[image] Hi everybody! I'm Conrad, a stationery lover and quiet lurker of the Massdrop writing community. I'm sure most of you definitely do not know me! But I'm super happy to meet you, and I wanted to invite you to maybe sit down a little while with me while we talk about the things we love: writing instruments and the things we buy to keep them chugging. Thanks to Mike, I was generously sent a couple of bottles of ink and I've been playing around with them for a little while. I think I'm about ready to share my thoughts on these inks over the next week or so; I hope you enjoy the review! [image] I thought I would get us all started with an ink brand that I've actually never tried before: Faber-Castell! You probably know them for their other art products, like colored pencils and PITT artist brush pens. I certainly had no idea that they made inks. I have seen their fountain pens (I've heard they write particularly well right out of the box, although I've never personally tried...

[image] In a saturated market with a multitude of products, outstanding design is a decisive differentiating feature. It goes beyond the purely external shape and color of a product to include function and the user's interaction with the product. Schneider is proud to have been able to impress the jury of the renowned German Design Award twice with its outstanding product design. The Design Award, which is known far beyond the borders of Germany, is awarded once a year by the German Design Council. [image] The Ceod Shiny fountain pen - 2020 Design Award Winner! The fountain pen Ceod Shiny has a striking design and elegant appearance. Combining simple elegance with minimalist but striking curves. The discreetly shiny matte surface gives the Ceod Shiny its noble look, which makes it an eye-catcher in an understated way. The pearly, silky matte surface rests easily in the hand and the ergonomic rubberized grip profile of the fountain pen promotes a relaxed writing experience. A...

[image] It will set you back $105,000, but it only takes short standard international cartridges. [video] Possibly the most advanced vanishing nib ever made. [video] MD x RM anyone? If you want to know more: https://www.ablogtowatch.com/richard-mille-rms05-pen/

[image] Lamy recently released what is basically a limited run of their Al-Star, called the Lamy Lx (for Luxe). It's available in four finishes; Gold, Rose Gold, Palladium and Ruthenium. Other than the color of the Aluminum the two ways it distinguishes itself from the regular Al-Star is the PVD-coated laser-etched nib and the matching precious metal-plated clip. [image] It also comes in a matching cylindrical Aluminum case. [image] For the privilege of owning the case, a PVD-coated nib and the plated clip you get to pay almost twice as much as for the regular Al-Star. Still, if I didn't already own an Al-Star I'd be all over the Ruthenium version. Would you get one? Which one would you get? Vote here : https://www.massdrop.com/vote/Lamy-Lx I have to note that they are carried by only a few online vendors and that there is absolutely no mention of them on lamyusa.com nor lamy.com.

[image] This is my review of The Book of Ra, a notebook by Sirius's Domain from Taiwan. A seriously small business, if you can call it that; as far as I can tell it's a single individual. Their Etsy store boasts a combined total of 7 sales. The seller/maker claims that their "wolf paper" is superior to all other fountain pen-friendly paper out there. The specs: Size: B5-ish (250x175mm) Count: 96 sheets, 192 pages Weight: 140gsm, yes 140! Ruling: 5mm grid (also available in 6mm lines and blank) Binding: Smyth-sewn, with cardboard covers The notebook is hand made, and it shows. Not entirely in a good way, though. The cardboard covers (a rather ugly affair) are somewhat warped and the spine is duct tape. The design, I guess, aims to be simple and plain like the Midori MD. The Midori, however, comes out looking refined and elegant. tBoR comes out looking cheap. [image] That being said, the binding is strong, the notebook opens completely flat, almost too flat (courtesy of...