Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage Wave of Color

Sunday Reading for June 23, 2024

June 23, 2024

How to Move Your Fountain Pens Across the World (via Inky Rocks). I’ve not moved in more than a decade. The prospect of this would be daunting… Best of luck on the move!
Working with Plotter A5: Chart Grid and Blue Quadrant Inserts (via A Gathering of Curiosities). Plotter has released a bunch of new formats recently. I agree with R.B. that many of these “experiments” can be frustrating if you find a format that you like only to have it discontinued.
New Collaboration! Visconti Voyager Del Mar (via Figboot on Pens). David has a new collaboration with Visconti now available, and it’s a gorgeous offering. Visconti fans should be sure to check this one out.
Visiting Stationery Shops in Portugal and Spain (via Inkredible Colours). It’s time for summer travels, and of course pen-related travelogues!
Lessons Learned from Inkvent 2023 (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Inkvent in June? Why not? Kimberly had some interesting favorites from last year’s release.
New Leonardo Model…The Dodici (via Figboot on Pens). A faceted Leonardo? “Dodici” apparently refers to 12 sides / 12 facets. Sign me up to check this one out at some point!
Traveling with Ink: North Devon, June 2024 (via Fountain Pen Blog). Now that’s a gorgeous location to get some writing done!
Platinum 3776 with a Coarse (C) Nib (via Dapprman). I’ve never been a big user of Platinum’s broader nibs, but many people love this one. Personally, it’s never intrigued me.
Do You Need Blotter Paper? (via Well-Appointed Desk). I keep a sheet of blotter paper in any non-absorbent notebook, especially those that use Tomoe River Paper. It lets me close the notebook quickly without worrying about ink transferring between two pages of writing.
Stipula Etruria Rainbow Stiflex Nib Fountain Pen Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). The Stipula Etruria fountain pen was a favorite of mine early on in my collecting days, back when they focused on celluloid releases. I’ve not tried any of the newer pens, as the gold nibs have a steep premium.

TGS Crimson Nib with Top Hat Engraving — I still can’t get over this nib! You’ll be seeing a lot more of it!

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog, I compared two premium gel pen options: the Uni-ball One and Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage. Gel pens are one of those categories I’ve unfortunately neglected over the years, and lately I’ve been surprised to discover how good many of them are. I also published my 2024 mid-year review, looking at five favorite posts from the first half of the year as we get ready for some big developments at T.G.S., hopefully starting next month!

TWSBI Diamond 580 AL Iceberg Blue Fountain Pen

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

This week we added the full line of Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage Gel Pens, in both .3mm and .5mm tip sizes. We also have TWSBI 580 AL “Iceberg Blue” fountain pens available to ship immediately. As a PSA, we have exactly ONE of the Shawn Newton Majestic fountain pens remaining, and the PensByPasquale nib holds have sold out and will be going to their new homes starting tomorrow! While the one remaining Majestic is listed as an EF, we also have 1.1mm stub nibs available.

Be sure to check out this week’s Thursday Drops e-mail for details on all the new arrivals!

Uni Multi Pens

New Lamys!

Stálogy

Zebra Sarasa Grand

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives!

We’ve recently shared some news regarding our continued growth with our Patreon members. If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and gently used stationery opportunities, consider supporting us via Patreon. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which also includes access to early shop releases, the quarterly gently used sales, a monthly updates newsletter, and of course our monthly Zoom meetups. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount.

No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

TGS Office Setup — More space needed! Urgently.

Mid-Year Review: Five Favorite Posts from the First Half of 2024 and a Big Announcement!

June 22, 2024

Most years, I take vacation during the month of June and use the time off to recharge. New content takes a back seat to a bit of rest, but for several different reasons (one of which is pretty exciting and discussed at the end of today’s post) that’s not the case this year. Nonetheless, I love doing the mid-year recaps and reviews because it lets me take stock of what I’ve done so far, compare it to my strategic plan, and plot the course for the second half of the year in terms of informational resources I plan to write, products to review, and - especially relevant this year - shop strategy! Today’s post looks at the five posts I had the most fun writing during the first six months of 2024, and which prompted the most reader feedback and engagement. Enjoy!

