Deals & Drops: Another Special Edition Safari, A New Blacked Out Aurora, and More

A bunch of new releases hit the stores over the past couple weeks, including Lamy’s new US-exclusive “Independence Day” Safari. I’ve been looking for a Safari with a red wire clip, so I’ll likely pick one of these up. Don’t miss Aurora’s new “Cento” pens that they are releasing to celebrate their 100th anniversary, and it looks like the last opportunity to grab one of the Leonardo / Pen Chalet collaborations, since stock is getting low. (Though I would fully support Leonardo making the Dolcevita-inspired orange/black color combination part of the regular lineup….) Happy Shopping!

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1. Lamy Independence Day Safari (via Pen Chalet). The Fourth of July is only two weeks away, and what better way to celebrate than to pick up one of these new multi-color Safaris, which is a US-market exclusive. Team Safari all the way!

2. Aurora Ipsilon Quadra Cento Italia (via Pen Chalet). Aurora has really been going all out with its ongoing 100th Anniversary celebration, and I really want this pen. The combination of black and red is a stunner. My first Aurora was an Ipsilon Quadra, which I reviewed back in 2014.

3. Aurora 88 Cento 100th Anniversary Limited Edition (via Nibsmith). Aurora went all-out for their 100th Anniversary, including this rose gold pen. If you’re a fan of rose gold, you can’t get much more rose gold than this!

4. PenBBS Model 352 (via PenBBS/Etsy). PenBBS has released a new cartridge/converter model that looks similar to the syringe-filling 355, but without the (overly?) complex filling system. This one comes in a wide range of unique acrylics.

5. Leonardo Officina Italiana Orange/Black Exclusive Edition (via Pen Chalet). Last chance at grabbing one of these orange and black store exclusives, unless they decide to make more. There aren’t many left in stock.

6. Platinum 3776 Century Rokka Limited Edition (via Nibsmith). Get your latest limited edition Platinum 3776, because only 2500 were apparently made. These will go quickly.

7. Loclen Pens (via Vanness Pens). Loclen is a new Italian brand that makes some very interesting machined pens that lends a unique look to the piston/captured converter filling system. This pen almost has a steampunk vibe to me?

8. Pelikan M101N Back Editions (via Amazon). Occasionally you can find back stock of Pelikan limited and special editions on Amazon. If you missed versions of the M101n, there’s currently a Lizard version for sale (check the link), as well as the Bright Red.

9. Pelikan M101N Blue-Grey (via Appelboom). Still on my list…. Maybe a D.C. Pen Show purchase? I didn’t expect to like this one nearly as much as a I do, and I still feel that way months after it was first announced….

10. Opus 88 Omar (via Vanness). If you like the Japanese-style eyedropper convenience of the Opus 88 but want something with a more classic look than the standard Koloro or Fantasia lineup, check out the Omar, which adds a cracked ice-style pattern to the cap.

11. Laminated Ebonite Sailor King of Pen (via Anderson Pens). I think I’ve finally found the King of Pen that would work for me. Not inexpensive (at all), but so far this is the only top-tier Sailor that has spoken to me. That yellow-black pattern is stunning….

12. Caran d’Ache “Claim Your Style” Limited Edition Ballpoint Pen (via Pen Chalet). CdA has some great colors in their classic 849 range. My daughter just wandered into my office while I was working on this post and informed me that she wants the pink one. These pens have great refills and are a good choice for a portable ballpoint workhorse - check out my review of the 849 here.

13. Moonman C1 Fountain Pen (via eBay). I’ve heard that you can get up to 5ml of ink into this pen if you eyedropper it, though there’s also a converter included. Moonman pens are of exceptional quality for their price point. Check out my reviews of the Moonman M2 and the Moonman N3.

14. Conklin Nozac Weekly Dip Special (via Goldspot). This week Goldspot has a steep price reduction on the modern Conklin Nozac, a riff on the classic vintage pen famous for it’s “word gauge”.

