The Lamy Studio LX “All Black” (bottom) is shown here with the Lamy Studio “Piano Black” (top).

Workhorse Pens: The Lamy Studio LX All Black

November 16, 2019

If there’s a single series of articles that epitomize what I’m about here at The Gentleman Stationer, it’s the “Workhorse Pens” series, which focuses on those pens most suitable for everyday writing. I always end up talking about the Lamy 2000 in this context, but what about Lamy’s other popular “higher end” pen, the Studio? I consider the Studio to be one of Lamy’s best designed writing instruments, despite it receiving far less attention than the 2000 or the Safari.

The design of the Lamy Studio is streamlined and minimal, with just enough unique touches like the “propeller” clip to keep the pen interesting.

The Lamy Studio tends to fly under everyone’s radar, even my own. I often forget how great these understated pens are, and when I break them out after a long rest I end up pleasantly surprised. Recently, Lamy has shown more love to the Studio line, releasing 1-2 special editions per year. The Racing Green Studio was a favorite, and I just acquired this year’s Lamy Studio LX “All Black” release. The latter may solve a key concern that many have with the Studio - the metal section that can be slippery. The “Studio LX All Black” features a coated black section with a grippy texture, nudging this pen into potential “workhorse” territory for a wider audience. The coating also feels more durable than that found on earlier editions of the Studio, which tended to chip and flake off with heavy use, especially under the clip where it rubs against the cap.

The grip section on the Lamy Studio LX All Black is coated, which will reduce slippage for those concerned about the standard Studio metal section. To complete the “All Black” look on my Lamy Studio LX, I separately purchased a black 14k nib intende… — The grip section on the Lamy Studio LX All Black is coated, which will reduce slippage for those concerned about the standard Studio metal section. To complete the “All Black” look on my Lamy Studio LX, I separately purchased a black 14k nib intended for the Lamy Imporium.

So what do I personally enjoy about the Lamy Studio? First of all, it’s an incredibly well-balanced pen, even posted, despite having full metal (aluminum) construction. Second, the streamlined design and “propeller” clip have the potential to become as iconic as that on the Lamy 2000, though the Studio hasn’t been around as long. Third, I continue to swear by the 14k Studio nibs as one of the best values out there. Typically, Lamy only sells one or two versions of the Studio with the 14k nib included - in year’s past it has been the “Palladium” and “Piano Black” pens (the latter of which is shown here in this review). Otherwise, you’ll have to order a gold nib separately, which will run anywhere from $90-110, depending on the retailer. I used to think this was a steep markup, but now I think it’s worth it - Lamy’s 14k nibs have a touch of bounce, and on some of them I’ve even noticed some slight line variation reminiscent of an architect’s nib. Plus, any time you can have a gold nib pen for less than $200 in today’s market, you’re doing well.

The Lamy Studio LX All Black posted. Though I love this pen, I’m now even less sure what “LX” is supposed to denote. So Lamy is releasing a separate model of pen called the “Lamy LX,” but now LX is also being used as a modifier for special editions?

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I have a hard time coming up with a reason why every Lamy fan should not have at least one Studio in their collection. In addition to being an exceptional daily writer, the pen is widely available and relatively inexpensive: The standard Lamy Studio with a stainless steel nib is priced at around $80 at most retailers, with the 14k pens priced around $180. With a 10% off coupon code - easy to come by at most retailers - that gets the price to just above $160 for a gold-nib fountain pen, which represents real value.

The pens featured in this review were purchased from Pen Chalet in the U.S. and Appelboom in the Netherlands. Both retailers carry the full Lamy Studio lineup, though if you want to opt for a 14k nib, you’ll either have to purchase the “Piano Black” model or pick up a spare 14k nib from Appelboom. (If you want to build the ultimate Lamy Studio LX “All Black” model, opt for the black PVD coated 14k nib, which I believe is intended for the Lamy Imporium but fits the Studio just fine.)

Disclaimer: I purchased the two pens pictured in this review using store credit provided by Pen Chalet and Appelboom.

Two Lamy Studios (LX All Black and Piano Black) compared against the Lamy 2000 (in 100th Anniversary Bauhaus Blue). The Studio is a slightly slimmer pen than the 2000, but just as well balanced and comfortable to use.

Pen Review: Visconti Mirage Fountain Pen

November 13, 2019

Last year, Visconti introduced several lower-priced products into their lineup, in an attempt to diversify away from the ultra-high end pens for which the brand has become known. Until now, even Visconti pens with steel nibs approached $200, but the new Visconti Breeze and Visconti Mirage are both consistently priced at a much lower, and, dare I say it, almost entry level price point? The Breeze can be found at sub-$100, depending on your retailer, and Visconti has emerged as a player in a segment of the pen market that is becoming increasingly competitive.

