Montegrappa Batman Pen

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Who said you need to have superpowers to be a superhero? Take a look at Batman and you know that being a superhero goes above and beyond the ability to release spider webs from your wrist or shoot laser beam from eyes. The DC Comics character which first made his appearance in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939 as the Batman, went on to become one of the most popular superhero character of all time. Also known as the Dark Knight, the Caped Crusader or by his secret identity Bruce Wayne, the legendary hero has touched many of our lives; sometimes alone, sometimes as a team player in Justice League. And now, he is here to inspire us again, this time to write.

Montegrappa pens have introduced a new line of limited edition pens in their Cult series. Inspired and dedicated to Batman, the Batman pen series captures the spirit of the Caped Crusader, created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A product of the partnership between Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Montegrappa pens, there will only be 1939 Batman fountain pens and 1939 Batman rollerball pens; which is appropriate given that the number signifies the year of the superhero’s first introduction. According Montegrappa’s CEO Giuseppe Aquila, “Montegrappa’s Batman Limited Edition encapsulates the Dark Knight’s legacy for the joy of our fellow collectors, as well as for the legions of comic book aficionados around the globe.”

The pen itself is detailed to the T in terms of capturing the essence of Batman. The body which is built of aluminum has a black anodized finish that lends the dark grey hue that is reminiscent of Batman’s original costume as seen in the DC comic. The entire body surface is engraved with several bats that seem to be in flight mode. The cap band is embezzled with the Bat-signal logo that will remind many of the famous introductory bat-logo that loomed over the sky of Gotham city in the beginning of every Batman episode. Right below it is the Montegrappa logo.

The clip is a stylized shape of Batman, which is made of black ruthenium plated brass. The Batman fountain pen is fitted with a white 18k gold nib which is chiseled with the famous oval bat logo in a contrasting color. Along with the 1939 pieces of Batman rollerball and fountain pen, Montegrappa is also releasing 500 sets that include Batman wristwatch and cufflinks.

Montegrappa Batman pen is your opportunity to relive the unmatched legend of the superhero. The pens come in a fantastic keepsake packaging, which features a large bat symbol on the lid and a detailed sketch of Gotham city at night on the inside. Snatch one for yourself or gift it to an avid Batman fan. Do you hear the music yet? Batman is ready to fight crimes, are you?

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Waterman Exception Pen Review

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Waterman Exception Pen

If you are giving any product a name such as “Exception”, it better lived up to it. Waterman, sure knows how to do it.

Breaking away from the conventional rounded shape of a pen, Waterman went on to create a series of pen that is square in shape. Befittingly named Waterman Exception, the pen is a genius conception that has been brilliantly brought to life, despite the difficulties it might have faced in the making. It has definitely added a feather to Waterman’s hat, considering the immense skill and dedication it must have took.

The lacquer finish on the body gives a glossy, smooth effect to it. The end of the barrel has a blank platinum plated blind cap. A think platinum-plated barrel band has Waterman and France engraved on either side – a trademark in Waterman pens. The pull-off cap has cap has a luxurious platinum-plated trim too. The top of the cap has a round black lacquer medallion with the emblem “W” embedded on it. The silver plated clip is a classic Waterman clip with the slit in the middle. The pen weighs a total of 55gms with the 19gms owned by the cap alone. Hence, it is quite a labor to attach the cap to the barrel and write; an inconvenience for many.

Since the body is squarely shaped, the pen doesn’t have a section thread. Interestingly, they have introduced bayonet system, which cleverly does the job of keeping the barrel and the nib-part of the pen realigned. The nib on the fountain pen version is rhodium-plated, 18kt gold, yet quite flexible, wet and thus gives an easy, smooth writing experience. Then again, Waterman are known for their high-performing nibs. The grip on the pen is more rounded than the body, so there is no discomfort when writing.

The Exception series of Waterman comes in three different styles: Night and Day, Slim and Ideal. The former and the last of the Waterman are very similar, except that the former bears grey stripes on either side of squared plush body and the latter doesn’t. Both of these are available in fountain pen (medium and fine nib only) and rollerball versions only. The available colors are black and gold, and black and silver. Waterman Exception Slim, however, is available in rollerball, fountain and ballpoint version, with more color options to choose from. All in all, the Waterman Exception pen series is definitely a head turner and unique. All the versions available are high in performance and won’t let the writer down. And just like the pen which is pushing the boundaries in pen designing, it evokes the desire in the user too, to be more creative and out-of-the-box.

The brainchild of Lewis Edson Waterman, an insurance broker, the company’s first factory was set in 1883. Stories say that Waterman was so disgusted by the low quality of a pen on one occasion that he decided to develop a worthy fountain pen. And today, Waterman’s determination has truly been fruitful. You don’t have to look beyond Waterman Exception to know that.

