Rhodia’s classic writing pads are available in both letter and A5 size, including dot grid, graph, and lined rulings.

Classics of Stationery: Rhodia Pads and Notebooks in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

July 6, 2021

While I’m always glad to see new paper brands emerging, and stationery enthusiasts nerding out over the latest and greatest new specialty fountain pen paper from Japan, the downside is that the constant search for the “next best thing” causes you to overlook the excellent (and often less expensive) options that are already available. Case-in-point are fountain-pen friendly pads and notebooks from French stationery company Rhodia, whose paper comes from the same mill as sibling company Clairefontaine. While I don't see much of a difference at all in performance, Rhodia products feature a more understated (some might say “office friendly”) black and orange design, as opposed Clairefontaine’s bright pastels.

We’ve chosen to stock our shop with a select group of Rhodia products, ranging from the ever-popular Webnotebook and Writing Pads, to the recently released Rhodia Composition Book, a more upscale, fountain-pen friendly take on the American classic. Visit the T.G.S. Curated Shop for our full selection of Rhodia products, along with Clairefontaine and Quo Vadis notebooks. Remember that all domestic U.S. orders over $75, and all international orders over $250, ship free!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands we carry. By shopping with us, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

You can read further on what we consider fountain-pen friendly paper, and why we choose to stock the brands we sell, via these links. Many thanks for your continued support!

Ultra Luxury Options: The Pilot Custom Urushi Fountain Pen

July 3, 2021

When it comes to understated (and consistent) quality, it’s hard to top Pilot. Regardless of whether you think their designs are “boring”, or that they don’t do enough to cater to the “cult of the limited edition,” one thing is inarguable: for your money, you nearly always get a well-built pen that’s an exceptional writer. That holds true across Pilot’s lineup, from the sub-$15 Pilot Kakuno, all the way into their $1000+ high-end fountain pens.

I’ve gradually worked my way through most of Pilot’s mid-range and high-end offerings, reviewing the Pilot Custom Heritage 92, the Custom 74, the Custom Heritage 912, and the Custom 823. What I’ve never done is go above the $300 mark, and delve into Pilot fountain pens on the ultra high-end, either in the standard Pilot lineup or the more custom urushi and maki-e pens from sibling brand Namiki. After I found myself with a bit of store credit plus savings from not having purchased any pens in a while, I treated myself to the Pilot Custom Urushi, in vermillion red lacquer.

An oversized ebonite pen coated in urushi lacquer and fitted with a huge No. 30 18k gold nib, the Custom Urushi, to me, represents everything great about Pilot as a brand. It’s the largest pen in the Pilot lineup (I’m categorizing the Namiki Emperor/Yukari Royale separately), and an absolute joy to write with. Pilot didn’t attempt to reinvent their overall design aesthetic here. From the cap band, to the clip, to the black finials, Pilot really just went all-in on the hallmarks of the “Custom” lineup and amped it up with the urushi lacquer and nib. If it ain’t broke….

The oversized Pilot No. 30 nib is roughly the same size as a No. 8 nib from brands such as JoWo or Bock.

The Custom Urushi comes in two colors: black and vermillion red. You can choose from three nib sizes: fine, medium, and broad. There’s no paralysis of choice here. I opted for the medium, since I find Pilot medium nibs to write what I consider the perfect line width for me. Don’t get me wrong - the craftsmanship on this pen, and especially the urushi work, are beautifully executed, but the nib steals the show. I only have a couple of oversized nibs in my collection, a Montegrappa Extra 1930 and a Montblanc 149, and neither wrote as well untouched and out-of-the-box as the nib on the Custom Urushi. It has just the right amount of tooth, and a slight bounce that gives you some line variation without sacrificing the “everyday writer” characteristics for which Pilot is known.

The Pilot Custom Urushi (left) shown compared agains the Montegrappa Extra 1930, center, and the Montblanc 149, right.

