New Arrivals: TWSBI 580 ALR Punch Pink and TWSBI 580 AL Rose Fountain Pens, Plus a Saffron Restock!

April 4, 2023

Since you all cleaned us out of most of our top-selling TWSBI models, between pen shows and the series of recent new releases, we had to do an “emergency” restock! Many items have been marked as “out-of-stock” for some time, so it’s best to do a quick round-up of what’s available:

TWSBI ECO Persian Green. The latest TWSBI ECO is in-stock and ready to ship. I love the mid-century modern vibes that this particular color gives off.
TWSBI ECO-T Saffron, for those of you who couldn’t grab one in Baltimore! Based on color alone, this is my favorite TWSBI release to date. The shape of the grip and cap on the ECO-T is subtly different - read more about it here.
TWSBI Diamond 580 “Iris” Models in all nib sizes.
TWSBI Precision Ballpoint Pens and Mechanical Pencils.
TWSBI Inks and Ink Cartridges, including the TWSBI 1791 inks in all colors and the six-ink Sets.

Honestly, I keep waiting for one of the new TWSBI designs to - well, maybe not flop, but simply “not wow” - but it hasn’t happened yet. The ECO-T Saffron and ECO Persian Green are both available now.

Last Chance to Get a TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR Punch Pink or 580 AL Rose

Long ago, TWSBI released both red and orange Diamond 580 models, which I now regret passing along in the spirit of “catch and release”. When I placed this last TWSBI order, I noticed that some stock remained of the Diamond 580 ALR “Punch Pink” and the Diamond 580 AL “Rose” models, which are available in VERY limited quantities in the shop, in specific nib sizes. Once these are gone, they’re gone, so this is a “last chance” opportunity, unless TWSBI decides to release a similar color down the road.

The TWSBI Diamond 580 AL Rose and the ALR “Punch Pink” can be difficult to tell apart in some of the online photos, but this one shows the difference. The “Punch Pink” is much more of a reddish pink, and has the ALR texture on the grip plus a matching anodized cap band. The AL Rose is more of a true red, with a smooth section.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

Introducing T.G.S. "Currently Inked!" Let's Start Off with the Pilot Custom 823 and Parker 51

April 3, 2023

I’ve been wanting to introduce some additional video content to the site and related channels for some time now, so this morning I filmed a short video in which I ink up two new pens for the week: My Amber Pilot Custom 823, and my newly acquired Parker 51 that I picked up at the Arkansas Pen Show a couple of weeks ago. Both of these pens have interesting filling systems, and I actually get a lot of questions about how the Custom 823’s vacuum-filling system works. Check out the video here over at the T.G.S. Youtube Channel. (Yes, we have one!)

This particular video contains bonus content in which I spill ink on myself. Yes, it still happens, even after all these years!

Disclaimer: The Gentleman Stationer is now an authorized retailer of Pilot Pens and Inks.

Pen Show Season Continues: The Atlanta Pen Show Is Today!

April 1, 2023

Well, technically it started yesterday, but I’m doing a one-day trip to the Atlanta Pen Show this year given how much travel I’ve done recently. My daughter wanted to go to a pen show, so we’re on the road once again and plan to visit the show on Saturday (and maybe Sunday) as attendees! I’ll be posting photos of the show from my Instagram account, so if you’d like to track our adventures you can follow along there. If you’re planning on attending the show, check out the full list of exhibitors beforehand, and you won’t want to miss the following vendors who are Atlanta-area locals (or at least relatively so):

Total Office Products / The Pen Show. Jimmy Dolive has been the Atlanta Pen Show organizer for years, and always does a great job. Be sure to visit his table for limited and special edition modern pens.
Ryan Krusac Pens. Ryan’s carved scrimshaw pens are always one of my first stops at any show, and he typically brings a large inventory to Atlanta.
Carolina Pen Company (Jonathon Brooks). Jonathon is based right across the state line in South Carolina, making Atlanta his “home show.”
Mythic Pens. I’m looking forward to spending some time at Brad’s table, which I missed during my short Atlanta Pen Show trip last year.
Stacy Robinson Pens. The “Navigator” model (pictured above) was one of my favorite discoveries from 2022, and I ended up taking home three of those pens from Atlanta. I can’t wait to see what Stacy has today.

If you’re attending the show, enjoy! I always enjoy visiting the Atlanta Pen Show as it’s definitely on the smaller side and is quite easy to navigates, especially for first-time pen show attendees. You can read my recap of the 2022 show here.

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

The Pilot Custom 74 in Blue Stone and the Custom 823 in Smoke. We currently have all colors of both pens in stock.

Thursday Drops: Pilot Fountain Pens, Iroshizuku Inks, and More!

March 30, 2023

At long last, we’re pleased to welcome Pilot to the T.G.S. Curated Shop! We currently have both the Pilot Custom 74 Fountain Pen and the Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen available in all colors and nib sizes. In addition to our existing stock of inks and refills, we have added the entire line of Pilot Iroshizuku Inks, as well as standard Pilot bottled inks and cartridges.

The Pilot Custom 823, with its vacuum-filling system and large 14k nib, is a classic workhorse. Included with every pen is a large bottle of Pilot/Namiki Blue ink.

