DISCLAIMER UPDATE (6/24/22): TWSBI and Narwhal have released a joint statement which I cover in my most recent TWSBIgate post. While not completely satisfied with TWSBI’s response to the situation, I no longer feel the need to dissuade people from purchasing their products.
DISCLAIMER (5/1/22): Since writing this post, TWSBI has been involved in some unsavory actions, and I am currently boycotting them. For more information, refer to the #twsbigate tag page.
This post is based on the “New Makeup Releases | THE TAG” video from Angelica Nyqvist. She’s done this tag for several years, and I thought it would be fun to adapt it to the fountain pen world.
This tag is about evaluating the releases — in this case pens & inks — from the past year.
1. What release(s) lived up to the hype most this year?
I’ve been a bit out-of-touch with what releases have been hyped this year, especially with pens. I honestly don’t even remember many pens getting much hype. I do, however, remember the hype and excitement around the Private Reserve relaunch. The new Private Reserve inks have seemed to live up to the hype, although there has been disappointment that the full range wasn’t re-released. But maybe more inks are coming.
Another hyped release was the 2021 — Blue Edition — Inkvent Calendar. I’ve been pleasantly surprised while working on my 25 Days of Dupes, and the general reception seems to be really positive.
2. Which release(s) did not live up to the hype?
Definitely the TWSBI Swipe. I remember a lot of interest in TWSBI’s first cartridge/converter pen. But here we are, just 5 months later, and I can’t remember the last time I heart someone mention the Swipe.
3. What was the biggest curve ball?
I have to say Visconti’s Blue Ultramarine Homo Sapiens. I was really surprised to see such a brightly colored lava pen. The three previous ones had been so subdued. Also, Visconti ditching their iconic HookSafe capping mechanism. I never thought I’d see the day. I wonder if they plan to eliminate it altogether, or only for this series.
4. What was the most ridiculous luxury release?
This is a tie for me between the Montegrappa Monopoly 85th Anniversary Limited Edition collection and the Visconti QWERTY.
They both come in crazy packaging — the Monopoly comes with the game, while the QWERTY comes in a case resembling a typewriter. Both pens are themed around something that has nothing to do with pens. Honestly, the typewriter can be said to be the antithesis of a pen. And, both are stupendously expensive for pens that aren’t made of gold or gem-incrusted — the QWERTY is $3,995 MSRP while the Monopoly is $5,250 MSRP. At least you get a collector’s edition game with the Monopoly.
UPDATE
While typing this, I had to search for images of these two pens and found out that there is a Monopoly GOLD edition — as in, it has an 18K gold overlay and trims — with a roughly $41K price tag.
SECOND UPDATE
I write these a bit ahead of time, and, as I’ve thought about it, Visconti’s QWERTY seems just slightly more ridiculous than Montegrappa’s Monopoly series. Montegrappa is known for their crazy releases with all sorts of non-pen themes. Visconti, however, isn’t really. I’m leaving them both on here, though, because if you ignore Montegrappa’s history and just look at the releases this year, the Monopoly pens are definitely ridiculous.
5. What was the biggest letdown/snoozefest?
Another tie, this time between two Sailor Pens: The 110th Anniversary collection and the 2021 Pen of the Year.
The 110th Anniversary collection just seemed so boring, especially compared to Pilot’s 100th Anniversary offerings 3 years ago. It could have also gone in the “ridiculous luxury release” category, but I feel it fit better here.
The 2021 Pen of the Year felt outdated and “already done” in the wake of the Platinum #3776 Century Carnelian and the Pelikan M205 Star Ruby. It reminded me so much of those two pens when I saw it that I made the meme below.
6. Which brand(s) had the best year?
I think this win goes to Carolina Pen Company and all of Jonathon’s collaborations, especially the mainstream ones.
A close second, though, is Mr. Cypress and their rise in notoriety. I’ve seen their pens in multiple collections, and their work continues to push boundaries.
7. Which brand(s) need to reevaluate what they’re doing?
Pineider. Their pens often seem significantly overpriced for what they are, and many of them are ugly. Disclaimer: This next bit is my opinion based on anecdotal evidence that Dante del Vecchio and Visconti did not have an amicable parting several years ago.
Pineider’s pens feel as though Dante is attempting to recapture his Visconti glory by recreating the pens he designed for them, but with enough changes that Pineider can’t be sued. And that isn’t how you make awesome pens. Take, for example, the Alchemist, which is a poor recreation of the Homo Sapiens line. Or the Metropolis collection with customizable finial.
8. What are your predictions for releases next year?
This is hard. With pens, I think we’ll see more unique and indie-made materials use for mainstream pens, like the Leonardo Officina Italiana x Carolina Pen Company collaborations this year. With inks, I think we’ll see more multishaders. When even Diamine is making them, you know they’re popular.
So, there we go. My answers to the New Pen Releases Tag. Do you agree with me? Do you think I’m full of it? Let me know in the comments! If you decide to answer these yourself, please share with me, because I’d love to know what others think.
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