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

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.

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!

In the Shop: Platinum Plaisir Aura Fountain Pens!

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.

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You can read my review of the Platinum Plaisir here if you’d like to learn more about why I enjoy this particular Platinum model so much.

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

Old Reliables: The Platinum Preppy and Plaisir?

Of the “Big Three” Japanese pen companies: Pilot, Sailor, and Platinum, the latter traditionally gets the least amount of attention outside of Japan. Thing have changed somewhat in recent years, as Platinum has started to explore the limited edition market with its excellent line of 3776 Century pens, and its sister brand, Nakaya, has developed a stellar reputation among high-end collectors of pens featuring urushi, makie, and other forms of traditional Japanese artistry.

What tends to get lost in the shuffle is that of the “Big Three,” Platinum probably makes the widest array of low-cost pens. Two models, the Preppy and the Plaisir, regularly find their way onto various “Best First Fountain Pen” lists, and for good reason. Starting at $3.95, the Preppy can be as cheap as some disposable fountain pens, yet can be refilled with (proprietary) Platinum cartridges OR it can be eyedroppered, provided you first add some silicon grease and/or an o-ring to the barrel threads. Eyedroppering a Platinum Preppy is an excellent way to use “high-maintenance” inks that might damage or stain nicer pens, and the highlighter version of the Preppy can be used with Noodler’s Highlighter Inks.

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A .3mm stainless steel nib on the Plaisir (left) and a .5mm stainless steel nib on the Preppy (right). Both nibs wrote an extremely smooth line out of the box, using the stock Platinum ink cartridge that came with the pen.

The Platinum Plaisir adds an upgraded body to the same nib, feed and section featured on the Preppy, made from anodized aluminum and available in a wide array of colors. The primary reasons to opt for the Plaisir over the Preppy would be aesthetics and durability - some of the color options on the Plaisir are quite nice, like the “Ice White” featured here, and the caps on Preppies tend to crack over time.

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The Platinum Preppy posts a bit longer than the Plaisir, but it’s also extremely light due to its plastic construction.

On the whole, however, both pens offer an exceptional writing experience at the price point. One quirk is that nib sizes on these pens are not labeled with the usual EF, F, M, B designations. Rather, they are numbered .2, .3, and .5.  For example, the Preppy featured here is labeled “.5”, as in .5mm, which equates to a medium, while the .3mm on the Plaisir is a fine. Platinum also makes a .2mm extra fine, which is a bit more difficult to source.

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I prefer the weight and balance of the Plaisir, but you can’t argue with the writing experience the Preppy offers for $3.95.

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The .3mm (fine) nib is my favorite. I’m not a fan of stock Platinum black ink, as it can have a washed-out appearance.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I’ve neglected both the Preppy and the Plaisir in my own use, and that’s unfortunate, especially since I’ve grown to appreciate Platinum as a brand. These relatively inexpensive models offer an excellent writing experience at a bargain price. The Preppy in particular gives you a reliable refillable fountain pen at a price point similar to “disposable” pens like the Pilot Varsity. For just a bit more money, you can get the more professional looking Plaisir in a growing array of colors.

You can purchase either of these models from most major pen retailers in the U.S., including our friends at Vanness Pens (in the United States). [Update: As of August, 2022, you can purchase the limited edition Platinum Plaisir Aura, as well as other select Platinum products, directly from us via the T.G.S. Curated Shop. Thanks in advance for your support!]

Disclaimer: This post does not contain links to paid sponsors or affiliates. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges through the T.G.S. Patreon Program.