Colorverse 2025 Top 3 Inks from Colorvent Calendar

New Arrivals: Colorverse Restocked, Along with Platinum Pens and Inks!

June 30, 2026

We’ve received a fresh shipment of Colorverse Ink, meaning that nearly all of the Colorvent “Top 3” Inks are back, including the 2024 and 2025 three-bottle sets as well as quirky favorites like Erebus Crater and Polar Night! We also have more of the 2025 Red Horse Collection, as well as all of the colors in the “Joy in the Ordinary” series.

Pens for Beginners in the T.G.S. Warehouse — Every year we update our “Best Pens” list, which includes recommendations from across a wide range of product categories.

We also have more Platinum Plaisir and Prefounte fountain pens, both of which are mentioned on our “Best Pens” list for beginners as well as those simply looking for a reliable everyday writer that you don’t have to worry about when knocking around town, the office, or your world travels! Finally, fans of permanent, dark black inks can also celebrate because Platinum Carbon Black and Chou Kouro have both returned.

Come see these and more this week in our Nashville shop! We are open normal hours (1-6pm Thursday and Friday and 10am-5pm on Saturday), meaning that yes we are open for the 4th of July weekend. Many of you have reached out to let us know you are coming to town so we will be there and ready to welcome you!

Two Designs of the Modern Maki-e Preppy Wa Series

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

August 21, 2024

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.

Preppy Wa Modern Maki-e Series Close Up of Designs — 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.

Platinum Preppy Wa Modern Maki-e Designs Official Release

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.”

Platinum Preppy Wa and Platinum Plaisir Side-by-Side — 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.”

Explanation of all the various Preppy Wa patterns

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.

Platinum Preppy Plaisir Prefounte Nib Close-up — 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.

Platinum Preppy Wa Modern Maki-e Designs shown together — 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.

Platinum Prefounte Fountain Pen in Vermillion Orange, Uncapped — The Platinum Prefounte fountain pen in Vermillion Orange.

Pen Review: Platinum Prefounte Fountain Pen

July 20, 2024

Platinum rules the sub-$20 fountain pen space, at least among the larger, more mainstream pen brands. While Pilot and TWSBI have their own inexpensive “entry level” releases in the Kakuno and the Go, respectively, no company has as many different options at this price point as Platinum. Most fountain pen users are familiar with the Platinum Preppy and the Platinum Plaisir, but there’s yet another option that’s gaining some steam since its release a couple years ago: The Platinum Prefounte.

Priced to sit in-between the all-plastic Preppy fountain pen and the more upscale Plaisir, the Prefounte features a transparent plastic barrel in a new set of colors and with a more durable metal clip. While the Prefounte uses the same nib/feed/section as the Preppy (they are interchangeable), the barrel itself feels slightly more substantial than on the Preppy, and I enjoy not having to worry about the clip snapping off if I overextend it. All of Platinum’s pens are capable of taking both a cartridge and a converter (though they are proprietary and can only be used on Platinum pens), and I see nothing that would prevent you from eyedroppering the Prefounte by adding silicone grease and/or an o-ring to eyedropper the pen the same way you would modify a Preppy.

Platinum Prefounte Fountain Pen Capped, Vermillion Orange

Who is this pen targeting? I would say those looking for an inexpensive everyday pen for the office or travel, as well as those experimenting with fountain pens for the first time but who don’t want something that looks as “disposable” as the standard $4 Preppy. At $11, the Prefounte also falls into what I think of as the zero-risk gift zone: a pen that you can easily gift to friends and family who you think might like fountain pens, without worrying about spending a lot of money on something they may or may not end up using.

Platinum Preppy, Prefounte, and Plaisir Side-by-Side — For the last minute trip I had to take this weekend (yes, two days before a shop move), I grabbed some travel-ready pens, including one of the new Platinum Preppy Wa limited editions, this Vermillion Orange Prefounte, and my yellow/green Plaisir with the desk pen nib installed. All of Platinum’s lower-priced pens use a version of the slip-and-seal cap system, which prevents the pen from drying out. Though I’ve never tested the “one-year” claim, it works very well.

I’ve personally been thinking a lot about entry-level fountain pens lately. As I build out inventory in advance of a physical shop opening, I want to have as broad a range of options to offer as possible, especially for those people curious about fountain pens who inevitably will want to come in and see them in person before committing. Being able to show someone a nice looking pen with a reliable nib, functional clip, multiple color options, and the ability to use cartridges or bottled ink, all for $11, makes the hobby much less intimidating for new users.

Platinum Prefounte Packaging in Three Colors

We currently have the Platinum Prefounte available in all five colors: Night Sea, Dark Emerald, Crimson Red, Graphite Blue, and Vermillion Orange. The colors are all on the darker side and look quite nice, especially the blues and the orange, which I picked out for my tester. Nib options are fine (03) and medium (05), and each pen ships with a Platinum Blue-Black Cartridge. Converters and other cartridge options are sold separately.

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

Platinum Prefounte and Plaisir Writing Sample — Platinum’s stainless steel nibs aren’t fancy, but they are consistently decent writers that lay down a standard fine or medium line.

New Arrivals: Platinum Curidas Matte Retractable Nib Fountain Pens

June 13, 2023

While Platinum’s Curidas fountain pen has been around for several years now, Platinum hadn’t really done much with the line beyond the original set of demonstrator colors - until now. Yesterday saw the arrival of three new matte finishes in the Curidas (Matte Blue, Matte Black, and Matte Red), all of which are sold packaged as part of a set complete with a converter, ink cartridge, and bottle of Platinum Aurora Blue Mix-Free Ink. You have everything you need to get started writing!

The Matte Curidas fountain pen sets are currently available in the shop, in fine and medium stainless steel nib options. Please visit our shop to check out these and other recently arrived pen, paper, and ink offerings!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including Platinum.

In the Shop: Platinum Plaisir Aura Fountain Pens!

August 9, 2022

We’ve gradually been adding carefully chosen brands to The Curated Shop, one of which has been Platinum, who makes some of the best lower-cost fountain pens on the market. In addition to last year’s limited edition Platinum Preppy Wa, we brought on the Carbon Desk Pen and Pen Stand, and now have added a new version of the Platinum Plaisir! The Plaisir “Aura” is Platinum’s 2022 Color of the Year, and the fountain pen features one of three “Auras” (Merry Pink, Healing Green, or Symphony Blue) that show through a pearlized white finish, depending on how light hits the pen. It’s a really beautiful effect, and in addition to the unique color, you’ll also receive Platinum’s excellent stainless steel nibs and the “Slip and Seal” cap technology, which is an inner-cap system that prevents the pen from drying out if you leave it unused for a period of time. You can purchase the Platinum Plaisir Aura directly from the T.G.S. Curated Shop in either fine or medium, available for immediate shipment and priced at $41.