In the Shop: New TWSBIs Have Arrived! Introducing the 580 Iris, White Rose Gold II, and ECO Transparent Yellow

As of this morning, and just in time for D.C. Pen Show delivery, we have three new TWSBI models on offer: the Diamond 580 in TWSBI’s Iridescent “Iris” finish, the Diamond 580 White Rose Gold II, and the ECO in Transparent Yellow. All three of these are complete stunners, to be perfectly honest, and a key driver in my slimming down of my own pen collection has been to make room for the arrival of one or two of these. If you’d like to place an order for pickup at this week’s D.C. Pen Show, please get your orders in by close of business tomorrow (Wednesday, August 3) so that we have adequate time to pack it.

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A Note on the D.C. Pen Show

After carefully evaluating stock levels, we’ve made the decision to NOT sell on-site at the D.C. Pen Show. While I still plan to bring a full table of paper testers, pens, cases, and other items for you to see in person, given how fast things moved with Vanness having to cancel, we had to admit that we’re simply not prepared to stock both the online site and a booth at the show. If you were planning on purchasing something from T.G.S., including any Lochby cases, Traveler’s Notebooks (we still have limited sets!), or TWSBI fountain pens, any orders placed online can still be picked up at the table. Just use the coupon code “615PICKUP” at checkout.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including those pictured here.

Introducing the TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue (Available Now)

TWSBI has been on a roll this year, from the Diamond 580 ALR in Prussian Blue to the recently released TWSBI Swipe cartridge/converter fountain pen. Last week, they added the Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue, which is a gorgeous deep blue anodized finish that I find can appear quite different depending on the lighting. In some instances it’s a dark navy, in others, a brighter cobalt or even ultramarine!

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What distinguishes the Diamond 580 ALR from the standard Diamond 580? The anodized textured aluminum trim. Like the other Diamond 580 fountain pens, as well as the ECO series, the Diamond 580 ALR features TWSBI’s high-capacity piston filling system.

The TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue is available for purchase now in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, priced at $65 in all nib sizes. Please note that we also now offer interchangeable nib units for the TWSBI Diamond 580 fountain pens, as well as the full line of TWSBI Inks.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including TWSBI.

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Selections from the TWSBI fountain pen lineup, from left: TWSBI ECO in Transparent Green, ECO in Transparent Purple, ECO in Transparent Blue, Diamond 580 ALR in Navy Blue, ECO Clear, and Diamond 580 Rose Gold. Check out the writing samples to find a nib size to match your handwriting.

Hands On With the TWSBI Diamond 580 Smoke and Rose Gold II Fountain Pen

Disclaimer: I am an authorized TWSBI retailer and sell select TWSBI products in my shop. My goal, as it has always been, is to offer detailed discussions and overviews of products so that you can make an informed decision about what you ultimately decide to purchase. I strongly encourage readers to do as much research as they can, including from sources other than me, before making any purchasing decision.

The original TWSBI Diamond 580 Smoke and Rose Gold quickly became something of a coveted collector’s item, alongside the TWSBI Micarta, since it turned out to be one of TWSBI’s “experimental” runs intended to test a new design element. Dissatisfied with the look of the original rose gold plating and its durability over time, TWSBI did not re-release a rose gold pen for several years. The latest version, dubbed the “Smoke and Rose Gold II, features the same improved plating found on the rose gold ECO fountain pens, modified to increase both durability and visual warmth, and in my opinion looks much better. It might be my favorite TWSBI currently on the market.

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The nibs on the Rose Gold ECO, left, and the Rose Gold 580, right. While the 580 does feature the replaceable nib units, as of the time of writing TWSBI does not sell rose gold units separately.

Rose gold trim has grown in popularity in recent years, and has made up a sizable percentage of my own recent acquisitions. In addition to the White/Rose Gold TWSBI ECO, I’ve also added a Montblanc 149 and a Leonardo Furore. While I don’t dislike standard yellow gold on fountain pens, and have plenty in my personal collection, the reddish warmth of the rose gold (created by adding copper to the alloy) gives the pen some character and makes it look, well, a touch less ordinary. Here, the combination of TWSBI’s rose gold plating and transparent smoke black acrylic on the grip section, cap, and piston knob looks fantastic.

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Obligatory dramatic low-light photo.

I don’t intend to re-review the TWSBI Diamond 580 fountain pen - you can read my comprehensive review here, as well as the “Workhorse Pens” writeup in which I discuss how I remain a devoted TWSBI 580 fan even as the TWSBI ECO sometimes seems to take center stage as the latest internet darling. Let’s just say that as TWSBI has reiterated and improved upon the design of its flagship piston filler over the years, I personally think it’s gotten to a point where I have a hard time justifying purchasing similar-looking transparent demonstrators at five to six times the price. As a result, I have a lot of TWSBIs in my collection, and usually have at least one in rotation.

