Thursday Drops: TWSBI Vac 700R in Kyanite Blue Has Arrived, Plus A Swipe Restock and More Vacuum-Filler Mania.

TWSBI’s latest Vac700R release, Kyanite Blue, has arrived, and it’s our first major release since we’ve moved into the new space! (For those of you in Nashville, you’ll soon be able to see this one in person, along with all the other TWSBI options pictured above.) We’re also fully restocked on the TWSBI Swipe line in all nib sizes, as well as Tom’s Studio Lumos Pens and fountain pen inks from both TWSBI and Tom’s Studio.

View fullsize

For those of you attending the San Francisco Pen Show next week, you can place an order for show delivery by selecting “local pickup” at checkout and sending me a message letting me know that you will be attending the show. Please note that I will be unable to deliver large paper orders and heavy items due to suitcase restrictions. All orders placed for shipment by close Wednesday, August 21 will go out before I leave for the show. Also, Nashville-area residence can now place orders for pickup at our physical location, as this has been added as an option at checkout.

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

1. TWSBI Vac700R Kyanite Blue Fountain Pens. TWSBI’s latest release is a gorgeous Vac700R with deep blue anodized trim (including an accent on the nib)! For those who are curious, it’s a deeper blue (and less green) than the Diamond 580 ALR in Prussian Blue.

2. TWSBI Vac700R Iris Fountain Pens. One of the benefits of moving is that you discover additional stock that somehow slipped through the cracks. As it turns out we had several Vac700R in the “Iris” finish that were not listed on the site but which are now available.

3. TWSBI Vac Mini Fountain Pens. The Vac Mini is an undersung workhorse of a pen that’s an excellent travel companion. Featuring the same shutoff valve as the larger Vac700R, it’s an excellent airline companion.

4. Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen. Personally, I view the Pilot Custom 823 as the pinnacle of vacuum-filling fountain pens. We have one smoke model with a broad nib, but are in the process of restocking all colors.

5. Nahvalur Original Plus Vacuum Fillers. Don’t miss out on the Matira Quartz and Lovina Graphite vacuum-filling Original Plus models, which pair rose gold trim with a touch of shimmer in the acrylic.

6. TWSBI Bottled Ink. TWSBI’s standard colors come in large 70ml bottles and are some of the best workhorse inks on the market. I especially enjoy the Midnight Blue and Blue-Black as classic everyday writers.

7. Anterique Brass Ballpoints in New Colors. We have five new colors of Anterique Brass Edition ballpoints in stock, as well as over a dozen new versions of the standard Anterique ballpoints that have proven so popular over the past year. Remember that you can mix and match parts between all of the various Anterique pens to create your own color combinations!

8. Anterique Mini Brass Ballpoints. This new pocket-sized ballpoint from Anterique is set to become a pocket notebook favorite. (I already have the clear red version tucked into my Plotter Mini 5.) Standard acrylic versions are also available.

9. Tom’s Studio Lumos Brass Fineliner Pens. Tom’s Studio has released this gorgeous special edition brass version of the Lumos refillable fineliner. You can read more about how these pens work here, and I love them for many of the same reasons I enjoy fountain pens, with just a touch more convenience for certain situations.

10. Tom’s Studio Fountain Pen Inks. Don’t sleep on the Tom’s Studio fountain pen inks, which are low-maintenance and come in a wide-range of muted colors. The greens and blues are especially good (i.e., “Mallard” and “Loch Ness”).

View fullsize

Ask TGS: What's the Best Pen for a Planner? Slimmer Pen Options for Pen Loops

It’s August, which means that the annual “back to school and back to work” season has started for many. You know what else that means? Planner time! I’ve noticed two distinct times of the year when people tend to invest in a new planner or notebook system. The first is during the November-January holiday season, just before the new year, and the second is in August and September, when the summer vacation comes to a close and many people return to work and/or school. In addition to general inquiries about the best planner or notebook system that might fit their specific needs, I receive a lot of questions about pens and pencils that “fit” planners. Usually this means they are looking for a slimmer pen (or multi pen or mechanical pencil) that will fit the often narrow “pen loops” or “pen slots” built into notebook covers. Since I’m already thinking about planners and notebook systems given the classes I taught at the D.C. Pen Show earlier this month, the upcoming planner and techo-heavy San Francisco Pen Show, and my participation in the Chicago Planner Conference this November, I figured this is a good time to update my previous planner pen recommendations.

1. Current Favorite Planner Pen Recommendation: Tom’s Studio Lumos Refillable Fineliner. Many people love fineliners and brush pens for their planners and notebook systems, and the Tom’s Studio Lumos allows you to refill this style of pen with your favorite fountain pen inks. The Lumos comes in three different format options: the Lumos Pro has a single tip, the Lumos Pro Duo allows you to have two different colors and/or tip styles in the same pen, and the Lumos Mini works well with smaller pocket-sized options. The slim format fits easily into most pen loops, notably the Plotter system. Read more on how the Lumos pens work here.

