Pairings Party: Waldmann Xetra Vienna, Amarillo Stationery Azul Frida

I did my first pairings party a few weeks back with the Onoto Scholar and Ferris Wheel Press Central Park Greens, and this week I’m back with another matchy-matchy combination that I’m loving in the Waldmann Xetra Vienna and Amarillo Stationery Azul Frida.

Beginning with the Waldmann, the Xetra Vienna puts the brand’s craftsmanship on full display. I knew this pen was a stunner with its polished blue lacquer and platinum plated parts, but I had no idea the cap pattern was hand-engraved. Not only does it look amazing, but it makes each pen in this series unique.

The Xetra Vienna is a standard length fountain pen, but with a narrow diameter. This shape leads to a requisitely narrow grip section, and #5-sized nib. My review model features an 18k Fine gold nib, but there is a stainless steel option as well.

This narrow barrel fits right into my preferences for writing. While I am comfortable using many pen shapes and sizes, I do prefer the narrow side of the ledger, so keep that in mind when I tell you how much I enjoy writing with this pen. Those who prefer bigger, wider pens may want to wait and see about the next Waldmann I will be reviewing.

I’ve had the Xetra Vienna in my writing rotation for a few weeks now, and it has been great. The added weight of the metal barrel balances out the narrowness, making for a comfortable writer. I mixed in a longer copy writing session for my long-running “The Bone Weaver’s Orchard” project, and the feel of the pen removed itself completely from the occasion. It morphed into my hand, the ink flow never stopped, and I had nothing to think about other than the text I was reading, and writing.

It was a great experience.

Adding to the writing experience was the perfect match of Pennonia Azul Frida, made for Amarillo Stationery. Inspired by Casa Azul, the long-time home of artist Frida Kahlo, this is a classic, bright blue that will feel right at home in any pen, especially one as perfect as the Xetra Vienna.

I’ve used a couple of Pennonia Inks, and the consistent performance of Azul Frida matches my experience with the rest. Great flow, excellent color saturation, and good dry time - all universally loved ink properties. As a bonus, what looks like a basic blue has hints of purple underneath, as seen in some of the ink swatches on different paper types - Yamamoto Bank Paper, for example.

I always want a classic blue on hand, and one with and added story and added character, like Azul Frida, is right up my alley.

Top to bottom: Sailor King of Pen Sky, Platinum 3776 Chartres Blue, Waldmann Xetra Vienna, Lamy 2000 Stainless Steel.

My first experience with Waldmann was last year, when Kimberly let me test out one of hers. In general, the designs of this 100 year-old German brand aren’t a perfect style match for myself, but my goodness was the writing experience nice. That alone put them on my radar, especially as they continue to release interesting models.

The Xetra Vienna runs $319 with a steel nib, and $439 with an 18k gold nib, as seen in this review. The price feels right for the level of quality and craftsmanship. And Waldmann has well over a dozen different styles to choose from, ranging from $200 on up. While I don’t have one in my collection today, it won’t me long before one makes the cut and I add it to list.

(Luxury Brands of America loaned the Waldmann to The Pen Addict. Amarillo Stationery provided the ink at no charge.)

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Pilot Vanishing Point/Capless Fountain Pens - A Quick Comparison

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

The question “should I get a Vanishing Point?” is asked often enough that I think it merits its own little article. Not because it’s particularly difficult to answer but because it’s not a one-size-fits-all kind of answer. Still, this is meant to be a “quick” comparison, so let’s get to it!

The Pilot Vanishing Point was first introduced in the early 1960s as the Pilot Capless. It is still called the Capless in the Japanese market and a few others as well. As the name implies, it is a pen that does not have a cap. Carmen Rivera has written a short history of the Pilot Capless with links to the many variations of the pen up until 2010. I will be using the term “Capless” for this group of pens that don’t have caps, and “Vanishing Point” for the specific model of that name. There are a lot more models of the pen that I don’t have, so I will be focusing on the most commonly discussed models - (1) Vanishing Point (AKA “VP”), (2) the Decimo, (3) faceted VPs and (4) the Fermo.

The VP in its current form, as well as the faceted ones (which were released in the 80s) and the Decimo, use a knock, push button or “clicker” atop the pen, which extends and retracts the nib. This allows the user to quickly make notes without dealing with capping and uncapping a pen, and by extension, or dealing with what to do with said cap. You can imagine how handy this is if you’re not at a desk, like a doctor who needs to take notes while standing, or if you just need to write a few words or check off a todo list. The Fermo requires you to twist the back end of the pen to extend and retract the nib.

L to R: Vanishing Point, Decimo, Faceted VP, and Fermo.

The Capless nib extends a short distance from the tip of the pen.

As you can see, once the nib has been extended, the user holds the pen down by the clip. This may or may not be comfortable depending on how you grip your pens.

