Since introducing the 530 several years ago, TWSBI has dominated the $50-100 price point, and has also made serious headway into the entry-level segment with the TWSBI Eco. But what about the TWSBI Diamond Mini, the pen that seems to get lost in the shuffle? Honestly, it's probably my favorite TWSBI pen, at least in terms of functionality.

Unposted, the TWSBI Diamond Mini is quite a bit shorter than the TWSBI 580.

There's no real need to go into the history of TWSBI again in-depth - I've already done this in prior reviews of the flagship TWSBI 580, the TWSBI Vac Mini, and the TWSBI Eco. The short version is that TWSBI is a Taiwanese manufacturer that has proven companies can bring a high-quality piston-filling fountain pen to market at well under $100. The Diamond Mini has never really attracted the same amount of attention as the Vac models and the 580, because I think many people tend to write the Diamond Mini off as a "smaller and cheaper" 580 that's a bit boring. In terms of looks, they're correct: there's not a lot to visually distinguish the Diamond Mini from the 580, other than - obviously - the shorter length and some different color schemes. Both pens have the same faceted barrel and similar nibs. So why do I like the Mini so much? Because it posts.

Posted, the Diamond Mini is actually slightly longer than the TWSBI 580. — Posted, the Diamond Mini is actually slightly *longer* than the TWSBI 580.

The piston knob on the Diamond Mini is threaded, so the cap not only posts, but screws on for maximum security. This feature is quite convenient for someone like me, who tends to write "on the go" a lot in situations where I don't have a table to place the cap. I don't typically recommend that people purchase a fountain pen for their primary "pocket carry," simply because they take longer to deploy, but the TWSBI Diamond Mini is always at or near the top of that list if you just can't bring yourself to use a ballpoint.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I always recommend TWSBI pens to people who are interested in trying a piston-filler fountain pen for the first time. The barrier to entry is lower than a Pelikan M200 or a Lamy 2000, and TWSBI generally offers a relatively inexpensive, reliable writing experience while still allowing people to dabble in the "limited edition" craze. For the past few years, TWSBI has released a series of AL (aluminum) trim models in various colors. If you like the AL Gold model pictured in this review, I'd jump on that pretty fast because they seem to be getting scarce, and TWSBI will likely replace them with a new color sometime this year. The standard Diamond Mini, however, is pretty much always available, and also comes in a black "classic" configuration. I typically order all of my TWSBI's through Amazon.

Note: The reputation of TWSBI's "Diamond" models (the 580 and the Diamond Mini) have suffered a bit in years past due to reports of barrels cracking. More recently, TWSBI seems to have improved both their quality control and manufacturing process. I've personally never suffered any sort of catastrophic failure or ink leakage, even on one Diamond Mini that developed hairline cracks on the section. (This was an initial run model from four or five years ago.) Regardless, TWSBI is known for having good customer service, so if you run into a problem, they will make it right.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own use. This post does contain affiliate links. Pricing and availability is current as of the time of this review.

I won't lie - at times I've started to get a bit bored with the pen scene over the past year. While there certainly have been bursts of inspiration, occasionally I want to see something more than just the latest color Pelikan in the special edition M800 series, or another "minimalist" metal pen on Kickstarter that more or less looks the same as another one released the previous year. That's why Taiwanese manufacturer ystudio is a great addition to the market, and I'm glad to see more U.S. retailers like Vanness stocking their pens.

The ystudio Portable "Classic," left, and the "Brassing" in its wood carry case, right.

Design and Build

Ystudio combines contemporary Taiwanese design with traditional craftsmanship. The company has designed and manufactured these pens with a striking attention to detail. Like Kanilea Pen Co. (and Nakaya), each Ystudio portable pen arrives packed in an attractive wooden box that you can reuse for other purposes.

“Made by the local factories in Taiwan, each of the stationery from ystudio is manufactured by the scorching heat of one thousand degrees in furnace, and characterized by the masters’ hands with decades of experience. Although the stationery carried a little bit weight and some rust on it which reflects that the products are absolutely honest and durable just like the people who live in Taiwan.”

— "About yStudio"

The pens themselves are some of the best brass and copper fountain pens that I've used, from both a design and functionality perspective. While I enjoy my Kaweco Brass Sport and Supra, neither pen pushes the envelope on design or really seeks to do anything different other than offer an existing pen model in a new material and/or size. Here, I enjoy ystudio's unique hexagonal barrel, and have probably drawn a bit too much satisfaction from playing with the cap, which opens and closes with a loud snap, in meetings.

