Thursday Drops: Lamy Restock, Washi Tapes, TWSBI Vacs and More! Oh, and a Labor Day Special!

It’s been an exciting couple of weeks here at TGS HQ, and I’m happy to announce that we are fully moved in to our new space and excited to be able to welcome visitors during regular hours, starting in September. This coming Labor Day weekend, we will have the doors open Friday through Sunday, mainly in the afternoon. We currently have available for purchase all of the new Lamy Studio lineup and digital styluses discussed in Tuesday’s post, as well as full stock of most TWSBI models, various ink lines, and full restocks of favorite fountain pen friendly paper brands including Midori, Lochby, Nakabayashi, and Maruman Mnemosyne!

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For this year’s Labor Day sale, and in anticipation of everyone heading back to work and school following what we hope was a restful summer, we are offering an additional 10% off all desk and reading accessories ordered online through Monday, September 2. Use the coupon code “LABORDAY” at checkout to claim your discount, and we are also offering a tiered promotion in which all orders over $100 will receive extra T.G.S. Swag (including our large holographic vinyl stickers, buttons, and more).

1. Lamy Studio Piano Red Fountain Pen (14k nib option). The Lamy Studio with Lamy’s excellent 14k nib remains one of the best value propositions on the market, since it’s increasingly rare to find a gold nib fountain pen for under $200. The Studio remains one of my favorite writers overall, as I have a soft spot for the propeller clip.

2. Lamy Studio Royal Red Matte Fountain Pen, Rollerball, and Ballpoint. The Royal Red Matte Studio evokes the old Wild Rubin release, which I sadly sold off years ago only to regret it immediately. Where the Piano Red Studio features a smooth lacquered finish, the Royal Red Matte Studio is, as it’s name implies, more tactile. Currently stocked in fountain pen, rollerball, and ballpoint formats.

3. Lamy Noto Special Editions. The triangular Lamy Noto is a fun ballpoint at a price point even lower than the Lamy Econ that I reviewed yesterday. The Noto even comes in two special edition colors: Deep Blue and Chocolate, which sold out quickly when we first got them earlier this year. Now restocked!

4. TWSBI Vac700R Kyanite Blue Fountain Pen. TWSBI’s latest Vac700R release has proven popular, following up on their multicolor anodized Vac700R “Iris”. Will we see more Vac700R releases like this one? I hope so!

5. Caran d’Ache 849 Ballpoint Pens: Standard, ColorMat-X and Pop Line. This classic hexagonal ballpoint pen has been one of our top sellers ever since we opened. The matte-textured ColorMat-X and the Black Code editions are my personal favorites, though the “Totally Swiss” Swiss Cross edition is the underrated sleeper.

6. iLootPaperie Washi Tapes. We’ve received a restock of iLootPaperie Washi Tapes, including tapes from the “Paper Airplanes” and “Airmail” series! Stay tuned as we plan to bring in more washi tape and other fun items from this brand to our new shop so that you can see them in person.

7. Viarco Vintage Edition Pencil Sets. Made in Portugal, in one of the last remaining operational European pencil factories, Viarco pencils are a personal favorite since I love graphite that is not overly waxy and has a tactile feel to it. These pencils sharpen to an excellent long point. We have stock of individual packs of most of the vintage designs, as well as a large stock of the assortment pack in which you get a dozen of each style.

8. Lamy Note+ Digital Stylus (For Apple). Lamy’s answer to the Apple Pencil, coming in at nearly a full $50 less. The Note+ is still a bit of a work in progress in terms of functionality, but it works quite well for basic writing and additional apps are being added.

9. Lamy AL-Star EMR Pen. Those who do most of their digital writing on e-ink screens such as the Kindle Scribe, reMarkable, or Supernote will want to look at Lamy’s AL-Star and Safari EMR offerings. I generally prefer the traditional pen shape over the “Wacom Stylus” default style that many use.

10. Lamy Safari “Twin” EMR Pen. The Twin Pen features dual writing options, including not just an EMR stylus tip but also a D1 ballpoint slot, allowing you to switch back and forth between a stylus and standard pen.

