Hands On With the TWSBI Diamond 580 Smoke and Rose Gold II Fountain Pen

Disclaimer: I am an authorized TWSBI retailer and sell select TWSBI products in my shop. My goal, as it has always been, is to offer detailed discussions and overviews of products so that you can make an informed decision about what you ultimately decide to purchase. I strongly encourage readers to do as much research as they can, including from sources other than me, before making any purchasing decision.

The original TWSBI Diamond 580 Smoke and Rose Gold quickly became something of a coveted collector’s item, alongside the TWSBI Micarta, since it turned out to be one of TWSBI’s “experimental” runs intended to test a new design element. Dissatisfied with the look of the original rose gold plating and its durability over time, TWSBI did not re-release a rose gold pen for several years. The latest version, dubbed the “Smoke and Rose Gold II, features the same improved plating found on the rose gold ECO fountain pens, modified to increase both durability and visual warmth, and in my opinion looks much better. It might be my favorite TWSBI currently on the market.

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The nibs on the Rose Gold ECO, left, and the Rose Gold 580, right. While the 580 does feature the replaceable nib units, as of the time of writing TWSBI does not sell rose gold units separately.

Rose gold trim has grown in popularity in recent years, and has made up a sizable percentage of my own recent acquisitions. In addition to the White/Rose Gold TWSBI ECO, I’ve also added a Montblanc 149 and a Leonardo Furore. While I don’t dislike standard yellow gold on fountain pens, and have plenty in my personal collection, the reddish warmth of the rose gold (created by adding copper to the alloy) gives the pen some character and makes it look, well, a touch less ordinary. Here, the combination of TWSBI’s rose gold plating and transparent smoke black acrylic on the grip section, cap, and piston knob looks fantastic.

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Obligatory dramatic low-light photo.

I don’t intend to re-review the TWSBI Diamond 580 fountain pen - you can read my comprehensive review here, as well as the “Workhorse Pens” writeup in which I discuss how I remain a devoted TWSBI 580 fan even as the TWSBI ECO sometimes seems to take center stage as the latest internet darling. Let’s just say that as TWSBI has reiterated and improved upon the design of its flagship piston filler over the years, I personally think it’s gotten to a point where I have a hard time justifying purchasing similar-looking transparent demonstrators at five to six times the price. As a result, I have a lot of TWSBIs in my collection, and usually have at least one in rotation.

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The TWSBI ECO has been attracting more and more attention for good reason: The inexpensive piston filler fountain pen comes in a wide array of colors and finishes, and sits at a price point that makes it easy to rapidly expand your collection.

In addition to just showcasing how good this pen looks, I do want to talk a bit more about the 580’s overall value proposition and why I continue to love TWSBI as a company. TWSBI has always striven to position itself as a manufacturer that creates fountain pens that punch way above their price, offering a great writing experience, a generally high level of quality control, and responsive customer service. The Smoke and Rose Gold II presents a case in point: here you have a piston-filling fountain pen with rose gold plated trim priced at $84.99. To me, that’s a very attractive offering, even if it does nudge this particular pen a touch above the standard $50-60 for a standard TWSBI Diamond 580 Clear or Diamond 580 ALR. Pricing is always relative - what is inexpensive for some is not always the same for others - which is why the having the ECO as a lower-cost alternative presents such a great option.

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But how do you maintain quality control on a pen like this at the sub-$100 price point? All I can speak to personally is this: In the past two years I have acquired approximately a dozen TWSBI pens from multiple sources, and I have had no issues. And while I have experienced minor issues in the now-distant past (i.e., more than two years ago) I have never had a problem that TWSBI has not promptly fixed, mostly involving dry nibs and one instance of a minor plastic crack. TWSBI has remained on my Recommendations Lists for years, and it wouldn’t be there, much less stocked in my own shop, if I didn’t have confidence in the manufacturer and their willingness to stand behind their product.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

I love TWSBI pens, and as long as they continue to release knockouts such as the Smoke and Rose Gold II, they will feature prominently in my collection. Personally, I’m still holding out for a Micarta reissue, and maybe another run of the 580 RBT, which was the Taiwan tribute edition with the red cap and blue piston. (Something tells me I may be waiting for that Micarta for a long time.)