Happy shopping, and we look forward to further expanding our product lines in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Pilot Custom 74. Of all the pens I’ve regretted selling over the years, the one I miss the most is an older violet Pilot Custom 74 that I no longer own (and which, of course, is no longer made). As we build out the Curated Shop, we’re focused on the workhorse pens that are a years-long mainstay on the T.G.S. “Best Pens” list.
Pilot Custom 823. As with the Custom 74 above, the Custom 823 is a slightly larger, reliable everyday writer that holds a ton of ink in its high-capacity vacuum-filling system. It’s an excellent pen for travel, both due to the ink capacity and the shutoff valve that protects you from spills while flying.
TWSBI ECO Persian Green Fountain Pen (Pre-Order). The latest TWBSI Eco release will arrive tomorrow and start shipping over the weekend. Reserve yours now!
Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” Limited Edition. These gorgeous limited edition versions of the Platinum Preppy bring Maki-e style artwork to the everyday. Featuring six silk-screened designs of traditional Japanese motifs.
Nahvalur Nautilus Cephalopod Black and Bronze Corydoras Fountain Pens. It’s hard to go wrong with classic black ebonite, especially when paired with antiqued bronze or blacked out trim.
Pilot Iroshizuku Fountain Pen Inks. Pilot’s luxury Iroshizuku lineup contains some of the best fountain pen ink on the market, in my opinion. Featuring as many as 24 colors inspired by the scenery of Japan, these inks are reliable performers that come in a gorgeous (and sturdy) glass bottle.
J. Herbin Fountain Pen Inks. As I’ve moved back to more “basic” (read: lower-maintenance) stationery in my own life, I’ve rediscovered the J. Herbin inks, particularly colors such as Vert Empire and Bleu des Profondeurs.
Life Noble Note Notebooks. Life Stationery makes excellent fountain pen friendly paper, and we now offer the standard Life Noble Note notebooks in both A4 and A5 sizes.
Life Specialty Paper. In addition to the Noble Note series, Life makes specialty paper products that include Bank Paper pads, Airmail-style writing paper, Stenographer’s Notebooks, and more!
Midori Multi-Year Diaries. Looking for an easier way to develop a daily journaling habit? How about a multi-year diary that only requires you to write a few lines for each day. We have the 10-year, Five-year, and Three-year versions in stock.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

Pilot Iroshizuku Sui-Gyoku — Sui-Gyoku is one of the new arrivals in the Iroshizuku lineup. This one could be a favorite. I love the color. Shown here on Tomoe River 52g paper.

Ink Review: Laban Greek Mythology Poseidon Green and Hera Dark Green

March 29, 2023

The Laban Greek Mythology Inks continue to impress me with their range of colors, and today I’ll look at the two excellent greens from the lineup (though one I would characterize as a bit more blue/teal). Either way, as someone who loves ink in both of these particular shades, both the Poseidon Green (Blue?) and Hera Dark Green have become standbys in my work pens.

Laban Poseidon Green (or Blue? or Teal?)

First up is “Poseidon Green,” which I view as more of a teal/turquoise blue, but whatever you might call this color, I love it. It’s actually the first ink from this series that I tried, and it has some wonderful shading properties in a nib that provides line variation, especially in those places where the ink pools on the paper. Laban nailed the color matching here. Poseidon (Roman equivalent: Neptune) is the ancient Greek god of the sea, and while this particular color may not necessarily evoke the ocean where I personally go to the beach, they’ve attempted to capture the blue of the Mediterranean islands.

Laban Hera Dark Green

Hera Dark Green is more of your traditional dark green “workhorse ink”. Hera (Roman equivalent: Juno) is the ancient Greek goddess of marriage and “the home,” so I’m not sure I see the connection between the dark green color of this ink and Hera’s traditional affiliations, but it’s a lovely ink nonetheless. As with Poseidon, you’ll experience some shading, with dark teal and grey undertones. Both Poseidon and Hera are drier inks than some of the other Laban colors like Athena Grey, Artemis Navy Blue, and Demeter Brown. That’s not to say they hard-start or dry up in the pen, and I’ve never had that issue with either. It’s more that I’ve noticed they take very little time to dry, making them quite good for work. These are two of the better Laban inks for working on cheaper papers at the office.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Laban continues to impress me with the Greek Mythology series. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s one of the few ink lines where I purchased a bottle of every color as quickly as I could, but again that says just as much about my personal fascination with mythology as it does about their excellent quality.

You can purchase the Laban Greek Mythology Inks directly from us in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, priced at $25 for a 50ml bottle. At this point, I’ve almost made my way through the entire lineup of the Laban Greek Mythology inks, and have reviewed Athena Grey and Artemis Navy Blue, Apollo Orange and Aphrodite Pink, and Ares Red. Some really interesting options remain, including Demeter Brown, Hermes Sky Blue, and Zeus Purple. Stay tuned as I round out this series of ten!

My Leonardo Momento Zero Maestro in Burkina Celluloid, alongside my Montblanc 146 UNICEF (with the small sapphire on top).

Bonus! The Return of Two Favorite Pens with New Nib Grinds

Back in September at the San Francisco Pen Show, I left a handful of pens with Gena at Custom Nib Studio for modification. Just before the Arkansas Pen Show, I received my pens in the mail, including two to which Gena had added their “Perspective” grind that I love so much. Both of these grinds are just as good as the original I had added to my Pelikan M800 Stone Garden and reviewed last year. You’ll notice that both pens I’ve used for today’s ink reviews feature Perspective nibs, which I highly recommend to those who are looking for some of the line variation of an Architect without the sharp edges. Plus, you get the ability to change line width from EF to Medium by adjusting your writing angle!

Custom Nib Studio Perspective Writing Sample

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program, and is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including Laban.