2. Fountain Pen Recommendation: Pilot Capless Decimo. The slimmer version of the Pilot Vanishing Point is an excellent option for planners and notebook systems, especially when paired with an extra-fine nib for writing in tighter spaces. I will also note that for many, the slimmer Decimo body also solves the “clip placement” issue that people sometimes have with the larger Vanishing Point. Read our full review of the Pilot Decimo here (and no, I’m not selling my Harvest Yellow!)

3. Multi Pen Recommendation No. 1 (Needle-tip Gel Pen): Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto. The Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto is a versatile tool perfect for those who enjoy color-coding their planners and/or notebooks, as you can hold up to four of the Coleto needle-tip gel refills in a single pen body (and even a pencil and eraser insert). The Coleto can also be a relatively inexpensive option for those who enjoy lots of colors - I sometimes carry up to three of these in my bag at any given time. I reviewed the Coleto quite a while ago and likely need to update my thoughts on what continues to be an excellent multi pen.

4. Multi Pen Recommendation No. 2 (Flexible Option): Lamy 2000 Multi Pen. I say “flexible” because Lamy’s 2000 multi pen is marketed as the “Four-Color Ballpoint,” yet because it uses universal D1 refills, you can transform it into a gel pen, a gel+ballpoint+highlighter, or - as I do - an upscale Jetstream multi pen. You can read my full write up on this pen here and why it’s been a fixture in my rotation for nearly a decade.

5. Ballpoint Pen Recommendation: Uni Jetstream Prime or Anterique Ballpoint. Many people prefer a simple black ballpoint pen for work. It’s reliable, professional, and most importantly, not distracting. For something like this, I will usually recommend a low-viscosity ballpoint that’s a hybrid between traditional ballpoint and gel ink, meaning that the pen will dry fast, and will neither smear, feather, or bleed-through thinner planner papers. Both the Uni Jetstream Prime and any of the Anterique pens feature a traditional slim “ballpoint pen profile” that slides easily into a planner and fits nearly all notebook pen slots.

View fullsize

Do you have a favorite planner pen? If so, please write in or drop a comment. These are just the five that I’ve relied on recently, and there are dozens of popular options that would also include the entire Fisher Space Pen lineup, the Lamy CP1 fountain pen, the Traveler’s Company Brass Pens, Baux Pens, the Zebra Sarasa Grand, and more.

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

New Arrivals: Anterique Mini Ballpoint Pens, Including Brass Editions!

Anterique’s low-viscosity ballpoint pens are one of my favorite go-anywhere options for those situations where I need a durable everyday writer, and now they’ve released a pocket-sized version of their Standard and Brass Edition pens! The Anterique “Mini” will fit just about anywhere, and is perfect for clipping to your pocket notebook, Plotter Mini-5, or Traveler’s Passport-sized Notebook for writing on the go.

View fullsize

My clear red mini with one of my takeaway rarities from last week’s D.C. Pen Show!

Currently, the “Brass Edition” Mini is available in five different “clear” colors (crystal, yellow, blue, red, and green), and the standard Mini in nine colors. Note that these parts are all interchangeable with the components of all other Anterique Pens: for example, if you’d like to make a “Danube Blue” brass pen, you can combine the upper part of a standard “Danube Blue” ballpoint with the brass barrel of the mini or standard-sized brass edition pen. The mini pens do take a shorter refill than the standard Anterique “Mach Ball”, though it uses the same low-viscosity ballpoint ink and .5mm tip.

View fullsize

Comparison photo of the four different styles of Anterique pens, from left: Standard ballpoint, mini ballpoint, Mini Brass Edition Ballpoint, and full-sized Brass Edition Ballpoint.

In addition to the new mini-sized Anterique pens, we have new colors of the standard-sized pens, as well as new full-size brass options! Be sure to check these out as Anterique is constantly adding new variations to their existing product line.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Many thanks for all your support!

Sunday Reading for August 11, 2024

1. Yoseka Stationery Fest (via Inky.Rocks). I’m sure there will be a full recap coming as well, but I was jealously following along with the Stationery Fest attendees in real time.

2. Tactile Turn Vice Side Click Pen Review (via Pen Addict). Wow. I can’t choose between either of these and I might have to buy both.

3. …On Pocket Pens (via Dapprman). The number of pens in my collection that can be considered “pocket” or “EDC” has definitely expanded over the past several years.

4. Waterman Exception “L’Essence Du Bleu” (via Scrively). I acquired my first Exception pen this year at the Chicago Pen Show, and have been thoroughly enjoying it.

5. Sugar Turtle Studio - Four Ink Reviews (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Don’t miss out on these Diamine exclusives from Tom’s shop.

6. All Good Things Must Come to an End (via Goodwriterspens). I’m glad to here that a vintage resource will continue to remain available as a reference.

7. Takeo Dressco Spica Bond Notebook Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). Spica Bond paper is one of those specialty Japanese papers that you are seeing more and more. This notebook apparently comes in A5 slim.

8. P.W. Akkerman Voorhout Violet (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). This dusty purple is one of my favorite Akkerman inks.

9. Coming Soon! Rickshaw x Well-Appointed Desk Pen Cases (via Well-Appointed Desk). I was able to see these in person at the D.C. Pen Show and they look great. I can’t wait for the release.