I currently stock select TWSBI pens and inks in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, including pens from the Diamond 580 and ECO lines. The Diamond 580 Smoke and Rose Gold II retails for $84.99, and is available in all TWSBI nib widths (EF, F, M, B, and 1.1mm Stub).

Pilot G2 Update: Pen Bodies and Alternative Refills

A couple of weeks ago I re-reviewed one of my favorite gel refills, the Pilot G2, which is not only available at most grocery or drug stores, but fits a wide range of machined pens, including personal favorites from Sunderland Machine Works and Tactile Turn. Following that article, I polled the readership to see how you all used the Pilot G2, and whether there were other alternatives out there that I wasn’t aware of. Here are the results:

1. Pilot G2 Limited. I know I’ve mentioned Pilot’s stock “upgrade” before, but it surprised me how many people love this pen. I’m glad I’m not the only one, because I consider the G2 Limited a sleeper recommendation that most people have been passing up for years, even though it’s right there in front of you in the stationery aisle at Target or Staples.

2. Tactile Turn “Side Click”. My own experience with Tactile Turn has been with the “Mover”, a click pen released on Kickstarter approximately five years ago and now rotated out of the Tactile Turn lineup. The Side Click Standard ships with a .7mm G2 refill, and the Side Click Mini ships with the .7mm G2 Mini refill.

3. TiScribe Bolt. The Urban Survival Gear TiScribe Bolt is one pen I’ve never tried. A versatile machined pen that ships with the G2, yet also accepts favorites such as the Pilot V5, Uniball 207 Gel, Uniball Jetstream, and Schmidt 5888.

4. Ti2 Techliner Shorty. Another heavily recommended pen that I’ve never reviewed! The Ti2 Techliner has long had a robust online following, and I need to put in an order and finally do a write up. The “shorty” version of the pen accepts the Pilot G2 and the Uniball Jetstream, both workhorses.

5. Pilot Metropolitan Rollerball. Pilot’s popular entry-level fountain pen also comes in a rollerball version which accepts - you guessed it - the G2. Fans of the Metropolitan who would like a gel/rollerball to match their Metropolitan fountain pen should consider this one. (I’ve previously reviewed the fountain pen version here.)

6. Lamy 2000 Rollerball. While I understand that this is not an exact fit, you can add a short spacer, such as a small wad of paper or a piece of plastic tubing, to the barrel of the Lamy 2000 Rollerball and use Pilot G2 refills. The Lamy 2000 is one of my favorite pens of all time, and the rollerball option is incredibly versatile and just as comfortable to use as the fountain pen.

7. Ti Arto Ultimate Refill Friendly Pen. The Ti Arto from BigiDesign sits on my desk, loaded not with the G2 but rather a Uni Signo DX, so it doesn’t immediately spring to mind when I think of a G2-compatible pen. That said, this pen does accept the G2, along with 200+ other compatible refills. If you value versatility, you really can’t do better than one of the “Ti” series pens. (The Ti Arto was the original refill-friendly pen - they’ve since released several others, most of which accept the G2.)

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As always, please leave a comment or reach out through the “Contact” link if you have additional suggestions. One further aside: I’ve discovered that with the addition of a spacer, I’ve also been able to use the Pentel Energel refill in my Sunderland Machine Works MK1. The needle-tip Energel is a long-time favorite going all the way back to my school days, and I feel like I should further explore the various options for that one as well. Stay tuned!

This post contains no third-party affiliate links, and is for informational purposes only. To support The Gentleman Stationer, please consider joining our Patreon, or making a purchase from the T.G.S. Curated Shop. Many thanks!

Sunday Reading for April 18, 2021

1. Sailor 1911 Profit Junior, Profit Jr., and Lecoule (via Rants of the Archer). Sailor apparently is building out their entry-level fountain pen lineup. I have not yet seen some of these pens widely promoted in the U.S., but since the Profit Junior arrived as the Procolor I expect they are on the way?