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The TWSBI ECO has been attracting more and more attention for good reason: The inexpensive piston filler fountain pen comes in a wide array of colors and finishes, and sits at a price point that makes it easy to rapidly expand your collection.

In addition to just showcasing how good this pen looks, I do want to talk a bit more about the 580’s overall value proposition and why I continue to love TWSBI as a company. TWSBI has always striven to position itself as a manufacturer that creates fountain pens that punch way above their price, offering a great writing experience, a generally high level of quality control, and responsive customer service. The Smoke and Rose Gold II presents a case in point: here you have a piston-filling fountain pen with rose gold plated trim priced at $84.99. To me, that’s a very attractive offering, even if it does nudge this particular pen a touch above the standard $50-60 for a standard TWSBI Diamond 580 Clear or Diamond 580 ALR. Pricing is always relative - what is inexpensive for some is not always the same for others - which is why the having the ECO as a lower-cost alternative presents such a great option.

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But how do you maintain quality control on a pen like this at the sub-$100 price point? All I can speak to personally is this: In the past two years I have acquired approximately a dozen TWSBI pens from multiple sources, and I have had no issues. And while I have experienced minor issues in the now-distant past (i.e., more than two years ago) I have never had a problem that TWSBI has not promptly fixed, mostly involving dry nibs and one instance of a minor plastic crack. TWSBI has remained on my Recommendations Lists for years, and it wouldn’t be there, much less stocked in my own shop, if I didn’t have confidence in the manufacturer and their willingness to stand behind their product.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

I love TWSBI pens, and as long as they continue to release knockouts such as the Smoke and Rose Gold II, they will feature prominently in my collection. Personally, I’m still holding out for a Micarta reissue, and maybe another run of the 580 RBT, which was the Taiwan tribute edition with the red cap and blue piston. (Something tells me I may be waiting for that Micarta for a long time.)

I currently stock select TWSBI pens and inks in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, including pens from the Diamond 580 and ECO lines. The Diamond 580 Smoke and Rose Gold II retails for $84.99, and is available in all TWSBI nib widths (EF, F, M, B, and 1.1mm Stub).

Workhorse Pens: The Case for the TWSBI 580 and the TWSBI 580AL/ALR

For a reliable, low cost workhorse fountain pen, you can’t go wrong with any TWSBI. From the original TWSBI 530 to the modern 580, 580AL or 580ALR, ECO, Mini, Vac, Vac Mini, and GO, TWSBI has seemingly perfected the art of making interesting pens with different filling mechanisms at a wide range of price points. I’ve long been a fan of the brand. Even years ago, when TWSBI still suffered from periodic quality control issues, I was willing to give them multiple chances because I believed in their goal: to create a well-made piston filler that could be sold at an accessible price well below $100. Though it took several years of experimenting, the company eventually struck the right balance between cost and quality before finalizing the design of the current model 580, which has not changed in recent years other than to add anodized aluminum accents (i.e., the TWSBI 580AL and 580ALR).

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But then came the ECO, an even less expensive piston filling fountain pen with a new rounded barrel that not only decreased manufacturing cost but also eliminated what many suspect were the culprits that caused stress cracking on early renditions of the 580: the “diamond” facets. At only $30, it’s indisputable (to me at least) that the TWSBI ECO is the best “pound-for-pound” piston filler on the market, earning the top spot on my list of Best Fountain Pens for Beginners. While TWSBI originally released the ECO only in black or white, you can now purchase a clear demonstrator, a version with a triangular Safari-like grip (the TWSBI ECO-T), as well as limited edition colors that rotate throughout the year. TWSBI clearly has invested in expanding the ECO segment of its business.

What Does the ECO Mean for the TWSBI 580?

I’ve read and heard a lot of commentary about how TWSBI’s recent focus on the “ECO” line of fountain pens threatens to cannibalize - if it hasn’t already - the market for its original pen. What does the ECO mean for the future of the TWSBI 580? Should anyone still buy the pen? Is the $25 markup over the ECO justified? My answer to those questions is yes.

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TWSBI nibs write a true medium, shown here with TWSBI Blue-Black Ink in a Write Notepads Dot Grid Notebook.

The main feature that the TWSBI 580 offers, which the ECO does not, is an interchangeable nib unit. (Perhaps I should say “easily interchangeable nib,” since technically you can swap the nib on an ECO, you just have to pull the nib manually as opposed to unscrewing a nib unit, and you cannot purchase ECO nibs separately.) If you like to use different nib sizes, and don’t want to own five or six different pens, you can purchase a single TWSBI 580 and an handful of individual nib units. This ability to swap nibs also comes in handy if you want to keep a stock of custom nib grinds, such as cursive italics or architects, and rotate them in and out of the same pen.