All 4 of the Capless pens have clips on the nib end of the pen, but they are all slightly different in shape as well as profile, so one model may be more comfortable for you than another. The Fermo also feels slightly more back-weighted than the others because the twist mechanism is in the back of the pen. I don’t find it uncomfortably back-weighted but it’s something to consider if you tend to dislike that in a pen. The twist mechanism of the Fermo makes it quite unwieldy to operate single-handedly (I was unable to smoothly extend the nib one-handed, but retracting it was easier).

Closeup of the grips/cliips of the VP, Decimo, Faceted VP, and Fermo.

Profiles of the VP, Decimo, Faceted VP and Fermo.

I have included some similarly sized pens but am showing them uncapped since that’s the best way to compare them with the Capless.

L to R: Pilot 912, VP, TWSBI Eco, Pelikan M605, Decimo, Lamy AL-Star, Platinum 3776, Faceted VP, TWSBI 580, Leonardo Momento Zero, Fermo, Pilot Metropolitan, Sailor Pro Gear.

“But Kimberly”, you say, “how will I know if the Capless will work for me and if so, which one would work the best?” If you own or have access to a Pilot Metropolitan (or MR), I have a hack for you! Flip the Metro around such that you are gripping it at the cap/clip end and see if it works with your grip! The VP is slightly girthier than the Metro, and the Faceted VP, Fermo, and Decimo are slightly slimmer.

”Turn it on its head” and pretend you can click it!

A few different grip positions in relation to the clip (I grip my pens like the top left, my husband more like the top right and my son bottom left.)

The recent LS Capless also uses a knock to extend the nib, but a twist to retract it. I don’t have this one because (1) it is quite a bit more expensive than a regular Capless and (2) I don’t like the thought of two different mechanisms for extending and retracting the nib. And if you think that one is expensive, don’t even bother looking up the one that was a collaboration with Hermès (yes, that one), called the Nautilus which employs a twist mechanism that is extremely smooth and satisfying to watch. And no, I don’t have that one either, and if you Google the price tag, you’ll know why!

Compared to pens with an actual cap, the Capless’ trap door doesn't have as tight a seal, so you may experience a little bit of drying if you don’t use the pen regularly. It is also more noticeable if you use dryer inks. For this reason, I try to use my Capless pens a little more frequently than my capped pens and I use wetter inks like Iroshizuku.

Other random tidbits:

• Faceted VPs are long discontinued - These pens have been discontinued for quite some time (more than 20 years) but I included them in this review because they pop on the secondary market and are sought after because people often find their clips to be less intrusive. They came in 5 colors (black, blue, green, burgundy – all with silver trim, and black matte with black trim).
• Fermo discontinued? - I have heard that the Fermo has been discontinued but I don’t know that definitively. You can still find them new from both the Asian markets as well as here in the states.
• Alloy nib VP - Though not officially sold outside of Japan, Pilot has made VPs available with a steel alloy nib, instead of gold. This is most often found on eBay or Amazon and is a $100 way to find out if the pen is for you.
• Swappable VP units - For the most part, the nib units on the various capless models are swappable. However, some of the vintage models may not take the current VP units as they are a bit too girthy, so keep that in mind.
• Metal Cartridge cap - The “clicky” Capless pens (aka, not Fermo) come with a metal cartridge cap, which you should use over your cartridge. Otherwise, the repeated clicking may result in a damaged cartridge and an inky mess.
• Special Editions - Pilot releases a special edition VP every year like the 2019 Tropical Turquoise or the 2016 Guilloche. Pilot often makes special Japan-only or store-exclusive releases that are unavailable elsewhere. Those often command a premium because many of those stores do not ship outside Japan or require you to purchase them in store.
• Other retractable pens - I know that Majohn has recently released their A1 and A2 versions of the Pilot Vanishing Point and faceted VPs. I have heard good things about them but I don’t have either one to compare them to. There’s also the Platinum Curidas and the upcoming Endless Creator, but I decided to keep this article focused on the Pilot retractables.

Some special editions including the 2016 Guilloche, 2017 Crimson Sunrise, 2019 Tropical Turquoise, Bungubox Energia VP, Nagasawa Kobe Gradation Decimo, Brushed Aluminum Decimo 20 colors in Purple.

The Pilot Vanishing Point has a retail/street of $210 USD & $168 respectively, while the Decimos are $200/$160. VP nib units are $134/$107. The Fermo can still be found for $190. And the aforementioned LS model is $600/$480. Limited Editions range wildly in price, especially on the secondary market, depending on its popularity.

The Pilot Capless pens were quite revolutionary when they came out and they continue to be the standard by which other retractable fountain pens are measured. The clip placement makes it quite a polarizing option for consumers, but for folks like me who aren’t bothered by it, they can be quite a fun and useful pen to have in your collection.

(Disclaimer: All pens pictured, including non-Capless pens, were purchased by me.)

