A weighty matter...

The new Colibri Ascari rollerball pen is making tracks among those who love techy-looking, high-performance rollerball pens. Inspired by the atmosphere of the Italian Grand Prix racetrack, this spring-loaded pen is predominantly matte black with a dash of red or racing blue. The precision-cut grip allows for comfortable handling, and the substantial weight and balance of the pen is impressive to say the least. The Ascari has a strong Colibri spring clip and uses a German refill system. It is packaged in a luxury matte black gift box, making it an ideal holiday gift for the man or woman in your life who enjoys substantial eye-catching pens. I own one and it never ceases to elicit comments...of course I always take advantage of the opportunity to "talk pens."

Guest blogger on CrazySexyLife.com

Photo credit: Danielle Civello

Please check out my latest post as a guest blogger today on CrazySexyLife--it's about pens. But then again, it's always about pens!

Delta MOMO 30th

Carbon fiber, celluloid and pure titanium combine to create the new limited edition MOMO 30^th by the Italian pen brand Delta, celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the MOMO Design company. The collection includes 981 piston-filled fountain pens ($1,095) with a flexible titanium nib and 981 rollerball pens. There are also 30 exclusive fountain pens in 18-karat rose gold, black celluloid and carbon fiber, the nib of which is 18-karat gold. Delta is celebrating MOMO with this edition, since their design partnership dates to the early 1990s, when Delta enlisted this Italian automotive accessory manufacture to collaborate on the first titanium and carbon fiber pens. 

Welcome to the Steel Age

Visconti celebrates the Steel Age, adding a new finish to its Homo Sapiens pen collection, which uses real lava in the making. The pen features marine stainless steel trim, and the fountain pen, which is piston filled, has a 23-karat palladium nib in F, M, and B sizes. A new mid-sized fountain pen has been added to the collection, joining the large-size fountain pen, rollerball, ballpoint and pencil. Prices range from $325 to $345.

Andrew Jackson commemorated by Montblanc

Montblanc pays tribute to the seventh president of the United States with the launch of the Andrew Jackson Artisan Edition writing instrument. In 2007, Montblanc launched the America’s Signatures for Freedom collection in dedication to the life and work of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Previous editions include tributes to George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, all in the form of beautifully crafted Montblanc writing instruments. These legendary American political leaders laid the groundwork for our nation’s freedom, independence and values. Limited to just 50 pieces, symbolizing the number of states in the Union, the Andrew Jackson Artisan Edition showcases Montblanc’s premier craftsmanship and design. The intricate 750 solid white gold overlay is inspired by the ceiling of Jackson’s reception hall in the White House, and a mother-of-pearl Montblanc emblem is featured on the cap crown with Jackson's signature and the dates of his legislative period. The clip is engraved with a portrait of Jackson, and it is bejeweled with a sapphire referring to his blue eyes. Black elements on the cone, cap and ring pay tribute to his celebrated military career. As in all writing instruments in the series, "America's Signatures for Freedom" is engraved on each handcrafted 18 karat gold nib and complemented with 13 stars to commemorate the States that adopted the Declaration of Independence. The Montblanc Andrew Jackson Artisan Edition, priced at $33,300, will be available at boutiques nationwide from February 20, 2012.

Do the Wave...

The Riviera Waves is from Loiminchay’s Qika collection, which includes seven designs. It is a demonstrator pen with a classic Japanese wave design in maki-e painting on the barrel. The blue transparent pen body conjures a lovely image of calm, crystal-blue waters under clear blue sky.  The body of the pen is made of transparent Italian resin, embellished with a sterling silver dolphin clip and ring. It is available as a piston-filled fountain pen only, with an 18-karat two-tone gold nib available in fine, medium and broad sizes. There are just 38 pieces in the edition; limited editions of eight Qika sets as well as individual pens are available.

MoonFighter from Romaine Jerome--the sky's the limit!

Romain Jerome has created the MoonFighter pen: a writing instrument that is part Back to the Future and part Space Invaders--with a splash of whimsy thrown in. The pen is entirely made in Switzerland, although it looks as if it has just emerged from a NASA lab or from the desk of Major Boothroyd, the iconoclastic inventor of the James Bond accessories. This tribute to "third millennium design" features moon dust encapsulated in the cockpit bubble and a carbon-finished docking station. MoonFighter is available in three versions, Heavy Metal, Black Metal and Vintage, and each is adorned with 48 hand-applied rivets. The pen comes with a leather pouch for transport in pocket or purse. Available as a fountain pen with titanium nib or a rollerball, this pen will surely take you away.... 

Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco (cont.)

