Limited edition from Retro 51

Dallas-based Retro 51 is offering a palette of colorful lacquered metal barrels on its popular Tornado rollerball. The limited edition collection utilizes the latest ink technology and is fitted with a smooth rollerball refill retracted with a patented knurl twist-top. It is priced at $32.50.

I’ll Take Two if by Sea

Delta, the Naples, Italy-based pen company, recently came out with another limited edition pen: the Amerigo Vespucci. You may remember earlier limited editions, such as the Giuseppe Garibaldi, Enrico Caruso and the Giacomo Puccini. But lest you think the company only pays homage to deceased men of Italian descent, don’t forget the iconic Dolce Vita (a great and very lively Italian movie, but I think the pens were named more for the spirit of the phrase, which means: “the sweet life”). I am a huge fan of Delta and its owners, and the Amerigo Vespucci did not disappoint me. Just 931 pieces of each version (ocean blue or night black resin) trimmed in sterling silver are available (Classic), with a special 18-karat gold-trimmed version (Celebration) limited to just four pieces. Why just four pieces? Well, I’m glad you asked. This number apparently commemorates the four wooden helms on the ship used for Vespucci’s voyage in 1501—his first under the Portuguese flag. Thus the overlay on the cap of each of the pens in the collection is crafted from wood. The collection includes a fountain pen and rollerball, which can be converted to a ballpoint. The fountain pen (with an 18-karat gold nib) is filled by cartridge or converter, though the four Celebration fountain pens are button filled. The pen comes in a collector box with a dramatic blown-up image of nautical rope on the front.

I particularly like the natural matte finish of the wood overlay on the cap, which is hand finished using bee and carnauba waxes. It is perfectly and smoothly fit between the clip ring and the lower cap ring. The section is the same material as the pen (blue or black resin), which I like, since a pet peeve of mine is an obtrusive gripping section on an otherwise nice pen. The sculpted clip has good action, and I’m pleased, as always, that something other than a cartridge- or converter-filling option is available, albeit for a higher price. In general, I appreciate the subtle nautical theme of the Amerigo Vespucci, which is neither overbearing nor kitschy, as some commemorative limited editions are wont to be.

Lighten Up

Pens have learned another thing from watches, it seems. Not only are they taking on some of the physical characteristics, as in using watch parts as art elements on a pen, I recently saw one that has illuminated accents, much like a watch. As I’m sure you know, Super-LumiNova is a trade name for a material often used on the markers, hands and bezel of a watch to illuminate them. Edelberg—a new brand just introduced in Europe—uses it to highlight the clip and front cone (and also a line running the length of some models) on its pens. I must say I was duly impressed with the new Edelberg range of rollerball pens that I saw during my recent trip to Europe. Founded by pen aficionado and collector Carlo Naldi, the brand offers, in addition to pens, other accessories, such as belt buckles, cufflinks, eyewear and rings. But the pens—all Swiss made—are really something to write home about. They are sleek and techie looking, with a minimalist design and good engineering. They come in a variety of combinations of steel, rose gold plate, resin, carbon fiber and Super-LumiNova. The clip retracts when the pen is open, minimizing the chance of a nasty ink stain in your pocket.

Mr. Naldi is a distributor of many pen brands in Switzerland and operates an exclusive pen shop in Zug, Style. In addition to the launch of the new Edelberg brand, he also offers accessories he designs and produces under the Naldi-Italy brand name. Keep an eye out for Edelberg. My sources tell me it will soon be on American soil, but not soon enough, in my opinion. The pens will range in price from around $500 to $800. My trusty camera didn’t quite capture the essence of the pens, but it loved the exuberant Mr. Naldi.