15. Fox Spirit and Deuce of Gears Fountain Pen (via 18111com/Etsy). Yoshi Nakama continues to come up with increasingly unique designs. The bronze “gears” roll-stopper on this pen looks amazing, though I’m not familiar with the sci-fi reference.

Deals & Drops: Last Chance at Pen Chalet Leonardo Exclusives, New Notebooks from Studio Neat and More

This week we’re featuring some new softcover notebooks from Studio Neat, a new 3776 special edition launched by Platinum, and some Pen Chalet exclusive collaborations with Leonardo and Colorverse that seem to be going fast. Happy shopping!

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1. Exclusive Leonardo Momento Zero (via Pen Chalet). The ruthenium trim Blue Hawaii has already sold out, but you can still pick up one of the Dolcevita-inspired orange and black models.

2. Platinum 3776 “Rokka” Limited Edition (via Nibsmith). Platinum recently announced their latest 3776 limited edition, and these will likely sell fast so get your pre-orders in now. The pens will be available in early July.

3. Monsoon Storm / Monument Valley Limited Edition Colorverse Ink (via Pen Chalet). Don’t miss this Arizona-inspired ink from Colorverse and Pen Chalet, which is a dark teal and an orange-gold.

4. Studio Neat Totebook (via Studio Neat). Looking for a smaller, soft-cover companion to your Panobook? Studio Neat has released the Totebook, sold in packs of two. Look for my thoughts soon!

5. Rohrer & Klingner Inks (via Vanness Pens). R&K is one of those well-made ink brands that flies under the radar on a lot of people. I have a lot of these inks but haven’t reviewed them, with the exception of the Scabiosa iron gall ink.

6. Loclen Fountain Pens (via Vanness Pens). Loclen is a new brand out of Italy that makes machined pens with an interesting, almost steampunk design, including an integrated converter that functions like a piston.

7. Father’s Day Recommendations (via Anderson Pens). Anderson Pens has pulled together a page of Father’s Day recommendations, which includes some great promotions on pens like the Lamy 2000 and offerings from Faber-Castell.

8. Markdown on Inks from Montegrappa and 3 Oysters (via Goldspot). For this week’s “Weekly Dip” special, Goldspot is marking down prices on bottled ink from Montegrappa and 3 Oysters. A great opportunity to stock up on the unique 3 Oysters colors, which I recently reviewed!

9. New Montblanc Inks! (via Appelboom). With apparently little fanfare, Montblanc has revised their ink lineup to include new labels and a few new colors, including “Pop Pink” and “Manganese Orange.” The standard grey and red inks have received new names. Appelboom also carries the full range of other Montblanc inks, including many of the special and limited editions.

10. Moonman C1 Eyedropper Fountain Pen (via eBay). Moonman has released a much larger transparent eyedropper fountain pen than the much acclaimed M2.

11. Limited Edition Pens from PenBBS (via Etsy/PenBBS). PenBBS makes high-quality, reasonably priced pens, and sells limited/special edition pens made from unique materials out of their Etsy store.

12. PenBBS 456 Vacuum-Filler (via eBay). Of all the PenBBS pens I have tried so far, the 456 vacuum filler has been may favorite, combining good ink capacity with excellent balance and a sweet nib.

13. Pokka Pens Blaze Orange 8-pack (via Amazon). Stock up on your Pokkas, one of the most economical pocket pens around, which are now Prime-eligible!

14. Pen Chalet Endless Recorder Notebook (via Pen Chalet). Looking for an inexpensive, fountain-pen friendly notebook? The Tomoe River “Endless Recorder” is worth a look.

15. Digital Minimalism, by Cal Newport (via Amazon). I don’t do book recommendations very often, but any readers of this blog would likely be interested in Newport’s latest.

Deals & Drops: Discovering PenBBS, Leonardo Store Exclusives and More!