Celebrating 1929, the year when Grace Patricia Kelly was born in Philadelphia, this edition from Montblanc is limited to just 29 pieces. A fitting tribute to a Princess, the fountain pen is richly decorated with precious stones and the finest detailing. Princess Grace's monogram is engraved on the cap and barrel, which is varnished with a rose colored lacquer. The solid gold fittings in an elegant champagne tone are decorated with white diamonds (~0.55 ct.), and the clip of the fountain pen is set with a drop-cut pink sapphire (~0.45 ct.), another reference to the Grace de Monaco pink rose. The 18-karat gold nib displays a heart-shape breather hole. The pen is priced at $37,300.

Chilton introducing new collection...

Two new Chilton pen collections will be released this August, one of which is the Stylewriter. It is available in three modes--fountain pen, rollerball pen, and ballpoint--and four colors: Spring Green, Fire Engine Red (shown), Royal Blue and Lemon Yellow. The fountain pen is priced at $50, the rollerball at $45, and the ballpoint at $40.  Chilton was founded in 1923 in Boston, Massachusetts, and moved to New York later in the decade. It ceased operation in 1943 and was revived in 2009 by Harpen Brands. Current collections include the Wingflow and Golden Quill collection. Follow the link for lots of great information about the history of the bran and a virtual peek at the pens. The complete Chilton collection will be shown at the upcoming Washington, DC, pen show in mid-August.

Happy Fourth of July

Celebrate the holiday with some barbecue, fireworks and the Aurora limited edition America pen collection in red, white and blue resin. There are 7,500 fountain pens, 7,500 ballpoint pens, 5,500 rollerball pens and 999 sketch pens in the collection, and each is numbered. There are 99 full sets available. Other details include a red jasper gemstone on the crown and patriotic engravings on the clip and band. The piston-filled fountain pen has an 18-karat gold nib. Prices range from $525 for the ballpoint to $995 for the fountain pen.

Mocha, anyone?

Crafted at the Conway Stewart manufactory in Devon, England, the Belliver Mocha special edition is limited to 50 numbered fountain pens and rollerball pens. Available to order now until July 25, 2011, the Conway Stewart Belliver Mocha fountain pen is filled by cartridge or convertor and has an 18-karat gold nib available in six styles: fine, medium, broad, italic fine, italic medium and italic broad. Orders will be fulfilled on a first-come-first-served basis, and no orders will be accepted after July 25. This mocha resin will not be repeated on this model thereafter and will not be available as a bespoke pen. The fountain pen is priced at $430, and the rollerball pen, $395.

Tibaldi for Bentley...new pen collection!

The Tibaldi for Bentley Supersports pen collection is just one of the perks of owning a Bentley. To represent the spirit and soul of the Continental Supersports, Tibaldi has developed a series of writing instruments that speak in the design language of the vehicle. According to Giuseppe Aquila, CEO of Tibaldi, “The close collaboration between our engineers and Bentley’s design team of Robin Page, head of Interior Design, and Jonathan Punter, resulted in the creation of an outstanding pen, which encapsulates the features of Bentley’s most powerful car ever.” Each pen features Tibaldi’s unique pocket clip, and every writing instrument adheres to Tibaldi’s respect for the Divine Proportion, the ratio between the pen’s cap and the visible portion of the barrel when the pen is closed, equalling the ratio of 1.618. The carbon fiber collection (with titanium trim) is limited to 630 fountain pens and 630 rollerball pens. The number of pieces manufactured corresponds with the horsepower of the Continental Supersports. Founded in 1916, Tibaldi has been creating fine writing instruments for almost a century. The brand is owned by the Elmo & Montegrappa company.

The Montegrappa Cosmopolitan returns...

Montegrappa is reviving one of its popular pens from the 1990s: the Cosmopolitan. Sterling silver with resin accents, with details formed in bas relief, the Cosmopolitan will serve as the medium to communicate the spirit of five different cultures. Each will be offered in an edition of 500 rollerball pens ($2,400), 500 fountain pens ($3,200), and  a special edition of 50 rollerball pens and 50 fountain pens ($20,295-$23,215) in gold. The series comprises:

Arabian Animals of the Desert

From exotic birds of prey to desert-crossing camels to noble horses, the Cosmopolitan captures the fauna, the majesty and the mystery of one of the planet’s most challenging environments: the Arabian deserts.

Mt. Rushmore

In the US state of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore bears the likenesses of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt. A challenge, no doubt, to recreate on a pen.

Bohemian Paris

Paris has inspired more artists than any city in the world, becoming a magnet for the greatest painters of the past millennium. They, in turn, enriched Paris with what is referred to as a “Bohemian” atmosphere – captured in a pen. 

Victorian England

England’s longest-reigning queen – Victoria – provided the name for the richest, most-fecund period in man’s history, a time when bold men and women advanced to create the modern technological era. 

China’s Ancient Gods – Lu Fu Shou

Spiritualism moves and guides Chinese culture, its gods influencing behavior on every level. Cosmopolitan honors the Taoist triumvirate “Fu Lu Shou,” representing Good Fortune (Fu), Prosperity (Lu) and Longevity (Shou)

Cats!