2. The TWSBI Draco: I Had My Doubts (via From the Pen Cup). I enjoy seeing TWSBI experiment with smaller runs and different designs. That’s how innovation works - testing out small batches of new materials in new formats. Based on Mary’s pictures, the Draco looks great. More rose gold please!

3. TRU RED Mastery Journal Review (via The Poor Penman). For a widely available big-box supply brand, I’ve found TRU RED products to be of surprisingly high quality, though the paper varies depending on the specific item. (Some of the spiral notebooks had great fountain pen friendly paper; others behaved more like the notebook reviewed here.)

4. Sailor Black: Ink Review (via Scrively). It’s uncommon to find reviews of “standard” blue and black inks made by the major pen brands. Here, you not only have a review of a very good standard ink, Sailor Black, but from a lefty’s perspective.

5. Schon DSGN Ultem Pen, Colorverse Space Laika (via Penquisition). I can’t wait to get my hands on one of these. They’re currently in high demand and short supply, so it will likely be a pen show acquisition once shows resume, currently slated for the fall.

6. Let’s Take a Look at Paper Color (via Fountain Pen Love). Color variations in paper is one of those topics that doesn’t get written up very often, if at all, and it made me happy to see this article. I’m in the market for some light blue writing/typewriter paper, btw, in case anyone has any recommendations for me….

7. DIvine Design: The Visconti Divina Elegance (via Penquisition). I had no idea the Divina full size was such a large pen!

8. Caran d’Ache 849 Claim Your Style (via Bleistift). As a huge fan of the Caran d’Ache 849, I really need to look into getting one with my initials engraved. Also, I get a lot of questions about hacking gel refills for the 849. This article includes a brilliant video addressing that topic.

9. Caran d’Ache 849 Claim Your Style (via Well-Appointed Desk). Many thanks to Ana for reviewing the 2020 Claim Your Style release in “Veronese Green”. (Disclaimer: I sent it to “The Desk” for review.). I still have some of last year’s models, but once they’re gone, they’re gone so act quick if you like the 2020 colors. 2021 should be on the way in the next couple of months.

10. Penluxe Masterpiece Grande Koi Fountain Pen (via Pencilcase Blog). Taiwanese maker Penlux has been expanding rapidly over the past several years, releasing different variations of their “Masterpiece Grande” pen last year. It sounds like the quality is good, making this another reasonably priced brand to watch.

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I started a new project: working my way back through Pilot’s Iroshizuku line of inks. This week I revisited Yama-Budo, Kon-Peki, and Shin-Ryoku, three of the most popular colors. It will take me a while to write through all of these, but please keep an eye on the blog throughout the year because I’m excited for this challenge! I also took an extended look at the Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pen, the first time I’ve given this particular pen a stand-alone post. Finally, this week’s Deals & Drops spotlighted the new Lamy AL-Stars and the Faber-Castell Neo, both available from our friends at Vanness Pens.

This Week in the Curated Shop

Wow, those sold fast: I’m down to one Caran d’Ache Ecridor “Racing” .7mm mechanical pencil. I’ll try to get more, but the ballpoint is already on backorder. I hope they decide to make the black-chrome Ecridor a regular addition to the Caran d’Ache lineup. I also have a bunch of the Rhodia Composition Books in stock, as well as some new stamps and reading accessories from WMS & Co.

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Rhodia

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Clairefontaine

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Caran d'Ache

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WMS & Co.

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and More!

You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve rolled out some new features in 2021 that will be exclusive to Patreon subscribers, including monthly online meetups, the next of which will take place this coming Friday, April 23 at 8:00pm Central Time and will feature a special announcement. The last few have featured some really fun discussions! I will also continue with periodic “sample sales” of gently used review items, to which Patrons will have first access. The current sale is now live!

Building a Set: Caran d'Ache 849 Fountain Pen

I’ve never given the Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pen a proper stand-alone write-up, even though it’s been on the market for several years now. Like the 849 ballpoint, the fountain pen has grown on me over time, as yet one more way in which Swiss company Caran d’Ache has taken the classic hexagonal barrel and applied it to writing instruments beyond the woodcase pencil. I figured it’s time to take a closer look at this pen.

