The Pen Addict Podcsat: Episode 226 - The Girl With The Glitter Pens

Myke and I were joined by Michelle Leung this week to kick off what we hope is the first of many Pen Friends interviews and guests. We talk about how her love for stationery began, the Toronto stationery scene, and how she came into her grail pen.

Show Notes & Download Links

This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:

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Palomino Blackwing Colors Colored Pencils 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.)

I probably have too many colored pencils, but when I heard that Blackwing was making a colored pencil set, I knew I was going to have to try them. I can tell you right now that I'm going to use these until they're wee pencil nubs that I can't even grip anymore. That may not take long, however--these pencils are butter soft.

The core is made from Japanese wax. It glides over paper and can lay down a nice smooth line or create very soft shaded areas. They blend and shade well, but do not hold a fine point for long. Any fine detail work may require frequent sharpening or a different pencil. I did not have any issues with tip breakage, even after sharpening. These are sturdy, but pleasantly lightweight, little gems.

The packaging is very nice and fancy. The box is smooth-coated cardboard with a clear plastic window for peeking at the pretty pencils inside. The box opens like a book and the front flap is held closed by a hidden magnet. It's a neat design, but I probably wouldn't trust the strength of the magnet to hold up against the tumult inside a daypack. I'd suggest removing the pencils to a more secure case for on-the-go coloring. Inside the case, the pencils are nestled in a foam bed, held in place by a plastic shield. I found the shield annoying and set it aside, only to then dump the pencils in my lap the next time I opened the box. So maybe hold on to that bit.

The bodies are a nice rounded hexagon with a glossy coating that matches the core color. The finial is a chrome-colored piece that is separate from, but attached to, the wood body--it's not a painted or applied color. I expect it will be a handy grip-piece when you come to the end of the pencil. "Blackwing colors" is stamped in silver at the rear end of the pencil, but there are--annoyingly--no color names. I wouldn't mind too much, but the purple, brown, and black are a little difficult to distinguish, even in decent light. The two greens are also quite similar at first glance, though their core colors are very different. Even basic color names would have done a lot for ease of use, here, though I don't know how anyone could pass up an opportunity to come up with crazy color names. Haven't we all daydreamed about having that job? Perhaps we will all have to name our own sets.

And speaking of colors, that's my only other criticism of the set. These are artist-quality pencils (and are priced as such), but with a primary school palette. I understand the logic to beginning with the basics, but unless Blackwing plans to release more colors, this set isn't as self-sufficient as their target audience might want. And anyone whose needs don't exceed a basic ROYGBIV probably aren't going to be looking in this price range. They are high quality and fun to use, and I will happily apply them to my sketches and coloring books, but I'm going to need to bring in some outside help in the form of other pencil brands in order to get the job done. But they're a happy addition to my collection, just the same, and I really hope Blackwing does have a plan for more colors.

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

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Aurora Nikargenta 88 Small Fountain Pen Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

There's a blurry line between what qualifies a regular fountain pen as a luxury fountain pen, and it usually boils down to the eye of the beholder. After a certain price point, it becomes a subjective notion of how the pen makes you feel and other qualifications you grant it based on your own perceptions and experiences. There's plenty of times that I've looked at a pen that cost several hundred dollars and thought the pen didn't quite live up to the price. After all, it's just a pen, right? Sure. Then, you pick the pen up and start writing with it, and that price suddenly begins to match up with your perceptions.

The Aurora Nikargenta 88 Small is a fountain pen designed after a prestigious 1950s design that oozes class and elegance. From a distance, this pen looks like an average fountain pen, but it's anything but that. Every detail is covered and the writing experience is wonderful straight from the box. When I first handled the pen, I wasn't sure it would win me over. After inking it up and writing a few lines, it almost immediately found a permanent place in my lineup. Writing with this pen is pure joy.

Aesthetics

The Nikargenta 88 Small is a petite pen that sports a classic shape. I think the design is beautiful and timeless, and I think a lot of people agree. When handling the pen, it feels solid and well-made. There's no doubt in my mind that this pen would last a lifetime or more. The piano black finish and bright chrome trim make a statement that's hard to deny. Aurora did a great job with branding the pen — "Aurora" is imprinted on the cap band in a nice script. Apart from that, there is no other prominent branding. There's the scroll work on the nib, but that's normal for every pen maker. There is no etching or other markings on the pen.

The clip is stronger than it looks. In a lot of cases, it requires two hands in order to clip it on to a thick bag or case. Shirt pockets are no problem, though.

It's also surprisingly light, which is a great feature when writing. I'm not sure why I expected to be hefty, but I was happy to find the opposite was true.

The cap is a pressure fit, which means there are no threads on the section or body. For a sleek pen like this, that's a perfect design decision. I love the fact that there aren't any visible threads on this pen. Also, the friction on the cap is perfect — not too loose or tight.

Writing experience

This pen is an absolute joy to write with. The nib on this particular unit is a medium point, and it's smooth as silk. When writing with the pen, the plastic grip section provides a great feel and I haven't noticed any discomfort when using it for longer writing periods.

The feed system on this particular pen is astounding. It can deliver plenty of ink to the nib, which leans on the wetter side. I've a had a couple of incidents involving ink spitting out if the pen is uncapped quickly, but in normal use this wasn't a problem. Any pen with a wet feed is prone to hiccuping ink if slung around. There's never any skipping or slow starts with this pen — it's ready to go as soon as you are, and it keeps up with the fastest pace with ease.

The nib tuning is smooth and efficient. Apart from a more custom grind that I might prefer, this nib is perfect out of the box. The nib is made of 14k gold and features elegant scroll work along with the Aurora name and a "14K" stamp.

Writing with the pen is the exact subjective experience I mentioned above that elevates a normal fountain pen into the upper luxury price ranges. This pen feels luxurious, and it makes the price tag seem fair.

The nib is exceptional for writing purposes, and it also has a fair bit of flex if you apply moderate pressure. Nothing like a truly flexible nib, but more than you'd expect from a normal gold nib. It's definitely a good nib for showcasing inks that shade well.

You can use cartridges or the included cartridge-converter with this pen. The converter holds a good amount of ink, comparable with the Lamy size. It's a mixture of plastic and metal materials, which lines up with the overall price point of the pen.

Overall

The Nikargenta 88 Small follows a specific aesthetic design that you can find in other fountain pens, but I'd wager that you'll have a hard time finding another pen with equal quality and attention to detail as this one. For a luxury pen, it's on the lower side of the price scale, coming in around $350 at online retailers and $550 at full suggested retail. While not cheap, it's an incredible value for such an elegant and lovely pen. If you're in the market for a nice petite pen that features a timeless design, add this one to your list.

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

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, which I am very grateful for.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!