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There are additional functional and aesthetic differences between the 580 and the ECO. While I’m an ECO fan, I prefer the feel of the original 580. The 580 has the heft of a Pelikan piston filler, and although you can’t post the pen, it has excellent balance and a massive ink capacity, suitable for an all-day (or all-week) marathon writing session. If the ability to post a pen is important to you, consider the TWSBI Mini, which has a smaller ink capacity but actually extends to a slightly longer writing length than the standard 580.

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Of all TWSBI pens, the Diamond Mini is my favorite to use posted.

Aesthetically speaking, I also prefer the look of the 580 over the ECO. While I don’t dislike the ECO, the oversized, faceted cap will certainly stand out more in a professional environment, which I sometimes have to consider. The standard TWSBI 580 demonstrator, or the TWSBI 580ALR in Nickel, makes for a better “office pen”, at least for my particular workplace.

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As much as the ECO’s funky looking cap has grown on me, it’s still a touch “out there” for the office, and the pen itself is a bit long posted.

Takeaways and Final Thoughts

I don’t subscribe to the idea that TWSBI should replace the 580 with the ECO. While the ECO is an excellent pen in its own right, it is a different pen, both in terms of design and functionality, and to be honest, the 580 offers the look and feel a much “higher-end” fountain pen at a mere $25 markup over the ECO. Combined with the 580’s interchangeable nib, that is more than enough justification to keep both pens in TWSBI’s lineup.

At the same time, I do wonder whether there is a rationale for discontinuing the TWSBI 580ALR limited editions. I don’t know how many of these pens TWSBI makes in each run, but with interchangeable nibs, it’s harder to justify owning more than one 580, and at $30 the ECO makes for an easier “catch ‘em all” purchase. Since we’re seeing more of a focus on ECO variants and limited editions, this may be where things are headed.

I’ve written full reviews of both the TWSBI 580 and the TWSBI Eco over the years, and both are fixtures on my “best pens” recommendations lists. Check out those reviews for a more in-depth discussion of specs and details of each pen. UPDATE: As of April 2021, TWSBI pens can be purchased directly from me in the T.G.S. Curated Shop.

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Don’t forget to check out TWSBI’s excellent line of inks, especially the standard colors such as Blue and Blue-Black (pictured above). Look for a full review soon.

Pen Review: The TWSBI 580

As a brand, the TWSBI 580 and its predecessors, the 540 and the 530, personify the modern resurgence of fountain pens.  The pens themselves appear relatively simple; however, they are anything but, and to me, it’s nothing short of amazing that TWSBI can develop a product this good and sell it at this reasonable of a price point. For this reason, TWSBI pens are prominently featured on my list of Top 5 Fountain Pens under $75 as the first piston-filling pen that I recommend to new enthusiasts.   

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My TWSBI in its apple-esque white plastic packaging.  I save my TWSBI boxes for pen storage. 

TWSBI pens are manufactured by a subsidiary of Ta Shin Precision, a Taiwanese company with operations in both the United States and China.  Per the TWSBI website, after years of manufacturing products--including fine writing instruments--on a contract basis, the company decided to create its own line of fountain pens.  The design of the TWSBI 530—the first TWSBI pen was heavily influenced by consultation with members of the pen community via the Fountain Pen Network:  the first “crowdsourced” fountain pen, you could say. 

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TWSBI's "iconic" logo. 

From my perspective, TWSBI has accomplished its goal of creating an affordable piston-filling fountain pen with a large ink capacity and classic looks.  Additionally, I would go so far as to say that the reasonable price, the relatively widespread availability of the pens, and the fact that the nibs are interchangeable make them the spiritual successor to Esterbrook, though, as I’ll discuss further below, an argument can be made that TWSBIs won’t weather the test of time as well as Esties have.

Looks

For this review, I’ve used a TWSBI Diamond 580AL in orange, currently the only TWSBI in my collection.  At one time or another, I have owned a Vac 700, a Mini, and a couple colored 540s, but the 580 with the orange aluminum trim (now discontinued) is the pen that has stuck with me. Orange aside, the 580 sports a classic look.  It’s a fairly large fountain pen that fits comfortably in the hand without posting.  Many users have knocked TWSBI for designing pens with caps that don’t post (guilty!), but TWSBI’s recent designs (the Classic and the Eco) have offered an option for posting the cap, and in all honesty, the 580’s size would makes it uncomfortable to use posted.     

