Sunday Reading for August 25, 2024

1. Hobonichi 2025 (via Inky.Rocks). Hobonichi has revealed their 2025 designs, including some unique designs in the Weeks series and covers.

2. Notebook System for 2025 (via Stationery Pizza). Is it that time of year already? I’m personally deciding whether I want to stick with a dated system (like my Hobonichi setup) or move back to undated notebooks for the flexibility.

3. Atlas Stationers’ Sidewalk Sale (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I’ve been feeling a little burned out on the travel-intensive pen show scene lately, and have loved seeing these regional events focused on local vendors and makers, with national brands providing support by traveling to the event.

4. Leonardo MZG 2.0 The Art of Guilloche (via Figboot on Pens). Leonardo has had a lot of success with their guilloche patterns on pens. Now if they could only release more in the standard Momento Zero!

5. New Blackwing Colors (Review of “Sand” Eraser) (via Fueled by Clouds and Coffee). Blackwing announced a revision to their Blackwing Colors line of colored pencils, and they’ve added an integrated sand eraser that appears to work pretty well!

6. Pen Show Nibs Overviews (via Rachel’s Reflections). I’ve been thinking about whether I should be recording all of the nib work I’ve had done at pen shows. This is a great idea, as I have many modified nibs, and I know I’ve forgotten the details about many.

7. How I Use My Notebooks: Gym Journal (via Writing at Large). I actually see lots of people carrying notebooks at the gym. A great idea from this series.

8. Notebooks from Chile (via Notebook Stories). Part of the fun of traveling is, indeed, buying stationery you can’t get back home!

9. Lamy Safari Ballpoint Piña Colada Review (via Pen Addict - Jeff). The Piña Colada Safari edition isn’t getting near enough love. Light blue + yellow is an awesome color combination, and I think I’m going to keep one of each of this one.

10. Other Uses for Pen Cases, Part I and Part II (via Well-Appointed Desk). How do you use your pen cases? They’re infinitely useful, which is why you can’t have too many of them.

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In Case You Missed It…

This weekend I didn’t get to go to the San Francisco Pen Show due to some unforeseen family events that arose. While disappointing, I needed to be at home and I’m sorry to have missed seeing everyone there! I did publish two new reviews this week: a review of the Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” Fountain Pens, Second Edition, and a review of the Tactile Turn “Vice” Limited Edition pens in both the “Night” and “Day” finishes. (Yes, I bought both of the Tactile Turns and kept one of each Preppy Wa.)

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This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - Lamy Studios and A Soft Shop Open!

The new 2024 Lamy Studios are here! I can finally redeem myself for selling my formerly limited Lamy Studio Wild Rubin edition, because this year’s Lamy Studio Royal Red Matte looks quite similar (though perhaps a touch darker, which is great). We also have stock of the Lamy Studio Piano Red, which features the excellent Lamy 14k nib that I consider one of the best sub-$200 gold nibs out there. For those who use the Kindle Scribe, reMarkable tablet or other e-ink device, we’ve restocked the Lamy Safari Twin Pen and Lamy AL-Star pen with the tip suitable for writing on matte-screen devices. (I like these because there is a .38mm tip size option on the Twin Pen, which allows for finer writing than a standard Wacom stylus.) For a full list of new arrivals, check out this week’s Thursday Drops post, which includes some new Roterfaden accessories!

Lamy

TWSBI

Anterique

Tom's Studio

I opened up the shop Friday afternoon and Saturday to local pen club members, Patreon supporters, and those who follow on Instagram in the Nashville area, and it was so much fun talking with everyone who stopped by, as well as validating to see that there is, indeed, demand for one more dedicated pen shop in Nashville! Starting the second week of September or so, we will have regular posted open hours (probably Friday afternoons and Saturdays), and until then keep an eye on the site, the Middle Tennessee Fountain Pen Club Facebook Group, and Instagram for “pop-up” hours. If you’re traveling to the area and would like to stop by, I will of course do visits and sales by appointment so just reach out through the site/e-mail/social media.

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It doesn’t look quite as messy anymore - you’ll be seeing some updated photos this week! Check out a current video tour on YouTube.

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 either online (or in person, if you’re in the Nashville area)! 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!

