The Euphoria Dream is a new venture for Benu: a special store exclusive for its own brand site, priced at $280, featuring a multi-layered handpainted decorative finish that takes five days to complete before being finished with a polished lacquer layer. https://youtu.be/5wY16iFDGmg And it’s this labour-intensive decorative process that’s really under review here. In all … Continue reading Benu goes upmarket with the Euphoria Dream
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Ho ho ho with the Benu Mistletoe
I recorded a quick video review of this pen a couple of days ago and made a blooper in it. I misremembered the RRP as being $150-160, (when in fact it's $139), and in my head I expected it to be showing up at £120-130 in UK stores after our usual punishing conversion rate. In … Continue reading Ho ho ho with the Benu Mistletoe
Benu’s Talisman Foxglove is charming (pun intended)
My last review was of the thousand-euro Otto Hutt design08, a complex, challenging all-metal beast of a pen that's all about the engineering. It was a tough review to write for many reasons. The subject of this review, the Benu Talisman Foxglove, could not be more different from the Otto Hutt. With the exception of … Continue reading Benu’s Talisman Foxglove is charming (pun intended)
Snippets: Teal Breaker, Otto Hutt, Gravitas, Benu and more…
It's shaping up to be a very exciting month for my doormat. Teal Breaker: get in while you can Do you like the sound of a limited edition John Garnham pen, produced in a custom hand-poured teal-and-red resin to match a bespoke sheening ink from Diamine called "Teal Breaker"? How about throwing in a nib … Continue reading Snippets: Teal Breaker, Otto Hutt, Gravitas, Benu and more…
Benu’s Euphoria is glitter, grown up
The Euphoria is the pen I wanted Benu to make. It keeps everything that makes Benu 'Benu' — it's a complex shape, with facets that catch the light, that distinctive thick cap band, reliable Schmidt nib, and of course the unique glittery resins. But it is a step forward for the brand towards making a … Continue reading Benu’s Euphoria is glitter, grown up
Benu, cartridges, interviews, queues and more
A few days ago I started writing a September 'State of the Collection' post. But the scale of the task has overwhelmed me. With more than 20 posts since the August SotC, and at least as many pens in and out... well, I figured nobody would want to read a post that long. But I … Continue reading Benu, cartridges, interviews, queues and more
I’m seeing Benu Pens in a new light
I confess: I'm a pen snob, and over the past couple of years it was easy for me to dismiss Benu from Russia as, well, naff. Why? Collectively, they press a lot of my buttons. Over-the-top resins packed with glitter. Crazy faceted shapes that often result in enormous barrel-to-section stepdowns. Marketing speak about being 'premium', … Continue reading I’m seeing Benu Pens in a new light
UK fountain pens 