I was destined to fall for this ink, for three reasons. First, I'm a fan of Vinta, the young ink brand from the Philippines. Since I first discovered them 18 months ago, its bottles have quietly become a presence in my core ink box, with inks like the bright Android Teal and the murky Kelp … Continue reading Vinta Ulap: an exclusive worth having
reviews
Onoto leather pen roll: a matching case for your Magna
I call this product the “pen croissant”. I’m hoping the name sticks. I hope the product sticks too, because I really like it. What we have here is a simple, rustic-feeling case for a single pen, made from thick, soft leather with a single popper closure. It’s available in three colours. I picked the blue, … Continue reading Onoto leather pen roll: a matching case for your Magna
Montblanc notebooks: a real luxury experience
I'm a fan of Montblanc's pens and inks, but I've never before tried its paper products. Why? Partly it's because I'm a Tomoe River addict. But it's also because I had bad experiences with awful demo paper used in the boutiques. I assumed the notebooks would be the same. I wish I hadn't made that … Continue reading Montblanc notebooks: a real luxury experience
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
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
Atoms to Astronauts: UK-made, fountain-pen friendly notebooks
I used to review a lot of notebooks. Like, a lot. Then gradually I settled on (mostly) Tomoe River paper from a select roster of makers: Pebble, Elia Note, Musubi, Galen, GLP. And now I have a stockpile of more than 25 notebooks, enough to last me years. So you could say I'm not actively … Continue reading Atoms to Astronauts: UK-made, fountain-pen friendly notebooks
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)
