Tag: Montblanc

Fountain Pen Favorites for July 2016

Laura4 Comments

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This July was not my favorite month ever, in either fountain pens or real life. In fact, if this July were a movie, it would get one star from me. But even the worst movies have highlights (or else how could anyone make a trailer?). So let’s focus on the positives and put together a trailer for July 2016.

1. Montblanc Shakespeare Ink. The leading man. I love this ink. Of course I was primed to love it: a red ink, from Montblanc, named after Shakespeare. Hearing that this ink existed was, for me, like hearing Matt Damon was making a new Jason Bourne movie. I’m in. And Montblanc Shakespeare ink did not disappoint.

2. KWZ Thief’s Red Ink. I love this one, too. Partially because of its great red color, and partially because of its name. And sure: partially because it’s not blue. But because our movie has some thought-provoking moments, too, I’ll mention that KWZ Thief’s Red also reminded me not to overlook inks that don’t happen to have a great name.

3. Two Empty Ink Bottles. Emptied, really. There was so little ink left in Pelikan Edelstein Topaz or in J. Herbin Bleu Nuit that I’ve transferred what little remains to sample vials. I’ll miss having these two inks around. But a blue ink I like has the approximate life expectancy of anyone in the Jason Bourne movie series not named Jason Bourne.

Ink Snippet: Montblanc William Shakespeare Velvet Red

Laura13 Comments

Montblanc William Shakesepare Velvet Red ink and bottle

My Montblanc William Shakespeare Velvet Red ink just arrived, which makes for a happy Thursday at Fountain Pen Follies.

I could be all laid back and cool, and pretend I haven’t been checking the front porch since Monday for my order from the lovely people at Pen Boutique. But that would be a lie. And anyway, no one would believe me.

Here are some first impressions and some quick photos.

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Fountain Pen Favorites for June 2016

LauraLeave a comment

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June meant beautiful weather, and great pens and inks. Unfortunately the last week for me was taken over by non-pen things. So it’s a treat to look back at the pen things.

1.  Aurora Optima 360 Monviso. Of course this beautiful pen is June’s number one highlight. This is my big purchase, probably for the year. Unless Pelikan strikes again. But ending the year with the Monviso would be just fine.  It’s a great-looking pen, with a great-writing stub.

2. Montblanc BMW ink. Montblanc BMW ink is such a nice blue. And yet as far as I can tell, Montblanc isn’t selling it through the usual US dealers. That’s a shame. Hopefully that will change.

3. Parker Penman Sapphire. It’s true. Parker Penman Sapphire really is the top — the Coliseum, the Louvre museum, a Shakespeare sonnet and a Bendel bonnet. It really is all that. Just a beautiful blue ink. Alas, no longer available.

4. Fountain pen friends. I just happen to owe all of those good June experiences to friends. I’m pretty lucky.

 

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

Ink Review: Montblanc BMW Ink

Laura4 Comments

Montblanc BMW ink bottle and swabs

Montblanc BMW Ink. This limited edition ink tied to a BMW cross-promotion is a lovely and cheerful shade of blue, with good shading and some sheen, but unfortunately it’s hard to buy in the United States. Maybe you will be luckier with that.

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Pen of the Day: Montblanc 146 (Another One) (Maybe for the Last Time)

Laura1 Comment

Montblanc 146 with Montblanc BMW ink

Montblanc 146 with broad nib. This is actually not the same 146 with broad nib that I was using last week with Caran d’Ache Infra Red. Because, currently, I have two. Sigh. Bad Fountain Pen Follies.

Would you believe that I have two by accident? And if not, what would you believe? Aliens? Amnesia? Feel free to tell me, so I can use that instead.

Montblanc 146 with Montblanc BMW ink

This is my newer 146 with broad nib. And I have been intending to sell it. But, see, it’s lucky that I’ve been dragging my feet on that. Because it’s such a good pen. And because when this Montblanc BMW ink arrived, I had the perfect pen to put it in.

And they say procrastination is bad.

Montblanc BMW ink writing sample

Montblanc BMW Ink: The Ultimate Writing Machine?

Laura2 Comments

Montblanc BMW ink bottle and swabs

I got a neat package yesterday including this ink: Montblanc’s BMW ink.

It appears to be part of the Montblanc for BMW collection, celebrating BMW’s 7 Series cars. I say “appears” because that link only describes a lot of leather goods and a Platinum LeGrand rollerball and fountain pen. Unmentioned is any ink.

It’s almost as if they considered ink minor, or insignificant. How … strange.

These encounters with normal, well-adjusted people can really make a person wonder.

Luckily I have a friend who agrees with me that ink is the most important thing ever, who sent me a bottle. And it’s inked up already. Because, blue.

It’s a nice blue, with nice shading.  I’ll certainly post more about it, and do a review, in the days to come. Because, blue.

Pen of the Day: Montblanc 146

Laura5 Comments

Montblanc 146 with Caran d'Ache Infra Red

Montblanc 146 with broad nib. Well, I am nothing if not consistent, because I just realized that the last time a 146 was Pen of the Day, it was this very pen.

That’s not my fault, though. It’s because Montblanc makes a great broad nib. Look at this thing.

Montblanc 146 with broad nib Caran d'Ache Infra Red

The ink is Caran d’Ache Infra Red, a red so special it had to be named for something outside the human visible spectrum.

(Although, actually, it’s now been shown that humans can see infrared light under certain circumstances. And that it looks green. So thanks, science, for wrecking everything.)

But science schmience. Ink is my thing. Caran d’Ache Infra Red ink is very visible, very red and very awesome.

Montblanc 146 with broad nib Caran d'Ache Infra Red writing sample

Montblanc Golden Yellow Ink: Mold Inside the Ink Cartridges?

Laura6 Comments

Montblanc Golden Yellow Ink cartridge with SITB

I was going to send some of my Montblanc Golden Yellow ink cartridges to friends today, when I noticed something strange. There was something floating inside the cartridges that wasn’t just ink.  As you can see, it looks like mold.

This is a first for me. I’ve never seen mold grow inside sealed cartridges before.  I have occasionally seen it develop in bottles of ink that had been opened and partially used. But never in any Montblanc ink.

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