The Custom Urushi is a cartridge/converter pen, which I feel is the right call here for a couple of reasons. First, this pen ships with the Pilot Con-70 pump converter, perhaps my favorite converter of all time. it’s reliable and holds a decent amount of ink. Second, such a large pen would likely be extremely heavy with a piston, and a Japanese-style eyedropper would take this pen out of the mainstream “Custom” fan base. Pilot occasionally gets some snark for including a cartridge-converter system on a pen at this price point, but it’s no different than Nakaya, Platinum, and most other makers of urushi pens.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

While I was initially hesitant to purchase this pen, due to both the combination of size and price, I have no regrets. You would be hard-pressed to find a better writing experience from Pilot: the urushi lacquer and lightweight ebonite barrel, combined with the comfortable shape and grip section, make this a pen I could use for hours regardless of the oversized barrel. As long as they’re relatively lightweight, larger pens can even be easier to use for longer writing sessions. And I can’t emphasize how superbly the nib writes. Even if you don’t end up buying one, make it a point during your next pen show trip to test out a Pilot No. 30 nib.

The Pilot Custom Urushi fountain pen is available for purchase at most Pilot retailers, and overall availability has surprised me. For a pen priced at $1700 MSRP (updated pricing), I expected them to be hard to come by. For higher-end Pilot, Vanness Pens is my go-to U.S. retail option for pens I don’t sell myself, and they stock the Custom Urushi and the Custom 845.

I think the question becomes, is the Custom Urushi worth it? If you’re looking for a quality urushi pen that will serve you well as an everyday workhorse, the answer is an unqualified “absolutely.” In fact, for an urushi pen of this size, especially with a large nib, you could argue that the price is even on the lower side. Nakaya starts at around $700 retail (if you can find one in stock), with prices on some designs easily escalating north of $2000. Danitrio and the higher-end Namiki pens can easily run into the multi-thousands. I don’t think I’m going there, however. At the end of the day, the Custom Urushi probably represents the most I’m willing to spend on a pen that I would use regularly, and this one has earned as spot in the permanent rotation.

Disclaimer: T.G.S. is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Many thanks!

Narwhal Pens: Continuing the Entry-Level Piston Filler Wars

June 30, 2021

Narwhal Pens appeared on the scene at the 2019 D.C. Pen Show and the 2020 Philadelphia Pen Show (two of the last ones before the pandemic hit), and since then have increased in popularity to the point where they are often discussed/recommended in the same breath as the TWSBI 580 and TWSBI ECO, which along with PenBBS make up the primary piston-filler recommendations below $75. My friend Bob over at My Pen Needs Ink was kind enough to loan me his Narwhal Original in “Hippocampus Purple” so that I could do my own review. While the design and color of this pen don’t appeal to me as much as the TWSBIs, the Narwhal writes well, holds a good bit of ink, and has a lot to recommend it, especially at the price point. Let’s dig in a bit more.

The Narwhal Original, far left, shown here with two comparable pens: the TWSBI 580 (right) and the PenBBS 456 (center).

Visual Appeal and Design Aesthetic

Narwhal released its “Original” Fountain Pen in four swirled acrylics with nautical/oceanic themes: Poseidon Blue, Hippocampus Purple, Merman Green, and Yellow Tang. Frankly, the colors were the main reason I did not acquire a Narwal pen until now. I tend to enjoy more understated designs, and the bright swirled acrylics - which remind me of some of the materials used on production line Edison Pens - didn’t appeal to me. They still don’t, but while I won’t be buying one of the four Originals, I did recently place an order for a Narwhal “Schuylkill”, their newer model with a more muted look.

Otherwise, the Narwal Original offers a good combination of quality and value for the price point. The pen features a rounded cap and barrel, with an engraved metal band around the body of the pen itself as opposed to around the cap. This touch gives the pen a higher-end look, almost reminiscent of the Visconti Homo Sapiens. I couldn’t find any manufacturing flaws in the acrylic, and the piston filler functioned as well as any TWSBI I have used.

Narwhal Original shown here compared against the TWSBI ECO.

