Demonstrator fountain pens are a special kind of fascination: the transparent body allows you to see the piston, the feed, and most importantly, how the ink shimmers. I came across a detailed, long-term review of one such pen, the Asvine P36 Titanium, and it demonstrates what affordable Chinese brands are capable of today.
The body is a classic "cigar" shape made of transparent acrylic, while the trim, grip section, and ends are made of titanium. There are no other design options, only the demonstrator style. You can choose between the native Asvine nib or the German Bock nib, in sizes EF, F, M (some sellers also offer B and Stub). The reviewer chose a Bock #6 nib in size F and received a perfectly writing nib right out of the box. By the way, the letter "P" in the name stands for the filling system – piston (V stands for vacuum, C stands for cartridge/converter).
Here are some details that I particularly liked: the detachable cap with a titanium clip (which allows you to position the clip precisely above the nib), the internal "cup" that prevents the nib from drying out even after a couple of weeks of inactivity, a ink capacity of approximately 1.5–1.6 ml, and a stop on the piston rod that prevents it from being overtightened or damaged. The weight is 30 grams, and the length when closed is 14.48 cm. A key is needed for maintenance (to lubricate the piston rings with silicone grease), but it is not included in the package and must be purchased separately.
There are also some drawbacks. The threads on the cap are cut into the acrylic, while the threads on the body are cut into the titanium, and the reviewer suspects that the titanium may gradually "etch" into the acrylic. People with a larger grip may find the sharp edges of the threads on the grip section uncomfortable. Also, the cap on the back end of the pen looks strange and throws off the balance.
However, after more than two years of use, the body has not become cloudy and is almost scratch-free (except for micro-scratches on the edge of the cap), and the pen has survived four flights without leaking – although, before each flight, it was either filled to the brim or the air was purged from it using the piston. This is a good example of how a "generic" new product can become a beloved tool. And if you fill it with bright, transparent ink, it will be a true work of art.
Source: Segment.ru
I never used to understand why anyone would spend several hundred euros on a fountain pen — until I read the interview with Montblanc expert Alexa Schilz. Her line, “Many people only learn to love their handwriting through the right writing instrument,” genuinely made me rethink things. A good fountain pen slows you down, makes your writing more legible, and becomes a small ritual.
I found the details fascinating: Montblanc offers seven nib widths, from extra fine to double broad, and for signatures she recommends the fountain pen. A nib takes 35 production steps, many of them by hand, and is made of 18-karat gold. Suddenly the price makes sense.
What tempts me most is the Meisterstück, which turned 100 last year and has appeared in countless films, from “James Bond” to “A Beautiful Mind.” And I like her view that a writing instrument is a piece of jewelry, like a ring or a watch.
These days I reach for paper more often than the keyboard again. Journaling is becoming more and more popular, after all. Maybe I’ll treat myself to my first proper fountain pen soon — my handwriting will thank me.
Source: NZZ Bellevue
The Gentleman Stationer shop in Nashville added a batch of Tono & Lims inks on October 6, and the author calls them some of the more interesting colours from the line that they have seen. If you follow ink releases, the list is worth a look.
The new arrivals come mostly from the Friendship Line, specifically the Souvenir inks, each named after a place: Souvenir Ao (Moanalua), Souvenir Kai (Waikiki), Souvenir Moment (Berlin) and Souvenir Tje (Utrecht). The post says some of them contain shimmer and shade in several colours. There is also one ink from the Earth Contact Line, No. 027 Sodalite.
The post does not list bottle sizes or prices, and the exact meaning of the Chromashaders label is not explained beyond the note about multi-colour shading, so check the shop page for details. The shop says it is adding new products daily since its new website launched, and it is open online around the clock, plus in the Nashville store on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons.
I enjoy how these place-named inks work like small postcards in a bottle. Shimmer inks do demand a bit more care with cleaning and with which pen you feed them, so it is worth reading up before you buy. Which Souvenir colour would you reach for first?
Source: The Gentleman Stationer
The Pen Addict's Kimberly Lau has posted a recap of the 2026 Dallas Pen Show, and it is a nice window into how a big US show is changing.
The show ran at the DoubleTree Hotel Dallas, Galleria, on the last weekend of September, right after the San Francisco show. It grew from two days to four by adding a Thursday, and it moved into a new Grand Ballroom. About 110 vendors attended, with 17 in the gallery, 30 in the Cypress Room and the rest in the ballroom. Lau says Thursday was a weak day for shoppers because there was no general admission and many vendors chose not to sell, and she suggests going back to a three-day Friday to Sunday format.
On the product side, Dromgoole's showed Montegrappa pieces including a Dracula pen and a PAC-MAN Ghostwriter, and launched two exclusive Retro 51 "Over the Moon" pens designed by Marty Henderson. New Pelikan releases mentioned include the M815 Metal Green Stripes and the M200 Pen of the Year in Pyrite with matching ink. Nib work was also a big theme, with four nib workers on hand, from Matt Chen to Sunny Koh of Straits Pen in Singapore.
