New Arrivals: Lotsa Notsu and New (to Us) Arrivals from the Back Catalog

Many thanks to Brad at the Pen Addict for giving us a shout yesterday, and I’m glad to see that he’s enjoying the Notsu Index Cards he picked up at the Atlanta Pen Show! (He’s also giving some away!) These fountain pen friendly index card sets tend to sell out quickly after they arrive, but we’re constantly restocking so if the exact item you want isn’t showing as in-stock, be sure to check back. That said, we currently do have the “Centre Rise” Index Card organizer sets in stock, each of which ships with 50 Vertical “To Do” cards, dividers, and a magnetic box that doubles as a card stand/organizer for your desk. We also have blank cards (with both rounded or standard corners), as well as the vegan leather magnetic card holders that come with a pen loop and offer a stable writing platform on the go. Check out all of our current Notsu offerings here.

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The TWSBI Diamond Mini is back in stock, including in the “Classic” variant.

Plus Some Underappreciated Gems from Lamy and TWSBI….

As we’re discovering once you have access to the full manufacturers’ catalogs, there are tons of exceptionally good pens, pencils, and more out there that don’t receive much attention from the FOMO factory on social media simply because they’re not “new”, despite being well-made and even unique! We had a few such items arrive recently, including the Lamy Logo “Tri Pen” Multi Pen (which uses the same gravity-driven color selector as the Lamy 2000), as well as the TWSBI Diamond Mini in the “Classic” (Black Cap) color. We make every effort to stock some of the lesser known pens, some of which fly under the radar for reasons I cannot comprehend. (Like the polished wood Lamy 2000 ballpoints….)

Don’t forget that through the end of May, we are running a pencil promotion where you can get 10% off all pencils and pencil accessories using “PENCIL10” at checkout (excluding Blackwing and TWSBI)! We’d also love to host you in person. Our brick-and-mortar shop is open Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm, and Saturday from 10am-6pm. Keep an eye on this page for details and updates.

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New Arrivals: The TWSBI Diamond Mini AL Grape. This Thing is PURPLE!

I’ve been more excited than most about the arrival of the TWSBI Diamond Mini AL Grape, for two reasons: (1) the TWSBI Diamond Mini is one of the more underrated pens in TWSBI’s lineup, as a piston filler that posts to a full-size pen despite being a “mini”, and (2) the anodized aluminum plating on this particular model is an almost-psychedelic purple. If you’re a fan of purple pens, this is one you don’t want to pass up. Priced at $60 ($65 for the stub).

I’m serious. It’s so purple it almost glows.

TWSBI is due a shout-out for its release calendar so far in 2023. In addition to the Diamond Mini AL Grape, they’ve released new ECO and ECO-T fountain pens, including the ECO-T Saffron and the ECO Persian Green. We currently stock a wide range of TWSBI pens, including all of the recent limited releases and the standard Diamond Mini if purple isn’t your thing!

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The cap on the TWSBI Diamond Mini is threaded, so it posts securely.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all products sold, including TWSBI.

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 Diamond Mini (AL Gold Model)

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. 

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. 

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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.