Pen Review: Tactile Turn Side Click "Vice" Seasonal Release

Today I review what might be my favorite special release of 2023: the “Vice” Seasonal Edition from Tactile Turn, which features two different Cerakote finish options (“Night” and “Day”) in 1980s-era Miami-inspired colorways. Some of you already know this about me, but despite being born in Tennessee, I spent a large portion of my childhood in Florida (in the late 80s to boot) so this one spoke to me. After the busyness of the past few months getting our new shop and physical space up and running, and the fact that I didn’t buy a single thing for myself at the D.C. Pen Show, the timing was ripe for me to take the plunge and buy both of these!

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The Vice "Day" finish in standard length.

I will typically buy one or two of the Tactile Turn Seasonal Releases each year, depending on whether or not the particular finish speaks to me. Last year I picked up “Deep Space”, the Winter 2023 edition inspired by galaxies and nebulas, and you can read my review of that pen here. While I’ve enjoyed the 2024 releases, “Vice” is the only edition that I’ve actually acquired this year. I don’t plan to fully re-review the Side Click as a pen, as my “Deep Space” review already goes into a fair bit of detail on the build and the mechanism, which is essentially a click-pen where you release the knock by pressing a button on the side. Nothing in that review has changed since I’ve published it. The Side Click has served as a reliable, convenient pen as well as a fun fidget toy.

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The Vice "Night" finish in the "Short" format.

What I will talk about today are (1) the particular Cerakote finishes on the Vice edition pens, and (2) refill options, because this time I opted for two different lengths - one of the “Short” (Parker-style) pens and one of the “Standard” (Pilot G2) pens. This release was ripe for experimentation, because Tactile Turn tried something new with two different finish options. While both pens feature a synthwave/outrun-style design aesthetic with gradient fades and 80s-vibe colors, the two finishes are as different as, well, night and day. (Sorry. Not really.) The “Night” edition adopts more of a “South Beach nightlife” look, with a black Cerakote base accented by neon pink splatter, a neon blue knock, orange side-click button, and a purple-to pink gradient fade on the clip. The “Day” edition features a gradient barrel that evokes the beach itself, with a sand to sky-blue fade, a neon pink knock and button, and a white clip. Despite being vastly different, the two pens pair well and I have no regrets buying both. Like “Deep Space”, this edition means something to me and makes me smile when I look at it, so it’s staying in the collection.

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A close up of the Palm Tree engravings on the clips, as well as the signature Tactile Turn texture.

What Is Cerakote and How Durable Is the Finish?

When it comes to everyday carry, I’m neither overly hard on my pens nor especially careful with them. Honestly, I’d argue that I represent the “average” user, which gives me a solid baseline for predicting how well pens will hold up over time for most people. Tactile Turn uses Cerakote on its special release pens, which is a ceramic coating that’s about as durable as you can get without adding weight or disproportionate cost to the pen. It also comes in a range of different colors, allowing makers to exercise their creativity with the finishes, as Tactile Turn has done here. With respect to durability (a question I sometimes get about these pens), here’s what Tactile Turn has to say:

“Cerakote is a thin coating of ceramic that’s applied to the surface of our titanium pens. It’s abrasion, chemical, temperature, and scratch-resistant but not proof. Hard wear will still show on Cerakote but we love that it gives us the ability to put colors on our pens without adding serious weight or thickness.”

— Tactile Turn "Vice"

In other words, the finish on your Cerakote pen might scratch if it takes a hard drop, is carried in a pocket with metal objects like knives or car keys, or is kept loose in a drawer as opposed to a pen case. That said, I’ve not experienced any visible dings or scratches on any of my Tactile Turn pens, and I’ve dropped the Deep Space on a hard floor at least once.

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Refill Options for the Tactile Turn Side Click Pen

The Tactile Turn Side Click comes in three different sizes - Standard (5.8”), Short (5.3”), and Mini (4.6”) - each of which ships with a different refill: Pilot G2 (standard), Schmidt Easyflow 9000 Parker-style (Short), and Pilot G2 Mini (Mini). When I reviewed last year’s Deep Space edition, I commented that I felt the Standard pen would be too long and unbalanced for my hand, so I opted for the Short. This time around, I picked up the Vice “Night” in the Short format, and the Vice “Day” in Standard, just to experiment because I suspected I would want to load up “Day” with a more colorful gel refill. As it turns out, while the Short version does fit my hand the best, the titanium construction of the longer Standard absolutely makes the pen usable for me, and I’ve had no issues with hand fatigue.