I enjoyed how much of the recap is about the people and the layout rather than only the pens. If you have ever wondered whether a four-day pen show is worth it, this is a thoughtful first-hand take.
Source: The Pen Addict
A recent post on The Gentleman Stationer is part of a series where the author picks ten fountain pens they would keep, then chooses an ink for each. This installment covers three pairings, and the logic behind each one is what makes it worth reading.
First is Platinum Classic Citrus Black in a Montblanc 146 with a medium stub nib. The ink is pale yellow when wet and dries to a dark green-gold. Because it is an iron gall ink, it bonds to the paper and darkens as it dries, which also helps tame the wet flow of a stub. The author says it behaves on everything but the flimsiest copy paper.
Second is Maruzen Athena Blue in a Pilot Custom 823 with a medium blade grind. It is a darker blue, flows well and is permanent: in a test the ink barely ran after a page was held under a faucet for a full minute. The ink is sold only in Maruzen shops in Tokyo, not online. The author prefers blue or blue-black in this pen because its vacuum filler is hard to clean fully.
Third is Taccia Ukiyo-e Hiroshige Ruri in a Pelikan M800 with a medium perspective grind. It is a vibrant blue with balanced flow and quick drying, with a red sheen on certain coated papers that never overwhelms the colour.
I like that the choices are practical rather than just pretty: permanence, cleaning, and paper behaviour all matter. It also made me curious about iron gall inks in general.
Source: The Gentleman Stationer
This year marks 95 years since Shanghai Hero Pen was founded. On June 26, during the 120th China Culture & Office Supplies Fair, Hero held a 95th anniversary celebration and new product launch in the forum area of Hall E4 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.
The event was organized by Shanghai Hero (Group) Co., Ltd. and co-hosted by the Fashion Communication department of Shanghai Jianqiao University. Technical support came from Lingju Culture & Technology in the Lingang New Area. The most striking moment was an AI-concept fashion short film, which served as the main visual backdrop for the runway and retold the story of founder Tang Di, who started the business to serve the nation. Miao Hua, secretary-general of the Shanghai Light Industry Association, and Xia Junbao, general manager of Hero, attended and gave speeches. Xia outlined the brand's long-term development plan, centered on the “Hero+” strategy of combining traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics.
New products included a limited Year of the Horse pen inspired by traditional imperial kiln porcelain, the E528 “Shencheng Memories” gift box, and the “Land and Rivers” series. Students from the university's Fashion Communication department also performed on stage, a small example of school-industry collaboration.
As someone who enjoys fountain pens, I found it refreshing to see an established domestic brand bring together AI imagery, cultural creativity and school-industry collaboration in one event. How a 95-year-old brand keeps itself feeling young will depend on the products that follow, and I will be watching for them.
Source: 中华网（财讯网）
Platinum Pen announced on October 1, 2026 that it will discontinue some models in its #3776 Century series. Many people may be surprised, since this series has long been a classic in the lineup.
Two models are affected. One is the PNB-18000CR, with a suggested retail price of ¥43,000, available in four colors: Black Diamond, Laurel Green, Chartres Blue and Bourgogne. The other is the PNB-15000, priced at ¥40,000 and offered in five colors: Black in Black, Chenonceau White, Laurel Green, Chartres Blue and Bourgogne. Both came in a wide range of nib sizes, from ultra-fine to extra-broad.
No end date has been given. Sales will stop once the stock runs out. The only reason offered is “with future product development in mind.”
The announcement also includes a follow-up. A successor model with improved features, built on the technology and craftsmanship of the existing models, is planned. Its name, release timing, price and specifications have not been revealed, and more details will be shared later.
Personally, if there is a color or nib width you have had your eye on, I think it is worth checking in a store now. At the same time, I am curious what the successor will be like and look forward to further news.
Source: プラチナ万年筆
Pelikan has released the Classic 200 Cherry Blossom, the first edition of its World Festival Series, available from March 2026 for a limited time. The details below come from the manufacturer's own product page.
The fountain pen (M200) has a polished resin barrel in a soft, pale pink marbled pattern with a white cap, and gold-plated clip and rings (24-carat). What makes it stand out is the ink window: it is shaped like a flower, which the page describes as a first for Pelikan. The nib is polished stainless steel plated in 24-carat gold and comes in EF, F, M and B. Filling is by the differential piston mechanism, so there is no cartridge option on this model. It measures 12.5 cm closed and weighs 13.4 g.
A matching K200 ballpoint is also offered, with a polished resin front section and marbled resin top section. It is a push-mechanism pen, 13.5 cm with the tip out and 16 g including the refill, and uses a large-capacity black M (1.0 mm) refill. Both pens are designed and made in Germany and come with a three-year warranty. The page does not list a price.
What I find appealing is that Pelikan keeps the compact Classic 200 shape and lets the colour and the small window detail carry the theme. A piston-filler this light is a good match for a shimmering or pastel ink, so it will be interesting to see which inks people pair with it.
