I Forgot I Had This Pen: The Lamy Studio

January 20, 2016

Have you ever put something down for years—whether it’s a pen, notebook, or something else entirely—only to pick it up later and think “what’ve I been doing with my time, that I would leave this sitting for so long?” Well, this week I had that experience with this pen, the Lamy Studio. This model is the “Ruby Red” limited edition with a 14K extra-fine nib that I picked up a few years back on the FPGeeks Classifieds section for $90. That, my friends, was a steal. The standard Lamy Studio with a stainless steel nib is a fixture on my “Top Pens under $75” list, but Lamy’s 14K nibs deserve more attention.

Build and Finish

This pen has a nice design. It’s manufactured from what I assume is aluminum, with a smooth stainless steel section. If you dislike metal sections, you will probably find this pen slippery and difficult to grasp. Personally, I like the section on this particular pen because the weight of the metal section offsets the cap when posted, giving the pen a nice balance while writing. The cap posts securely, with an audible "click" that lets you know the cap is firmly attached.

The Lamy Studio posted.  The pen has a nice size, and is well-balanced posted or unposted. — The Lamy Studio posted. The pen has a nice size, and is well-balanced posted or unposted.

My criticism of this pen is with the red matte finish. Namely, I'm extremely disappointed that in several very noticeable places, the red finish is rubbing off the pen. The worst wear is under the clip where it touches the cap, but there are also some problem spots where the cap joins the body. I’ve included pictures of both. I don't like to see this kind of quality control issue in a pen at this price point, especially where the pen hasn’t been carried all that much. The wear under the clip is inexcusable, and strikes me as something Lamy should have foreseen.

A couple things to note before you consider buying: the Studio is a cartridge/converter pen, and takes proprietary Lamy Cartridges. Also, the Lamy Studio takes a different converter, the Z26 Piston, than the Lamy Safari and the Lamy AL-Star, which take the Z24 Piston. Lamy cartridges and converters are durable and have decent ink capacity. No complaints here.

The Nib

The lack of durability—and, dare I say it, poor quality—of the finish on this pen caused me to come close to selling it multiple times. (I believe one time I actually listed it, but got no takers.) Over the past several months, I've been consciously paring down my pen collection to what I consider a more manageable number, and during that process this pen came up again. Out of curiosity, I inked it up, and despite the beat-to-heck look of the thing, I can’t see myself parting with this pen. The 14K nib is that good.

When most people think of Lamy's gold nibs, they think of the Lamy 2000, another personal favorite of mine. Lamy's "standard" 14K nibs are often--and, in my opinion, unjustifiably--overlooked. The extra-fine nib on my Lamy Studio is relatively wide for an extra-fine nib, and writes more like a “fine” from most other brands. The nib is, however, springy and smooth. It’s also slightly stubbish, in that it offers a touch of line variation and gives my writing an italic look and feel. To me, Lamy’s interchangeable stainless steel nibs offer good quality and exceptional value in entry-level pens, but this 14K gold nib has frankly blown me away. At around $150, both the Lamy 2000 and the Studio make great options for a “first gold-nibbed pen,” though I must say, I prefer the Studio’s extra-fine to the extra-fine on my Lamy 2000. I suspect it’s because the lack of a hood on the Studio gives the nib the additional springiness, making it very pleasant to write with.

Lamy Studio Writing Sample:  14K EF nib on Nock Co. Dot-Dash Index Card.  The ink is Lamy Copper Orange. — Lamy Studio Writing Sample: 14K EF nib on Nock Co. Dot-Dash Index Card. The ink is Lamy Copper Orange.

Takeaways

The Lamy Studio is definitely a legitimate player in the relatively sparse "best-fountain-pen-under-$75" product category, if you're looking for a reliable, comfortable writer that looks more "professional" than a Safari or an AL-Star. If you're up for spending a bit more money, I would recommend going for the gold nib. Setting aside the aesthetic issues with the finish for a moment, this is one of the best-writing pens I own.

While I’ve not seen it in person, pictures of the current “Wild Rubin” special edition Lamy Studio look similar to the Ruby Red, except the Wild Rubin has a glossy, red lacquer finish. (I suspect that the red lacquer finish is MUCH more durable than the matte finish on the Ruby Red, so I’d advise you to buy the newer pen rather than track down a Ruby Red on the secondary market.) Pen Chalet currently sells the Wild Rubin with a stainless steel nib) for $79, and Goulet Pens still has 14K version in stock at $164. Goulet sells the 14K version as part of a set that comes with a Z26 converter and a bottle of Lamy Blue ink.

