Thursday Drops: Platinum Preppy Wa Modern Maki-e, Plaisirs and Prefountes, and Restocks Galore!

It’s the home stretch! I will have pictures to share of the new T.G.S. space once we are able to gain access Monday morning. In the meantime, new stock is pouring in a bit early, and I’m trying to get it listed in order to minimize everything I need to do next week (which will be a lot). This week’s arrivals include the new Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” collection, featuring six new traditional Japanese patterns and designs made using a modern silk-screened maki-e technique. We also have two new lines of Platinum fountain pens available for purchase, including the Platinum Prefounte and Platinum Plaisir, along with ink cartridges and converters, and the Platinum Desk Pens with optional stands.

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Finally, a major Hightide restock arrived this week, which included most colors of the shop-favorite Sandglasses in the longer 30 and 15-minute intervals, as well as additional Penco Drafting Ballpoint Pens. 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.

1. Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” Edition, Second Edition. Over the past few years, the Preppy Wa has successfully brought the fun of limited and special edition fountain pen releases to an accessible price point. Building on the success of last-year’s “Modern Maki-e” release, this second edition introduces six new designs. (We have a small handful of back releases as well.)

2. Platinum Plaisir Fountain Pen. The Platinum Plaisir is one of the classic “beginner” recommendations for those looking for a barrel upgrade over the clear plastic of the Preppy and Procyon, but truth be told it’s an excellent pen all around. Platinum rules the under $20 market.

3. Platinum Prefounte Fountain Pen. Think of the Prefounte as a Preppy with a more durable metal clip and a somewhat classier transparent colored barrel. I love the demonstrator colors.

4. Platinum Desk Pen. Don’t sleep on the steel nib that’s included in the Platinum Desk Pen. It’s an EF (finer than the .3/fine in the standard steel Platinum line), and I’ve had good luck swapping it onto the Plaisir. A bouncy writer that many people love for drawing. An optional pen stand is also available.

5. Endless Recorder Notebooks. The Endless Recorder has become one of the more popular ink-friendly notebook options, featuring Endless’s proprietary “Regalia” paper that was designed in-house to showcase shimmer and sheen. We currently have most cover/ruling combinations available.

6. Caran d’Ache Claim Your Style 849, Edition No. 5. This year’s 849 “Claim Your Style” release features four different gradient barrels in a matte finish. Honestly, this is easily my favorite from the CYS series so far. Read more on this here.

7. Caran d’Ache + Nespresso 849, 6th Edition. This midnight blue matte ballpoint is inspired by the “Kazaar” capsule from Nespresso, with the metal used to make the pen comprised of partially recycled Nespresso capsules.

8. Caran d’Ache Claim Your Style Bicolor Pencil Set. To complement the CYS pen release, Caran d’Ache created a bicolor pencil set consisting of 12 different colors (two in each pencil) that includes organic, fluorescent, and metallic shades.

9. Hightide Sandglasses. One of the first high-end desk accessories that we carried in the shop, and one of our most popular! I can’t wait to display these in our physical store. You can read more about how I use them here.

10. Hightide Folding Metal Book Stands. All colors are back in stock! This versatile desk accessory holds books, notebooks, pads, tablets, etc., and folds flat so that you can take it with you when you travel.

11. TWSBI ECO-T Eggplant Purple and Diamond 580 AL-Iceberg. We still have a handful of the Eggplant TWSBIs available, as well as the gorgeous ice blue “Iceberg” 580s. I’m planning a nice shop display, complete with a case, for all of the various colors so that people will be able to compare them.

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Ask TGS: Permanent Inks for Artists and Attorneys

Whenever I get asked about permanent inks, it's typically a question from an artist or an attorney. Many artists enjoy inks that allow them to draw a dark line and then wash over it with ink or watercolors (or both), whereas the attorneys are typically concerned about permanence of a signature on a legal document and preservation of work product.

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This writing sample shown above was soaked for approximately 20 minutes in a sink full of water. This is the result. The paper wrinkled and started to fall apart more than the ink bled.

So what are my recommendations? While I'm not an artist, nearly all of my artist friends recommend Platinum Carbon Black as a drawing and sketching ink of choice. Carbon Black is a pigment ink, similar to other inks such as Sailor Kiwa-Guro "Nano Black", Noodler's Bulletproof Black, Tom's Studio Pigment Black, among others. These inks are formulated differently than most fountain pen inks, in that they rely on pigments that dry quickly and bond to the paper rather than water-based dye, and therefore have very fine particles that can potentially clog your pen if left to dry out. That's not to say they are "unsafe" - these inks are very much intended for use in fountain pens, but they do require periodic maintenance in the form of a thorough cleaning, especially when changing ink colors. The upside? I can say that these inks are absolutely "waterproof," not just water-resistant. (In addition to the photograph shown here, I posted a short video to YouTube demonstrating how I soaked this piece of paper in standing water and how the ink barely moved at all.) And if the ink does end up drying out and clogging your pen, a simple flush with water should fix the issue.

