The Pen Addict Podcast: Episode 702 - Still Sweet, Just With Edge

Blackwing Pen

The new Blackwing Pen.

LAMY Limited Edition season is here! It’s one of my favorite times of the year, and #TeamAL-Star is off to an admittedly hot start. Even Myke gets in on the action - live during the show! I also share my thoughts on the new Blackwing Pen, attempt to figure out what Omas is doing, and decide which Bestie we are.

Show Notes & Download Links

This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:

Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code penaddict50off

Enigma Stationery: Unique items, top brands and hard-to-find imports. Get $10 off.

Posted on February 5, 2026 and filed under Podcast.

Caran d'Ache 849 Germanier Ballpoint Pen Review

Caran d'Ache 849 Germanier Ballpoint Pen Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

Having lived in Switzerland, I have a soft spot in my heart for Caran d'Ache. As a Swiss brand, it dominated the stationery store, and I had no complaints about it. I've admired their special editions a lot--they're all gorgeous--so I was very excited to try out this lovely 849 Germanier Ballpoint.

Caran d'Ache 849 Germanier Ballpoint Pen

The pen comes in an aluminum presentation box with the colorful pearl pattern on it. The box has a hinged lid and the pen sits in a cardstock cubby inside. The pen itself is also aluminum. It is an eye-searing neon green color decorated all over with the signature pearl design of Swiss fashion designer Kevin Germanier. The collaboration has a number of exciting designs (designer-bedazzled pencil sharpener, anyone? Um, yes), with this ballpoint as one of the more accessible features.

Caran d'Ache 849 Germanier

The lilac pearls on the bright green background highlight the blend of natural and futuristic elements in Germanier's aesthetic. The overall effect, for me, reminds me of eco-horror science fiction like Jeff Vandermeer's Area X series, which is one of my all-time favorite reads. It's like space lichen. I mean that in the most complimentary way.

Caran d'Ache 849 Germanier Barrel

As an art object, it's fantastic. As a pen, it's decent. The body has the hexagonal shape of all Caran d'Ache pens, with its angular metal clip and silent click-nock. The refill is the medium black Goliath cartridge. It writes like a typical ballpoint. The ink is not a deep black, but the charcoal grey of most ballpoint black inks. It also does that glob-smudge thing when the ball shifts directions. The globs have a tendency to smear. But the ballpoint ink writes on darn near everything and never bleeds, so it's perfect for coated papers like receipts or sticky notes, or on thin or fibrous papers that would be incompatible with liquid inks.

Caran d'Ache 849 Germanier Writing

While the writing experience runs more practical than fun, the pen design is way more fun than practical. It's a good balance, in the end. The Caran d'Ache 849 Germanier Ballpoint pen sells for $70 at Dromgoole's, which is more than twice what the standard Caran d'Ache 849 ballpoints cost. That's a pretty steep premium for the limited edition, even if it is a fabulous design. It's definitely eye-catching. I've had it clipped to my shirt collar at work, and it gets lots of comments! It's a great design on a good pen, though it is a bit overpriced. The blinged-out pencil sharpener doesn't even have a price listed on it. It's priceless.

(This product was purchased from Dromgoole’s at regular price.)


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Caran d'Ache 849 Germanier Box
Posted on February 5, 2026 and filed under Caran d'Ache, Ballpoint, Pen Reviews.

Zebra Sarasa Gel Pen Monochrome Series Giveaway

Zebra Sarasa Gel Pen Monochrome Series

Zebra makes some of my favorite gel ink pens, so why not put them all together in one fun, color-matching, package? That’s what the Zebra Sarasa Gel Pen Monochrome Series is. This set features one of each of the Sarasa Clip, Sarasa 3C Multi Pen, Sarasa Grand, and Sarasa Nano - all uniquely great pens, and in matching White barrels. To win this set, read the rules below and enter away!

Posted on February 3, 2026 and filed under Giveaways.