Walkthrough Video

I put together a short walkthrough video with the Lamy Studio Ruby Red. Let me know what you think and if this sort of thing is helpful. If it is, I will consider additional videos for future reviews.

DISCLAIMER: The Gentleman Stationer is now supported entirely through purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. While the Lamy Studio Wild Rubin is no longer available, we carry various versions of the Lamy Studio in our own shop.

Monteverde Capless Gel Refill for Montblanc Ballpoint Pens, Featured Here in the Montblanc Classique Ballpoint

Hacking Ballpoint Pens: The Monteverde Capless Gel Refill Review

January 16, 2016

If you’re like me, and are known throughout your immediate and extended family as “the pen guy,” then you have a collection of ballpoint pens that people have given you over the years as gifts. Some or all of them may be monogrammed or personalized in some way, making them nearly impossible to pass on or sell (setting aside, for the moment, the difficulties in selling gifts that often have sentimental value).

Case in point: when I graduated from law school, I was given a Montblanc Meisterstuck Classique ballpoint, with the platinum trim. It’s a beautiful pen, if you’re into the Montblanc black and platinum/gold aesthetic. It’s engraved with my initials, fits nicely in my hand, and is extremely comfortable to write with. The only problem is that I hated the standard Montblanc ballpoint refill. I found that it skipped a lot and didn’t leave a dark enough line for my taste. Plus I found the refills obscenely expensive, costing $12 or more (unless you buy them in bulk, which I couldn't justify, seeing that I dislike the way they write).

Montblanc Classique Ballpoint with Platinum Trim

Enter Monteverde. Many people may not know this, but Monteverde manufactures a line of “capless” gel refills that fit ballpoint pens from many manufacturers, including Montblanc. I’ve outfitted the Classique with the fine blue/black Monteverde refill, and I’ve also upgraded a Parker jotter using Monteverde's Parker-compatible gel refill. Both are great pens, and they now appear in my rotation on a weekly basis.

One word of caution: Monteverde’s quality control can be inconsistent. For example, I have a Waterman retractable ballpoint that I also wanted to convert into a gel pen. A couple years back, I purchased some of the “Waterman-compatible” gel refills and they simply didn’t fit, despite there being no visible difference from the standard Waterman refill. Apparently, the Monteverde refill had an ever-so-slightly larger diameter, so somebody must've gotten the measurements wrong at the factory. (The store I purchased them from ended up allowing me to exchange them for the standard Waterman ballpoint refill, which is actually pretty decent.) Amazon reviews are also mixed. There are complaints about the Monteverde refills being scratchy, drying up, leaking, and running out quickly, though I have to say that has not been my own experience. (Note: if you are used to writing with a ballpoint pen, gel refills WILL run out quickly if you write a lot. There was one complaint from someone who claimed that he wrote a full page by hand every day and was surprised that the gel pen ran out after a month. That’s par for the course, in my experience.) In general, take Amazon reviews with a grain of salt—my personal favorite was a one-star review because the refill “does not fit fake Montblanc pens.”

I have had nothing but good experiences with the Monteverde refills. I’ve gone through two of them, and each has lasted me a fairly long time when used for light note-taking. For a pack of 6, they are much less expensive than a standard Montblanc-branded refill. They also come in blue-black (my favorite) in addition to the standard black and royal blue.

Monteverde Softroll Ballpoint Refill (Parker-compatible) in my Maxmadco Bolt-Action Stainless Steel Pen.

If gel pens aren’t for you, Monteverde’s “softroll” ballpoint refills are also quite nice. I have the blue-black refill in my Maxmadco stainless steel retractable pen, and I’ve enjoyed it. The company even makes a Lamy-compatible refill.

Zebra Sharbo X: The Premium Multi Pen

December 19, 2015

For the past few weeks, I've been testing out Zebra's Sharbo X multi pen, on loan from enabler-in-chief Mr. Hall. The Sharbo X is a well-built multi pen that clearly has been manufactured to appeal to the "upscale" market. The version I have is the LT3, which features metal construction (aluminum) and three slots that Thomas has outfitted with two D1 Jetstream Refills and a .5mm mechanical pencil. The blind cap unscrews to reveal an eraser.