Nahvalur x Galen Leather Rose Gold Demonstrator & Vinta Inks The Maiden/Lakambini - A Double Review

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

I usually don’t know what is going to show up in Brad’s boxes of goodness but I was excited to find a Galen Leather Co. pen box that contained a pen with rose gold accents! I don’t know when it happened but at some point in my adult life, I started loving rose gold, as much or even more than yellow or white gold. This happened even before my obsession with fountain pens. So whenever a fountain pen has rose gold trim, I’m in trouble!

Up for review is the Nahvalur x Galen Leather Demonstrator fountain pen with Rose Gold trim. Nahvalur, formerly Narwhal Pens, made a demonstrator version of their popular Nahvalur Original piston-filler fountain pen with rose gold trim and nib to celebrate Galen Leather’s 10th anniversary. This Demonstrator model is also very similar to their Schuylkill pen. Side bar: how long do we have to keep saying “Nahvalur, formerly Narwhal Pens? Seems like it’s been forever, but only since August 4, 2022, so I think I’m going to let it go until August 3rd, 2023, and after that, it’s Nahvalur and nothing else, lol!

Similar in size and shape the Demonstrator has the added barrel band and of course, doesn’t have an ink window. It is also a little heavier than the Schuykill.

The pen comes with a rose gold-colored steel nib with the Nahvalur logo, in Fine, Medium, Broad, Double Broad and Stub (though it looks like only the Broad and Stub nib sizes are in stock right now). In addition to the nib, the rose gold accents include the clip, the piston, the piston ring, and the barrel band, which still reads “Narwhal”. The acrylic is polished well and is very clear and shiny.

Love the logo on the nib, though I wish it would indicate the nib size somewhere.

Since I was reviewing a new pen, I probably should have done the smart thing and inked it up with a “normal”, well-behaving ink, but the rose gold matchy match was calling my name, so I picked Vinta Inks’ The Maiden/Lakambini, from the Fairytale Collection. But it turns out there was no need to worry. The ink behaved just fine in the pen and wrote beautifully. It’s fun to look at the shimmer in the pen barrel and in the writing as well. As with all shimmer inks, to prevent clogging, periodically tilt the pen up and down so that the shimmer particles don’t all settle into the nib/feed. What I like to do with piston fillers, but also with converters, is to use the piston to push the ink up into the feed and then retract the piston to “suck out” the ink and any shimmer that may have accumulated on the feed. It helps ensure that you don’t end up with a pen that is clogged with shimmer or end up with no shimmer left because it’s all been written up earlier.

Writing sample on Clairefontaine Triomphe.

Almost too sparkly to read on the Clairefontaine.

Tomoe River 68 gsm Endless Recorder notebook.

Look at all this fun shimmer in the pen! And you can almost see the engraved “Galen Leather Co” on the barrel.

The Lakambini ink is pink with gold shimmer, which makes it look a bit brownish, especially with wet and broad nibs. The ink has average dry time, but still pretty good considering this is a medium nib which lays down a somewhat broad line. You can see in the chromatography above that it breaks down into pink (of course), along with some yellow and blue. I still don’t think I could figure out what an ink looks like if you just gave me a chromatography strip though!

The closest match would be Tono & Lims Burma Tourmaline. However Robert Oster’s Rose Gilt Tynte is also similar but with a silver shimmer instead of gold. Sailor Peche is a brighter pink without shimmer. I also included some other inks that are somewhat in the same range.

L to R, Top to Bottom: Robert Oster Rose Gilt Tynte, Vinta Lakambini, Tono & Lims Burma Tourmaline, Sailor Peche, Robert Oster Rose Gold Antiqua, Robert Oster Cherry Blossom, Robert Oster Australis Rose, Papier Plume Garden District Azalea.

I’ve had this pen inked up since Dec. 20, 2022, and have used it about 8-9 times in that time frame. I have deliberately left it untouched for a few weeks at a time, and whenever I did so, it might take a stroke or two for it to start writing but then it writes flawlessly after that. Hard to say whether this is due to the ink or the pen/cap, but I didn’t really see it as much of a problem.

Cleaning the pen is pretty easy: you can either use the piston to get water in/out of the barrel or you can unscrew the nib unit and syringe clean it. Just be careful not to blast it too hard or you may get water behind the piston. If that’s the case, you can also disassemble the pen, with a Nahvalur wrench (not included with this pen). I was unable to fit either of my TWSBI wrenches to fit the piston but I have heard that it can work.

L to R: Pelikan M605, Pilot Custom Heritage 912, Platinum 3776, Nahvalur, TWSBI 580 & Eco (you knew those two were coming.)

The pen sells for $59 USD on the Galen Leather website and also includes a free leather pen sleeve. This is a great price for a pen that looks great and performs well too. It is similar in price to a TWSBI 580 AL/ALR and I would say a fairly comparable pen. The Vinta Lakambini ink can be found at Vanness Pens starting at $4/sample or $16 for a 30 ml bottle. This was a great match for this pen and I plan on buying a bottle after I’ve used up this sample.

(Disclaimer: Thank you to Galen Leather for sending us this pen and to Vanness Pens for the Vinta Ink. All other items in this article are my own.)

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