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Parker 5th Technology Ingenuity Review

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Parker is considered to be the epitome of fine writing instruments. Founded by George Safford Parker in 1888, in Janesville, Wisconsin, the pen brand represents reliability, innovation, revolution and class styling. Probably one of the finest pens ever to come from America, Parker has a glorious history ornamented with monumental pen variants. Amidst it all, stands the 2011 Parker 5th technology Ingenuity, marketed by Parker as “innovative and modern”, which “intuitively adapts to your writing style in seconds for an effortlessly smooth, easy glide feeling”. Let’s find out.

The pen comes in a nice case and upon opening reveals a shiny, attractive pen. There are a bunch of finishes and patterns this pen is available in so, you don’t need to worry about not finding the right color or the right pattern. The color options are coupled with gold or chrome plated trims. The pull off cap comes with a springy arrow clip. The cap band has Parker etched on it along with its emblem and date code. The cap button is simple with the Parker emblem etched on it. The barrel tapers down beautifully. There is nothing exceptional about its structure, nothing that we have not seen before.

What is new is hidden beneath the cap. Inside is a metal grip section which is spacious enough to be comfortable when writing for long hours. But the most significant aspect of the pen is the new nib/tip, about which different people have different opinions. For me the nib is not much of a fountain nib because it resembles, both in look and performance, a fine liner or fiber tip. What gives it an edge is its hood-like design and the fake nib underneath. When you unscrew the barrel, you are welcomed not by a cartridge or a converter but a refill, which again is closer to ballpoint pens and rollerball pens than to a fountain pen. The refill twists out and when pushing it back makes a half turn to resume its original place, which actually is a smart concept.

It is a big, comfortably heavy pen, which will fit snuggly in any hand. The good thing about Parker is that its built is not poor and feels sturdy. It works decently well when the cap is posted as well. The performance on paper however lacks the beauty of a fountain pen. It gives line variations but it isn’t very pronounced. Skipping should be expected unless used upright or perpendicular to the paper like a ballpoint. What bothers me is the fact that a so-called fountain pen features a fine-liner tip in disguise of a nib. For lesser money, you can get decent rollerball or ballpoint pens that could use fine-line refills.

However, not everyone may feel the same way about this pen as I do. So, keep your options open and make a smart choice.

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Montblanc Signature for Good Review

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Montblanc Signature for Good

As the leader in the market of writing instruments, Montblanc pens, by default, have been supporting education and literacy. With the Montblanc Signature for Good collection, launched in 2013, the brand made a visible contribution towards the education of children, by donating 10% of every “Signature for Good” product to UNICEF’s education programs. With this fund, Montblanc is doing its part to make quality education, including infrastructures accessible for children in the most vulnerable parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Montblanc’s Signature for Good collection includes writing instruments, jewelry and other leather goodies, all including a special design symbolic of the company’s effort.

In this collection, the famous Montblanc Meisterstuck 146 makes a comeback with a few changes in its original design. The usual glossy, black resin body showcases a unique brick design (inclusive in all products of this collection) on the platinum cap-top ring, which is symbolic to building a better future for children. The ring also features a blue sapphire which is inspired by UNICEF’s blue color. The nib as always is gold, this time 14kt and the top of the cap bears the usual Meisterstuck emblem. One practical feature added to this collection are the transparent vertical rectangles, which allows one to see the available ink in tank, without having to unscrew the end of the body. For this collection, the pen is available in Meisterstuck LeGrand Fountain pen, Rollerball and Ballpoint pen, and in Meisterstuck Classique with the same three options. Affluent as its other counterparts, the pens in this collection continue to maintain the legacy of the brand in terms of writing. Plus, each of these come in an exclusive black gift box, designed with the symbolic brick-by-brick pattern.

Other items in the collection, such as the handcrafted leather wallets, cardholders, pen pouches and notebook, all hold the special brick design and a blue colored decor. The leather used in this collection is Italian full-grain calfskin, embracing a pattern of a series of diagonal lines. The cufflinks, bracelets and key rings complete the jewelry selection. The cufflinks feature reversible surfaces of polished stainless steel, with a round blue sapphire on one side and smooth, black onyx on the other. The bracelet and the key ring showcases the symbolic brick design and the blue sapphire. Every product has the famous emblem and holds a serial number too.

Overall, the entire collection of Montblanc’s Signature for Good is desirable. Add the moral satisfaction of having contributed a sum, no matter how small, with its purchase and to use any of these product is rewarding. It is an investment that you will keep giving you return values every time you decide you use it – in the form of a heartwarming knowledge of having given a child the biggest gift called education.

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