As we head towards November, and Remembrance Sunday, for many of us the two World Wars will be on our minds, and the familiar poppy symbol will start to appear on the lapels of our winter coats. Despite this, the events of World War I in particular can seem a little unreal, barely more than … Continue reading Onoto’s The Flanders Pen is a tasteful tribute
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The (nearly) heavenly Visconti Divina Bordeaux
TL;DR: watch the video https://youtu.be/Blugujo5E8A Prefer to read? Here's the written review If there's been any doubt in your mind that Visconti can make beautiful pens, the Divina Bordeaux should lay it firmly to rest. The Divina is gorgeous in photos, but in person it is utterly stunning. The wine-red resin is interesting and swirly, … Continue reading The (nearly) heavenly Visconti Divina Bordeaux
Why I bought an Otto Hutt designC
Long-term readers may remember my review last year of the Otto Hutt designC, the German brand's centenary celebration pen made of silver in an edition of 500 pieces, for a price well into four figures. At the time I described the experience as a rollercoaster. I found the designC alien, uncompromising, almost deliberately difficult to … Continue reading Why I bought an Otto Hutt designC
Gioia Alleria Amaranto and Nuvola — Italian flair on a budget
I reviewed the Gioia Alleria back in January, and since then I've watched this brand start to pick up steam. Gioia now has an excellent UK distributor and retailer, Grandvision Pens, and stockists across the US and Europe. No longer do you have to buy direct. As well as expanding its reach, Gioia has also … Continue reading Gioia Alleria Amaranto and Nuvola — Italian flair on a budget
Scribo Piuma Impressione with EEF nib — three reviews in one
This is a review in three parts. It's my first review of the Scribo Piuma pen, Scribo's newer design with cartridge/converter filler. It's also one of the first reviews out there of the 'Impressione' finish, paired with the 'Levante' (bright orange) to honour Monet's painting Soleil Levant. And the third element is Scribo's EEF nib, … Continue reading Scribo Piuma Impressione with EEF nib — three reviews in one
Esterbrook JR Paradise with Scribe architect nib: the feelgood hit of the summer?
Almost exactly a year ago I reviewed the Esterbrook JR, a plucky little pen that impressed me much more than I expected it would. On paper the JR is nothing much: a small plastic pen with a converter and a generic steel nib, that sells for about £40 more than rivals like the piston-equipped Pelikan … Continue reading Esterbrook JR Paradise with Scribe architect nib: the feelgood hit of the summer?
Drillog reinvents the glass dip pen
If you've been in the pen game for a few years, you've probably bought at least one glass dip pen, lured in by the artistry, the pretty colours... and the functional advantage of having an easy-clean tool for playing with 'specialist' inks, doing swatches, and so on. I must have bought half a dozen over … Continue reading Drillog reinvents the glass dip pen
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)
Getting to grips with the Otto Hutt design08
I waited a long time for the Otto Hutt design08. The fiesty German manufacturer's wares have crossed my desk multiple times: I've reviewed the 03, 04, 06 and the flagship 07 too. Each pen model I tried was interesting, admirable, even exceptional, but not quite right for me personally. Then along came the designC. It's … Continue reading Getting to grips with the Otto Hutt design08
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…