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Out of all the gel pen color options I had on hand, the Cassis Black seemed the most fitting.

What refills have I used? So far I’ve kept the stock medium Schmidt Easyflow 9000 that shipped with the Night edition, but I will eventually swap it out for a Jetstream SXR-600, which is my Parker-style refill of choice. I did swap out the Pilot G2 refill in the “Day” edition for a Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage refill in .5mm “Cassis Black”. I’m currently enamored with the Sarasa Grand Vintage Gel Pens and their black-infused refills, and have successfully swapped these refills into several other pens. (I’ve had very good luck with the Sarasa “JF” refill fitting most G2 compatible pens, including the Tactile Turn Side Click and my Sunderland MK1s.)

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Contrasting colors on the barrels and knocks/buttons

Takeaways and Where to Buy

These pens were an insta-buy for me the moment I saw them. Tactile Turn releases four seasonal/quarterly editions of the Side Click each year, with the pens made available for a period of time before rotating out of stock in favor of the next edition. As I mentioned above, I don’t buy all of them, but I do keep an eye out for each release and always end up grabbing at least one each year. There are a couple that I sort of regret passing on in retrospect, but the fact that I purchased these two pens without thinking twice confirms I probably made the right decision. I am after all trying to make my acquisitions more meaningful!

The "Day" and "Night" pens, side by side.

You can order your own Tactile Turn “Vice” Side Click here (you get a 10% discount if you buy both) and also see their archive of past seasonal releases. The pens are priced at $149, which I find more than fair for a titanium pen with this build quality and level of artistry. Each pen ships witha. sticker and a pair of 80s-vibe sunglasses, which is a nice touch for packaging.

I purchased the pens featured in this post with my own funds, for my own personal collection. 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, we greatly appreciate your support!

Thursday Drops: Dip Nibs, Clipboards, Field Notes, and a Lot of Random Fun!

We have a somewhat random mix of new arrivals this week! First up are the Tom’s Studio “One Dip” Dip Nibs that I posted about on Tuesday, which combine a conical metal dip nib with a thumbscrew-style mechanism like that found on lettering or ruling pens. We also have stock of a couple new accessories from Roterfaden. One is an A4 clipboard that can be used as a stand-alone writing surface (always useful), or as a backing board for the long back pocket in the A4 Taschenbegleiter. The other is a new refill: a “To Do” list-style notebook that’s a slimmer version of the classic Roterfaden A5 refill, and features perforated list-style pages that can be detached.

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Last week we received the new TWSBI Vac700R Kyanite Blue, a full restock of the TWSBI Swipe in popular nib sizes, and TWSBI bottled ink in the large 70ml bottles. We also completely restocked on Field Notes notebooks (in addition to purchasing a formal display for the shop, which I’m thrilled about)!

Finally, an update: I will not be attending the San Francisco Pen Show, as we had to say goodbye to one of our longtime family dogs this week. Given the timing, the show wouldn’t be much fun, and since I didn’t have a table it was an easy decision to make. Orders will not be delayed due to pen show travel, and for those in town, I plan to hold shop hours on Friday afternoon and Saturday. Many thanks for your understanding!

1. Tom’s Studio One-Dip Nibs in Brass and Stainless Steel. Conical metal dip nibs have emerged as a popular category among artists and calligraphers, and fountain pen enthusiasts also enjoy these for ink sampling and testing. Adjust the dial/thumbscrew to modify the ink flow and line width.

2. TWSBI Vac700R Kyanite Blue Fountain Pen. TWSBI has become increasingly adventurous with their anodization, and the Kyanite Blue Vac700R features a gorgeous matte-blue clip and two-toned nib.

3. TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR “Iceberg Blue” Fountain Pen. If you favor cooler, “glacier” blues, check out this TWSBI or Lamy’s “Glacier” Studio release.

4. Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” Limited Edition Fountain Pens. The second series of Platinum’s “Modern Maki-e” Preppy Wa features six new designs inspired by Japanese tradition and folklore. I wrote a piece yesterday on why I like this series and my favorite pens from the most recent release.

