I can’t help it. No matter how many pens I sell, or how recently I’ve bought wondrous pens like the Visconti Medici and Onoto Magna… there’s always something else. Here’s what I’ve got my eye on today.
Aurora 888 Nettuno
Aurora releases a million special editions, particularly in this, its centenary year. I normally don’t pay much attention, but the blue-green auroloide of this edition really appeals to me, and the cursive Aurora logo on the cap band is much prettier than the block text on the Optima.

Credit: nibs.com
Pelikan M1005 Stresemann
OK, I cancelled my preorder for this beast, and its release has been pushed back to the summer anyway. But I still keep thinking about it. The M1000 series is large, but not comically so. It has all the practicalities of its smaller brethren: screw-out nib unit, quick-off cap, reliable piston filler, good clip. And the large nib is unusually soft.

Credit: endlesspens.com
Wahl Eversharp Decoband Jade
A bit of a cheat this one, since I’ve already committed to buy it. Wow, what a pen. Beautiful sea-turquoise, huge superflex nib, vintage styling on steroids. A pen to experience, even if it’s not exactly practical.

Credit: Chatterley Luxuries
Graf Classic Macassar
I love my Pernambucco Classic, and I keep daydreaming about this beautiful blacked-out version. It doesn’t help that fellow blogger Londonfountainpens received one as a gift recently and loves it. Why does nobody buy me expensive pens?!

Credit: Iguanasell.co.uk
And out of the door…
I should salute the fallen, while I’m writing. This week I’ve said goodbye to a few beautiful, wonderful pens:
Montblanc George Bernard Shaw
A phenomenally beautiful pen that I had to admit to myself wasn’t comfortable in my hands. I’m pleased that it’s gone to someone who wanted this as their grail pen, not to add to a shelf of collections.
Montblanc Rouge et Noir
Perhaps my favourite EF nib of all time, this was hard to say goodbye to. But now I have an EF nib in my Montblanc Petit Prince (which is more comfortable to hold), I should reduce the duplication in my collection.
Sheaffer Legacy Heritage Deepcut Palladium
Another pen I loved. I have no idea why these Sheaffers get so little attention: the inlaid nibs are beautiful, the construction is bulletproof, and the stout shape is extremely comfortable. Luckily, I have a second, and I’m hanging on to that one for sure.
Platinum President
This was never going to be a lifetime keeper. A good pen, with a good nib, but my tastes have (sadly) rarefied…
Kaweco Art Sport Coral
A wonderful pen, incredibly tactile in the hand, but the colour wasn’t what I was expecting. I’ll stick with my Art Sport Alabaster.
Visconti Van Gogh Dr Gachet
In came the Visconti Medici at the pen show — out goes the Van Gogh. A lovely pen, with a willing broad nib and practical design, but I’d always rather use one of my Homo Sapiens.
I’m wondering why the Wahl Eversharp Jade is not exactly practical?
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For a start, it’s enormous. It has a very wet nib. The filling system is not easy to flush. I will be able to give my verdict in just a few days 🙂
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