Sunday, March 7, 2021

Scriptorium Pens

 There area lot of pen manufacturer's out in the world. Some are big business and big brands such as Pelikan, Visconti and the like. There are also some pen makers that are not as large but still make a quality pen. Today I would like to talk about Scriptorium Pens.

I have seen some of Renee's work online and yes, Renee is the person behind the Scriptorium Pens brand. I would check out her website and browse the models available to commission but never pulled the trigger. 

One day, I open Instagram and there is a post from Scriptorium Pens and it is for a pen that is available for purchase. It was a medium sized Idyll in a gorgeous material named Tortoise from Bob Dupras. The Idyll was one of my favorite looking pen models from the website. I sent a PM to Renee and was able to purchase this pen. It was fate. I had seen other pens for sale on Instagram posts from Scriptorium Pens but they were always sold by the time I saw them.


The Idyll's shape is what I really like. It is cylindrical with a slight taper to the base of the pen and then these little points on both the base and cap. 


The Tortoise material from Bob Dupras is stunning and really pops in the light. I spent some time trying to match an ink with it that had the same richness and color profile. I chose Montblanc James Purdey and Sons Single Malt and it is a great pairing.


The nib I chose is a broad as I do love a thick, wet line. This is a Jowo steel nib with a gold plating, which really matches the pen material. A very smooth writing nib that never disappoints. 



After using the Idyll, I just needed to get another one of Renee's pens. My second favorite pen model was the Zephyr and the real task at hand was to pick a suitable material to have the pen made from. 


I wanted to choose something from Jonathan Brooks. I was torn between Fubuki Koi and Calico Koi. I sent a PM to Renee and mentioned that I wanted to commission a Zephyr but was torn between the materials. She wrote back and stated she has a rod of the Fubuki Koi and had never made a pen from it. Sold. This is a lot lighter than the Fubuki Koi that Jonathan Brooks makes now and I actually like the subtlety of this version.


The nib is a broad Jowo steel nib and once again is a great smooth writer. 


I now am the proud owner of two Scriptorium Pens and I love them. They are machined perfectly and the part that I love the most is that the caps are snug and I have never had a problem with a dried out nib. Great quality pens and Renee at Scriptorium Pens is a delight to work with. 

This review is based off of my personal experiences and opinion. I do not represent Scriptorium Pens nor am I being compensated in any way.

Friday, February 26, 2021

Visconti Homo Sapiens Blizzard Fountain Pen

 In 2020, Visconti made some changes to the lava based Homo Sapiens pen and added 3 colors to the line where it was a darker gray before. The material is still made from lava rock from Mount Etna but now can come in Blizzard (White), Inferno (Red) and Sandstorm (Tan). I purchased the Blizzard and let's delve into what I think about it.



One of the new changes to this pen is the nib. Previously, these pens came with a 23kt Palladium nib that they termed the Dreamtouch nib. The new Lava Color Homo Sapiens features a new 14kt gold nib that is manufactured in house. It has a new scroll design on the nib and overall, it is a lovely writer.



Traditionally, the Homo Sapiens pens had some distinct features with the easy cap locking system being one of them. The new Homo Sapiens Lava Color pens now feature a magnetic cap closure which is fun but I am not really a fan. My previous experience with a magnetic cap was that the seal is not that great and the ink will dry out and it makes writing a bit difficult. This pen is no different and it is saddening. If I let it sit 1 day alone then try writing first thing the next day it would take a bit for the ink to start flowing again. Please bring back the cap lock system.




The clip is a little different as well. It has the same curved shape but the writing is much cleaner. It is no longer filled in with a lacquer like substance around the letters. Sometimes the little things can make all the difference.



I have always loved the Home Sapiens lava pens and how they feel in the hand. The material was always really interesting to look at. These Lava Color versions really bring out the texture of the material in a new light. It is mesmerizing and the Blizzard is my favorite to look at. It is a very pretty pen.


Overall, I like the pen but I would love it if it had the cap lock system that make the Homo Sapiens pens so easy to use. 

This review is based off of my personal experiences and opinion. I do not represent Visconti nor am I being compensated in any way.

Monday, February 15, 2021

Montblanc Meisterstuck 149 - Is It Worth It?

 Of all of the pen brands out there in the wild, Montblanc seems to be one of the most recognizable and most heard of. I will tell people that I am a fountain pen enthusiast and usually the first name out of their mouth's is Montblanc. 

Montblanc is definitely a luxury brand but are their pens really worth their prices?

I was able to write with several before finally getting one of my very own. The Montblanc Meisterstuck 149 finally found a way into my collection and I was ready to answer the question for myself.




I found a deal on my 149. I found it for sale on VirtualPenShow on Instagram. I contacted the seller and was curious as to why he was selling this beauty. He was needing to finance other pen purchases and needed to part with the 149. Here was a pen that is iconic to the brand and one that I had been drooling over. This pen was listed at $650 and also came with a Oblique Broad gold nib. I pulled the trigger. 


The nib is the best part of this pen. I am a sucker for a broad and wet writer. The nib is everything one would expect from a luxury brand. It is smooth like butter and a joy to write with.


Now the question here is whether the pen is worth the price. After using this 149 thoroughly, I can say that the MSRP of $950 is not worth it, in my opinion. The price I paid for the pen was well worth it and I would say that is a great selling price for the 149. It is a larger pen, which I prefer, and is made with "precious" resin. From my research, there is a coating on the resin that is to be scratch resistant. Not sure how that translates to precious but it is what it is. 

Overall, I love the pen and how it writes but it would not be in my collection were it not for a lucky find and a great price. 

This review is based off of my personal experiences and opinion. I do not represent Montblanc nor am I being compensated in any way.