What first struck me about this pen is the size. It's a small, slender pen that would fit perfectly into the loop of a paper planner (if you're a planner person). I immediately realized that this pen is probably too small for me to use to write for long periods of time, and therefore wouldn't have a place in my toolkit, since that's what my day job requires.

The Sharbo X also has an unusual mechanism for shifting between refills. There is no "retract" button or nock. Rather, you rotate the barrel to one of three positions, and leave it "in-between" in order to retract the pen from writing position. To be honest, it's not my favorite mechanism; I found it counterintuitive and somewhat confusing.

The major drawback to the Sharbo X is that it typically has a premium price to go along with those premium looks. Jetpens sells the Silver LT3 Model (the three-slot multi pen) for $32. You can find versions for as low as $7 through Japanese sellers on Amazon, but the shipping looks to be pretty slow and I'm not familiar with the seller. Where the Sharbo X will kill you, however, is on the gel refills, if that's your preference. This pen uses the small D1-size refill, which run around $2.75 each. You can mitigate that somewhat by opting for hybrid ballpoint refills, such as the Uniball Jetstream D1 refill, which typically last much longer.

I'm a fan of multi pens, and this is a good one, but it won't replace my four-slot Hi-Tec-C Coletos (starting at $3.30 for the pen body and $2.20 for the refills) anytime soon. The Hi-Tec-C refills may be finicky, but they last a long time for a multi pen and have a wide range of available colors. Due to the smaller than average refills, any multi pen is going to be more expensive in the long run because you will have to replace the refills more frequently. I've been satisfied with how long the Coleto refills last. And if I wanted a multi pen that accepts D1 refills, the Lamy 2000 multipen is at the top of my list, primarily due to the comfortable size.

A big thanks to Thomas for loaning me this pen for review. He was generous enough to send it to me to try out for a couple months, and now I can send it home.

DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links. All Amazon pricing and availability is subject to change, is only current as of the time of publication of this review.

Pen Review: The Scriptorium Balladeer

November 14, 2015

After the Atlanta Pen Show, all the way back in April, I made the tough (for me) decision to liquidate a large number of pens in my collection and invest in a smaller number of more expensive custom pieces. I ended up ordering a Newton Shinobi, a Conid Bulkfiller Minimalistica, and a Scriptorium Balladeer. The most difficult part of ordering a custom pen is that you have to wait for the pen to actually be made, which in some instances can create a lag of three to six months between the time you pay for the pen in full and when you actually have the pen in your hands. It’s worth the wait, though. All three have exceeded my expectations.

While I don’t have a personal favorite—all three pens are well made, and very different—the Balladeer has surprised me the most. While I knew that I wanted to order a pen from Renee at Scriptorium Pens (you can read up on her and her story here), I was torn between several models.

Size

The Balladeer was my favorite from the beginning, but I hesitated because I thought it would be too big. I don't mind a large-diameter pen--I have several--but because I like to post my pens, weight becomes an issue if the cap is too heavy or if the pen posts too high. After some discussion with Renee, she suggested drilling out the barrel to decrease weight (which also has the benefit of increasing the pen's ink capacity when filled as an eyedropper), and tapering the barrel ever-so-slightly to allow the cap to post deeper than it normally would.

Renee conveniently offers pens in a variety of sizes (small, medium, large, and oversize), but keep in mind that even the medium is relatively large. I settled on a medium, after scrutinizing the measurements on the Scriptorium website and comparing them against what I considered the most comfortable pens in my collection. (The site is a pen geek's dream.) The exact degree of variation between sizes will differ depending on the model you order. To give some sense of the scale of the Balladeer, I would compare my *medium* to a slightly slimmer Montblanc 149.

Dartmoor Acrylic

I'm a sucker for celluloids and other materials that *look* like celluloid, such as these Conway Stewart acrylics that Renee and other pen turners scooped up after Conway folded last year. My Balladeer features the "Dartmoor" acrylic, which I'd describe as a dark brown/green/black with veins and flecks of white, gold, and caramel. From what I've seen around the interwebs, Dartmoor and Amber are the two Conway Stewart acrylics that have received the most attention, and photos don't do the Dartmoor justice. To set off the Dartmoor, I opted for end caps made out of Urushi Red acrylic. The end result is a hand turned acrylic pen, made to my specifications, that, at least to me, is practically indistinguishable from a celluloid pen with urushi trim. To purchase the latter--or even to find someone who knows how to make it--would be prohibitively expensive.