Nib and Writing Experience

I understand that Narwhal makes their nibs in-house, and I had no issues with the medium stainless steel nib on this pen. The nib wrote a moderately wet line that I would call a full “Western Medium,” and maybe a little on the wide side of what I enjoy. (On the Narwhal I purchased, I opted for a fine nib.) Like the TWSBI ECO, Narwhal nibs are not interchangeable, so if you want the ability to easily swab out different nib units on the same pen, you will need to spring for the TWSBI 580.

I particularly enjoy the “leaping Narwhal” engraving on the nib, though the scrollwork makes the design look a bit busy. I would have opted for a cleaner look with only the logo, along with a nib size indicator.

Uncapped, the Narwhal sits in the hand at roughly the same length as a TWSBI 580, though the rounded barrel feels more like a slightly heavier ECO. This pen technically posts, but for me the cap doesn’t sit deeply enough on the piston knob to render it practical. The section is comfortable and I did not find the threads sharp at all. Provided you enjoy the look of the pen, the Narwal Original could become a satisfactory workhorse pen.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I enjoyed the feel of the Narwhal Original piston filler, but I couldn’t get past the look of the acrylic on this particular model, which just isn’t my style. That said, the experience did prompt me to pick up a Narwhal Schuylkill. I plan to review that pen separately, since in addition to different acrylics, that model has a few different design touches. It’s crazy that we now have so many choices in the sub-$75 piston filler segment, but I love it!

Priced at only $45, the Narwhal Original sits between the TWSBI ECO and the TWSBI 580 price points, and is comparable to the higher-end PenBBS models. I would say that the Narwhal Original represents excellent value, especially if Narwhal can maintain a consistent level of quality control.

[Update: As of August 2022, Narwhal has rebranded the company as “Nahvalur”, and has released a new iteration of the “Original” piston filler in vacuum-filler form, dubbed the “Original Plus”. You can now purchase the Original Plus series, plus other select Nahvalur offerings, from the T.G.S. Curated Shop.]

As I mentioned above, the pen featured in this review was graciously loaned to me for review purposes by my friend Bob at My Pen Needs Ink. Bob reviewed this pen himself, and you can check out his review here. This post does not contain affiliate links.

Sunday Reading for June 27, 2021

June 27, 2021

When One Nib Is Not Enough (via Pen Addict). Stacked Nibs have received a lot of attention lately, and they’re on my list of “things I need to try out at pen shows” once I have the opportunity to travel again later this summer.
The TWSBI Eco 2 Years Later (via Left Hook Pens). The Eco is an especially durable fountain pen, which is somewhat astounding at the price point. I’m glad to see that it’s caught on (and that someone else out there appreciates the transparent orange version).
Ink Institute Cat at Noon (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). So I heard about the Ink Institute “Cat” series last night on our T.G.S. Patreon meetup, and now I’m looking to track some of these down. “Cat at Noon” is sold out nearly everywhere, and it’s one of those “double shading” inks with multiple colors and tones.
Stanford Wood Studios Impressionist Series (via Rants of the Archer). A new custom penmaker from South Africa? Count me as interested! These pens appear incredibly well-designed and well-finished.
Magna Carta Elements Water (via Dapprman). The material on this larger pen from India (with a house made nib!) is gorgeous. I just may have to pick one of these up.
Lamy 2000 Mechanical Pencil .7mm (via Scrively). The one member of the Lamy 2000 family that I have never tried! I love mechanical pencils, and I love the Lamy 2000, so I’m not sure what I’ve been waiting for.
Nuuna Flexcover Notebook (via Fountain Pen Love). Nuuna paper is extremely good quality, even for fountain pens, and they have some of the more unique designs out there as far as notebooks go. I believe Vanness Pens is the only U.S.-based retailer that stocks the brand.
Narwhal Yellow Tang Fountain Pen (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). I have the purple version of this fountain pen inked up for review, and so far I’m also liking this pen at around the $50 price point.
Pebble Stationery Cosmo Air Light x Liberty London (via Mountain of Ink). I’m really glad to see Cosmo Air Light circulating more widely in notebook form! I also love this cover collaboration by Pebble.
Musgrave Sampler Pack (via Pencil Revolution). Best stationery packaging ever. Fight me.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I looked at the new line of Esterbrook Inks, which should be hitting stores in the next couple of weeks. There are six standard colors plus three shimmer inks. I also wrote a piece that discussed stationery subscription services and their ongoing role, if any, in the current state of the stationery market.

