Thursday Drops: Tombow Airpress, New Nahvalur Rose Gold Original Plus Pens, and More!

February marks the end of “recovery from the Holidays” season and the beginning of “New Release/Prep-for-Pen-Shows” season. I spent the past few days at trade shows. in NYC, and there is so much good stuff coming in addition to what is arriving every day. This week saw the release of the Nahvalur Original Plus Lovina Graphite and Matira Quartz, new versions of the rose gold-trimmed Original Plus limited editions from last year. We also have the Ruby Koi Nautilus, Uni Jetstream Edge ballpoints fresh from Japan, and our first “write-anywhere” pen, the Tombow Airpress!

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This material was incredibly difficult to photograph accurately (especially the black) but I was able to highlight some of the sparkles here. For additional detail, check out this YouTube Short I just posted - video is easier.

Finally, we know that it’s InCoWriMo - we didn’t forget! - so be sure to check out the InCoWriMo section of the Curated Shop if you need to stock up on letter writing supplies. InCoWriMo is also a great time to use up Washi Tape, stickers, and other supplies!

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

1. Nahvalur Original Plus Lovina Graphite and Matira Quartz. Nahvalur has released a new version of the highly successful Lovina/Matira Original Plus pens, featuring two new resins with slightly different hues and added chatoyance.

2. Nahvalur Original Plus Lovina Black and Matira White (Limited Edition Version). We still have remaining stock of last year’s Original Plus “Lovina Black” and “Matira White,” if the newer resins aren’t your thing! Only two or three pens remain, I believe.

3. Nahvalur Nautilus “Ruby Koi” Limited Edition. The latest limited edition Nautilus release features black and red striated German ebonite, paired with red anodized trim. Both plated stainless steel and 14k gold nib options are available.

4. Tombow Airpress Pressurized Ballpoint Pen. Tombow’s write-anywhere “Airpress” pressurized ballpoint features and easily deployable knock, a .7mm refill, and the ability to write in difficult conditions (wet, dusty, even upside-down).

5. Uni Jetstream Edge Ballpoint (.28mm and .38mm Options). The Jetstream Edge offers Uni’s finest tip to date, with its .28mm option. The .38mm is a more traditional Japanese ultra-fine tip but the .28mm is a remarkably smooth writer.

6. Uni Jetstream Prime Twist Ballpoints. We’ve been looking to bring in higher-end options for Uni’s flagship low-viscosity ballpoint pen, and the Jetstream Prime is an excellent everyday writer with a comfortable shape and tried-and-true refill/mechanism.

7. Roterfaden Notebooks and Sheet Protectors. At your request, we brought in additional versions of the Roterfaden-branded notebooks, as well as the sheet protectors in both A5 and A4 sizing.

8. Uni Jetstream Ballpoint Refills. Jetstream refills can be added to the pen of your choice! Both Parker-style and D1 versions are available.

9. Hi-Uni and Uni Smear-Resistant Graphite Mechanical Pencil Refills. As we build out our selection of pencils, both woodcase and mechanical, we’ve added some higher-quality mechanical pencil refills, including the Hi-Uni leads and the standard Uni smear-resistant graphite, which are perfect for everyday use. Grades F through 2B are currently available.

10. InCoWriMo Writing Store! February is International Correspondence Writing Month (InCoWriMo), and while I haven’t done a very good job of publicizing this fact this year, we maintain an InCoWriMo category in our paper section year-round so that you can easily identify paper suitable for letter-writing!

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[Updated] New Arrivals: Nahvalur Nautilus Ruby Koi Fountain Pen, and New Lovina Graphite and Matira Quartz Original Plus Pens!

I’m not sure that we’ve ever had limited run fountain pens sell out quicker than the two Nahvalur “Pen of the Year” models, inspired by the Year of the Rabbit and Year of the Dragon, respectively. Fortunately, Nahvalur appears to be staying at it this year, releasing yet another gorgeous limited run pen in striated red and black German ebonite with red anodized trim that they’ve dubbed “Ruby Koi.” Given my love for anything red and black, but I’m not sure I could pick out a Nautilus color combination that speaks to me personally more than this one, and I hope it sticks around for at least a little while (though probably not since it’s a numbered edition).

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Vintage-style striated German ebonite paired with either a 14k (left) or gold plated (right) nib makes for a gorgeous combination.

As with the Pen of the Year, the Nautilus Ruby Koi is available with both gold-plated stainless steel and 14k gold nib options. These pens are priced at $188 for the steel option and $308 for the gold. As a piston filler, the Nautilus Ruby Koi accepts bottled ink only, and we recently restocked on Nahvalur ink as well.

This material is a gorgeous true red-black ebonite!

Updated: As of 11am Central Time, New Lovina Graphite and Matira Quartz Fountain Pens Are Available!

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This morning, Nahvalur announced the release of two new colors in the “Original Plus” series - Lovina Graphite and Matira Quartz. These are new takes on last year’s limited edition “Lovina Black” and “Matira White” pens - they still have the rose gold trim but the Black and White resins add chatoyance (i.e. some sparkle/shimmer) to the material! It’s a very nice look with lots of depth. These have arrived and are available to ship immediately, priced at $55 each.