Strategic Paper Replacement: Adventures in E-Ink, Part I (The Physical Writing Experience). Yes, additional installments in this series are coming, but I’m taking my time with it because I’m still working through exactly how to explain the role these devices have come to play in my workflow. I will say that I’ve completely moved on from the iPad Pro and most “electronic handwriting” that I do is now on e-ink-based systems.
Pen Myth-Busting: Remember That Information on the Internet Has an Expiration Date. You may have noticed that in several posts so far this year, I’ve revisited reviews from the early years of T.G.S. That’s intentional, because companies change, manufacturing improves, and observations and conclusions from ten years ago aren’t always accurate.
#17InkQuestions from The Gentleman Stationer. I’ve enjoyed these writing prompts that have become popular over the past year or so. If you’re interested in learning about how different community members use their pens and inks, and how they got into the hobby in the first place, check out these posts.
How Fine is “Too Fine”? Comparing Tip Sizes Across Different Pen and Pencil Types. I’ve been trying to compile more informational resources for readers, and this post was an experiment that many have found useful. .38mm in one type of pen or pencil doesn’t necessarily equate to .38mm elsewhere.
First Impressions: Is the Tom’s Studio Lumos Series the Refillable Fineliner I’ve Been Waiting For? While this was a “first impressions” post, I can easily say that no pen has made its way into my regular rotation quicker than the Tom’s Studio Lumos fineliner. Refillable fineliners are one of those product categories that many have attempted but nobody seems to have really nailed, until now….

Mid-Year Toolkit and Everyday Carry — Packed for vacation? Not quite.

And Some Big News for T.G.S. Fans… A Physical Location Later This Summer!

I wasn’t really sure how to drop this, but we’ve just signed a lease on a physical space in the Nashville, Tennessee area to house T.G.S., a project which has been taking up much of my time for the past year! While eventually there will be an in-person shopping option such as a showroom/retail store once I have it set up, the immediate need is office and warehouse space that lets us bring in additional help with fulfillment during the busier times of the year. The space is extremely flexible, and once we’re able to take possession later this summer I’ll be posting additional photos, hours for order pickup, and a further timeline on public hours once we’re ready. Stay tuned!

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 greatly appreciate your support, especially as we grow.

Thursday Drops: Exclusive Editions, High-End Gel Pens, and More!

June 20, 2024

The big news from this past week was the release of two new exclusive T.G.S. Collaborations with Newton Pens and PensByPasquale, which are now almost sold out. (There is only one remaining T.G.S. x PensByPasquale nib holder awaiting a new home.) We’ve also introduced a new line of high-end gel pens from Zebra: the Sarasa Grand Vintage, which come in nearly a dozen different colors with matching refills. And guess what? A new TWSBI!

Newton Pens Majestic Fountain Pen with TGS Crimson Engraved Nib — I’ve been really happy with the reception for our latest fountain pen collaboration. Expect to see our engraved nibs on future pens!

We finally now have stock of the TWSBI Diamond 580 AL in “Iceberg,” which is a gorgeous glacier blue finish. Note that this is the smooth-textured grip (the “AL”, not the “ALR”) which some people prefer. TWSBI hasn’t released one of these in a bit. If this color appeals to you, we also still have some of the Lamy Studio fountain pens, ballpoints, and rollerballs in the “Glacier Blue” finish, which is one of my all-time favorites from that line. Happy Shopping!

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

T.G.S. x Newton Pens “Majestic” Fountain Pen. Featuring polished black and red acrylic and fitted with an engraved crimson nib, this limited run has sold quickly. Currently we have EF, B, and 1.1mm nibs remaining.
T.G.S. x PensByPasquale Dip Nib Holder. I jumped at the chance to collaborate with Nicholas Pasquale on this hand-turned nib holder in a unique resin from Jonathon Brooks. These will ship June 24 (Monday).
TWSBI Diamond 580 AL Iceberg Fountain Pen. Pale blue finishes always end up being favorites, and are in demand long after they disappear. Don’t miss out on this one as it’s a stunner.
Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage Gel Pens. These professional-looking gel pens feature a sturdy-yet-balanced anodized barrel and a wide range of excellent refills in somewhat unusual vintage colors. .3mm and .5mm sizing available!
Uni-ball One F Gel Pens. Uni-Mitsubishi’s latest innovation, the One features darker/more vibrant ink in a larger diameter barrel for increased writing comfort. The “F” series adds a small metal tip to assist with the balance, and the “Earth Texture” collection has a truly unique look.
Uni Jetstream x Karimoku 4+1 Multi Pen. Probably one of the best looking Jetstream Multi Pens I’ve seen to date, this features a matte ceramic-like coating paired with reclaimed wood for the grip.
E+M Sketch Clutch Pencil. We’ve restocked on these popular clutch pencils from E+M, which come in a comfortable streamlined shape and some very attractive wood and brass combinations.
Uni Metal Mechanical Pencil Lead Cases. A highly specialized piece of stationery kit, yet, but these mechanical pencil lead cases come in handy if you go through a lot of graphite and are looking for a secure way to carry around your refills. Each case comes with 40 pieces of Uni’s smudge-proof graphite.
Uni Kuru-Toga Alpha Gel Switch Now in .3mm and .5mm. I didn’t think I was a .3mm mechanical pencil person, but with high-quality graphite and a good pencil, you can write or draw with very fine lines without worrying too much about breakage.
Uni Jetstream Prime Limited Edition Ballpoints. The matte olive and matte black finishes are back in stock, along with the standard colors! Remember that if you want additional refills in different sizes, we have Parker-style Jetstream refills in .38mm, .5mm, and .7mm.