Source: Pelikan
Montblanc has picked Henri Matisse for its 2026 Masters of Art series, and the new Homage to Henri Matisse Limited Edition 4810 is a pen I could look at for a long time just for the design idea.
The starting point is Matisse's Blue Nude III. The barrel uses blue and white lacquer with platinum-coated fittings, and the pattern is abstract until you turn the pen: as it rotates, a female figure appears. I love it when a pen asks you to handle it rather than just admire it on a desk.
The rounded, sculptural cap is a nod to Matisse's sculptures. The top is blue precious resin around a white precious resin Montblanc emblem, and the platinum-coated cone carries a botanical pattern whose elliptical shapes echo flower petals.
Then there is the nib, a hand-crafted solid Au 750 gold nib with rhodium plating. It is embossed with botanical elements inspired by Matisse's The Sheaf, and the interwoven letters H and M are a quiet signature. The white lacquered clip is shaped like a leaf, echoing the multicoloured arrangement in the same painting.
The retailer's announcement does not give a price or an edition size, so I will wait for those details before saying anything about value. For now, what stays with me is how much of Matisse's cut-out language has been squeezed into a few centimetres of cap and clip.
Source: Fontoplumo
Sailor’s bottled ink line “Ink Kobo” has been renewed under the name “INK STUDIO.” It went on sale on June 27, 2026. The lineup has 50 colors in total: 40 carried over from the former Ink Kobo, plus 10 new shades.
The way the 40 colors were chosen is interesting. Based on the results of the “Ink Kobo Sōsenkyo” (general election) held in January 2026, the selection was narrowed down while checking color harmony and color balance across the range. Of the 100 colors in the old line, 60 were not carried over and will only be sold on order through Sailor’s official online shop, “Sailor Shop.” It is sad news for anyone who lost a favorite color, but the approach of reflecting fan votes feels sincere.
The new colors have the numbers 321, 232, 271, 336, 467, 574, 674, 778, 862, and 968. The product is a water-based dye ink, 20 ml, with a suggested retail price of 1,760 yen (1,600 yen before tax).
What caught my attention most is the packaging. It uses paper that absorbs ink well and shows color clearly, so you can draw or paint on the package itself with the ink inside. The idea of painting the bottle illustration on top with the actual ink, so you can tell the colors apart even while the bottles sit on a shelf, is lovely. The color numbers are also printed large on the front of both the bottle and the box, which should make them easy to find for anyone who uses many colors.
Sailor says it wants the brand to be aware not only of the domestic market but also of the global market and the art scene where ink is used for creative work. I can feel ink increasingly being seen as a tool for drawing, not just for writing. If one of the new numbers catches your eye, I would like to look at the real thing slowly when I see it in person.
Source: PR TIMES (Sailor Pen Co., Ltd.)
Pelikan has unveiled Pyrite, its Edelstein Ink of the Year for 2026: a gold-grey shade with a deep, glowing metallic sheen, inspired by the mineral pyrite. According to the manufacturer's site, the ink should produce a striking, shimmering look on paper.
The brand describes a velvety texture and a soft writing feel that should suit Pelikan nibs. Pelikan also points to the special formula used across the whole Edelstein collection, which is meant to make writing even smoother and to care for the nib. Pyrite is said to have a grounding effect and is regarded as a talisman for mental clarity and ambition. As with every year's ink, Pyrite is a limited edition and is only available during calendar year 2026. The page does not mention a cartridge version, and it does not list the bottle size or the price. The other colours in the collection come in 50 ml glass bottles.
Looking at the series as a whole is interesting. In 2022 it was Apatite, a blue-turquoise; 2023 brought Rose Quartz in a rosé tone; 2024 was Golden Lapis, a blue with golden shimmer elements (the bottle should be shaken before use); and 2025 was Apricot Agate, a soft orange. Pyrite is a much more restrained, metallic tone.
With shimmering inks it is worth thinking about the nib and the paper. Smooth paper that absorbs little ink usually lets the metal particles show up best. If you collect, do not wait too long on a limited annual ink.
Source: Pelikan
Sailor Pen will release a limited-edition fountain pen, the “Black Mikarta,” made with Mikarta material, at authorized retailers nationwide starting Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Mikarta is a laminated material originally developed as an industrial insulator. The black version is said to have a dense, matte texture rather than the shine of ordinary plastic. It resists water and corrosion, and it is less prone to warping from humidity or wear, so it is easy to care for. Scratches are less noticeable than on resin barrels, and the color and luster are said to gain depth the more you use it.
The nib is made of 21-karat gold, which Sailor produces with its own technology. Compared with the 14K or 18K nibs common in fountain pens, it has a stronger spring, so it resists splaying under pressure and helps prevent ink starvation when the flow cannot keep up. The writing feel is described as “feather touch.”
Price and production numbers are not listed on the announcement page. If you are interested, check the product page or ask at a retailer. A material that changes character as you use it should appeal to fountain pen lovers.
Source: セーラー万年筆
