Posts filed under Pen Reviews

Laban Rosa Lilac Fountain 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 Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

I have no previous experience with Laban Pens, but in my browsing to find specs for this beauty, I feel a strong need to become better acquainted with the brand. This Laban Rosa fountain pen certainly serves as an excellent ambassador to further enabling.

The Rosa has an acrylic body, this one in the Lilac colorway, with gold-toned furniture. The body tapers slightly and has gently pointed finials. There are narrow rings at each end, and then a wider cap band with the Laban name against a matte gold background. There is a shaped gold clip that is quite stiff, but holds a notebook cover or pen case very securely.

The cap screws off with two rotations and shows a grip section made of the same material as the body. It's a comfortable section that is very slightly flared at the end to prevent fingers from slipping toward the nib. The threads are smooth and the pen is light and balanced, so it's great for long writing sessions.

The nib is a two-toned steel with the Laban name on it with some pretty scrollwork. This one is a fine nib, and it writes like a true fine. The nib does have a bit of spring to it, but I wouldn't call it flexible. It has just enough give to not feel like a nail. It writes a decently wet line, but has a dry-feeling feedback. If you like feedback, but dislike dry nibs, this is a win.

It comes with a converter for filling, but would also take a standard cartridge. The converter has the Laban name printed on it. It holds a decent amount of ink, filled well, and has a good seal.

I've enjoyed writing with this pen for the past few weeks. It doesn't hurt that this material is my two favorite colors, so I was immediately stricken by its loveliness. There are a lot of these standard acrylic pens out there these days, but I can't get enough of them. This one is well-made with a particularly pretty material, and the price is better than most of the similar pens I've tried.

The Laban brand runs the gamut on price range for their pens, but this one retails for a very reasonable $140, and is currently available at Goldspot for $111.95. Other colors are available at the same price. I'm very glad to have been introduced to Laban with this pen and I've now got my eye on more of their lineup.

(Goldspot provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on September 15, 2022 by Sarah Read and filed under Laban, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Laban Solar Fountain Pen Review

It's been quite a while since I've reviewed a Laban fountain pen, but that doesn't mean I'm not interested in what they're doing. Laban is a luxury brand, but the quality and prices that they set for their products provide a great value. On top of that, they've been fun to use in my experience.

The Laban Solar fountain pen is one that I just can't keep my hands off. The orange anodized aluminum is perfect, and the nib is smooth and responsive out of the box. It wasn't love at first sight, though.

The matte orange finish on the body and cap are stellar, but I still can't help but cringe a little when I uncap the pen and unveil the super reflective grip section. If the grip section and clip were a matte silver finish, I'd be completely in love with this pen. In the current iteration, though, the shiny chrome-like finish creates an unsavory contrast with the matte exterior.

Despite the reflective quality of the section finish, it feels great once it's in your hands. There's a unique knurling pattern that looks rough to the naked eye, but it's actually fairly smooth and tactile against your fingertips. Holding this pen and writing is a very comfortable experience. I'm guessing that this feels smooth because of how small the knurling pattern is. My finger tips don't have the microscopic resolution to detect a harsh edge anywhere on the grip. I thought for sure that it would feel like the rigid side of a hook-and-loop panel, but it just so happens that I really enjoy writing with it.

The pen caps with a smooth twist mechanism. It takes approximately 2 complete turns to uncap or cap the pen, so you can be sure that it won't open accidentally while in your bag or pockets. You can post the cap on the back of the pen, but I find that it's a little too long and awkward in this setup. I prefer to hold the cap or set it to the side when writing. The unposted length and balance of the pen is perfect for my writing grip.

The nib on this pen is a Laban steel EF with a reflective finish that's similar to the grip section. Aside from the Laban branding, there's an "IRIDIUM" etched onto the nib as well. Unfortunately, the nib size isn't etched onto the nib, so don't forget what it is after it's been stored a while!

The etching on the nib isn't the only place you'll find Laban branding. The Laban name is also printed in very small lettering right under the end of the clip at the bottom of the cap. It's a very tasteful placement and size for the logo that allows the real star of the show to take center stage — that color and finish.

At under $65, this pen is a steal for what you get. The quality of materials and fit/finish alone are worth this price. Along with the pen, you receive a standard cartridge-converter so you can fill the pen with whatever ink you like. Major hat tip to Laban for including this with the pen. You can pick from EF, F, M, and B nibs as well as lots of different colors for the pen exterior, but I think orange is the correct choice in this case.

The Laban Solar makes a fantastic gift for someone else, or a fantastic treat for yourself. If the aesthetic speaks to you, the pen will certainly deliver on the writing front if you choose to pick one up.

(Goldspot provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on August 31, 2022 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Laban, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

PenBBS 456 Fountain Pen Review

I vow to stop being surprised by the quality of PenBBS fountain pens, because they're consistently good. This is my third pen, and I always seem to expect a lower quality from such a budget-friendly pen. Those expectations are always cast aside as soon as I take the pen out of the box. A nice box, too, actually, with a sturdy board and magnetic flap closure.

The 456 model feels solid, with a substantial acrylic body in a gorgeous color. There is a chrome cap ring, a sturdy clip with a lovely art deco silhouette, and another metal band where the end cap unscrews. All of the fittings are flush and smooth with no rough edges or machine marks anywhere. The cap band says "PENBBS 456" and "Shanghai."

The cap unscrews on metal threads. The grip section is tapered at the center to give a comfortable, balanced grip. The threads and step from the grip to the body are all smooth and the pen is very comfortable to hold.

The steel nib is two-toned and stamped with scrollwork and "PENBBS since 2005" as well as the nib size, which in this case is a fine nib. It writes a true fine line, with minimal feedback and a very smooth experience. It's closer to the dry end of the spectrum, but not unpleasantly. The writing experience overall is very good, with the pen feeling well balanced and comfortable.

The coolest feature of this pen is its vacuum filling system, which makes it a high-capacity ink tank. It fills the same way a Pilot 823 or TWSBI Vac does, and likewise needs to have the endcap unscrewed if you want to keep the ink flowing for long writing sessions. When screwed completely closed, the plunger serves as a stopper, which makes this a great pen to carry if you're worried about leaks, especially when flying.

Despite all these cool features, my favorite thing about this pen is the gorgeous material. The flaked acrylic has deep turquoise veins with pearlescent white chips that flash violet and blue and bright green, like opal or moonstone. It's pretty in any light, but when it catches the light just right, it's absolutely stunning.

The PenBBS 456 retails for around $56, which is a great deal for a pen of this quality. It's certainly one of the best pens you can get under $75, especially if you like pretty acrylics and high-capacity filling systems. To be blunt, I have pens that cost nearly $300 that are not as nice as this one. If you want to be financially sensible without sacrificing on writing experience or aesthetics, this is the perfect choice.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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