Back when this pen was first introduced, it was a bit of a departure for Caran d’Ache, as they previously had been known for higher-end fountain pens such as their Léman and Ecridor series. While releasing a fountain pen in the $50-60 price range increased the brand’s accessibility, moving “downmarket” was viewed by some as risky, given the company’s relative lack of experience at the price point and the inevitable manufacturing and quality control compromises that often need to be made to create an affordable fountain pen. Years later, however, the 849 fountain pen is still around, remains widely available, and has garnered a good reputation as not just an entry-level pen but a solid everyday writer for those who enjoy a slimmer format with a couple of different grip options.

Before I continue with the rest of the post, I want to be completely transparent up front that I am an authorized Caran d’Ache retailer and sell these and other Caran d’Ache products in my shop. My goal, as it has always been, is to offer detailed discussions and reviews of products so that you can make an informed decision about what you ultimately decide to purchase. I’m selective about the products I stock, drawing on nearly a decade of prior experience as a pen user and collector, and generally only sell products that I would use myself. That said, I strongly encourage readers to do as much research as they can, including from sources other than me, before deciding on any purchase.

Pen Design: Building on an Iconic Shape

The 849 fountain pen is pretty simple, construction-wise, featuring a lightweight aluminum body that comes in a variety of finishes: classic navy blue, white, red, and matte black, as well as “wilder” green, orange, yellow, and pink fluorescent. The pen accepts short international cartridges, long international cartridges, and will take a Caran d’Ache converter if you want to fill from a bottle.

The full color array of Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pens.

Where the Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pen departs from most pens in this price segment, however, is its unique design. The pen borrows its hexagonal barrel from the 849 ballpoint, with the hex edges slightly rounded for increased comfort. The Caran d’Ache logo appears etched on the cap finial, with branding tucked under clip - another quirky design touch shared by the 849/844/Fixpencil family. Like its siblings, the 849 fountain pen fits well in a planner loop, so it’s easily portable.

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The 849 fountain pen will fit in the Traveler’s Notebook pen loop and other similarly sized pen slots.

Nib and Writing Experience

Though slimmer than what I typically prefer in a daily writer, I consider the 849 fountain pen comfortable to use, and it makes for a convenient pen to keep in the pen loop of a planner or notebook. The friction-fit cap snaps firmly closed, and attaches securely to the barrel in case you want to post the pen.

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The Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pen stainless steel nib in fine, with a splash of Idyllic Blue.

The pen features a smaller stainless steel nib with a shape somewhat reminiscent of the nib on a Lamy Safari. Though not at all “flexible,” I would describe it as pleasantly springy, and the all of the ones I personally have used have been smooth. Given the pen’s light weight (even posted), you can comfortably write for longer sessions, provided a slimmer format works for you.

The section and barrel present a couple of different grip options. You can of course hold the pen at the rounded plastic section, but I sometimes grip this pen a bit higher up on the hexagonal barrel. While it gives the pen a bit of a “paintbrush” feel, I find it oddly enjoyable to use this way, especially if I’m writing in formal cursive.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pen is a fun addition to the Swiss company’s now-iconic (and increasingly expansive) “849 lineup.” A key benefit of the shared design scheme is the ability to create matching fountain pen/ballpoint/pencil sets. Here, I opted for the matte black fountain pen for my own personal collection, because I already have a matte black .7mm mechanical pencil, and eventually I’ll add a “Black Code” 849 ballpoint and a black Fixpencil so that I’m color-consistent. (If the company is listening, the “Black Code” motif applied to a fountain pen, mechanical pencil, and fixpencil - especially a black-plated knock and clip - would sell like crazy. Just sayin’….)

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From left, the “Black Code” 849 Ballpoint, the 849 fountain pen in matte black, the 844 mechanical pencil in matte black, and the Fixpencil with black knock.