5. Kaweco Collection Sport Fountain Pens, Including Pearl and 2024 Apricot Pearl. Kaweco has discontinued the “Pearl” Sport from their standard lineup and we still have a few left. We also still have stock from several other Kaweco Collection releases, including this year’s Apricot Pearl.

6. Roterfaden A4 Clipboard. We’ve carried clipboards in the shop on and off over the years, and the most recent version we’re testing is an inexpensive recycled chipboard/cardboard version from Roterfaden, which is sized A4 and designed to fit in the back slot of the A4 Taschenbegleiter, in addition to serving as a stand-alone writing surface.

7. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter Covers and Refills. We still have stock of many popular Roterfaden formats, including A5 and a couple remaining smaller A6 versions. If there is a specific size/color you are looking for that is sold out, please send us a message and we are happy to work out a pre-order for our next shipment. (This also helps guide our purchasing decisions as it gives us insight into what models people like.)

8. Field Notes “Index” Edition Plus a General Restock. The Field Notes “Index” Edition features two different options: a “Pack A” that includes two log books for tracking whatever you desire, and a “Pack B” with a ledger and date book. We also have additional stock of most other standard editions, including favorites like the Front Page Reporter Notebooks and the Heavy Duty edition.

9. Midori MD Pads and Notebooks. Midori MD paper is one of our top sellers and top recommendations for fountain pen friendly paper, and their selection goes beyond standard writing pads and bound notebooks to include their excellent Memo Block desk pads and convenient sticky notes.

10. Nakabayashi Paper. We have all sizes of Nakabayashi Paper available in the shop, including Logical Prime, Logical Air, and the softer Yu-Sari that they’ve designed specifically to offer an excellent feel when writing with fountain pens. (All of them handle ink extremely well.)

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Pen Review: Platinum Preppy Wa Modern Maki-e, Season 2

I’ve been working my way back through the lower-priced tiers of Platinum fountain pens in recent weeks, from the newer Prefounte to the old standbys like the Platinum Plaisir and the Platinum Preppy. I have to say - Platinum absolutely rules the $5-20 price point, with very few pen companies offering the same level of choice and consistent quality. As I’ll discuss more today, Platinum has even opened up the entry-level price segment to the limited edition game, allowing new and price-conscious enthusiasts to explore special releases and things like Japanese Maki-e style finishes that otherwise would be cost-prohibitive to many.

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My two favorite patterns from this year's Preppy Wa release: Koi no Taki-Nobori (Carp Climbing a Waterfall), left, and Yanagi ni Kournori (Bats and Willow), right. Both pens feature silver and gold screened artwork, respectively, over a dark blue-black/blue-green base.

I decided to review Platinum’s Preppy Wa, Modern Maki-e Series 2, because this weekend is the San Francisco Pen Show and, well, that show can be a very expensive proposition. It’s known for hosting a large number of vendors focused on high-end Japanese pens, both modern and vintage, including pens with specialized urushi lacquerwork and Maki-e designs. I’ve never delved deeply into that area, mainly because I don’t feel that I know enough about it to fully appreciate the art, making it difficult to justify laying out $1,000 or more for a high-end finished piece. I do, however, genuinely enjoy the intricate designs and overall look of this style of artwork, which is one reason I’ve become such an enthusiastic supporter of what Platinum has done with the Preppy Wa.

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At first, I scratched my head when I saw that Platinum had decided to introduce a “modern Maki-e” special edition to the Preppy lineup. A limited edition version of a $5 pen? With Maki-e? After seeing the first series, however, I knew that Platinum probably had a hit on their hands and that going forward, we’d all be awaiting each year’s release. How did they do this and keep the price point so low? Well, “modern Maki-e” uses a different technique from traditional Maki-e, which allows it to be produced in larger quantities. According to Platinum:

“Unlike conventional Maki-e, it is applied with silk screen printing instead of urushi lacquer on the underlayer, which is then sprinkled with colored powders such as gold and silver and hand-finished one by one by Maki-e artisans. It gives more thickness compared to normal printing, while the reflections and shades of the powders create a three-dimensional feel.”

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The gold and silver powders used in the "maki-e style" artwork really does sparkle, and the texture feels nice in the hand. Shown here with the matte black Platinum Plaisir.

