Lamy Dialog 3 Black

As the writing instrument slowly and steady become a main stream of life style products and a fashion statement, it has become important for the pen manufacturers to design products that are not only funational but trendy.

Montegrappa Vatican Papal Pen Limited Edition

Time fly, it is christmas again. We feel it would be a good idea to posted a pen that are related to Christian in general. After "Choas", we wish this Christmas will bring peace on mother earth and more people and effort will be put into saving and helping the world.

We dig into our pen collection and found this pen, the Montegrappa Vatican Limited Edition. At that time, Montegrappa released six versions of the Vatican Limited Edition, including the sterling silver version shown here.

Montegrappa Cult Collection Chaos Limited Edition

Sylvestor Stallone trying to use his stardom power to venture into the pen industry. He is Montegrappa newest partner and brand ambassador. For his first pen, the Rocky star uses in last movie The Expendables as an inspiration to kick start Montegrappa's new Cult colection.

According to the article in Pen World, it mentioned that Aquila says Stallone is fascinated with death and with the skull as its symbol. They researched skulls in art and found out that in the Middle Ages, skulls came to represent chaos.

Laban Dragon 2012 Edition

The Laban Dragon 2012 Edition is the new addition to their thematical edition series. It is so new that you cannot find it on Laban own web site.

There are two dragons on this pen. One on the cap, another on the pen barrel. Both dragon design are almost similiar. Both dragons crueled around the pen and both faced toward the left. In term of design, this is rather disapponting.

Mont Blanc Writer Series Carlo Collodi

This year (2011) Mont Blanc pay tribute Carlo Collobi, who real name is Carlo Lorenzini (November 24, 1826 – October 26, 1890). He is an italian journalist and author of the world-renowned fairy tale novel The Adventures of Pinocchio.

This is the second most loved pen in the Mont Blanc writer series.

The pen cap is decorated with a few of the characters from the novel The Adentures of Pinocchio.

Stipula Etruria Ambrosia

Over the weekend, we take a few pictures of our new found love Stipula Eturia Ambrosia.

This beautiful pen is crafted from translucent celluloid mixed with brilliant redish-orange nuances for distinction in expression.

Caran d'Ache RNX.316 PVD Black

Caran d'Ache is one our least favor brand not because they are poor quality products, or bad design. It is because we just feel it is too sexy for a man, and the pen barrel is too slim. We feel it is a very feminine pen.

They launched a new collection with a code name RNX316, which mean "Round aNd heXagonal. The 316L represent the stainless steel material used to made the pens. This 316L stainless steel has been used by the Swiss watchmakers for its remarkable mechanic properties, highlighted by a precision polishing process that catches the eye at the first glance

Sailor Kuji Kohaku Amber 琥珀万年筆

Sailor Company has been following the watch industry very closely. Like the watch manufacturers, who has been launching watches with rare or specially engineered materials, Sailor Company Japan has been doing similiar to the pens.

In the past, they launched Susutake, cedar woods, mulberry wood, brier wood and others. They also work with other Japan companies like Yonex for the carbon fiber fountain pen.

Sailor 100th Anniversary Pen Pouch

For Sailor 100th year anniversary, Sailor also launched a leather pen case for ten pens besid the Arita and Shima Kuwa Mulberry wood pens.

Namiki Yukari Royale Chrysanthem Flower

The chrysanthem flower is most loved in Asian culture. It is consider as a noble flower.

Confucius once suggested they be used as an object of meditation.

It is said that a single petal of this celebrated flower placed at the bottom of a wine glass will encourage a long and healthy life.

Event - You can draw with a fountain pen.

Elephant & Coral is organizing a event demostrating how one can draw beautifully with a fountain pens. We courage every fountain pen users to sign up for the event. Here are the details:

Date: 8 and 9 December 2011 (Thursday and Friday)
Session 1:  02:00 - 03:30pm
Sesison 2:  04:30 -  06:00pm
Venue: Elephant & Coral , #-03-#03 Mandrain Gallery
Fees: SGD50 per person per session
Registration: sales@elephant-coral.com
or call 6736-1322

Tokira Chilli Hot Road Star

Believe it or not, some Singaporean are so despair for a car that they are wellingly paying SGD75,000 for the COE. A piece of lousy paper that "entitled" you to buy a car that only allow the buyer to drive for 10 years.

