12 inks for 2019

What does an empty ink bottle look like? I watched in amazement in 2018 as people on my Instagram feed actually finished bottles of ink. The #emptyinkbottlechallenge seemed to me as crazy, admirable and impossible as running an ultramarathon. As of today, I have 166 full-size bottles of ink (excluding sample vials and duplicates), and …

Snake charmer: the Montblanc Rouge et Noir

I like Montblancs. And not just through brand snobbery. I enjoy the classic designs like the 149, as well as many of the various special and limited editions (though they're often well beyond my budget). Of my core collection of 20 pens, I now count three Montblancs: the retractable Heritage 1912, the Diplomat 149 in …

Visconti Van Gogh Wheatfield Under Thunderclouds

The "Wheatfield Under Thunderclouds" is a new release, and, like all the other Visconti Van Gogh models, it can be difficult to find enough photos to accurately judge whether you like the edition. I recently reviewed the Van Gogh model, so consider this some quick thoughts on the new edition only, and a public service …

Words and time: a tour of my watch collection

Words and time, pens and watches — to me they have the same attraction. I wonder if you readers feel the same? Just as a pen captures and makes real otherwise ephemeral thoughts and ideas, watches pin down the imprecision of time. They're acts of craftsmanship, engineering and heritage, and a visible expression of personal …

Back in black: the Aurora Talentum Black Ops

My curiosity about the Talentum Black Ops was piqued when the first round of reviews hit the internet a while back. But at that point I was an Aurora virgin and not quite ready to dip my toe in the water. Fast-forward to last month and I'd invested in one of the Limited Edition Optimas …

I got cocky. Sunday Seven. Bonus eight.

Last week's Friday Five was a mistake. By Tuesday I found myself bored and looking for different colours, something new, and a different mix of nibs to suit work and journalling. That's what I get for being overconfident. The Estie was doing good duty, and I wrote it dry. The 149 also saw plenty of …

Christmas came early: Scribo, Aurora, Fox Sport and more

With every pen sold, it seems another pen shows up at the door. I could say it's a kind of cosmic equilibrium, but the reality is I just have no self-control. So while I've said goodbye to several pens recently (just yesterday I posted off my lovely Pilot Fermo), the collection is barely any smaller. …

The Conid Minimalistica Monarch is an o-ring away from fantastic

It normally doesn't take me long to make up my mind about a pen. But the Conid Minimalistica is so different to anything I've owned before that it's left me confused. I bought this pen, the special edition "Monarch" Minimalistica, through a lucky accident that I'll spare you from hearing. The Monarch is a limited …

Friday five

Magnificent seven has been going pretty well. Time to take it to the next level: Friday five. Same principle, two fewer pens. Here's week one. Conid Minimalistica Monarch, Sailor Kin-Mokusei I've been persevering with the Conid, and today flushed out the Montblanc UNICEF, tried Montblanc Red Chine, then flushed and inked with this orange, in …

Behind the scenes: storage, travel and writing desks

When you're a pen freak like me, you spend as much time organising your stationery (and other hobbies' detritus) as you spend using it. My setup is not fancy. I don't have a huge house, I don't have a dream home office or desk setup. I have a beaten-up Ikea desk and office chair that …