I love the resin on this pen. Previously, to get pens in similar patterns you would have to shell out for a Visconti Van Gogh or a Visconti Rembrandt.

The pen featured in this review is the Mirage - priced slightly higher than the Breeze - and it presents quite a bit of value. Here, Visconti has managed to offer a quality writer at a reasonable price, while still incorporating the luxury spirit of the brand and retaining the brand’s hallmarks, such as the iconic Visconti clip. My favorite aspects of this pen include:

Material. Appelboom sent me the “Amber” Mirage to review, and it’s made from a beautiful vegetal resin reminiscent of some of the Visconti Van Gogh pens, specifically my “Vincent’s Chair” edition, though this material has a touch more orange/brown to it. The body of the pen features a soft hexagonal design that is comfortable to hold, and the rounded facets, combined with the clip, make this a great pen for work because it’s not going to roll off a desk.

Cap Design. I love how Visconti still includes its signature “Arc” clip on these lower-priced pens. Though some people react strongly to the shape, I’m a fan, and I think the clip adds a lot of sophistication to what would otherwise be a relatively ordinary pen design. The cap also features a magnetic twist closure, which feels quite secure with no wiggle when capped. The one feature of the Mirage I could do without is the oversized cap band, which I found a bit much, especially the word “MIRAGE” written across the front.
Nib. In terms of an out-of-the-box writing experience, I’ve found that Visconti’s steel nibs write better than their much more expensive palladium offerings. Though the steel nibs sometimes need a bit of smoothing, they aren’t so wet as to be unusable on anything but the most fountain-pen friendly paper, which is the issue I’ve had with more expensive Visconti pens. The steel nib on this Mirage is an excellent writer, but I do wish Visconti had opted for a larger No. 6 nib instead of this No. 5. It always strikes me as a bit awkward to have a smaller nib on a full-size pen.

If Visconti is going to go with this oversized cap band, why not continue the etching all the way around and omit the “Mirage” engraving? I don’t mind subtle branding, and “Visconti” etched on the clip doesn’t set me off, but there’s no need to go f… — If Visconti is going to go with this oversized cap band, why not continue the etching all the way around and omit the “Mirage” engraving? I don’t mind subtle branding, and “Visconti” etched on the clip doesn’t set me off, but there’s no need to go further than that.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I only had a brief time with the Mirage, since it was sent to me on loan from Appelboom and needs to go home to the Netherlands, but I came away impressed. I’m glad to see Visconti expand their lineup to include a wider variety of pens at different price points, and I hope this trend continues, especially if they can maintain consistent quality control. Visconti’s signature “Arc” clip immediately makes the Mirage look like a much more expensive pen, and if you’re a fan of Visconti’s designs, this pen would be a great introduction to the brand. Personally, the biggest thing holding me back from acquiring a Mirage for my own personal collection is the nib, which writes quite well but in my opinion looks disproportionately small on the pen.

You can purchase the Visconti Mirage from our sponsor Appelboom, currently priced at around $130, depending on the exchange rate. The Mirage comes in six different colors: Amber, Azure Blue, Coral, Emerald Green, Horn Grey, and Night Blue. Appelboom also carries the full range of Visconti pens, including the Breeze, the flagship Homo Sapiens, and a wide array of limited and special editions.

Disclaimer: Our sponsor Appelboom loaned me this pen for review purposes, free of charge. This post may contain affiliate links. Many thanks to Appelboom for making this review possible.

Pen Review: Yookers Refillable Felt-Tip Pens

November 6, 2019

One of the more intriguing products to catch my eye over the past few months is a series of “refillable felt-tip pens” from Yookers, a brand that seemingly came out of nowhere but apparently ran two highly successful Kickstarters. (I don’t follow Kickstarter all that closely, so the fact that I missed out doesn’t mean much.) After fountain pens, felt-tip or fiber-tip pens have a special spot in my pen case, dating all the way back to the red Papermate Flair pens I used in school. Picking up one of the Yookers pens was a no-brainer.

I opted for the “Matte Black Lacquer” version of the Yookers Metis, of course!

Before I get started on the pen: what about the Company? I could locate very little information about Yookers or the individuals behind it, even on the Yookers website. The “About” section describes Yookers as “a union between passionate people from different universes who decided to innovate together,” along with a paragraph of additional marketing-speak. Their Kickstarter page is even more vague, describing Yookers as “the blending studio.” (???) There’s nothing wrong with owners of companies wanting to maintain privacy and discretion - hey, I value my own privacy and take steps to protect it - but I’d like a bit more information here. Both Kickstarters indicate that Yookers is based in Hong Kong, and I would venture that they have some relationship with Yafa, the owner/distributor of Monteverde pens and inks. Personally, I think the design of the Yookers pens bears a strong resemblance to Monteverde pens, as do their ink bottles, so it could be some sort of joint venture.