I’m a bit late to the party on PenBBS Pens, but better late than never! These high-quality pens out of Shanghai come in a variety of different filling systems, and each nib on the five pens I’ve tested has been a winner. Look for more in-depth reviews soon. In addition to a few of these pens, check out some new store exclusive Leonardo Momento Zeroes from Pen Chalet, a new purple Pelikan M600 and the purple-anodized TWSBI 580 ALR. Happy Shopping!

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1. PenBBS 456 Vacuum-Filler Fountain Pen (via eBay). I’m not a fan of the TWSBI Vac 700 - I don’t really like the look of the pen and the functionality has been inconsistent over the years. As far as I’m concerned, PenBBS appears to have perfected the art of the low-cost vac-filler. Both of my pens are excellent writers and cost less than the TWSBI version. In addition to the resin versions linked above, there is also a clear demonstrator version.

2. PenBBS 355 “Bulkfiller” Fountain Pen (via eBay). Up until now, Conid is the only manufacturer to have perfected the “bulkfiller” system (which is really a modified version of the syringe filler - a classic filling system that was featured on several vintage pens). The PenBBS version of course doesn’t work as smoothly as the Conid, but it’s also about $400 less expensive. I purchased the transparent green “Polaris” version.

3. PenBBS Official Store (via PenBBS/Etsy). PenBBS maintains an official online presence via Etsy, in which they feature some special and limited edition materials that you may not necessarily see at the other retailers selling their pens.

4. Exclusive Leonardo Momento Zero Models (via Pen Chalet). Leonardo Officina Italiana is at it again, dropping a couple of retailer-exclusive editions at Pen Chalet. The first is a Blue Hawaii resin pen with ruthenium trim; the second is an orange/black resin pen that can come in polished or matte black finish and ruthenium trim, reminiscent of the old Delta Dolcevitas.

5. Vanness Pinnacle by Newton Pens (via Vanness Pens). The Pinnacle, the new collaboration between Vanness and Shawn Newton, is back in stock. Both the Sassafras Green and Wild Blackberry Purple are in stock and currently available. These sold like crazy at the LA Pen Show.

6. 3 Oysters Inks (via Vanness Pens). I recently discovered 3 Oysters, a brand of fountain pen ink out of South Korea, which makes a wide range of well-behaved, very interesting colors that include some muted, duskier shades that I really enjoy. Check out my recent review of several 3 Oysters colors here.

7. Pelikan M600 Violet White (via The Nibsmith). Dan has Pelikan M600s available in the new Violet/White color combination. Order yours now!

8. TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR in Purple (via Amazon). TWSBI recently dropped the latest version of their Diamond 580 ALR, this time with anodized purple trim. I’m sticking with my matte silver version for now, but this is a pretty pen.

9. Pelikan Classic M200 in Smoky Quartz (via Goldspot). The M200 Special Edition from a couple years ago is currently on sale via Goldspot’s “weekly dip” special! If you’re a Pelikan fan and didn’t catch this special edition the first time around.

10. Pineider Honeycomb Fountain Pen (via Pen Chalet). I’m liking the new “Knight Quill” and “Prince Quill” version of the Honeycomb. The black looks great.

11. Montblanc Bottled Ink (via Anderson Pens). Anderson Pens carries a wide range of Montblanc inks, including some special and limited editions that are getting (or soon will get) difficult to find. These include the Homage to Homer Blue and the James Purdy & Sons Single Malt-scented inks!

12. New Montblanc Inks! (via Appelboom). With apparently little fanfare, Montblanc has revised their ink lineup to include new labels and a few new colors, including “Pop Pink” and “Manganese Orange.” The standard grey and red inks have received new names. Appelboom also carries the full range of other Montblanc inks, including many of the special and limited editions.

13. Fisher Space Pen Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Ballpoints (via Pen Chalet). To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, multiple companies are releasing commemorative products, including a special version of the Fisher Space Pen Bullet Pen.

14. Pokka Pens 8-Pack (via Amazon). Now available with Prime Shipping! Prepare for your summer adventures by stocking up on Pokka Pens, a reliable go-anywhere ballpoint that won’t break the bank if you lose it.

