Brad Dowdy of The Pen Addict reviews ystudio Brassing Portable Fountain Pen
“What has taken me so long? I can’t really say, other than I use it a lot, which, for some reason, puts it in a different mental work queue. It even got to the point where I used it so much, and raved about it on top of that, that I just assumed I had reviewed it. It was only when I went to search for the link of the review to share that I realized I hadn’t …”
Azizah of Gourmet Pens reviews the Camden Composition
“Thank you to Esterbrook for sending this pen for me to share with you! I was pleasantly surprised by it. In the video, I comment on the price but of course I shot this video before it hit retailers. Fortunately, the price is around where I said “I’d like to see this priced at…” so YAY! What do you think of this one? Are you liking where Esterbrook is going?”
Nancy Olsen of FORBES reviews the Montegrappa Harry Potter Collection
“This Harry Potter House Colors collection commemorates the famous Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the British “wizarding” school central to the novels. It celebrates the four student houses—Ravenclaw (eagle), Hufflepuff (badger), Slytherin (snake) and Gryffindor (lion). The pens, fountain and rollerball, offer unique “house colors” and patterns that will be familiar to fans of the books and films. A fifth pen bears the Hogwarts crest atop a mosaic of the four mascots. …”
Dries of The Pencil Case Blog reviews the Esterbrook Sparkle
“What’s also striking, is the size of the Estie Oversized! I probably should’ve seen that coming, since the regular model is already pretty much an oversized pen. But I was still quite surprised when I first opened the box. It’s an absolutely huge pen, and especially the added width makes the oversized Estie feel considerably larger than its smaller sibling. Heck, it even makes a Pelikan M1000 or Montblanc 149 feel kind of small! Its size reflects in the weight as well. Since the barrel and cap walls are machined considerably thicker than on the regular model, it feels extremely solid in the hand …”
Bertram’s reviews the Montegrappa Elmo Fantasy Bloom Collection
“Originally, the Elmo 01 is created as homage to the style of one of Montegrappa’s co-founders: Heinrich “Elmo” Helm. The first Elmo pens from the 1920’s are contemporary in design and practicality. Portability, reliability, and efficiency reflect the motto of the time. Now, as simplicity is appreciated more and more, the Elmo 01 answers the call for the same needs as in the past. In this spirit of simplicity, the Elmo 01 is offered in one finish – black resin with stainless steel appointments. Its design is comprised of a very sleek and streamlined cap and barrel…”
Sarah Read of The Pen Addict reviews the Esterbrook Camden Composition Fountain Pen
“Stationery with a stylish nod to another type of stationery? That’s a winning aesthetic. I still remember my first composition book, purchased for my high school biology class. I had always been tempted by those elite-looking books when school shopping, and I wanted one. They looked so much cooler than notebooks. I didn’t want to just “note” things, I wanted to “compose” them. And I needed those marbled covers and cloth binding to do it, I was certain. I reveled in the use of that composition book–my biology labs were written up with the elaborate precision that would later manifest in my bullet journals. I still can’t resist a good composition notebook, and I couldn’t resist …”
Montegrappa has been manufacturing the world’s most magical pens in the same artisanal factory for more than a century. Combining luxurious materials, high craftsmanship and unrivalled writing pleasure, the independent maker’s quality and individualist flair make it a firm favourite of dignitaries, creatives and collectors.
From his boardroom overlooking the Brenta River, Giuseppe Aquila appreciates more than ever the sheltered location of his family’s century-old company. Located in the heart of the northern Italian state of Veneto, Aquila’s staff were among the first in Europe to confront the onset of Covid-19. As the region gradually recovers, it’s evident that the experience has already created a terrain for new ideas.
“We’ve always been steadfastly committed to artisanal, handmade production.” For the C.E.O./Creative Director of Montegrappa, this philosophy is more than a matter of preserving tradition: “It’s a way for Venetians to compete in the world: by continually evolving crafts perfected over centuries.”
