{"id":5576,"date":"2021-10-01T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-01T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/?p=5576"},"modified":"2022-05-02T08:13:34","modified_gmt":"2022-05-02T12:13:34","slug":"capsule-collection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/capsule-collection\/","title":{"rendered":"Capsule Pen Collection"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

DISCLAIMER UPDATE (6\/24\/22)<\/strong>: TWSBI and Narwhal have released a joint statement which I cover in my most recent TWSBIgate post<\/a>. While not completely satisfied with TWSBI’s response to the situation, I no longer feel the need to dissuade people from purchasing their products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DISCLAIMER (5\/1\/22)<\/strong>: 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ink Journal’s September 10th Flex Nib Friday issue<\/a> included a link to ukfountainpens.com<\/a>‘s article The Three Pen Collection for \u00a31,000<\/a><\/em>. The idea was based on a series of posts on the watch blog Worn & Wound called the three watch collection for $5,000. UK Fountain Pens adapted the idea to pens, dropped the budget to $1,000 because “watches are much more expensive than pens” \u2014 *chortle* some<\/em> watches are much more expensive than some<\/em> pens \u2014 and limited picks to pens you can go out and buy today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s an easy enough premise.<\/strong> My problem, however, is that the pens I’d choose don’t work out well with the budget provided. So, I gave it some thought and decided to curate two collections, one with the adjusted $1,000 budget and one with the original $5,000 budget. As a note, I did not include taxes when figuring out my choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

$1,000 Collection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At $1K, I’m focusing on writing experience, not pen appearance. I have an affinity for “pretty” pens, but those tend to run higher in pricing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWSBI Diamond 580AL(R) – $65<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"TWSBI<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

First up, a TWSBI Diamond 580AL or 580ALR with an M nib. I don’t really care which color, as long as it’s not one of the special editions that have non-silver colored nibs. The 580 series nib is so deliciously wet<\/a>, I can enjoy ink shading to my heart’s delight. It’s super easy to clean, and can be fully disassembled, so I can use any ink. And, since my final tally ends up a little shy of the $1K budget, I’d also get a replacement F nib for $20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Running Total: $85.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pilot Custom 74 – $160<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Pilot<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Next up, a Pilot CUstom 74 Grenadine with a F nib. I fell in love<\/a> with the one I bought, so I know this one wouldn’t disappoint. Like the TWSBI, it’s easy to clean, so I can change ink regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Running Total: $245<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Platinum Izumo Bombay Black Wood Tagayasan Fountain Pen, Matte – $595<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Platinum<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And my last choice: The Platinum Izumo Tagayasan matte. I love how comfortable the Izumo shape is to write with. And the nib is wonderfully smooth, but crisp. This one would be good for non-shading inks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand Total: $840<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Look at that, even with taxes, I should be able to make it in under the $1K budget. Don’t know how well it would cover shipping, though. Those three wouldn’t be the prettiest collection in the world, but I’d love writing with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

$5,000 Collection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now for the really fun one, the $5K collection. For this one, I considered aesthetics in addition to writing experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWSBI Diamond 580AL(R) – $65<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"TWSBI<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

First up is the TWSBI again. And I’d get two replacement nibs so I have EF, F, and M options. What can I say, I truly love how the 580s write.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Running Total: $105<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Namiki Yukari Rock Garden – $1,400<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Namiki<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Next up is the Namiki Yukari Rock Garden<\/a> with an M nib. The exterior is a beautiful work of art, and the nib glides on paper like a hot knife through butter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Running Total: $1,505<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ARTUS Pen – $1,800<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, I’d get another ARTUS, along the same lines as my Four Elements Water<\/a>, because that pen is STUNNING. Every time I pick it up, I ogle it for a few moments. The sheer artistry is almost beyond comprehension. Sadly, no photo for this one, because it would depend what ARTUS has available at any given time in the $1,800 price point. To make it even better, I’d get one of Stylo Suite’s Spencerian nibs<\/a> for it, because that is one of the most amazing nib experiences I’ve ever had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Running Total: $3,505<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m Going to Cheat: Platinum Izumo Maki-e Kurikara-ken – $1,250?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Platinum<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So this leaves me with $1,495 to spend (maybe more if I shop around for deals). So I’m going to let myself cheat and spend it on a fourth pen: The Platinum Izumo Maki-e Kurikara-ken. That Izumo shape, the president nib, and the dragon all together JUST edge out a carved pen<\/a> from Brian Weaver<\/a>, but it was a VERY close race. I had to get Jim’s opinion to decide. The pricing is iffy on this one. Google shows a couple of places that have this pen around $1,250 mark, but there are others with it around $1,600. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand Total: $4,755<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I didn’t manage to get in under budget if I include taxes with this one. However, with a bit of shopping around, I could probably get lower prices and manage to get 100% under budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite putting together two ideal 3-pen collections, I know I wouldn’t be happy with a capsule collection. I like having 5+ pens inked up so I can have a bunch of ink colors. It was, after all, ink that first got me into the pen hobby, not pens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what do you think of my choices? Do you agree with any of them? What would you choose instead? Would you be able to limit yourself to $1K, or would you need the full $5K? Let me know in the comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure to subscribe to my blog<\/a> or follow me on Instagram<\/a> so you don’t miss any posts. I generally post at least once a week. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s an easy enough premise, create a three-pen collection within a specific budget. But things are never as easy as they seem.<\/p>\n

Keep ReadingCapsule Pen Collection<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5593,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[269,209,216,201,249],"class_list":["post-5576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fountain-pens","tag-artus","tag-pilot","tag-platinum","tag-tags-and-challenges","tag-twsbi","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/capsule-IGSm.jpg?fit=288%2C288&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8Z77k-1rW","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2243,"url":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/fp-series\/","url_meta":{"origin":5576,"position":0},"title":"Fountain Pen Series Wrap-Up","author":"Rachel","date":"October 26, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"This is it for my fountain pen series. 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