10. M670 Grey White: A New Pelikan Souverän Model (via Pelikan’s Perch). A new look for Pelikan with dark PVD trim!

View fullsize

In Case You Missed It…

This week I posted my recap of the 2024 D.C. Pen Show, along with links to online resources from the classes/seminars I held. I haven’t seen many show recaps yet, but that may change as those people attending both the D.C. Pen Show and Stationery Fest return and compare both experiences. On the review side, I reviewed the Kokuyo Mark+ Dual-Tone Highlighters, which have been a key component of my everyday work rotation for a couple of years now.

View fullsize

The Anterique Brass Edition Ballpoint in Navy Blue is one of several sharp-looking new colors.

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

We’re now almost fully moved in to our new space, and it gradually feels like things are getting back to normal! I’ve certainly been thankful for a week at home recovering from D.C. in advance of the San Francisco Pen Show in less than two weeks. In the shop, we have a full restock of Tom’s Studio Lumos Pens (including the new Lumos Brass special edition), as well as the Studio Pocket fountain pens and all of the Tom’s Studio inks. Most standard paper lines have also been restocked, including Nakabayashi and Life Stationery. Finally, we’ve added nearly a dozen new colors of Anterique ballpoints in both standard and brass editions.

Roterfaden

Tom's Studio Pens

Anterique

Tom's Studio Inks

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

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, the T.G.S. Patreon includes these as well as 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!

Highlighter Review: Kokuyo Mark+ Dual-Tone Highlighter Marker

T.G.S. readers don’t just accumulate their stationery, they use it, so it doesn’t surprise me that one of the more in-demand product categories for reviews is quite practical: The highlighter marker. It’s somewhat difficult to find quality highlighters in the U.S. market. Those available at big-box stores tend to have oversized chisel-tip points, with ink that can pool on the page and bleed through most paper.

I’ve experimented with many different highlighting and annotation techniques over the years, ranging from avoiding highlighters entirely by underlining with colored pencils or gel pens, to using refillable Platinum Preppy markers with specialty “highlighter inks”, to highlighter pencils designed to work on even the thinnest onionskin or Bible paper. I’ve also discovered a subset of specialized stationery: Dual-tone highlighter markers that allow for color-coding and precise annotation.

View fullsize

Five different colors over ballpoint ink, which does not smear at all. I appreciate that these are dry-ish liquid highlighters.

The specific highlighter markers pictured here are the Kokuyo Mark+ Dual Tone Highlighters, which are notable for their distinctive double tip. While each marker has a specific color (purple, yellow, pink, green, blue, or grey), there are technically two different options in each highlighter: a darker shade and lighter shade of the same color. The dual-tone tip allows for a lot of versatility, as you can easily delineate between important ideas and very important ideas, or you can use the darker color to highlight headers, main concepts, etc., while using the lighter colors to call out quotes and longer passages. The ink is very easy on the eyes, as the muted colors are less eye-searing than other ultra-bright fluorescent highlighters.

View fullsize

The five colors included in the standard 5-pack. All of these are available for purchase individually, along with a grey color that’s not included in the assortment.

Some have commented on one potential drawback to the Mark+ Highlighters: the relatively narrow chisel tip is set at a precise angle and you have to be somewhat careful to ensure a clean line. For me personally, that’s more a feature than a bug: not only do I enjoy the narrower tip (perfect for highlighting small-print legal documents), but without some friction in the process, I tend to go “highlighter happy” when I’m reading. If I’m not mindful of what I’m highlighting, I can end up with large portions of highlighted text that defeat the purpose of a highlighter, which for me is to allow you to easily jump to the most important takeaways and ideas. This added friction is also why I love highlighter pencils and leadholders - the fact that I have to sharpen them periodically forces me to focus by using the highlighter more sparingly on only big-picture concepts.

View fullsize

The yellow highlighter over a few different writing samples, from top: (1) Ballpoint pen ink with zero smearing; (2) Caran d’Ache HB pencil lead with zero smearing; (3) Ohto Gel ink with moderate smearing (to be expected); (4) Uni HB Mechanical Pencil lead with zero smearing; (5) Schmidt .7mm Rollerball Refill with fairly significant smearing (also to be expected - hardly anything highlights rollerball ink with out smearing); and (6) Platinum black fountain pen ink without any smearing at all, which surprised me the most. I’ve not had any issue with these highlighters smearing inkjet or laser printer ink.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Kokuyo Mark+ is an excellent highlighter for those who require additional versatility in how they annotate, and who regularly work with smaller text that requires a more precise tip. It’s still a liquid ink highlighter marker, and your mileage will vary in terms of how these function on specific types of paper, but overall I’ve had a very good experience using these markers on cheap copy paper and even thinner book papers. As you can see above, they work well for highlighting handwriting in most ink formats, and even where there is some smearing with smudgy inks, the writing remains legible.

In addition to our range of highlighter pencils, I’ve decided to offer these specific highlighter markers for purchase in our own shop. You can buy specific colors individually, or purchase a pack of five.

View fullsize

The 5-Pack of the Mark+ Highlighters come with a convenient resealable pouch that has held up well over the nearly two years I’ve owned these.

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