(Editor's Note: Per the comments below, I've made a correction. Upon further review, I don't believe the cap is actually magnetic, though it does pop on and off with a very firm snap/click. The tolerances are very tight.)

The ystudio Portable Fountain Pens fresh out of the box.  Note the lack of a patina on the copper pen in this photo. Stay tuned. — The ystudio Portable Fountain Pens fresh out of the box. Note the lack of a patina on the copper pen in this photo. Stay tuned.

The ystudio Portable Fountain Pen comes in two models: "Classic" copper and "Brassing." Both share the same hexagonal design, with a metal cap and a hole through which you can run a black or brown leather cord (both options included). Each pen also comes with a separate wooden "carry box," which is actually a wooden tube with a slit in the top through which you can fit the "tab" on the Portable's cap and secure with the leather cord, forming a more secure pen case for travel and rougher daily carry (especially if you worry that the cap will pop off).

Now look at that patina, approximately one month later!

As you may have read elsewhere, all ystudio "Brassing" pens arrives with a sheet of fine grit sandpaper that you can use to remove the black coating from your brass pen and create unique "wear patterns," per your preference. Though this is a major selling point of the "Brassing" design, I've decided not to sand off any of the coating because I like the look of the pen as-is, and would rather allow the lacquer to wear off naturally. It will probably take some time. While I've accumulated a few micro-scratches here and there, this black coating was thickly applied.

Branding is minimal, and limited to the small ystudio logo towards the back of each pen. I love how the brass just barely shows through the black lacquer on the edges of the "Brassing" pen.

Nib and Writing Experience

You can't post the ystudio Portable, so it ends up being a shorter fountain pen. In general, I like my metal pens to be a bit shorter than your traditional full-size fountain pen, since the shorter length offsets the heavier weight and creates better balance. These pens are a viable option for pocket carry and jotting down short notes in a pocket notebook when I'm out running around. Though I usually don't like to carry a fountain pen in my pocket, I've ventured outside my comfort zone a bit with the ystudios and have enjoyed the experience. So far, the cap has stayed put, with no pocket inksplosions.

Ystudio uses No. 5 stainless steel Schmidt nibs - smooth and reliable but somewhat unremarkable. Currently, only fine and medium nib sizes are available. Both pens featured here are mediums, and they write on the narrower side of that designation. Some have criticized ystudio for using "generic" Schmidt nibs on a pen at this price point, but I feel that faulting the company for this choice is a bit off-base. Pen makers have limited third-party sourcing options to begin with, and Schmidt nibs are as good as any. To expect a company to launch their first fountain pen with a house-made nib is not only unrealistic from a logistical perspective, but it would drive the price of the pen up to a point where an company with no previous track record would have a hard time gaining a foothold in the market, not to mention nightmarish quality control issues. Here, ystudio's focus has plainly been on creating a line of well-made, functional writing instruments with a unique aesthetic, for that purpose the Schmidt nib works fine.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I've enjoyed using the ystudio Portable fountain pens over the past month or so, and they've become a regular addition to my daily writing kit. I appreciate them both as pens and as design objects that have attracted quite a bit of attention on my desk at work, and I can see myself carrying these pens long after this review is complete.

That said, there needs to be some discussion of the price. At $160, these pens aren't inexpensive. My initial impression - probably colored by commentary I've read elsewhere - was that the price point is too high, but after thinking it through I'm not so sure. In light of the craftsmanship and what you're getting in the overall package (stained wood boxes, leather cords, brass beads, etc.), this pricing doesn't seem excessive and lines up with Kaweco's pricing on its brass pens. (The Kaweco Brass Sport sells for $100, the Kaweco Brass Special for $130, and the Kaweco Supra for $140.) Copper pens are generally more expensive than brass, and the process of applying the black lacquer to the "Brassing" model justifies a small premium as well.

You can purchase the ystudio Portable Fountain Pens from Vanness Pens, currently available in both the "Classic" copper and the black "Brassing" models. Vanness carries the full range of ystudio products, including not only the Portable Fountain Pens but also the ystudio "Classic" copper and black "Brassing" Desk Pens and ballpoints and mechanical pencils. Many thanks to Lisa and Mike at Vanness for making this review possible.

Disclaimer: Vanness Pens sent me these two ystudio Portable Fountain Pens free of charge for review purposes.