Conway Stewart Dandy: an Impeccable Modern Classic

A bespoke Conway Stewart Dandy in classic black: black resin, sterling silver trim, lever-fill, italic fine nib.

A full review has been posted on the Fountain Pen Network.

This pen is modeled on the vintage flat-top Conway Stewart Dandy and Duro models c.1920s, and the design elements have been faithfully retained: the form, the proportions, the "lolly-pop" lever, the knurled endcap, the fixed "stepped" clip, and the curved section.

The double cap-bands are unusual, in that they are rounded and 3-D (like two silver wires), as opposed to flattened strips against the cap.


The Italic Fine nib is the best nib made by Conway Stewart. It produces enough line variation to hint at a crisp elegance, while being extremely smooth.

Pelikan M400 Tortoise "White Honey"

Spring is here and so is the beautiful "White Honey".

With its delicate, vintage-like feel, this pen resembles a white lily poised on its transluscent green stem right before the flower opens. The tortoise striations look organic, like high-res images of plant cells from Biology textbooks.

More photos are posted on the Fountain Pen Network. Also, writing samples of the XXF Flex nib.

Montblanc Dostoevsky Writers Edition

The Montblanc Dostoevsky evokes a strong sense of a delicate, evasive, moody and dark sort of glamor -- very 19th Century Russian.

The Dostoevsky is a classic straight-sided domed-top, the design based on the early Montblanc fountain pens up to the late 1930s. It is fitted with a vintage-style, curved section.

The resin barrel is engraved with a sort of stylised "xoxo" pattern. The nib is decorated with a more elaborate version of the same.

The blue jewel at the end of the clip is a synthetic sapphire. The stone is cut in such a way, that it stays quite dark unless light falls directly upon it, at which point it lights up a deep royal blue.

The filling mechanism is a smooth piston. The ink window is a subtle shade of slate blue.


Dostoevsky's design includes references to various aspects of Russian culture and art that are subtle and well-placed, creating an overall sense of moodiness, glamor and nostalgia. In addition to its aesthetic merits, the pen is extremely comfortable to write with.

The Most Colourful Caseins Yet!

The latest casein infusion:

. Dinkie CS 526J, Red Multicolour, F semi-flex nib
. Dinkie CS 540J, Blue Multicolour, F semi-flex nib
. Dinkie CS 540, Green/Black/Gold, F semi-flex nib

Visconti Alhambra

The Visconti Alhambra, in black lucite with solid 18K white gold overlay and trim (including the clip).

Full review available on the Fountain Pen Network.


Several versions of the Alhambra were released in 1997-1999. Here is the complete list of editions:

Alhambra:
- 888 RHR with silver overlay
- 288 RHR with 18K yellow gold overlay
- 88 black lucite with 18K yellow gold overlay
- 88 black lucite with 18K white gold overlay (mine)
Alhambra HRH:
- 38 black lucite with 18K yellow gold overlay and diamonds
- 38 black lucite with 18K white gold overlay and diamonds


The overlay technique on the Alhambra is not only exquisitely executed, but is unique in that it is embedded into the body at the time of casting. The gold latticework is fused with the lucite, which I imagine was done similarly to the process used to make Sheaffer inlaid nibs.

This pen fills via Viconti's proprietary "power vac" system. The nib is an amazingly smooth EF that is about an 8.5/10 on the wetness scale.

The Alhambra is a full-size (but not oversize) pen of medium weight and perfect balance. It is extremey comfortable in the hand and suitable for everyday use. This is my favourite pen in my collection.

Montblanc 100 Years Historical Pen: The Retro-Retractable

The 100 Years Historical Fountain Pen was released as a Special Edition in 2006 and only produced during that year. It was designed and marketed as a replica of the original Simplo Rouge et Noire safety filler c.1908 -- Montblanc's first safety pen. Unlike the later Montblanc safeties, this model used a sliding (rather than twist) mechanism, that covered and exposed the nib like a sleeve. Photos of the original pen can be found on fountainpen.de

Read the full review on the Fountain Pen Network.

Unlike the original safeties, which filled with an eyedropper directly into the barrel, the 100 Years Historical Pen is cartridge only. It fills via unscrewing the lower, bulbous part of the barrel. Inside is a rather scary looking black metal cage. The cartridge is placed inside the cage loosely and the "bulb" is screwed back on. The motion of screwing in the bulb pushes the cartridge forward and impales it onto the "nipple".


The nib is 18K single tone yellow gold. Instead of the usual MB nib decor, this one is imprinted at the base with a large snowcap outline enclosed in a circle and the words "MONTBLANC/ 2006". The most distinguishing and attractive feature is the snowcap-shaped breather hole.


Even though the pen is referred to as "retractable", the nib itself does not retract. The nib stays stationary, while the thin part of the barrel slides in and out of the bulbous part of the barrel and covers/exposes the nib like a movable sleeve.

More information and pictures can be seen here.

The Victorians: Yard-O-Led Pen and Pencil Set

Pictured here is a Yard-O-Led Viceroy standard size fountain pen and a Perfecta Pencil, both in the Victorian finish. These are solid sterling silver, hand-engraved with a floral filigree pattern.

Yard-0-Led produces beautiful sterling silver writing instruments of remarkable quality. Their designs are a nod to the past: flat-top forms, old-style fixed clips, and traditional colour schemes and engraving patterns. A full review of the fountain pen is available on the Fountain Pen Network.

The Secret Lives of Nakaya Pens

The pens pictured are the Decapod Clipless in the Heki-Tamenuri finish, and the Piccolo Clipless in the Kuro-Tamenuri finish. The Decapod has a single-tone gold .55mm stub nib that has been reground from a BB by John Mottishaw. The Piccolo has a two-tone gold super-extra-fine elastic nib, which is semi-flexible.

See more on the Fountain Pen Network.