Peacock pens

• Throwback last month
• Caught my attention
• I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June.
• Smooth is good
• A good quote

Dear reader, despite my best intentions, May did not unfold as I had hoped. I had promised to share some watercolor sketches or pen drawings with you, yet I was unable to do so. However, it was the pen reviews that sustained me and kept my blog active.

It is not because I was sleeping all day and dreaming about stuff. No, it was due to a lot of work and also because I not only thought about doing something about my physics, I actually did it: start to run again. While running may seem off-topic, I believe it’s important for you, as a reader of my blog, to be aware of the behind-the-scenes activities. These elements influence and add depth to the understanding of my blog content.

Throwback last month

Pen swapping

As previously stated, May was dedicated to pen reviews. The fountain pens I review are listed according to their purchase price. This typically means that the more expensive pens are featured, which is quite enjoyable. Additionally, I’ve observed that, in general, there is a notable improvement in the writing performance and quality of these pens. With many pens still remaining on my list for review until the end of this year, the anticipation is certainly high.

The following pens were swapped:
– Parker Duofold Centennial (vintage) –> Waterman C/F (vintage)
– Opus 88–> Platinum 3776 Laurel green
– TWSBI vac 700r –> Visconti Rembrandt

I continue to resist my urge to purchase new fountain pens, despite the challenge posed by the influx of new models. Currently, I have around 33 brand-new, unused fountain pens that I intend to review. I aim to complete these reviews by the year’s end.

Caught my attention

The pen world does not stand still. Rumors and truths are emerging. A number of things have caught my attention and seem interesting to follow.

• The Platinum 3776 is currently one of my inked fountain pens. I adore the Laurel green color, and it holds a special place for me as it is my first fountain pen with a gold nib. The Platinum 3776 is an exceptional fountain pen. I recently learned that Platinum is about to release the Platinum 3776 Century Fuji Unkei Kasumi, priced at 460 Euros. This pen appears quite unique. If one is considering purchasing a 3776, could it be worth waiting and saving some money to acquire this special limited edition?
  You can already order this pen at Appelboom.com.

• As I write this post, the Dutch Pen Show has already passed. It has become a tradition for my wife and me to attend annually. We typically reserve a weekend at the Van der Valk Hotel in Utrecht, where the event takes place. Unfortunately, due to work commitments, I was unable to attend this year. I’ve heard that the event was once again a great success, attracting many visitors and vendors, and featuring an abundance of fountain pens and related items. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I can participate in next year’s event.

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I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June

June begins on a tranquil note for me: I’m off work until the 10th 😀. This grants me a lot of leisure time, time I plan to spend blogging and catching up with my favorite bloggers. Additionally, I have a few surprises in store for you this June 💌:

• A look back at my ‘failed’ drawing challenge. I promised this already in May, but the truth will be uncovered in June🎡
• Reviewing fountain pens! How do I do it, what are the pitfalls, how do I avoid them and how do I make it fun. 🖋
• Which pens do I put into action inJune? I insist that I will perform four swaps. The fountain pens that will be in action will be: Sailor Professional Gear, Parker 51 vintage, Osprey Milano and Conway Stewart Capulet. Again a bunch of amazing fountain pens 💥🖋
• Off-topic: My running consumes much of the time I could spend on blogging. Although it may seem off-topic, allow me to share some insights about running and my goal. 👣

Smooth is good

For the past few months, I have been organising the ‘Smooth is Good’ competition. This competition takes place at the end of each month, where inked fountain pens are judged against one another. They compete across various categories including writing performance, quality, price, special features, packaging, and more. I am aware that this is not a mathematical evaluation and personal preferences may influence the results.

May marked the fourth occurrence of this competition. The judging was particularly challenging this month due to the numerous high-quality pens. I inked three new fountain pens in May, each sparking considerable discussion. The newcomers are the vintage Waterman C/F, the Platinum 3776 Laurel Green, and the Visconti Rembrandt Blue. The judging was indeed difficult. However, I tried something new: I handed my inked fountain pens to my wife for her opinion. She has some knowledge of fountain pens but is not an expert. It’s interesting to note her perspective. Remarkably, her top four pens (out of eight) are the same as mine, only in a different order. Her important criteria include a preference for lighter pens, medium nibs, and the pen’s appearance.

Here are the results for May 2024:

1. Otto Hutt Design 04 🥇 – Good quality with an amazing smooth stainless steel nib!
2. 🆕Waterman C/F 🥈 – Amazing vintage pen with smooth fine gold nib. Looks stunning!
3. 🆕Visconti Rembrandt 🥉 – Top writer, needs some writing. Quality built!
4. 🆕Platinum 3776 – Amazing Platinum brings a cheap goldie, amazing look
5. Dukke 551 – The fude nib is great and the fountain pen is finished in detail!
6. Lamy Ideos – Simple design, same nib as many other Lamy’s. Closing and opening the pen is confusing. Love the Lamy mango ink 😍
7. BENU Chameleon – Nice pen, special look and good nib, on the scratchy side.
8. Conklin All American – Constant ink flow issues, discouraging.🤬

A good quote to start June