Montegrappa Luxor Red Sea Limited Edition

Rain, Rain go away. Come again in another day ...

It has been raining almost everyday here in Singapore. Flood has been the hot topic here in Singapore. In Thailand, it has killed many people and their government is racing against time for idea to fix the flood problem.

The news reported that Bangkok Thailand will be underwater by 2050 if the government don't take necessary active steps to protect the city.

All the rain and flood just reminder me on the Montegrappa Luxor Red Sea Limited Edition.

Mont Blanc Writer Edition Carlo Collidi Ink

Beside the usual Montblanc Limited Writers Edition 2011 pens, this year Mont Blanc honours the great Italian writers Carlo Collidi with an additional limited production ink.

Unlike the special edition Mahatma Gandi, which uses the standard Mont Blanc ink bottle, this writer series limited production ink comes with it special designed bottle.

Namiki Zodiac Dragon Series 2

Zodiac has been a popular theme for manufacturer. This is the second series of the Namiki Zodiac range. As old artisan retired or requested to paint more complex theme, a new group of artisan was recuited to take on the less complex theme.

Most of the Namiki Zodiac maki-e pens were painted by new artisan with only a few by the older artisan. This Namiki Zodiac Dragon is one of the few. It is painted by Masaru Hayashi-san.

Pelikan Gekko (Moonlight) Limited Edition 2011

Hollywood has been remaking the oldies classic. The latest movie is the remake of the 1984 classic Footloose.

Like Hollywood, Pelikan has also been relaunching their classic in a different form. This Pelikan Gekko (Moonlight) was a "remake" of the 2005 "Sunlight (Kyokko) & Moonlight (Gekko)" limited edition. The idea behind the 2005 Moonlight (Gekko) and 2011 Moonlight (Gekko) is capture the beauty of light; the sun and moon light.

Using the transient color produce by the abalone shell, the artisan using the thousand year old maki-e technique to "recreate" the beautiful ray of the moonlight (Gekko).

Parker Sonnet in Pink Gold

In the last 10 months, we have been very much attracted to vintage watches and pink gold watches was our favor. We noticed a Parker ballpoint that we thought it would be nice to share.

Just last month, we found this Parker Sonnet Slim in pink gold laying isolated at a corner of the display shelf while look for a ball point while looking for a ball point pen with red ink.

The pen barrel is matte finished giving is a perfect tone, not too loud for a gold pen.

The trim is finished with nickel palladium plating.

For those vintage pink gold watch lovers looking for a matching gold pen, the search is over. This is it.

The Parker Sonnet pink gold also comes in fountain pen. 

Kutani Porcelain USB Thumb Drive 九谷焼

While waiting for our boys enrichment classes to end, we went for a walk at the Isetan Japan Festive and was immediately charmed by the Kutani porcelain thumb drive.

Kutani is a small town in Ishikawa prefecture well known for thier porcelain work like Arita.

The Kutani porcelain style is known for multiple colors such and bold design. It style is a bit different from the Arita Gen Emon Kilin style. The Kutani uses greens, blues, yellows, purples, and reds and the designs covered almost the entire surface of porcelain.

Namiki Golden Rose Limited Edition 2011

We received our Golden Rose, have your recieved yours.

The Namiki Golden Rose limited edition 2011 landed today and we are very excited to received it. The Namiki Golden Rose was prettier than what was on the pictures. The picture doesn't justify To this beauty. One really have to see the actual pen to very appreciate the beauty of the pen.

Montegrappa Frank Sinatra Limited Edition

Mont Blanc has John Lemon, Montegrappa has Frank Sinatra.

The Montegrappa latest ICON collection pay tribute to the legendary Frank Sinatra.

Online Germany Timeless Wood Fountain Pen

Unlike most tree, the ancient Kauri grow underground. It only be found in the northern New Zealand.

An unexplained act of nature at the end of the last Ice Age buried the tree below the peat swamp. For unknown reason, the trees survived the centuries underground, sealed in a balanced environment that has preserved the timber in perfect condition.

Sailor Kyo Maki-e Hana Musubi Rosette

This Sailor Makie-e on resin was a once not available in the market place until recently Sailor bring it back into production in 2011.

We like the way the artisan uses the red ribbon runing down the rossette.