Build and Trim

Scriptorium Pens Silver Clip.  I love the minimalist engraving. — Scriptorium Pens Silver Clip. I love the minimalist engraving.

Renee knows her stuff. This pen is hand-turned, and if there are any manufacturing flaws or artifacts, I haven't found them yet. I chose the sterling silver clip and the stainless steel medium JoWo nib, which is the same steel nib used by Edison Pen Co. and Franklin-Christoph. JoWo nibs aren't my favorite, but they are more than serviceable, and the beauty of this pen is what makes it a pleasure to write with.

Value

All models of Scriptorium Pens start at $225, which includes a steel nib with a converter. Some materials, such as ebonite and the Conway acrylics, have an additional charge associated with them. Renee's pricing process is transparent and plainly set out on her site. Between the Dartmoor, the Urushi Red caps, and the sterling silver clip, this pen set me back approximately $275. Value is always a matter of opinion/preference, but I consider that a good deal for a work of art. To the extent any issues ever occur with the pen, I couldn't imagine that Renee's customer service would be anything less than impeccable.

Normal cartridge/converter filling system, but the pen also can be used as an eyedropper.  I just haven't gotten around to testing this out ye! — Normal cartridge/converter filling system, but the pen also can be used as an eyedropper. I just haven't gotten around to testing this out ye!

Overall, I'm extremely happy with my Balladeer, and consider it a great purchase. I've been using it fairly exclusively for the past month or so, given that I find it so comfortable to write with. Renee will work with you to customize your pen to your needs, and I cannot recommend her services enough.

DISCLAIMER: I purchased this pen with my own funds, for my own collection. I have not been compensated in any way for this review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

The Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen and Ballpoint side-by-side.

Lamy 2000 Ballpoint: My Go-To EDC Option

October 3, 2015

Back at the Atlanta Pen Show, I purchased a ... gasp ... ballpoint pen. First things first, I'm not one of those pen snobs who never uses ballpoints. They have their place, but my primary beef with ballpoints is that I have small handwriting, and most ballpoints come in 1.0mm widths or broader. Plus the ink in the cheaper models tends to blob. That aside, a good ballpoint pen is one of the more useful tools that you can have with you at any given time. They write on more or less any surface, the ink tends to dry quickly and be permanent, and they don't dry out immediately if you leave the cap off the pen.

Other than my Tactile Turn Mover with a Uniball Jetstream refill, the Lamy 2000 is the only ballpoint pen that I use on a regular basis. (The Jetstream I really don't even consider to be a true ballpoint pen--it has more in common with a gel pen, and the .38mm refill is a personal fave.) The Lamy looks great, has perfect proportions for shirt pocket or pants pocket carry, and is reliably built. The ballpoint features the same Macrolon (polycarbonate) material as the fountain pen, and the two look particularly sharp when carried together. My favorite feature of my ballpoint, however, is this:

You read that right: West Germany. I have no idea how old this pen is, but at a minimum I would think it predates German reunification in 1990 (or was manufactured shortly thereafter, before Lamy had a chance to change their mark). A cool piece of history and one of many reasons why you should attend pen shows!

As others have pointed out, the one weakness of the Lamy ballpoint is the refill (or at lease the older Lamy refills that are still out there on the market). I picked up the blue "Fine", which writes an adequately narrow line, but the refill itself tends to fall on the light side for me. I suspect that the refill I purchased at the pen show is simply old, because others who have recently purchased a Lamy ballpoint refill have been pleasantly surprised.

A touch light for me, but it works better on smoother paper, such as the Nock Co. Dot-Dash. The line also tends to get lighter and skip more if I write with this pen for extended periods.

2023 Update: Over the years, I became frustrated that not many retailers were carrying the Lamy 2000 ballpoints and focusing on the non-fountain pen portion of Lamy’s excellent lineup, so I became a retailer! You can now purchase the Lamy 2000 line of pens, including the ballpoint, directly from T.G.S. in the Curated Shop.

While I'm at it, I also have to brag a bit about this, which I just received in the mail from Renee at Scriptorium Pens. I'm inking it up today and can't wait to use it and get my thoughts up on the blog!

A photo posted by Joe C. (@gentlemanstationer) on Oct 3, 2015 at 5:17am PDT

DISCLAIMER: I purchased the pens featured i this review with my own funds, for my own collection. This post also contains affiliate links.