Note - for those of you looking for a Lovina Black and Matira White pen (without the chatoyance), we still have a couple left, mostly broad and stub nib sizes.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of Nahvalur Pens.

Thursday Drops: The GOAT Workhorse Pen, Kakimori, Roterfaden Accessories, and More!

I’m in the process of preparing my notes for a seminar I’m leading at the California Pen Show this month, which will focus on stationery for everyday use, techniques I use to incorporate these tools into my daily life, and how I think they’re helpful. Today’s Thursday Drops post offers a bit of insight into the type of products I will be discussing! I strongly encourage anyone who plans on attending the California Pen Show to check out the slate of classes on offer, because strong attendance will encourage more of this type of content in the future.

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In addition to the big ticket items, there’s always going to be room in our shop for the practical, such as these Roterfaden Sheet Protectors that let you better organize your Taschenbegleiter.

The pens, paper, and ink that I use everyday might surprise people. Though expensive limited edition fountain pens and inks with crazy properties like wild shimmer and sheen garner much of the attention in the stationery blogosphere, most of what I write with on an everyday basis is far more straightforward and, well, kind of boring, but in a good way. When I’m working - which more often than not boils down to getting words/concepts/thoughts on a page - I want a reliable pen/ink/paper combination that I don’t have to think about at all because it just works. This week's slate of new arrivals mostly fall directly into that bucket!

1. Uni Jetstream Prime Ballpoint Pens. I’d venture that the Uniball Jetstream can easily be dubbed the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) workhorse pen. The Jetstream Prime is Uni’s “upscale” housing for the Parker-style SXR-600 refill, with a tried-and-true twist ballpoint design and excellent balance in the hand. Choose between matte and pearlescent finishes.

2. Uni Jetstream SXR-600 Parker-style Ballpoint Refills. We’re thrilled to be able to offer the Jetstream Parker-style refill (which can be used in an absolutely massive variety of pens) in .38mm, .5mm, and .7mm tip sizes. They last forever and are the first upgrade I typically make to any Parker-style ballpoint or rollerball.

3. Uni Jetstream SXR-200 D1 Refills. Similarly, all of my D1 multi pens typically feature the SXR-200 D1 Jetstream refill. Available in red, blue, and black, and .5mm and .7mm tip sizes. A exceptional upgrade for the Lamy 2000 multi pen/4-color Ballpoint.

4. Nahvalur Nautilus “Ruby Koi” Limited Edition Fountain Pen. Nahvalur has done it again, with its second gorgeous limited edition release of 2024. The “Year of the Dragon”-inspired pen sold out in less than a week, and hopefully these will follow. “Ruby Koi” features red and black German ebonite paired with either a gold-toned stainless steel or 14k gold nib.

5. Pilot Fountain Pens. Additional Pilot fountain pens arrived yesterday, including new additional Explorer colors (grey, white, and clear!). Core workhorses such as the Vanishing Point, Custom 74, and Custom 823 are also fully restocked.

6. Kakimori A5 Hardbound Notebooks. Kakimori is one of the boutique Japanese brands that has been on the shop “short list” for some time, and last week we received our initial shipment that included a selection of hardbound A5 notebooks in traditional Japanese fabrics. Featuring OK Fools paper with a light grey grid layout.

7. Kakimori Metal Nibs and Holders. Kakimori nibs have become the go-to solution for those who want a dip nib that’s more durable than a glass pen but which doesn’t need to be replaced after a month or so of use. The brass nibs will patina over time and take on a beautiful burnished look.

8. Roterfaden Notebooks in All Sizes. We carry the full range of refills for the Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter organizer system, from A6 to A4, as well as specialty layouts such as the “Project Planner” and undated monthly calendar.

9. Roterfaden Sheet Protectors in A4 and A5. One of the more commonly requested Roterfaden accessories are the plastic sheet protectors, which allow you to carry loose papers, receipts, business cards, and other items inside your Taschenbegleiter. I personally carry multiple sheet protectors in a single set of clips. Sold in packs of three.

10. Traveler’s Company 2024 Calendar Refills. All of our dated 2024 Traveler’s Company dated diaries are now 20% off. It’s not too late to pick one up to outfit your Traveler’s Notebook for the upcoming year, though some specific layouts are sold out and won’t be restocked.

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A red and black ebonite Nautilus? Too bad I couldn’t snag this one as a signature release….

Thursday Drops: Nahavalur (Narwhal) Pen of the Year, TWSBI Diamond 580 AL Black, and More!

Yesterday the Nahavalur 2024 Pen of the Year arrived via Fedex, and the “Dragon Pen” is a stunner. I’m going to have a heck of a time not buying one of these for myself. The red/black combination with the gold explosions of color throughout the mix absolutely nailed the look. Occasionally you get a pen where the promotional release photos don’t even come close to showing how good a pen looks in person, and this is one of those times.