Water-resistant, but not waterproof: Caran d’Ache Magnetic Blue, a blue-black that was also soaked in the sink for the same amount of time.

For attorneys - and speaking as one myself - I would say that you have a bit more leeway. If you need absolute permanence (i.e., for a signature on a contract), you can of course use a pigmented ink or a ballpoint. But if what you're concerned about is preserving handwritten notes or marked-up documents, or simply avoiding losing work product due to spilled water or coffee, there are other suitable options to serve that more limited purpose. For example, certain blue-black inks such as Pilot Blue-Black, TWSBI Blue-Black, Pelikan Blue-Black, Caran d'Ache Magnetic Blue, etc., are highly water-resistant to the point that most writing will survive a simple spill, especially one that is cleaned up quickly. Similarly, any ink that contains iron-gall will have high water-resistance, including the line of Platinum "Classic" inks. (As with pigmented inks, you should clean your pen thoroughly to avoid mixing iron gall inks with standard fountain pen inks, which could result in clogs.)

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Though pigmented black inks and blue-black inks with iron-gall content get the most attention (probably because they have been around the longest), companies do make other colors of permanent inks. Shown here are Platinum Pigment Blue cartridges (which we carry in our shop), and other options include the Kakimori pigment inks, Noodler’s “Bulletproof” inks, and Sailor Storia line, which come in a wide array of colors.

I personally don't worry much about permanence with fountain pen inks. In nearly 20 years of using fountain pens, I can count on one hand the number of times I've completely lost a piece of writing due to a spill, none of which ended up being of any importance. That said, I will regularly use low-viscosity ballpoints such as the Uni Jetstream whenever permanence could be at issue. You can even use pencil, which is both water and fade-resistant, though documents that must be permanent for legal reasons generally require ink.

Do you have a favorite permanent or water-resistant ink? Drop a comment!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting us directly!

New Arrivals: Caran d'Ache Claim-Your-Style, Edition 5 Plus the Endless Recorder Notebooks and Hightide/Penco!

So even though we don’t move into our new space until next week, some recent orders we’ve placed have started to arrive! The most surprising arrival was this year’s Caran d’Ache 849 Claim Your Style Release (the 5th Edition), which features four new Caran d’Ache 849 ballpoints in a matte-gradient finish. I’ve been somewhat underwhelmed by the Claim Your Style Pens in the last couple of years, but these are simply stunning. I think I like the dark blue tones the best. This year, Caran d’Ache also released a special bicolor pencil set to complement the annual Claim Your Style 849, which are sure to be popular as they feature a combination of a dozen different organic, fluorescent, and metallic colors.

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Which one is your favorite? The top two are the ones that speak to me in particular.

We’ve also received our first shipment of the Endless Recorder Notebooks, featuring Endless Regalia Paper. This latest addition to our stock of fountain pen friendly paper has been in the works for some time, and these popular hardbound notebooks come in a wide array of colors and the full range of rulings (blank, lined, grid, and dot). Finally, we’ve restocked on many Hightide/Penco items, including the Sandglasses, Folding Metal Bookstands, and the Drafting Ballpoint Pens.

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

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We now have Endless Recorder A5 Notebooks in all five colors! Most rulings are available with more on the way as some color/ruling combinations are backordered.

Sunday Reading for July 14, 2024

1. Baron Fig Squire Hex Review (via The Poor Penman). Baron Fig has released a new version of their Squire rollerball, in a hexagonal shape. I have one for review and will be publishing my own thoughts at some point.

2. Nahvalur Horizon Earth Day (Plus a Giveaway) (via Figboot on Pens). The Nahvalur Horizon can be an overlooked Nahvalur model, as it’s one of the newer releases from the company and includes an integrated piston filler. These two pens are inspired by Earth Day.

3. Left Over Notebooks (via Stationery Pizza). How do you handle the issue of partially used notebooks? I tend to be a completionist - not switching them up or opening anything new until it’s finished, but then my own backlog becomes a pile of entirely unused notebooks.

4. The Diplomat Magnum Fountain Pen: Early Thoughts (via Fountain Pen Blog). I’ve not written about Diplomat in some time. As a whole, the make excellent pens, and it’s interesting to see this review of their entry level “Magnum” fountain pen.

5. Full Fills and Aesthetically Compelling Nib Designs (via mnmlscholar). This new emerging trend of intricately engraving fountain pen nibs (and even modifying things like nib slits) is something to watch.

6. Stabilo Boss NatureCOLORS Review - Can Highlighters Be Used for Sketching (via Writing at Large). YES! The Stabilo Boss is an excellent compact highlighter.

7. Doodling with Fountain Pens: Organic Pattern (via Fountain Pen Love). The latest in a long-running series for those who want more ways to use their pens!

