{"id":6334,"date":"2021-12-31T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-31T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/?p=6334"},"modified":"2024-12-12T07:35:07","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T12:35:07","slug":"2021-new-pen-tag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/2021-new-pen-tag\/","title":{"rendered":"2021 New Pen Releases, The Tag"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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

This post is based on the “New Makeup Releases | THE TAG” video<\/a> from Angelica Nyqvist<\/a>. She’s done this tag for several years, and I thought it would be fun to adapt it to the fountain pen world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This tag is about evaluating the releases \u2014 in this case pens & inks \u2014 from the past year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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1. What release(s) lived up to the hype most this year? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another hyped release was the 2021 \u2014 Blue Edition \u2014 Inkvent Calendar. I’ve been pleasantly surprised while working on my 25 Days of Dupes<\/a>, and the general reception seems to be really positive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Which release(s) did not live up to the hype?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"TWSBI<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. What was the biggest curve ball?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. What was the most ridiculous luxury release?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a tie for me between the Montegrappa Monopoly 85th Anniversary Limited Edition collection and the Visconti QWERTY. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Montegrappa<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Visconti<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

They both come in crazy packaging \u2014 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 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UPDATE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While typing this, I had to search for images of these two pens and found out that there is a Monopoly GOLD edition \u2014 as in, it has an 18K gold overlay and trims \u2014 with a roughly $41K price tag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Monopoly<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

SECOND UPDATE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/em> ridiculous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. What was the biggest letdown\/snoozefest?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another tie, this time between two Sailor Pens: The 110th Anniversary collection and the 2021 Pen of the Year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Sailor<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Sailor<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The 110th Anniversary collection just seemed so boring, especially compared to Pilot’s 100th Anniversary offerings<\/a> 3 years ago. It could have also gone in the “ridiculous luxury release” category, but I feel it fit better here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by Rachel (@randomly_._rachel)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>