The iconic cat graces Cartier this spring in the new Panther Decor Collection Louis Cartier fountain pen, an edition of just 188 pieces. It features a beautifully rendered sterling silver panther with black lacquer spots and garnet tsavorite eyes perched on the cap, his paws wrapped convincingly around the black lacquer body. An onyx cabochon crowns the cap. It has an 18-karat solid gold nib engraved with panther spots. The retail price of the pen, which measures about 142.7 X 15.4 mm, is $9,800.

Come fly with me...

...to BaselWorld, the famed watch and jewelry show held annually in Basel, Switzerland, where Italian pen brand Montegrappa exhibited. Many of the company’s latest products, including pens and watches, were on display. The latest limited edition Frank Sinatra is perfectly timed, since a few years ago Congress designated May 13 as Frank Sinatra Day. The collection comprises 1,915 fountain pens and 1,915 rollerball pens, each in resin with silver trim, to honor the year Frank Sinatra was born (1915); 12 fountain pens and 12 rollerball pens in resin with 18-karat gold trim to denote Sinatra’s birthday on December 12; and five rollerball pens and 13 fountain pens, each with 18-karat gold trim and an overlaid barrel, to recognize the date of Frank Sinatra Day.

An idea lives on

The new limited edition John F. Kennedy collection from Krone is a tribute the the thirty-fifth president of the US. The cap features a portrait of Kennedy, hand painted in an Impressionistic style using a patriotic palette of red, white and blue. The cap crown is adorned with 15 blue sapphires. A copy of the invitation to the inaugural ceremonies, held January 20, 1961, accompanies each pen.


Just 388 fountain pens and 388 rollerball pens are available. The fountain pen, priced at $4,800, has an 18-karat gold nib in fine and medium sizes; it is filled by cartridge or converter. The rollerball pen is priced at $4,700. Each is packaged in a commemorative box.

Steel yourself

The Edison Pen Company is now offering steel nibs (pictured) with the Edison logo as seen heretofore only on its 18-karat gold nibs. They are available in two versions: all steel or two-tone. Edison is known for its beautiful array of handmade and custom pens. Founded by Brian Gray, the company has grown to include nine distinct models, in addition to the Urushi pens, a collaborative effort with maki-e artist Ernest Shin. 

Certifiably Beautiful

The limited edition 1910 Certified Collection from Ermenegildo Zegna features a rosewood barrel and platinum-plated cap and trim. The coat of arms and the tactile pin stripe engraved on the cap represent Ermenegildo Zegna’s textile tradition. Five stars are engraved on the end of the barrel, as on the selvedge of Zegna fabrics, and the Ermenegildo Zegna coat of arms is inscribed on the platinum-plated 18-karat gold nib of the fountain pen ($1,200). A rollerball pen ($1,050) is also available. The pens, made by Omas, are available at Zegna boutiques.

Happy anniversary, Graf von Faber-Castell!

The new Elemento collection from Graf von Faber-Castell was created in honor of the company's 250th anniversary. It uses cross-grain cut olive wood inlaid on the barrel--six individual pieces, or "elements." The wood is lacquered and hand polished several times to achieve a gorgeous finish and to bring out the interesting grain of the wood; the cap and trim are in silver. Wood is also used on the end caps of the various modes: fountain pen (with 18-karat gold bi-color nib in fine, medium and broad sizes), rollerball, ballpoint and multi-purpose pen.  Each comes in a wood presentation case. The fountain pen is priced at $1,495; the rollerball, $995; and ballpoint, $895. The multi-purpose pen is available with the set of four pens, priced at $4,195. A set of two pens, fountain pen and ballpoint, is also available and priced at $2,295. Well done, and happy anniversary to you!

David at Dromgoole's

Dromgoole’s of Houston hosted a pen event on Thursday, March 31, to celebrate the introduction of David Oscarson’s latest collection, Lewis and Clark, a tribute to the two explorers, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Lewis and Clark’s signatures are represented in high relief surrounded by a background of gentle river currents underneath. Both collection pieces feature a map of the Louisiana Purchase marking the Lewis and Clark Trail from St. Louis, Missouri, all the way to Fort Clatsop, Oregon. The Meriwether Lewis cap features a telescope clip and a compass rose. The William Clark cap has a feathered clip, and a Peace Medal (given by Lewis and Clark to many of the Indian chiefs along the trail) is engraved on the barrel. The Lewis and Clark collection features guilloche engraving and hard enamel, and it is available in two design variations, each limited to 100 pieces. The fountain pen is priced at $4,900 and the rollerball, $4,700. Meriwether Lewis is in translucent ruby red with gold vermeil, and William Clark is in translucent sapphire blue hard enamel.

The turnout at Dromgoole's was great, with many pen collectors and aficionados in attendance. Dr. David Pustilnik, Dromgoole's own nib adjuster, was there doing a brisk business. And Larry Dromgoole, the quintessential host and owner of the store, made sure that everyone had a great time. I certainly did.