8. DC Pen Show and SF Pen Show Classes (via Well-Appointed Desk). If you’re attending the D.C. and San Francisco Pen Shows later this month, don’t forget to check the class schedules and sign up. Some classes this year are space-limited!

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I continued my recent theme of pencils and graphite, with a post on lead holders and lead pointers, and how you should try to procure a stand-alone lead pointer if you want the sharpest point possible. Late yesterday (due to technical difficulties), I posted a YouTube video demonstrating three desktop pencil sharpeners, following up on a blog post from last week on the same subject.

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The new Caran d’Ache 849 “Claim Your Style” ballpoints in four gorgeous matte gradient finishes.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, Including Caran D’Ache Claim Your STyle Edition 5, and Move Details!

We’re moving next week! As detailed in this post, we’re opening a new physical location and the process of getting our inventory moved over starts a week from tomorrow. It’s not a big move, so I don’t anticipate any major disruption to our 2-3 business day shipping time. That said, we will be attending the D.C. Pen Show the first week of August, so to avoid any travel-related delays I’d advise getting orders in within the next two weeks.

We had lots of new stuff arrive this week, including the latest Caran d’Ache Claim Your Style Fifth Edition Ballpoints, which feature stunning matte gradient finishes. We also have another shipment of Kaweco Sketch-Up “Softfeel” pencils, the full line of Viarco vintage-style pencils from Portugal, more Caran d’Ache Nespresso Pens, and Platinum Desk Fountain Pens!

Caran d'Ache

Kaweco

Blackwing

Pilot Pens

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!

Looking for Dagger-Sharp Points? Get Yourself a Lead Holder and Pointer!

Do you ever find yourself looking for something extra that your mechanical and woodcase pencils can’t provide? If you love the ability to write small that a .5mm (or even a .3mm) mechanical pencil offers, but you want an even finer point, or you also enjoy the customizability and line variation of a hand-sharpened woodcase pencil in a more convenient format, you should consider leadholders. I’ve previously written about several different leadholder or “clutch” pencils and how I used them, including the Caran d’Ache Fixpencil series (my personal favorite), the Penco Prime Timber 2.0 (a similar feel to a woodcase pencil), and the Kaweco Sketch-Up and E+M 5-6mm clutch pencils (great for drawing or highlighting). Where many people get hung up with lead holders, however, is sharpening.

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Most leadholders feature a sharpener (or, technically, a “lead pointer”) that’s integrated into the cap. I find these lacking. Over time, the blade loses it’s sharpness - to the extent it was ever sharp to begin with - and shavings tend to cause clogs with no real easy way to clean them out. For me, the solution has been to carry a stand-alone lead pointer, which is basically a small handheld pencil sharpener sized for 2.0mm, 3.2mm, and/or 5-6mm leads. You can see for yourself the difference in points these can produce from the pictures shown here. Because the sharpener doesn’t have to cut through wood, the blades on lead pointers tend to last a long time, and the brass M+R lead pointer shown here uses standard blades that very inexpensive to replace.

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Shown here, a 2.0mm lead that’s dulled with use.

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Now, sharpened with the M+R stand-alone lead pointer. You can indeed write with a point this fine without it breaking, provided you use leads graded HB or harder, and watch your pressure.

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Here you can see the difference between a lead sharpened with a stand-alone lead pointer (left), compared against the “stock” point on most leads either as they ship or as they sharpen using an integrated pointer. I’ve found that it’s almost impossible to get a true “needle” or “dagger” point with anything other than a lead-pointer.

I count myself a huge fan of lead holders and wish they received more attention. They combine some of the convenience of a mechanical pencil with the more tactile feel of a woodcase pencil - an in-between option, so to speak - and harder leads can sharpen to a very, very fine point that’s perfect for those of us who like to write small. We carry a fairly large selection of Caran d’Ache Fixpencils and other leadholders in our shop, and the lead pointer I mostly recommend is the excellent M+R brass version, which costs less than $10. E+M also makes stand-alone lead pointers for the larger-gauge leads used in the E+M and Kaweco pencils.

Check out T.G.S. YouTube Later Today for an Extended Look at Four Different Desktop Pencil Sharpeners

I previously had planned to have a longer YouTube video ready to go alongside today’s post, but due to extremely slow upload speeds (thanks Comcast!), it’s taking some time to get it ready. This video will supplement my recent post on desktop pencil sharpeners with a hands-on demonstration of the three sharpeners discussed in that post. This will likely be the last significant YouTube video that I do from my current space, as our new location will have a studio area that will allow for better sound (no echo!) and more space for upgraded equipment. For those of you interested in trying out some of the products featured in the video, eventually we will have an in-person retail/demo area where I will have sharpeners, tester pens, tester pencils, paper, etc. all available! You can visit our YouTube Channel 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.