Yookers already has a fairly extensive lineup of pens, and seems to have ramped up production quickly. The original “Refillable Felt-Tip Pen” first appeared on Kickstarter last year, and Yookers has since launched a second Kickstarter project for a different pen design called the “Eros". The Yookers website features additional pens, priced anywhere from $12-$55.

So what about the pens themselves? Well, they’re mostly as advertised. The refillable felt-tip mechanism works well, and I’ve had no difficulty cleaning out the tip to change colors, no leaks, or anything else of that sort. The Yookers pen writes like your typical felt-tip pen. However, before you run out and drop up to $50 on one, here are a few considerations:

Filling the Pen. The Yookers pens use a cartridge/converter filling system, but you cannot fill the pen through the tip - you have to fill the converter directly either by dipping the end of the converter into an ink bottle or using a syringe. If you want to use your collection of bottled ink, the process of filling will be messier than your typical fountain pen. Of course, you can also use cartridges.
Writing Experience. The Yookers felt-tip writes very well, and feels like a Pilot Razor Point, Papermate Flair Marker, or one of your other standard office-supply store pens in an upgraded body. That said, fountain pen ink is water based, whereas your standard disposable felt-tip pens use pigmented ink or something more permanent. You’ll probably notice that the Yookers felt-tip doesn’t write a particularly dark line, probably because the smaller tip doesn’t allow for a large volume of ink to pass through onto the paper, unlike a fountain pen. I’m going to experiment with more saturated or permanent inks to see what works best.
Replacement Tips. Eventually, all felt-tips wear out and need to be replaced. Yookers sells replacement tips for $6 each. However, you don’t replace just the tip - you replace the entire front section of the pen. While they may have decided to do this for convenience sake, and figured that replacing just the smaller tip would be too difficult for most people to do without increasing the risk of the pen leaking, etc., it strikes me as a lot of wasted metal and plastic to throw out the entire section. Moreover, as other have observed, if you decide to invest in a Yookers pen as a key part of your writing/drawing kit, you are betting that Yookers will be around to manufacture the replacements for the foreseeable future. If you really like this pen, I would go ahead and stock up on replacement tips, which Yookers says will last about a year, depending on use, writing pressure, etc.

The Yookers pen probably works best unposted. As shown in the next picture, the cap doesn’t post deeply and sits awkwardly on the back.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I enjoy my Yookers Metis refillable fiber-tip pen, and it’s one of the more unique stationery products to have been released in the past year. The pen functions as intended, seems very well-made, and the price point is more than fair. I do, however, wish that I knew more about the company, especially since you will be investing in a proprietary system should you decide to make the Yookers pen a central part of your writing kit.

You can purchase the Yookers Metis refillable fiber-tip pen from our sponsors at Pen Chalet. The “Metis,” which is the pen with a metal body, currently retails for $42, but if you prefer to test out the refillable fiber-tip technology at a lower price point, the Yookers “Yooth” pen features a plastic barrel and comes in at less than $10. Replacement tips/sections cost around $6.

Disclaimer: I purchased this pen from site Sponsor Pen Chalet using store credit generated through the Pen Chalet affiliate program. This post contains affiliate links. Many thanks to Pen Chalet for making this review possible.

Vanness-1938-Joey-Feldman-Limited-Edition-Inks

Ink Review: Vanness Pens / Joey Feldman "Inktober" and "Good Evening"

November 2, 2019

Most people know Vanness Pens in Little Rock, Arkansas as the go-to resource for rare and unusual inks. They have one of the largest selections of fountain pen inks in the world, and are always the first to import new lines of ink from Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, the Philippines - you name it. As experts in the subject, I guess it was only a matter of time before they started mixing their own inks! Today I’m reviewing two inks developed in collaboration with artist Joey Feldman: a black ink called Inktober 2019, as well as a red/burgundy called “Good Evening,” which you might find reminiscent of a certain highly coveted limited edition ink from around 2013. (It’s intentional.)

Let’s start with Inktober. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, #inktober is an online challenge in which participants post one drawing per day for the month of October. As someone with zero artistic ability who assumes that people will be easily bored by an endless array of stick-figure cartoons, I’ve not participated, but I always enjoy seeing the amazing work that everyone else can do.

Vanness-Joey-Feldman-Inktober-Writing-Sample

As the name implies, the Inktober ink was formulated as a black ink for sketching during the month of, well, Inktober. It’s impermanent by design - many of the #inktober entries have featured brush and ink-wash techniques that take advantage of this ink’s ability to shade when diluted. That said, I absolutely LOVE this ink as a black ink for writing. I’d compare it to Lamy Black or Rohrer & Klingner Leipziger Schwarz, which are both interesting black inks with different tones to them. I do think that the Inktober dries quicker and feathers less on inexpensive paper, and of course, with these two inks you don’t get a bottle featuring Joey Feldman artwork.