Rumours, Rumours Pelikam M320 Pearl Special Edition

First Pelikan used it M1000 to launched the biggest demostrator as a special edition. On it end other of Pelikan Souveran product range, it has the M300. The smallest fountain pen, whcih has a length of just 11cm when closed.

For the coming December, Pelikan will get to buy him/herself a M320 Pearl Special Edition.

Unlike the pervious Special Edition, Pelikan try to upgrade it Special Edition image with a new packing.

Each fountain pen is packed inside a beautiful semi-circle shaped gift box together with one bottle of 4001 brilliant brown ink and one note pad with a matching heart.

The clip and the trimming are 24 carat gold-plated.

This beautiful high-quality resin fountain comes complete with a 14 carat gold with a rhodium trim.

Caran d'Ache Dragon Limited Edition : An Imperial Myth

We are three months away before the year of the rabbit ended, and we welcome the year of the powerful dragon. We will post one dragon theme pen each month as we march closer to welcome the year of the dragon.

Back in 2009, Caran d’Ache and Swiss jeweller Edouard Jud work togather again to release another enchanting and unique piece of decorative art based on the image of dragon on a pen.

Mont Blanc Tribute to the Mont Blanc Special Edition

Mont Blanc introduced a snowy white collection to pay tribute to Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe. It highest peaking is 4,810 metres, and straddling the French and Italian border.

Mont Blanc adopted the six glaciers and the peak of the iconic mountain as the brand’s emblem.

For those of us who does not have the chance to visit this iconic mountain, Mont Blanc setup a very cool web site which give us a mountain view to celebrate this Tribute to Mont Blanc Speical Edition.

Sailor Classic Kyo Maki-e Kimono Bijin (Lady in Kimono)

The maki-e technique is thousand years old Japanese traditional decorative technique. It has developed into many maki-e techniques, Kyo maki-e techniques is one of them. Since Heian period, Kyo maki-e decorative art can be seen at the musical instruments at the Emperors palace, at ancient temples as well various Japanese lacquer ware products.

Pelikan Special Edition Souveran M600 Green O' Green

Pelikan released a M800 Special Edition Blue-O-Blue last year. One year later, they released a M600 Special Edition Green-O-Green.

The O in both Special Edition mean the same thing. The o' is short for 'Over', which represent the material design looks. It look like several broad strokes of green (not blue) in different shades are put one over another.

Rumours, Rumours Namiki New Yukari Royale

Two By Two. Namiki discontinue two Yukari Royale last year. This year they are introducing two new Yukari Royale design; The Chrysanthem Flower and Traditional Japanese wrapper.

We are suprised by these new design was we are expecting Namiki to introduce this design that is close to the two was discontinue as it very popular.

Well! I guess the Namiki Limited Edition already give us a hint that Namiki is trying to capture new market using non-traditional design.

Who is the artisan for this two beautiful maki-e pen?

Namiki is keep their lip close about it. Guess we will have to wait to Nov/Dec when we receive our pieces.

In the meantime, start saving for it.

Online Desk Pen Case

Now we have another option for our desk pen case - the Online Germany desk pen case is now available locally at Fook Hing Trading. It is able to hold 10+3 pens.

Faber Castell Elemento Olive Wood

Year 2011, Graf Von Faber Castell celebrate its 250th anniversary. Beside the Pen of The Year 2011, they released The Elemento in Olive Wood as a Limited Edition to mark this event too.

The Elemento collection comprises of a propelling pencil and ball pen, roller-ball and fountain pen. We will only show the Elemento fountain pen.

There is nothing special done on the pen cap, except you will be able to find a olive wood at the end of the cap.

Cross - 2012 Year of The Dragon

The launch of the Cross Year Of The Dragon (2012) pens reminded me of the launch of sales of the Chinese Mooncake in Singapore.

The sales of Mooncake started before the end of the lunar seventh month. Some suppliers even start selling it as early as week 2 of lunar seventh month. All this in the hope to capture more market share.

We are four months away before it come to an end for the Year 2011, the Cross Year of The Dragon is already available locally at all authorized retailers. Cross is not the first to launch a Dragon pen this year.

Santos De Cartier Letter Opener

In the early day, the wristwatches were worn by woman as jewellery accessories. The men uses pocket watches. It was Santos Dumont who made popular the wrist watch among men.

