More pens for the Year of the Dragon

Platinum is introducing a new maki-e dragon pen commemorating 2012, the Year of the Dragon. This is a very special limited edition, with only 50 pieces slated for the US market. According to Dick Egolf, Luxury Brands USA, distributor of Platinum, "The Jin-shin Dragon in the Dark is Platinum’s newest creation dedicated to 2012 or Jin-shin, the 29^th year of the 60^th 60-year cycle in the Chinese traditional calendar. The Dragon in the Dark is made in a handpainted maki-e technique utilizing Wajima black lacquer. Only 150 numbered pieces will be made worldwide." The gold nib is available in fine, medium and broad sizes. The Dragon in the Dark is priced at $1,000.

She stole the tarts...

Retro 51's Queen and King Tornado rollerball pens are a great gift for the card player in your life. Priced at under $50, they make a great gift. The Tornado swept on the scene several years ago, and since that time it has seen several popular renditions. Check our some of the other new Tornado pens at Retro 51.

Made in America

Tuff-Writer, Inc., makers of low-priced, American-made pens is launching "The Ultimate Clicky Pen Project" to create a first production run of some new aluminum click pens. Tuff-Writer General Manager, Jack Roman, who has been designing pens for years, has turned his attention to building an all-metal, modular pen, with each component replaceable. 

Demonstrator Pens

It's a big trend in pens these days--demonstrator pens, that is. It seems that most companies worth their salt are introducing these translucent lovelies in some fashion or another. As an example, there are new colors in the Artista Crystal line of demonstrator-style pens from Monteverde. Made from acrylic and hand polished inside and out, with shiny chrome accents, the collection is available as a fountain pen with a steel nib and a cartridge/converter filling system, a rollerball and a ballpoint. Spring colors include clear, pink, lime green and turquoise. They range in price from $35 to $45. An interesting note: the ink feed on the fountain pen is clear.

The hot color for spring

Pilot, well known for its gorgeous maki-e pens as well as its amazing and right-priced Vanishing Point fountain pens, has a fabulous orange demonstrator in its Custom 74 line. And since orange is the hot new color for spring (and since demonstrator pens are some of my favorites), I thought I'd give it a mention. The Custom 74 comes in an array of colors, including Black Smoke, Blue Tint and Violet (as well as clear), but the orange really pops and makes me think of sunny days and spring flowers. It's priced at $200, which is really amazing for a fountain pen with a 14-karat gold rhodium-plated nib.

Karl Lagerfeld and S. T. Dupont join talents

Karl Lagerfeld, the renowned fashion designer, refined collector and admirer of S.T. Dupont products, wished to lend his talent to the creation of a writing instrument collection. A bottle in the shape of a fan was the inspiration behind this collection, named Mon Dupont. The pens are available in two versions: the Chic Collection, in black lacquer and palladium; and the Prestige Collection, in "lotus red" placed lacquer with yellow gold trim. The red lacquer was specifically developed by S. T. Dupont and inspired by Chanel varnish. Mon Dupont includes a fountain pen, a rollerball and a ballpoint. The curved clip is adorned with a garnet-colored agate. The packaging, also designed by Lagerfeld, is a jewel box in the shape of a hand-held fan. A matching lighter is also available.

Pompei Limited Edition from Delta

Delta's new Pompei Limited Edition recalls some of the characteristics of the first Pompei collection, produced from  "Pompeian Red" celluloid and introduced in 1996. This new edition is made from a yellow-colored celluloid, another hue seen on the walls of this ancient city, and is available as a fountain pen, rollerball or ballpoint. While the earlier model features a lateral filling system, this recently introduced limited edition fountain pen is available with a piston filling ($1,195) or cartridge/converter system ($795); it has a 14-karat gold nib. The rollerball pen is priced at $595, the ballpoint at $495.

New from Conway Stewart

The Conway Stewart Marlborough Vintage Limited Edition is a great new design inspired by the classic styling of CS vintage models, though created with present day manufacturing techniques. With a straight shape and a vintage-style washer clip, the Marlborough recalls some of finest Conway Stewart pens from the 1920s. This Marlborough Vintage model is available in a limited selection of ebonite (Black, Blue Ripple, Rose Ripple and Woodgrain), the material of choice for fountain pen manufacturers through the early 1930s. Complete with engraved accents on the cap top, wide barrel bands crafted from solid 18-karat solid gold or sterling silver, and a choice of traditional lever-fill system, eyedropper fill, or cartridge/converter, the Marlborough Vintage looks like it has stepped right out of the 1920s. The fountain pen is priced at $700.