New This Week In the Curated Shop

Check out this post for a detailed run-down of everything that’s newly arrived, but the highlights include the Field Notes “Fifty” edition, a restock on Field Notes Archival Wooden Boxes, and a new size of Life x Kleid notebooks. Many thanks for all of your support!

Caran d'Ache

TWSBI

Traveler's Company

Field Notes

Visit T.G.S. on Reddit, and Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and More!

I’ve been trying to expand into social media beyond Instagram, due to my dissatisfaction with the direction that platform is taking. Currently, you can also engage with me on Twitter, Facebook, and now on Reddit. (Honestly, I’m active on Twitter and Reddit moreso than Facebook, but I do read all the Facebook comments, eventually.) Mainly, I’m doing this because of Instagram’s algorithm-driven approach that buries content unless you’re endlessly posting to their various formats (“Reels,” Stories, posts, etc.) and actively monitoring your account to where you’re basically having to respond to comments and DMs in real time. This is impractical, because you end up spending all your time on their platform and not actually writing or running your business, and then most of this content is temporary (24hrs) and you have to jump on the “hamster wheel” again. Many people just want an easy way to receive updates on when I post new content to the blog. Twitter and Reddit allow me to do that reliably. If there’s one thing you can do to help support T.G.S., it’s sharing our content and spreading the word!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. We’ve discussed our thoughts on pen shows restarting, recent arrivals in our personal collections, and more. 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!

First Look: Introducing Esterbrook Inks!

June 26, 2021

I’m happy to reveal that Esterbrook inks will be coming soon to your favorite pen retailers, in a range of nine new colors, six standard and three shimmer. (You may have seen these teased on the Esterbrook Instagram account over the past week.) Cary was kind enough to send me samples so that I could publish my first impressions, and so far, so good. While I’ve not had the opportunity to fully test these inks in my pens, I inked up a few this morning and will be putting them through the testing process.

Standard colors include Cobalt (blue), Ebony (black), Evergreen, Aqua, Tangerine, and Scarlet. As shown below, there are also three “Shimmer” inks: Shimmer Aqua, Shimmer Tangerine, and Shimmer Lilac. At first glance, all of the colors are vibrant, and I haven’t noticed any loss of saturation or smearing in the two weeks since I swabbed the sample sheet shown here.

I chose Evergreen and Shimmer Lilac to test out for the week.

Initial Thoughts and Where to Buy Once the New Inks Hit the Market

I’m liking the color selection here, which strikes a good balance in the sense that Esterbrook has included somewhat offbeat colors such as the tangerine and lilac alongside more standard “pen company” colors such as blue, black, green, turquoise (“Aqua,” which is a shade darker than is typical) and red (“Scarlet”). Even the standard blue is a rich “Cobalt” that I could see getting plenty of use. While I’m not a huge shimmer ink user, I will note that the “shimmer” here isn’t overly glittery, seems usable for everyday writing, and might pair quite nicely with one of the Diamondcast Esterbrook pens.

Esterbrook chose a more traditional ink bottle design, akin to the classic Pelikan bottles.

The Esterbrook inks are not available for purchase quite yet, but they should start appearing at your pen retailer of choice over the next couple of weeks. I’m almost certain Vanness Pens will have these inks in stock as soon as they hit store shelves. Stay tuned for final details on pricing and for an updated link to purchase.

Disclaimer: Esterbrook provided me with the ink samples and ink bottle featured in this review free of charge, for review purposes. This post does not contain affiliate links.