Cartier made this propeller shaped letter opener to give homage to Santos-Dumont, the first performance pilot to wear a wristwatch. And ff course, it is a Cartier stainless steel case with 18k gold.

SHJM 8 Budget Fountain Pen

We received an email from Nariko Tanaka asking us to give her a fountain pen so that she can experience the writing experience. We exchanged a few emails and invite her to join our monthly pen meet so that she can expeience different type of pens from our local community.

We highlight that fountain pen price range are very wide. The cost of pen range from a cup of black coffee at the local Kopitam to a thousands of dollars.

S.T. Dupont Chinese Lacquer

BE AWARE OF FAKE FOUNTAIN PEN!!!

About two weekend back, I met a friend at China Square flea market. While browing at the flea market, I found a S.T. Dupont chinese lacquer gold dust roller ball shown here.

I examined the pen for a very long time. The rollerball pen tip is too far out and look funny. Initially, I was under the impression that it uses the wrong refill. I was wrong, it uses the S.T. Dupont refill.

Mont Blanc Gaius Maecenas Limited Edition

Montblanc pays homage to Gaius Maecenas with the 20th edition of their Patron of the Arts series, who was a personal advisor to Octavius as well as a supporter of young artists.

While Maecenas has enjoyed immense wealth and political friendship as advisor to the Roman Emperor Augustus, he true passion was art and culture. This can be found in reference in the recorded patron in the history of the arts and culture. He is also the known symbolic figure and representative for cultural responsiblity and selfness commitment.

Namiki Limited Edition 2011 The Golden Rose

Namiki go back to contemporary theme for the 2011 Limited Edition, The Golden Rose.

Artisan Yutaka Sato san uses a combination of Togidashi-Taka (Burnished-Raised) Maki-e technique with Raden (Mother-of-Pearl) technique to crafted the Namiki Golden Rose. This is Sato-san first Namiki Limited Edition.

The rose flower is painted using the Taka maki-e and the leaves uses the Warigai (Cracked Shell Inlaid) technique with Aogai (blue shell) to create the necessary depth and contrast giving the necessary dimension to bring the roses alive.

The entire pen is in gold color and decorated with gold powder. You cannot see a spot of black.

This pen is presented in a Inden pouch within a leather-bound gift box with an embossed rose design on the lid. Inden is a Japanese traditional technique to draw a Urushi lacquer pattern onto the deer hide. We have not see the actual Inden pouch but we assume it similar to the one used by Sailor, but it may come in different design.

We don't really appreciate the use of leather in maki-e, but in this case (maybe) it go went with the contemporary theme.

This Yukari Royale size Golden Rose limited edition pen comes in 18K gold nib and a special golden rose ink bottle

It is limited to 150 pieces worldwide, and schedule to be available in November 2011.

William Henry Studio - Fossil Brain Coral Fountain Pen

The William Henry Studio products is now available locally thanks for the good people at Fook Hing Trading.

William Henry Studio is one of the well known brands within the knife community for designing and making the finest tools. They are know for theirseamless integration of classic natural materials.

The pen that first caught our attention was the Cabernet F8-1101 fountain pen. The pen barrel is made from the natural fossil brain coral.

Mont Blanc Joy of Mahatma Gandi Special Edition Ink

For those orange color ink lover out there who didn't manage to get a bottle of the orange ink launched as the Mahatma Gandhi Special Edition ink, Mont Blanc launched the same color this year (2011) as a Ink of Joy Special Edition.

Mont Blanc Ink of Friendship, Love and Joy

Mont Blanc has not been successful with their special edition ink locally based on the remind of the past special edition available locally.

Mont Blanc is trying out their luck again with their newly launch Special Edition ink. They label them as ink of Love, Friendship and Joy.

Krone Sherlock Holmes Limited Edition

Krone honors the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle using his most memorable character created, the indefatigable detective Sherlock Holmes, to craft a superb sterling silver writing instrument.

This unique solid sterling silver pen is intricately detailed with three-dimensional elements, to help you solve the mystery.

Sailor 1911 Classic Black Matte

This is not the first Sailor matt black finsihing fountain pen. There is a earlier version in gold trimming.

What make this 1911 matte black special is the black brass, nickel-chrome ion platting gripping section.