this particular pen and design. I also wrote a quick review on a “workhorse ink” I’ve been using recently, TWSBI Blue-Black.

This Week in the Curated Shop

In addition to launching the Sunderland pen, this week I added Stálogy notebooks/planners to the store! Available in two sizes, A5 1/2 year and 365 days, Stálogy notebooks are quite popular - the Instagram response surprised me! - probably because they can double as a traditional grid notebook or undated planner. On the pen side of things, TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR “Prussian Blue” fountain pens arrived, as well as TWSBI ECO “Lilac” fountain pens.

TWSBI

Traveler's Company

Quo Vadis

Rhodia

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For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. 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 and T.G.S. collaborations, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live!