Category: Fountain Pens

Pen of the Day: Aurora Optima Blue Auroloide

Laura4 Comments

Aurora Optima fountain pen blue and gold

Aurora Optima Blue/Gold with broad nib. We’re having a strange spring here. The weather seems like it’s been either cold and snowy or 68 degrees and sunny.  Except when it’s been both over the course of a single day.  Which, okay, I totally enjoy.

Yesterday, however, was just gray, with a few snowflakes. I’m not usually a fan of blue pens with gold trim, but on a boring day I found this beautifully warm and inviting.

Aurora Optima fountain pen blue and gold with KWZ Azure #1 ink

And I’m not a big user of broad nibs.  But this one gives blue ink extra pizzazz.

KWZ Azure #1 ink

For comparison, I used the same pen a few weeks ago with Aurora Blue.

Fountain Pen Favorites for March 2016

Laura1 Comment

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Okay, we’re already into April, but just because March is in the rear view mirror, metaphorically, doesn’t mean we can’t pump the brakes and look back for a few seconds. Here were my fountain pen favorites for March.

1. KWZ Red #1. This is going to be a favorite for a long time.

2. Spring inks. The weather is warmer, and I’ve brought out the lighter, brighter inks once more.  I love them. Especially Caran d’Ache Delicate Green. Also fun: Pink Week.

3. Pelikan M205 Transparent Blue. Faithful readers know how strong my resolve is and how firmly I resist temptation. So there’s absolutely no reason ever to think that I’d order this pen.  But, hey, is that a cute kitten over there?  We should all look at that cute kitten.

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Photo by Dafne Cholet, Flickr, used under Creative Commons license.

Things I Don’t Want to Do

Laura1 Comment

Pelikan M600 Ruby Red and Pelikan M400 White Tortoise fountain pens

The pen cup runneth over.  I have way too many pens inked.

The truth is, I’ve finished my review of KWZ Red #1 ink, which is in the Pelikan M600 Ruby Red.  And I’ve finished deciding whether I should buy a full bottle of the Pelikan Edelstein Amber in the M400 White Tortoise.  (Yes.)

So I pulled these two from the overstuffed pen cup Monday, to make room. But they’ve been sitting there ever since.

You know you like a pen and ink when you can’t make yourself empty them.

Pen of the Day: Pelikan M600 Pink

Laura4 Comments

Pelikan M600 Pink fountain pen

Pelikan M600 Pink with fine nib. What could be more springy than the Pink Pelikan?  Probably only filling the Pink Pelikan with pink ink. Now that’s turning spring up to 11.

Pelikan M600 Pink fountain pen and Diamine Carnation ink

I think Diamine Carnation is a perfect spring pink.

Pelikan M600 Pink fountain pen

The pen is really a raspberry sort of pink. But not an actual raspberry:  it’s like a raspberry pink dye. Raspberry-colored shiny plastic product. Raspberry-flavored hard candy.

And let’s not forget the Pink Pelikan comes in the Box of Bad Taste.

So I think the Pink Pelikan goes to 11 all by itself, really.

Outstanding.

Pen of the Day: Aurora Optima Demonstrator

Laura3 Comments

Aurora Optima chrome demonstrator fountain pen

Aurora Optima demonstrator with fine nib. It is Italian Pen Week here at Fountain Pen Follies.  Actually, I have no other inked pens that haven’t already been Pens of the Day. But Italian Pen Week sounds better.  Lemons to lemonade, that’s my motto.

Aurora Optima chrome demonstrator fountain pen

There’s not much to say about this fantastic pen, except that it’s really perfect.

Aurora Optima chrome demonstrator fountain pen with Waterman Serenity Blue ink

Right now the pen contains Waterman Serenity Blue, so I could compare a standard blue ink color to KWZ Iron Gall Green Gold.  Serenity Blue is a darn good ink: well-behaved in most pens, well-behaved on most papers.  And it’s safe for this beautiful Aurora.

Pen of the Day: Pelikan M600 Ruby Red

Laura4 Comments

Pelikan M600 Ruby Red fountain pen with KWZ Red #1 ink

Pelikan M600 Ruby Red with fine nib.  This is a gorgeous pen that I really enjoy and love using. But I have to admit that today I’m talking about it mostly because of the ink.

Pelikan M600 Ruby Red fountain pen and KWZ Red #1 ink

KWZ Red #1 is the ink.  And it’s another home run for me, just like KWZ Maroon and Maroon #2.

Red #1 is another deep and rich red — so deep and rich that it almost evokes garnet or ruby. But it’s red more than maroon, cranberry more than wine. I’m really enjoying using it, and I’m looking forward to reviewing it.

KWZ Red #1 ink

Bung Box First Love Sapphire: Another Glimpse

Laura3 Comments

Bung Box First Love Sapphire writing sample

I know I mentioned a few weeks ago that a friend gave me a sample of my very first Bung Box ink, First Love Sapphire.

And I posted a writing sample from an Aurora Optima with a fine nib.

But here’s a quick look at Bung Box First Love Sapphire from both the Optima and a much different pen, a Kaweco Sport with 1.1 mm calligraphy nib.

I find it really interesting. The ink color is consistent, but the impression it makes, on me at least, is very different.