The TWSBI 580 is pretty big.  While I like to post caps, the 580 is so long and relatively heavy that posting the cap would likely make it unbalanced/unwieldy. 

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A comparison of the TWSBI 580 agains some similarly sized pens in my collection:  from bottom, the Delta Fusion 82, the TWSBI 580 AL, the Montblanc 146, and the Edison Herald. 

Build

TWSBI loses a few points in any discussion of build and manufacturing, simply because rumors of poor quality control have dogged the company from the beginning.  Like any reports that come via the internet, they started as valid criticism but, at least in my opinion, have “gone viral” to some degree, resulting in exaggerated claims of poor quality.  To its credit, TWSBI has responded well, and I haven’t heard of an example where TWSBI has failed to replace broken pen parts (or the entire pen) where a customer has reported a defect.    

The plastic used to manufacture the 530, 540, and the Mini is prone to cracking, particularly at the section, though caps have cracked as well.  TWSBI apparently has addressed the issue with the 580 to a degree—reports of cracking aren’t nearly as widespread.  With the Eco, however, TWSBI adopted a new round barrel (as opposed to the faceted barrel of the Diamond series), which may indicate that the early manufacturing issues had more to do with the faceted design of the "Diamond" pens than the materials used to make them.  Personally, I think a round barrel 580-style pen would be interesting, though the faceted “Diamond” motif has become something of a TWSBI hallmark.  The 580AL that I'm reviewing here has a section and certain other parts made of aluminum as opposed to plastic, presumably making that model more durable.   

For all the talk of cracking, however, and for all the TWSBI pens I have owned (and used heavily), I’ve only had the plastic crack on me once.  My TWSBI mini developed one small hairline in the section threads (probably caused by me over tightening the cap), which didn’t cause me any functional issues.  So from personal experience (with Minis, 540s, and 580s), TWSBI’s quality has been good.  You also can't lose perspective on what TWSBI has been trying to do:  manufacture a reasonably priced, accessible piston-filling fountain pen.  This is no easy task, and at the $55 price point you have to expect some sacrifices in the quality department.  Is this a tank-like Pelikan M800?  No, but it also doesn't cost $400.      

Pricing

TWSBI’s current pricing structure ranges from $30 to $75.  The ECO is TWSBI’s new entry-level model. Next up is the standard model Diamond 580, the Mini, the TWSBI Classic, the 580AL (featured in this review); and the Vac 700 (a vacuum filling pen).  TWSBI’s now-discontinued Micarta pen was priced at $100, making it the most expensive pen TWSBI offered.

Note:  the 580AL in orange is no longer offered.  The 580AL is, however, available in standard aluminum.  I wonder what color they will issue next?  The long-rumored "Vac Mini" should also arrive this year. Note: As of April 2021, you can purchase select TWSBI Products, including the TWSBI 580, directly from the T.G.S. Curated Shop.   

Nibs

TWSBI nibs are generally of high quality, especially since they switched to custom JoWo nibs a few years back.  Apart from a Vac 700 I owned a few years back, none of my pens have required adjustment to the nibs, though I have had some custom-ground to cursive italic and architect's points.  Actually, one of my favorite things about TWSBI pens is the ability to swap nibs.  You can save a lot of money by purchasing one TWSBI pen with some spare nib units and having those nib units customized--depending on how many spare nibs you carry, it's like four pens in one! 

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Note that the 580 nibs are interchangeable among all models in the 580 series, and sold separately as spare screw-in “nib units.”  You can purchase additional Mini nib units and Vac nib units for those pens as well, though they aren’t interchangeable with other models.  While I’ve never done this, I understand that you can swap the nibs on the Classic and the Eco by pulling the friction-fit nib—there’s no “nib unit” that’s sold separately and easily switches out.  (Rumor has it you can also "hack" the entire TWSBI line to make them accept all sorts of nibs.  Proceed at your own risk here!) 

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A writing sample using my TWSBI 580AL with a Masuyama-ground Architect's Nib (Medium). The brown ink I'm using for this review is Franklin-Christoph's Dark Chocolate (thanks to Lori at FC for the sample!), which I'm really enjoying. 

Accessories
      
In addition to spare nibs, TWSBI also makes products such as ink bottles and notebooks, both of which I own, but which are beyond the scope of this review because I haven’t used them that much.  I will add, however, that the ink bottle has a proprietary nozzle that lets you fill the 580 completely (though you can remove the lid to fill other pens by dipping as you typically would). The notebooks contain fountain-pen friendly paper (probably sugarcane), which appears similar to the paper used in Franklin-Christoph notebooks.  

DISCLAIMER:  I purchased the items featured in this review with my own funds (except for the FC ink sample).