I think I like Joey’s caricature better.

“Good Evening” is easily my favorite of these two releases, which should come as a surprise to no one. It’s a rich red ink that I could alternately describe as “burgundy red” or “blood red,” depending on the light. Both the name and the design on the bottle should give you a good idea of the inspiration for this particular ink, and it’s absolutely amazing to see someone come EXTREMELY CLOSE to duplicating what I consider one of the best red inks ever made. Good Evening also makes for an excellent writing ink, and given that it writes relatively wet and flows well, the lack of feathering and bleedthrough surprises me. (The writing sample featured here was done with a firehose broad nib on a Lamy 2000.)

Some of the difference here is the lighting, and the fact that the Montblanc Hitchcock is still wet, but the ink on the left has a bit more red in it than the “Good Evening.” Once the inks are thoroughly dry, the match is closer, but not exact.

Another picture taken after the ink swatches are dry. You’ll notice that the Good Evening still has slightly more purple/blue, while the Hitchcock has more red. Hitchcock can also have a slight gold/brown sheen to it (the “dried blood” effect).

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Inktober and Good Evening both have the potential to become favorites, and I’m looking forward to more special edition runs and, hopefully, a standard lineup from Vanness in the future. Right now, you can purchase the Inktober 2019 Limited Edition Ink and “Good Evening” for $15 per bottle on the Vanness website. If I didn’t already have a gazillion bottles of ink sitting in a cabinet in my home office, I’d be buying multiples. These inks are that good.

Also, don’t miss the Vanness Fountain Pen Day Orange Ink, made to match the Limited Edition FPD Franklin-Christoph 31 pen released yesterday! Vanness still has both pens and ink in stock, though the pens are a limited run of 88 so I’m not sure how long they will last. Also, be sure and check out yesterday’s Deals & Drops post, which highlighted this and several other Fountain Pen Day promotions. At least one sale (Pen Chalet) has been extended through Sunday.

Disclaimer: I received the two bottles of ink featured in this review, free of charge, from Vanness Pens for review purposes. This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates.

Pen Review: Lamy LX Marron Special Edition

October 30, 2019

I’ve written much this year about Lamy’s newfound fondness for special and limited editions. In addition to the blue Macrolon Lamy 2000 they released to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Bauhaus, Lamy has also issued three different Safaris in various pastel colors, two different Studios, an AL-Star in “Bronze,” and now a Lamy LX in “Marron.”

I’ll give Lamy this: their clip game is killing it. I couldn’t choose between the burnished clip on the LX Marron and the red clip on the “Independence Day” Safari, so I picked up both.

I reviewed the standard version of the Lamy LX last summer, and my overall reaction was “meh.” Though far from a bad pen, I questioned whether Lamy did enough to justify the markup over a standard AL-Star by adding new “iPhone colors” and a fancier nib. I’m still leaning towards “no” on the regular versions of the LX, but this new “Marron” (French for chestnut) model might be a different story.

I don’t typically go for brown pens, but I have to hand it to Lamy here: the combination of brown anodizing and the burnished copper/bronze clip look better than any special edition AL-Star in recent memory. I think I’ve said it before, but it would serve Lamy well to rein in the volume of special edition releases - especially the more generic ones - in favor of cranking out real beauties like this pen.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Unless you don’t already have another Lamy AL-Star or Lamy LX, the Marron special edition is basically a vanity purchase for the new color scheme. Those who aren’t really drawn to this particular color will - and should - question whether it’s worth it to pay the markup for the LX instead of the perfectly functional AL-Star. Personally, I think the dark chestnut brown looks excellent, and the combination of this particular anodization with the metallic bronze clip makes me wonder if Lamy should have gone all-in on the Marron instead of this year’s somewhat uninspiring special edition AL-Star release in “Bronze”.

Apart from the special colors, the only real difference in terms of hardware between the Lamy AL-Star and the Lamy LX is the nib.

You can purchase the Lamy LX Marron special edition fountain pen from our sponsor Pen Chalet, currently priced at $56. Pen Chalet also carries the full line of standard Lamy AL-Stars, and if the Bronze special edition interests you, it’s currently on sale at a reduced price.

For those of you located outside the U.S., our sponsor Appelboom also carries the Lamy LX fountain pen, in both the standard colors as well as the Marron Special Edition.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. I purchased the Lamy LX featured in this review using affiliate credit generated through Pen Chalet’s affiliate program. Many thanks to Pen Chalet for making this review possible.