15. National Ballpoint Pen Day Giveaway (via Pen Chalet). Not a “deal,” per se, but Pen Chalet is giving away a bunch of different products on Monday, June 10. Don’t miss the chance to enter.

Deals & Drops: Summer Vacation 2019 Edition

Yes, I continue to surf the internet for stationery during my vacation. You know you do it too. Apparently there’s a bunch of stuff coming out that I’ve missed entirely! Happy Shopping, and see you all Monday!

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1. Esterbrook “Pen Nook” Cases (via Anderson Pens). Esterbrook’s new series of pen cases will be available next week (beginning of June) and Anderson pens now has these available for pre-order. A combination pen sleeve and pen box, it’s an interesting take on pen storage and daily carry.

2. Montegrappa Game of Thrones “Winter Is Here” Limited Edition (via The Nibsmith). Dan has one of the Game of Thrones fountain pens in stock. I’ve seen this pen in person, and for the ultimate GoT fan, it’s a cool pen with stunning detail.

3. Waldmann Fountain Pens (via Pen Chalet). There are so many smaller German brands that fly under the radar. Waldmann is apparently one of them, and has apparently been around for more than 100 years.

4. Diplomat Aero Volute Fountain Pen (via Pen Chalet). Diplomat has really been expanding the Aero lineup lately, including this crazy “Volute” design.

5. Nuuna Notebooks (via Vanness Pens). When I visited the Vanness Pens for the Arkansas Pen Show, I had the opportunity to check out some notebooks from Nuuna, which feature interesting graphics as well as fountain pen friendly Munken paper.

6. TWSBI Diamond 580ALR in Purple (via Amazon). If you’ve been eagerly awaiting the TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR in purple, your wait is almost over.

7. TWSBI Diamond 580ALR (via Amazon). Though the color versions are cool, the standard version with nickel gray trim and the textured grip might be my favorite TWSBI ever.

8. KACO Victoria & Albert Museum Series Fountain Pen (via Amazon). KACO has released an interesting take on the “Sky” model, drawing on motifs from London’s Victoria & Albert Museum.

9. Moonman C1 Eyedropper (via eBay). Moonman is releasing a new cylindrical “C1” eyedropper to complement the M1 in its lineup. And apparently someone (Bobby Pen) is offering them with different nib grinds?!? this one comes available in architect, Naginata and standard fine.

10. Moonman Wancai Mini Pocket Eyedropper (via Amazon). I don’t recall seeing a clear acrylic version of Moonman’s smallest eyedropper pen, but apparently one is available now.

11. Leonardo Momento Zero Blue Hawaii (via Pen Chalet). The most recent addition to my collection of Leonardo pens includes yet another acrylic that contains much of the depth of celluloid. Pen Chalet is also carrying Leonardo’s other model, the Furore.

12. New Montblanc Inks! (via Appelboom). With apparently little fanfare, Montblanc has revised their ink lineup to include new labels and a few new colors, including “Pop Pink” and “Manganese Orange.” The standard grey and red inks have received new names.

13. Caran d’Ache 849 Collection Limited Editions (via Goldspot Pens). The Caran d’Ache 849 ballpoint is a reliable workhorse that’s been around for years, and recently the Swiss company has been releasing special and limited edition versions, including a new “Nespresso” pen in India Green.

14. Faber-Castell Fountain Pens (via Vanness Pens). It’s no secret that I think Faber-Castell makes some of the best sub-$100 fountain pens on the market, including their Ambition and Essentio lines. Vanness stocks a wide selection of Faber-Castell pens in all the various colors.

15. New Pens from Yoshi Nakama (via 18111com/Etsy). Some new “Falling Sakura” pens have been added to the online store, including pens in light blue, pink, and marble acrylics.

Deals & Drops: Pre-Vacation Mail Call!