Montegrappa has never made a disposable pen, On the contrary, its products are made to last for generations. But its latest release considers the lifecycle of raw materials beyond the product. The Elmo Ambiente has been carved from recycled resin, and represents the company’s first foray into artisanal plastics. Production of the new model commences as the company’s workforce recovers from the anguish of recent months.
To create the Elmo Ambiente, Montegrappa has collaborated with Smile Plastics, a studio specialising in innovative architectural surfaces – whose client list includes many of the leading names in conscious design and fashion.
Two colour ways are being made using a resin made from recycled packaging. “Ocean” celebrates marine beauty, while “Charcoal” is a wistful alternative to the anonymity of black-body writing instruments. Each features a translucency that offers a view onto the pen’s internal mechanisms and a reflection on its origins.
“We were drawn by Smile’s resourcefulness and the raw honesty they bring to their products,” explains Aquila. As an enterprise founded by artisans, the Welsh studio has the kind of profile that Montegrappa looks for throughout its supply chain. Most of its collaborations are conducted with local Venetian businesses and span industries ranging from jewellery, marquetry, gastronomy and art.
For the Elmo Ambiente, Montegrappa has also commissioned a suite of desk accessories from a local artisanal stationery supplier. Located only eight kilometres from Bassano, Arbos helped create products from reconstituted leather, textiles and paper – items that expand Montegrappa’s exploration of more sustainable production methods.
“Notions of beauty and craftsmanship are constantly changing, and our role is to continually merge values of the present with those of the past,” Aquila explains. For many, fountain pens are little more than relics of a pre-digital era, but Aquila sees the growing popularity of his pens as part of a groundswell movement: “We are noticing a revival of intimacy, a need to slow things down and make every purchase count for something.”
The Pen Addict – Esterbrook “The Journaler” Nib Review
“So to get us all on the same page here: A pen company I like is working with a nibmeister I like to create a modern version of a vintage nib style that will work perfectly my handwriting.
You had me at hello.
Before I get into the performance of this nib (Spoiler: It’s great.) I want to discuss the idea of this nib. Pen companies that go out into the community to work with other creators will always get my attention, and support. It’s a sign to me that these companies get it. I love to see it, and I will love seeing this continue, not only with Esterbrook, but with other brands who do the same…”
This Kenro-exclusive MontegrappaZEROMontegrappitefountain pen features a striking Caramelfinish, with streaks of white, tans and brown. No two are exactly alike.
This particular combination is exclusive to Kenro and their US retail partners. Montegrappite is anew materialmaking its debut outside the Italian market on this popular silhouette.
With a #6 JoWo steel nib or 14k nib, ZERO Caramel fills via cartridge/converter. This finishisnamed after Chrysocolla, a copper stonewhich ranges in color from deep blues to light greens and is often found in association with Azurite and Malachite.
Perfect geometry and precision finishing signal a new chapter in the evolution of modern writing style. Heavy metal components and a muscular clip bring poise and dominance to charismatic Italian design. The writing instrument for the new decade features sapphire glass set in a miniature bezel. Choose ZERO in factory-standard settings, or discover the infinite possibilities of the ZERO Custom.
As its name suggests, ZERO CaramelMontegrappitediffers from standard models through the use of a proprietary artisanal resin. Boutique machinery and special production processes allow Montegrappiteto be realised in exclusive batches, which can be manipulated into textures with a complexity, density and depth not achievable in standard industrial acrylics. The production of Montegrappiteleads to a significant reduction in wastage, while shavings and offcuts can be recovered to create new colours and finishes.
Kenro has collaborated with Montegrappa to create a series of exclusive textures from this exciting new material. Barrel, grip section and cap have all been hand-turned from specially formulated rods. As a finishing touch, Horological accents inform the modern analogue style of the ZERO.The cap features sapphire glass set in a casing of brushed and polished Br8 bronze alloy
TECHNICAL SPECS:
Material: resin
Trim: bronze
Nib: #6 size 14k gold or steel
Filling System: converter, cartridge
Packaging: standard
Length: 143 mm
Diameter: 14.0 mm
Weight: 32.00 gr
Retail is $495 with steel nib or $695 with 14k gold nib.