This process results in an extremely nice pen for the price point. While it is a Preppy, and therefore won’t last forever, the designs on the pens in my own collection have proven durable without any real discernible wear. Each modern Maki-e collection features six “traditional and elegant Japanese patterns,” and Platinum has provided a short description of the meaning behind each. For example, the two pens shown here are:

• Koi no Taki-Nobori (“Carp climbing up a waterfall”): “Carp with strong vitality is considered the chief river fish. And it is also said to be an auspicious pattern that symbolizes success in life, based on an ancient Chinese story that says ‘A carp that climbs a rushing waterfall ascends to the sky and becomes a dragon.’”

• Yanagi ni Kournouri (“Bats and Willow): “In China, the kanji for bat has the same sound as ‘turning into good fortune,’ so it is considered an auspicious pattern that symbolizes good fortune and longevity. Japan was also influenced by this and was seen as a symbol of happiness during the Heian period.”

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So a history lesson with your pens? Always fun! Plus, I’m a big believer in usable, functional artwork. You shouldn’t hesitate to use a pen like a Platinum Preppy in your everyday life, especially where even the limited edition costs only $13, and Platinum’s excellent stainless steel nibs and slip-and-seal cap system have long been regarded as low-cost workhorses that write reliably whenever you need them. These pens are versatile - many people add an o-ring or silicone grease to the threads and fill them as eyedroppers - but I prefer to use my Preppy fountain pens as cartridge pens for simplicity and because I tend to use them when I travel. Just keep in mind that Platinum uses proprietary cartridges and converters.

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The Platinum Preppy, Prefounte, and Plaisir fountain pens all use the same steel nib. In my experience, Preppys tend to hold up well but eventually you might see cracks form on the plastic clip and around the lip of the cap. The caps on the Preppy Wa pens are clear, meaning they can be replaced if you want to keep your special barrel.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Platinum Preppy remains a go-to recommendation for beginners and enthusiasts alike, and the Preppy Wa series is a fun upgrade to the standard Preppy. Personally, I’ve enjoyed both “Modern Maki-e” series more than the original Preppy Wa, and of the six screen-printed designs, most people will be able to find one that appeals to them. If I were forced to pick a favorite, it would be the Koi no-Taki-Nobori (Carp Climbing the Waterfall), though I also appreciate the darker tones in the Yanagi ni Kourbori (Bats and Willows) design.

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I might have kept all six this time, as I regret not doing so last year.

The Preppy Wa series are annual limited editions, so once they’re gone from retailers, you’ll have to wait for the next run, which will feature a different set of designs. We currently still have some stock of each pen from the second series in our shop, priced at $13. While the first series of Modern Maki-e pens sold out long ago, we still have a handful of the Yellow Urukomon pens available, and they are on sale. Note that these do not feature a “Modern-Maki-e” screen-printed pattern, but rather are the colored acrylic versions.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized reseller of Platinum Pens.

New Arrivals: Tom's Studio One-Dip Nibs!

Brass and stainless metal dip nibs are exceedingly popular among fountain pen and ink enthusiasts. Many love them for calligraphy, lettering, and artwork (their originally intended uses), while others use them for journaling and sampling their ink collection. While Kakimori makes the most well-known example of this type of product, Tom’s Studio has recently released what they call the “One-Dip Nib”, which is similar to the Kakimori-style dip nib but incorporates elements of traditional lettering and ruling pens by allowing you to adjust line width and ink flow using a thumbscrew/dial. (“One Dip” refers to the ability to fill a full A4 page with one dip of the nib, though this will of course depend on how you set the line width and what ink you use.)

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The Tom’s Studio One-Dip Nib will fit most standard “straight” nib holders that use a metal or rubber clutch mechanism.

We have a handful of these nibs available for purchase in both brass and stainless steel, and they are sold both as individual nibs and with a black acrylic straight nib holder. We are also fully stocked on other Tom’s Studio products, including the Lumos series of refillable fineliners, the Studio Pocket fountain pens, pre-ground specialty nibs (including the architect), and bottled fountain pen ink. While I may have some of these items with me at the San Francisco Pen Show, if any remain at the end of the week, I don’t have an official table at the show so please reach out to make any arrangements for show delivery.

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

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