As I noted above, Caran d’Ache is one of the brands I’ve chosen to sell directly, and I currently stock the fountain pen in all colors with fine and medium nib options, as well as the full range of Caran d’Ache “Chromatics” ink cartridges. If these pens do well, I’ll consider bringing in additional nib sizes, converters, and bottled ink, but for now I’m sticking to the most popular nib widths and cartridges, which honestly is how most people use this pen. The 849 Fountain Pen currently retails for $52, and ships with one Caran d’Ache “Idyllic Blue” ink cartridge.

Workhorse Inks: Exploring Iroshizuku in Full (As in, the Entire Line)

Pilot’s Iroshizuku ink line regularly makes an appearance on my list of ink recommendations, particularly as a great workhorse ink that behaves well in all pens and on most paper. Unfortunately, while once admired for its gorgeous glass inkwell-style bottle and expansive color range, it seems as though Iroshizuku has been drowned out by the ever-increasing number of boutique ink brands with dozens of colors in their lineup. Why do I keep coming back to Pilot? For one thing, sometimes too much choice can feel paralyzing, and the Iroshizuku line of inks is just big enough to offer a comprehensive selection of colors without having to worry about whether the inks are “safe” for fountain pens or will offer inconsistent performance. While I’ve found certain Iroshizuku colors to be a touch light, and some to feather more than others on cheap recycled paper, PIlot makes consistently good inks across the board and I’d love to help refocus attention on what should be a staple in most ink collections, especially those focused on everyday use.

A year or so ago, I began picking up bottles of Iroshizuku, hoping to collect most of the line so that I could offer a comprehensive overview - a bit of an overwhelming project that didn’t get off the ground until now. I ultimately decided to break this review up into a series of posts, since I can’t reasonably ink up and use all the Iroshizuku inks at once. Today I start with three well-known favorites.

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Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Budo

Yama-Budo, a dark pink-purple sometimes translated as “crimson glory vine,” has remained a favorite ink, though lately I don’t use it as much as I’d like. (That will change.) For me, it’s easily the most usable color on the “pink” spectrum, and over the years it’s made frequent appearances at the office. Yama-Budo has also been one of the better behaved inks in the entire Iroshizuku lineup, and I’ve not had serious issues using it on inexpensive copy or office paper. This ink has a touch of shading and reddish/gold sheen on certain papers.

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Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-Ryoku

I haven’t used Shin-Ryoku (“forest green”) much at all, even though it’s one of the more standard “work friendly” colors in the Iroshizuku line. A mid-toned green, Shin-Ryoku starts out with a bit of a blue tone when wet (think Waterman or Pelikan greens) but darkens as it dries. Though perhaps not the most exciting color, sometimes that’s exactly what you need whenever you just want to get some work done. This ink can also have a bit of shading and show some reddish sheen on certain papers.

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Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-Peki

I remained a bit contrarian on Kon-Peki (“deep cerulean blue”) for years, before ultimately accepting that it’s a great blue ink with a lot of pop. Though Asa-gao (full review forthcoming) is probably my favorite Iroshizuku blue, Kon-Peki is unique in its vibrancy and presents a safer alternative to some of the “cult favorite” bright blue inks from boutique brands, which can cause clogging and smearing due to their oversaturation with dye.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I think I’m going to enjoy working my way back through the Iroshizuku lineup. The inks are great and it’s always a pleasure to have a beautiful glass bottle on your desk. I’ll add that the Iroshizuku bottle is as practical as it is pretty, with a wide opening that allows you to fill larger pens, and a depression at the bottom that makes it easier to fill as the ink level in the bottle gets lower.

As of 2023, The T.G.S. Curated Ship is able to offer you Pilot pens and inks directly, including the entire Iroshizuku lineup. We currently carry the 50ml bottles of ink, priced at $24.

Further Reading

I’ve written about several Iroshizuku inks in the past - including two of the inks featured above - but it’s been years and I intend to revisit them all as I work my way back through the line as part of this current project. If you’d like, check out my previous reviews of Tsuki-Yo, Yama-Budo, Kon-Peki, Asa-Gao, and Yu-Yake.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. We no longer participate in third-party affiliate programs.