Zebra Sarasa Grand Red Black Gel Pen — What’s your favorite Sarasa Grand color? You can probably guess mine.

Uni-ball One and Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage Gel Pens

Uni-Ball One or Zebra Sarasa Grand: A High-End Gel Pen Showdown?

June 19, 2024

If there's a category of stationery that I've somewhat neglected in my writing over the years, it's the gel pen. Why? Not because I dislike them as a writing instrument; rather, it's because I haven't noticed much innovation from major manufacturers since the late 2010s, with most of the attention in the community paid to third-party machined pen bodies designed to work with the standard refills from the "big pen" companies. Nothing released by Pilot, Uni, Zebra, etc. themselves has caught my eye, until recently.

Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage Gel Ink Writing Samples — The best of both worlds? Gel pens sit somewhere between a ballpoint and rollerball in terms of smoothness, but what sets them apart as a category are the nearly unlimited color possibilities. Shown here are few of Zebra’s “Vintage” ink colors. Three different options for sepia/brown-toned ink?

What Makes a Good Gel Pen?

Gel ink's core selling points are (1) smoothness; (2) paper versatility; and (3) vibrancy. In other words, you get the cleaner lines and feather-resistance of a ballpoint without the messy bleedthrough and smearing common with rollerballs, with the added ability to source refills in pretty much any color you can think of. Personally, I rarely use rollerballs anymore, and while the low-viscosity ballpoint remains my non-fountain pen workhorse of choice, I'll never turn down a good gel pen provided that it flows well and dries quickly.

Uni-ball One Gel Pen In-Hand — The Uni-ball One is a perfect length and diameter. It’s hard to find a gel pen I can comfortably use for longer writing sessions but this one checks most of my boxes.

Uni-ball One "F" Series: My Favorite of Uni's Current Gel Options

Despite the amount of attention Uni receives in the pen and stationery blogosphere, I've mainly used Pilot gel pens over the years, probably more out of habit than anything else because I've never had a Uni pen body that clicked with me. (Pun intended.) That's changed with the Uni-ball One Series F. I actually first tried these pens when my wife and daughter picked up a couple of them at Kinokuniya because they liked the look of the "Earth Texture" series. As it turns out, these are really good pens!

Uni-Ball One Earth Texture Gel Pen — A close up of the material from the “Earth Texture” pens. I love the mottled look.

The Uni-ball One serves as the vehicle for a "new" gel ink formulation that Uni released a few years ago, which they say contains a proprietary pigmented ink that uses larger particles of pigment to increase the darkness and/or vibrancy of the ink. The initial release had a few hiccups, with reports of skipping and other refill issues. Apparently Uni tweaked the ink formulation and recent manufacturing runs (including all the pens I personally have used) write much better. Personally, I can't tell much of a difference between the Uni-ball One and most other Uni gel ink pens, other than, yes, possibly darker blacks and brighter colors to some degree. What I really like about these pens is the pen body itself.

Uni-Ball One Clip and Barrel — A close-up of the clip on the Uni-ball One Series F. I’ve found this clip design to be functional, though I don’t personally use clips all that much anymore.

Uni has foregone a rubberized "cushion" grip in favor of a larger-diameter plastic barrel that I find very comfortable to hold. While there is some texture to the barrel, it's not over-pronounced but enough to keep the pen from slipping in your hand. The "F" series also adds a metal tip which gives the pen better balance than your typical plastic gel pen body, and all versions of the One feature a springy industrial-style clip. Best of all? Because there's no sticky rubber grip, the pen doesn't collect dust and gunk in your desk/bag/pen case like many inexpensive gel pens.

Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage: A "Professional" Option

Even though the Uni-ball One is a "nice" looking pen, it still has that "inexpensive plastic gel pen look" because, well, it's a relatively inexpensive plastic gel pen and you can't pretend it's something that it's not. As I alluded to above, a source of frustration over the years has been the seeming lack of "professional" first-party gel pen options that feature the same broad range of color options as the less expensive pens. Enter something like the Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage.

Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage Brown Grey Pen — When you start releasing pens in colors like “Brown-Grey”, you have my attention.

The Zebra Sarasa is a somewhat odd product line, spanning everything from extremely inexpensive office-supply gel pens to the higher-quality "Sarasa Clip" series to even higher-end pens like the Sarasa Grand and Sarasa Grand "Vintage" lines. The Sarasa Grand has a much different feel than something like the Uni-ball One or even the standard Zebra Sarasa - it's a slimmer pen with a metal (aluminum) barrel and a much more substantial feel in the hand. I've seen it described as "sleek," "slender," and "streamlined" - all of these hold true. Zebra recently redesiged this particular model, substituting aluminum for brass and reducing the length of the metal barrel component to make the pen lighter and better balanced. (You can see a comparison photo in yesterday's announcement post.) The barrel has a slightly matte/brushed texture to it, for added grip.

Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage Full Color Range — The full line of colors that we carry. .3mm options in the group on the left, .5mm options on the right. No I can’t name them all.

I've long admired the Sarasa Grand Vintage series from afar, but one thing that I couldn't tell from online advertisements (until I saw them in person and confirmed), was whether the color designation referred to the pen barrel or the ink or both. Turns out it's both! Not only do you have some wild vintage-style barrel colors - mostly muted shades of grey and black-infused tones - but the inks match, and you can purchase all of them in stand-alone refills in either .3mm or .5mm tip sizes. Currently, my favorites have been "Sepia Black," "Red Black" (of course), Blue-Black, and "Camel Yellow." The Sarasa JF refill dries quickly without smearing or smudging and I understand, anecdotally, that it may fit other Japanese gel pen barrels including the Uni-ball One, though I've also heard that they randomly won't fit perfectly from time-to-time and may require modification. YMMV and attempt any mods at your own risk.

Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage Gel Pen in hand — “Camel Yellow”: a gorgeous orange-gold with a matching ink tone.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

So which of these two "high-end" gel pens do I prefer? Honestly, for the complete overall writing experience, probably the Sarasa Grand Vintage. It's a more premium pen, and feels like it. I've been using one of the older models in my personal testing, and while I'm not sure that the redesign would justify replacing a pen you're already happy with, I can absolutely feel a difference with respect to the balance in the 2024 model. Plus, these colors just speak to me. For a lighter weight plastic pen, the Uni-ball One is a solid option that will likely replace the various Signo DX and Signo RT pens that I have in rotation simply because the barrel is that much more comfortable for me to use.

Uni-Ball One and Zebra Sarasa Precision Tips — Both pens have very precise tips, with a .38mm/.3mm size available.

We've carried certain select versions of the Uni-ball One F in our shop for a while, and as I mentioned yesterday, we now stock the Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage (new 2024 versions). Both of these are relatively inexpensive upgrades for those who want something a bit more “professional” than your standard clear plastic office supply closet gel pen. The Uni-ball One F series pens are priced at just under $5, while the Sarasa Grand Vintage is at $20. Refills for both pens are also available in our shop.

Update: Many of you have asked about our exclusive Sunderland mk1 collaboration, and whether it will be making a return. The answer is yes! I've spoken with Brad at Sunderland and things are underway. Look for an update on a third run later this summer! I'm glad this pen resonated with so many of you and I look forward to its return.

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 greatly appreciate your support.

New Arrivals: Zebra Sarasa Grand "Vintage" Series Gel Pens (2024 Upgraded Versions)

June 18, 2024

While the standard Zebra Sarasa gel pen has always seemed a touch too wet for me, I have enjoyed the more specialty Zebra releases, including the Sarasa Clip and other pens that can be imported from Japan. Even then, I was still surprised when I picked up a pen from the Zebra Sarasa Grand “Vintage” series to test early this year and it turned out to be one of the best gel pens that I’ve used in years. I actually enjoyed it so much so that we imported the entire line!

Zebra Sarasa Grand Writing Samples — Zebra’s “Vintage” line contains some insanely good colors, like “Red Black” and “Sepia Black”. Some, but not all, are available in the .3mm tip size as well as your standard (for Japan) .5mm.

We now offer the Sarasa Grand “Vintage” gel pens in both .3mm and .5mm tip sizes, as well as the full range of refills. The Sarasa Grand is Zebra’s “upgraded” Sarasa barrel, similar to Uni’s Jetstream Prime and Pilot’s G2 Limited. Note that the colors refer both to the barrel color and the ink color (i.e., a blue-black pen will have blue-black ink), though you can of course mix and match by purchasing extra refills. Happy Shopping!