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In terms of pens that everyone’s been anxiously awaiting, the TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR Black is now available for pre-order! A matte black TWSBI is one of those “wish-list items” that makes you wonder what took them so long. These should arrive early next week as well with orders to ship as soon as they arrive.

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Finally, Roterfaden is in the process of being restocked. Certain Taschenbegleiters and the Roterfaden stock notebooks/refills are available for purchase now, with more to come as I confirm the order upon arrival. Stay tuned!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized reseller of all brands sold.

1. TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR Black Fountain Pen. TWSBI has announced their first release of 2024 - and it’s one that many have been clamoring for. These fountain pens feature a brushed black “ALR” finish similar to that on the previous releases in this series. Pre-orders are currently open, with the pens on their way to me and due to ship over the weekend or early next week.

2. Nahvalur 2024 Pen of the Year “Dragon” Fountain Pen. The promotional photos don’t do this pen justice, so I’ll be adding some of my own to the listing as soon as I possibly can. The acrylic features rich red, gold, and black swirls that evoke the pen’s namesake, and this limited release is available with both 14k and stainless steel nib options. We have a limited number of these pens in stock and available to ship immediately.

3. Clairefontaine French/Seyes-Ruled Looseleaf Paper. One of the biggest hits from 2022 is back in the shop! We have A4 and A5 individual sheets, as well as the A4 double booklets.

4. Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter Restock. The full Roterfaden order arrives today, weather permitting! I have added certain models of the Taschenbegleiter to the store, along with a restock on Roterfaden official notebook refills.

5. Kaweco Art Sport Fountain Pens. We still have a couple of the Kaweco Art Sport releases in stock, mostly in the white color but there may be one or two others left. I will try to restock these once if any remain but this may be it.

6. Lamy Studio LX Restock. We are fully restocked on Lamy pens (and inks), including all models of the Lamy Studio such as the LX All-Black, as well as the 14k nib Piano Black and Palladium Studio fountain pens.

7. Pilot Fountain Pens and Iroshizuku Ink Restock. Looking for a reliable daily writer - especially one with a 14k nib that still comes in under $200? Check out our selection of Pilot fountain pens, which now includes both the Custom 74 and Vanishing Point models.

8. Nahvalur Bottled Ink Restock. All standard (i.e. non-shimmer) Nahvalur inks are back in stock. If you’re looking for a dark green, consider “Dark Forest”. Read more on the full range here.

9. Craighill Caro and Kepler Pens. I’m back to being extremely busy this January, and relying heavily on my pocket pens. The Craighill Caro is a keychain pen that’s remarkably secure, and allows you to use a D1 refill. I will write this one up soon.

10. Lamy Pico Retractable Ballpoint. Another staple in my pocket pen arsenal, the Lamy Pico collapses to the size of a tube of lip balm for easy portable carry, yet deploys to a full-size ballpoint pen for everyday writing.

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New in the Curated Shop: Three New Ink Lines!

A key project we’ve been working on over the past several weeks is the expansion of our selection of bottled fountain pen inks and other refill options. We recently had not one but THREE lines of bottled fountain pen ink arrive from Laban, J. Herbin, and Nahvalur. To accommodate these additions, we’ve created a separate page for all of the inks and refills, which should have the added benefit of making the store easier to navigate.

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These little 10ml bottles of J. Herbin ink are an excellent way to test-drive ink colors before committing to a larger bottle.

J. Herbin Fountain Pen Inks

In today’s super-saturated (pun intended) fountain pen market, there are a lot of ink lines being released, and it’s easy to get lost in an overwhelming selection of brands and colors. Personally, I’ve started defaulting to the classics, and recently rediscovered my love for the Herbin brand - a classic French ink still made in Paris and distributed by the same people who bring us Clairefontaine and Rhodia papers. Herbin inks work well in fountain pens, dip pens, and with brushes. In addition to being versatile, they’re low maintenance and tend to wash out of pens quite easily without staining. We currently carry 16 different colors in both the 10ml and 30ml bottles, priced at $7.50 and $13.95 respectively.

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Artemis Navy Blue is a gorgeous dark navy that doesn’t get a lot of attention. I hope to change that.

Laban Green Mythology Ink Series

Combining two of my favorite things in the word - writing and history - I’ve had my eye on this particular product line ever since they were released last year. Laban’s “Greek Mythology” series features a line of ten excellent inks themed around the ancient Greek gods and goddesses, and there’s not a bad one in the bunch. Laban nailed both the packaging and the bottle itself, which holds an ample 50ml of ink. We currently have all colors in stock except for Aphrodite Pink.

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Nahvalur’s new “Explorer” line of fountain pen inks.

Nahvalur Explorer Fountain Pen Inks

Finally, fresh off the release of their Pen of the Year, Nahvalur has added four inks to match the colors of the “Original Plus” vacuum-filler fountain pen. Sold in 20ml bottles at $12.95 each, all four of these colors are slightly offbeat variations of green, blue, purple, and gold. The green and the blue are exceptionally nice looking, and all colors are available!

You can visit the entire Inks and Refills page here, and don’t forget to check out the rest of the T.G.S. Curated Shop. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by shop purchases and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.