Gravitas Laser Etched Ballpoint Pen Review

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

I'm not sure I've ever owned a pen that has intricate laser etching along the body, but there's a first time for everything. I'm no stranger to the Gravitas brand from Ben Walsh, but I hadn't given one of the custom laser etched pens a try before now.

A few months back, Ben teased a photo of a new pen design that featured some very fine etching work. The pen isn't available on the online shop, and I'm not sure if will eventually end up there or if this is just a one-off custom run. Either way, this pen took me by surprise and I have a new interest in laser etching. (Ed. note: Ben says it will be available once he can catch up!)

Now, if you're unfamiliar with the Gravitas brand, they're a custom pen manufacturer based in Ireland. Catch episode 465 of the Pen Addict Podcast to listen to an interview with Ben Walsh where he explains the Gravitas brand. Most of the pens on the website feature a sleek and minimal design, with either subtle color schemes or bright Skittles-like rainbow colors. The Gravitas pens I've used in the past have always felt top-notch in terms of quality and materials, and this custom ballpoint is no different.

Before we talk about the real star of the show (the exterior of the pen), let's take a look at what it's packing inside. There's a Schmidt P900 M black cartridge in the pen, and it's no slouch. I love the Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 for how smooth and dark it is, but the P900 does a really good job as well. In terms of refills, you can do a lot worse — it's a great refill. But, more interestingly, it's a Parker-style shape, which means you can use a wide variety of refills in this pen. That's great news because the Parker-style refill market is large and has plenty of variety. I've kept the P900 in this pen because it writes really well and feels right in this pen.

The exterior of this pen is what really makes it special. The shape is really simple — it's a cylinder that tapers to a point at the front end where the refill extends. The back of the pen has a separate section that rotates, and this is how you extend or retract the refill, and if you apply some more pressure and keep unscrewing, it's also how you replace the refill. It's a really clean and simple aesthetic that might be a tad boring if it weren't for the etching. Oh my, that etching.

The laser etching is what makes this pen for me. I really haven't been able to put it down. I've never seen laser etching this fine (microscopic almost) before. You have to look very closely to see the pattern that the laser has made. It adds visual interest and a level of art that I really enjoy.

I have no idea how laser etching is done really, but I assume that the etching machine only operates on a 2D plane. This means that you have to manually rotate and position the pen quite a bit to etch the pattern all around the pen. Think about that for a second — the position of the pen has to be perfect for the pattern to stay aligned as it goes around the pen. It's really impressive.

Apart from looking fantastic, it's even more interesting to hold. Since the etching marks are so tiny and precise, it's a weird sensation for your fingers and palms to interpret. It's hard to explain, but it simultaneously feels smooth and grippy at the same time. Something like a smooth cylinder that actually has tiny little claws trying to hold on to your fingers (in a good way). It's such a pleasant thing to hold and handle!

Of course, this combination of smooth and grippy make it a great pen to use for writing. There's just enough tactile friction to keep the pen stable, but not too much. Metal pens always run the risk of being slippery, but this will not happen with this pen thanks to the etching texture.

I've really enjoyed my time with this pen, mostly because of how irresistible it is to hold and fidget with. I really can't stress enough how cool this pen feels in the hand because of the smooth/grippy conundrum. It's like my fingers are confused by it and want to understand what's happening by continuing to handle it. It's magical.

If you haven't given Gravitas a good look, head over there now. These are some high-quality pens and they've brought me a lot of delight. I'm not sure if this pen will be widely available, but you should check out some of the other etched options either way.

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

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Uni-ball Jetstream Edge 0.38 mm Ballpoint Pen Review

I’m fond of saying that there is a pen out there for everybody. I’m also fond of saying not every pen is for everybody. The Uni-ball Jetstream Edge is firmly in the latter camp.

When you hear pen fans talk about the Jetstream, they are more than likely referring to the 0.7 mm model, and sometimes the 1.0 mm. They love the rich colors and solid lines - something standard ballpoints rarely have - plus the smooth writing experience with a refill that lasts longer that most. There is a reason it is one of my most recommended pens.

But the Edge model is a different animal. And Uni-ball is treating it as such.

In the past, Uni-ball has dropped into the 0.38 mm tip size with more standard barrel types, but it is a rare occurrence. I remember when I first got my hands on the 0.5 mm Jetstream (2008!) I raved about it, but even then I knew it was a pen not many people would enjoy. I still remember an email I got about that review, which told me in no uncertain terms how bad they thought this pen was.

The Standard barrel, my favorite basic Jetstream barrel, still has 0.38 mm and 0.5 mm options, but I don’t really see them leaning into those tip sizes - at least in this market. The Edge is their micro-tip refill vessel of choice, and I love it.

To me, Uni-ball is saying that 0.28 mm and 0.38 mm Jetstream refill are technical pens, and deserve a barrel design to relay as much to the consumer. That’s as much of the Edge story as the refill choice. This is my favorite pen barrel released in a long time, with its metal grip section, plastic upper barrel, unique clip design, and solid knock mechanism.

You know what other stationery products have similar design cues? Mechanical pencils, especially technical ones. And, the Edge has a similar price point to match.

This is a $15 Jetstream, not a $3 one. That places it firmly into the niche product market, and, I hope for my sake, that this technical, detailed writing niche takes it and runs with it.

The Edge launched four barrel colors with a 0.28 mm refill, then later added four more barrel colors for the 0.38 mm refill. The refill, while technically great, is the one flaw in this design, and maybe the one flaw in my theory why this pen exists in the first place.

The Uni-ball Jetstream Edge is designed around the refill they use for the Jetstream multi pen. It is thinner, and thus lower capacity than standard Jetstream refills, not to mention the Parker-style SXR-600 Jetstream refill. Single refill pens deserve a refill size commensurate with the pen, so this is a disappointment, especially in a $15 pen.

On the other hand, do we get the Edge if Uni-ball didn’t already have this refill design in-house? I’d argue yes. They already make 0.38 mm conical tip refills for the Sport series. I’m confident Uni could design a new needle tip for the 0.28 mm and 0.38 mm requirements for the Edge if they so desired, but they took the easy way out here.

I don’t guess I can blame them, because, in the end, I adore this pen. I just think it could be even better with a normal sized refill.

Will you adore this pen as much as I do? It’s unlikely. As I mentioned up top, this pen is not for everybody. Not by a long shot. It is a particular pen, with a particular job, and at a particular price point. But, if you are particular, like me, then you might find something interesting and unique in the Jetstream Edge.

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

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