Come visit us in person at our physical location, located at 4320 Kenilwood Drive, Suite 113, Nashville, Tennessee! Hours this upcoming Holiday weekend will be from 1pm-6pm on Friday Aug. 30, from 11am-6pm on Saturday August 31; and 1pm-5pm on Sunday September 1. The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Pen Review: The Lamy Econ Ballpoint Is Not a Fancy Pen, and That's OK.

You might be surprised to know that most readers of The Gentleman Stationer, and most of our shop customers, use ballpoint pens regularly, either as their primary writing instrument or as their “second option” after fountain pens. I personally use a lot of ballpoints, including the Lamy 2000, which features the same refill as the pen I’m going to look at today: the Lamy Econ.

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Lamy Econ ballpoints come in various colors.

As it’s name implies, the “Econ” is not a fancy pen. With an unadorned round, matte barrel, a folded steel clip, and a quiet knock system that won’t annoy your office or classmates, it’s pretty much the definition of an economy workhorse. For example, the matte black version pictured here is the pen you could buy as a gift for someone who’s not a “pen addict”, but who still appreciates nice everyday carry or professional accessories that offer a quality writing experience without appearing overly showy. Of course, the Econ comes in colors other than matte black, including “Matte Apricot”, “Lagoon”, “Sea”, “Indigo” and “Raspberry”, which do offer a pop of bright color if that’s what you’re looking for.

The Econ is well-balanced and features a "grippy" round barrel compatible with many different grip and handwriting styles.

I have to go on record once again, giving props to Lamy for dramatically improving the quality of the M16 ballpoint refill over the past several years. If a company makes ballpoint pens that take proprietary refills, that refill had better be good. While Lamy has had issues with the M16 in the past, if you haven’t tried it in recent years and are generally a ballpoint fan, you owe it to yourself to give it another try. This same refill also fits nearly all other standard Lamy ballpoint pens, including the Lamy Econ, Lamy Noto, Lamy Studio, and the Lamy 2000.

The M16 writes a relatively fine, manageable line, even in the medium tip size. Shown here on Midori MD Memo Block paper.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

With its matte barrel, solid knock and good refill, the Lamy Econ has filled a niche in my own household as the reliable “utility” pen that everyone in my family can use. From personal experience, it makes an excellent “car pen”, meaning the ballpoint(s) that I tend to keep in center consoles of our vehicles so that there is always something to write with. You never know!

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You can purchase the Lamy Econ in our shop, either online or in person, priced at $25. We actually have a display of Econ ballpoints on the “Lamy counter,” along with several other relatively inexpensive ballpoint pen options that you have the opportunity to pick up and handle before making a decision. As noted above, both the Econ, the Lamy 2000 ballpoint, and the Lamy Noto take the Lamy M16 refill. Pens ship with a black medium tip refill but additional colors and tip sizes are also available.

Would you like to see these pens in person? Come visit our physical location, located at 4320 Kenilwood Drive, Suite 113, Nashville, Tennessee! Hours this week will be from 1-6 on Friday Aug. 30, and from 11-6 on Saturday. 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: Analog or Digital - Why Not Both? New Pens from Lamy!

This week’s new arrivals include a bunch of pens from Lamy, including the new Safari Note+ iPad-compatible stylus. While I’m still putting my own “All Black” version through the review process, I will say that I do appreciate the cap, as someone who’s busted a half-dozen Apple Pencil tips over the past year. For those who prefer (or who, like me, also use) e-ink devices like the Kindle Scribe and reMarkable tablets, we’ve also restocked on the Lamy AL-Star EMR and the Lamy Safari Twin Pen, both of which you can use with any matte-screen device.

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The Note+ “Steel Black” is a bit of a misnomer

On the analogue side of things, the new 2024 Red Lamy Studios have arrived! The Piano Red Studio features a deep red lacquer and Lamy’s excellent 14k nib, while the Royal Red Matte Studio features the standard steel nib with a matte finish reminiscent of the older Wild Rubin edition that I regrettably sold. In addition to these new releases, we’ve restocked on all Lamy 2000 models as well as the Noto limited edition ballpoints in the Deep Blue and Chocolate finishes.

Would you like to see these pens in person? Come visit our physical location, located at 4320 Kenilwood Drive, Suite 113, Nashville, Tennessee! Hours this week will be from 1-6 on Friday Aug. 30, and from 11-6 on Saturday. The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

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!