Platinum Preppy Wa Modern Maki-e Fountain Pens Second Series

Thursday Drops: Platinum Preppy Wa Modern Maki-e, Plaisirs and Prefountes, and Restocks Galore!

July 18, 2024

It’s the home stretch! I will have pictures to share of the new T.G.S. space once we are able to gain access Monday morning. In the meantime, new stock is pouring in a bit early, and I’m trying to get it listed in order to minimize everything I need to do next week (which will be a lot). This week’s arrivals include the new Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” collection, featuring six new traditional Japanese patterns and designs made using a modern silk-screened maki-e technique. We also have two new lines of Platinum fountain pens available for purchase, including the Platinum Prefounte and Platinum Plaisir, along with ink cartridges and converters, and the Platinum Desk Pens with optional stands.

Platinum Preppy Wa Modern Maki-e Descriptions from Platinum

Finally, a major Hightide restock arrived this week, which included most colors of the shop-favorite Sandglasses in the longer 30 and 15-minute intervals, as well as additional Penco Drafting Ballpoint Pens. Happy Shopping!

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

Platinum Preppy Wa “Modern Maki-e” Edition, Second Edition. Over the past few years, the Preppy Wa has successfully brought the fun of limited and special edition fountain pen releases to an accessible price point. Building on the success of last-year’s “Modern Maki-e” release, this second edition introduces six new designs. (We have a small handful of back releases as well.)
Platinum Plaisir Fountain Pen. The Platinum Plaisir is one of the classic “beginner” recommendations for those looking for a barrel upgrade over the clear plastic of the Preppy and Procyon, but truth be told it’s an excellent pen all around. Platinum rules the under $20 market.
Platinum Prefounte Fountain Pen. Think of the Prefounte as a Preppy with a more durable metal clip and a somewhat classier transparent colored barrel. I love the demonstrator colors.
Platinum Desk Pen. Don’t sleep on the steel nib that’s included in the Platinum Desk Pen. It’s an EF (finer than the .3/fine in the standard steel Platinum line), and I’ve had good luck swapping it onto the Plaisir. A bouncy writer that many people love for drawing. An optional pen stand is also available.
Endless Recorder Notebooks. The Endless Recorder has become one of the more popular ink-friendly notebook options, featuring Endless’s proprietary “Regalia” paper that was designed in-house to showcase shimmer and sheen. We currently have most cover/ruling combinations available.
Caran d’Ache Claim Your Style 849, Edition No. 5. This year’s 849 “Claim Your Style” release features four different gradient barrels in a matte finish. Honestly, this is easily my favorite from the CYS series so far. Read more on this here.
Caran d’Ache + Nespresso 849, 6th Edition. This midnight blue matte ballpoint is inspired by the “Kazaar” capsule from Nespresso, with the metal used to make the pen comprised of partially recycled Nespresso capsules.
Caran d’Ache Claim Your Style Bicolor Pencil Set. To complement the CYS pen release, Caran d’Ache created a bicolor pencil set consisting of 12 different colors (two in each pencil) that includes organic, fluorescent, and metallic shades.
Hightide Sandglasses. One of the first high-end desk accessories that we carried in the shop, and one of our most popular! I can’t wait to display these in our physical store. You can read more about how I use them here.
Hightide Folding Metal Book Stands. All colors are back in stock! This versatile desk accessory holds books, notebooks, pads, tablets, etc., and folds flat so that you can take it with you when you travel.
TWSBI ECO-T Eggplant Purple and Diamond 580 AL-Iceberg. We still have a handful of the Eggplant TWSBIs available, as well as the gorgeous ice blue “Iceberg” 580s. I’m planning a nice shop display, complete with a case, for all of the various colors so that people will be able to compare them.

Platinum Prefounte and Plaisir Writing Samples

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.

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?

October 17, 2018

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.

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.

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.

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

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.