Wouldn’t you know it that the day before I leave for vacation I end up with five new pens in the mail? I’m not going to ink these up until after I get back, but I’m really pleased with the overall feel and quality on these pens and can’t wait to test them out. Two are from PenBBS and two are from Live In You, both higher-end Chinese brands that I’ve heard many good things about, and at least from a presentation and feel perspective, the reputation is deserved. The fifth pen, which will surprise no one, is another Momento Zero, as I failed to resist the Hawaii resin and added one to my collection! Happy Shopping!

UPDATE: Grab an extra 10% off your order from Pen Chalet this weekend using the coupon code “MEMORIAL” at checkout.

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1. PenBBS 469 Double-Ended Eyedropper Fountain Pen (via eBay). I love the red spiderweb/”splatterpaint” design on this otherwise transparent eyedropper. It looks as good in person as it does in the pictures.

2. PenBBS 456 Vacuum Filler Fountain Pen (via eBay). Again, the material on this pen looks gorgeous in person and the quality feels comparable to a TWSBI, which is the price point PenBBS competes with.

3. Live In You MuChun “Mountain Series” Fountain Pen (via eBay). I’ve heard people rave about Live In You’s acrylics, and they’re absolutely right. The material on both of my pens is gorgeous, and the pen feels well made. A Schmidt nib to boot.

4. Live In You Huangyan “Mountain Series” Fountain Pen (via eBay). Another wonderfully deep acrylic, this one with a darker pattern. Perhaps the pen that I was most excited about.

5. PenBBS Etsy Store (via Etsy/PenBBS). If you prefer a more structured shopping experience than combing eBay, PenBBS sells directly over Etsy, with the various models organized by number. Unfortunately, the Etsy store does not appear to be stocked with all of the various options in terms of materials.

6. Nettuno 1911 Fountain Pens (via Pen Chalet). I’ve not seen these pens from Nettuno before, but these “Black Sands Black” black-trimmed pens are attractive.

7. Leonardo Momento Zero Blue Hawaii (via Pen Chalet). As mentioned above, I picked up another addition to my Momento Zero collection, adding the gorgeous Blue Hawaii acrylic. Look for a follow-up to my recent review at some point.

8. Leonardo Momento Zero Rosewood Ebonite (via The Nibsmith). Now that I have Momento Zeroes in celluloid and acrylic, what’s next? Maybe add an ebonite version? I had the chance to see this pen in person at the Atlanta Pen Show, and what do you know? It’s gorgeous and flawlessly made.

9. Aurora Oceani Collection (via The Nibsmith). Available for pre-order now, these new pens appear to be a completely different model from anything in their standard lineup. Beautiful, but at a premium price.

10. Vanness Pinnacle by Newton Pens (via Vanness). The Pinnacle is back in stock! Don’t miss out on Shawn Newton’s new collaboration with Vanness. These pens sold out quickly at all of the shows I attended earlier this year. That dark purple is killer!

11. Pen Wraps by PK Custom Goods (via Etsy/PKCustomGoods). Several new items are available at the restocked PK Custom Goods Etsy store. Check out these pen wraps that made an initial appearance at the Atlanta Pen Show last month.

12. Sailor Pro Gear in Textured/Ribbed Pattern (via Anderson Pens). These ribbed Pro Gears are scarce, but the Andersons have one in stock. A very cool pen that you don’t see too often.

13. PenBBS Pen and Ink Gift Sets (via Goldspot). While we’re on a PenBBS kick, Goldspot is offering a special deal where you get a pen and five random ink samples! One option includes the double-ended eyedropper!

14. Pelikan M101N Grey-Blue (via Appelboom). My current favorite of all the Pelikan M101N models, after seeing this one in person. Granted, I haven’t seen the M1000 Stresemann yet, but this pen is at the top of the list for my annual Pelikan purchase.

15. Huckberry Memorial Day Weekend Sale! (via Huckberry). There’s a massive sale going on at Huckberry, heading into the U.S. Memorial Day weekend. Check out markdowns on their everyday carry goods and other items, including watches.