Oh, the things you see in D.C.!
I’m back from D.C., and I brought home much more than I bargained for! Yes, there were the usual pens and inks that found their way into my carry on, but the Con Crud made the return trip as well. I discussed it all with Myke on this weeks episode.
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(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!)
This 2022 limited edition ink from Pennonia, Strigoi, is inspired by a Romanian legend about a spirit that rises from the grave, transforms into animals, turns invisible, drinks blood, and is believed to be the inspiration for the character Dracula. The ink is described as black with red micro pigments, but that's a simple description for what is a very complex ink.
The standout word there is micro pigments. Huh? In this ink, the micro pigments are a very fine sediment in the liquid that adds a matte texture to it--like the opposite of a shimmer. The red pigment is a very earthy tone, like the grave clay of the Strigoi. It does settle to the bottom of the bottle quickly, and it takes a bit of shaking and mixing to get it redistributed--which means it's also going to do that in your pen. The website does caution against putting this ink into a fancy or fussy pen. And if you're not fond of pen cleaning (like me), you'll want to proceed with caution. Because I know myself, I only filled the converter partway, so I know I'll run out more quickly and, in theory, clean the pen sooner. I let some of the pigment settle in the neck of the bottle so I could mess with it, and it has the texture of clay--thick and kind of sticky. It feels a bit wrong to put it in a pen, and I admit I might hesitate to do so, except... It looks So. Freaking. Awesome.
Y'all, this one is super hard to photograph, so I'm going to do my best to describe it. Calling this ink "black" is like calling the ocean blue. Sure, some of the ocean is blue, but it's also green, and aqua, and even brown, etc. This ink has a lot of sneaky color going on. To me, it looks like a navy charcoal color, like a shadowy version of a blue black. The chromatography really shows off the complexity, with the red-brown clay at the bottom, then the ink splitting into lilac and a bright teal. The Pennonia alchemists were flexing. The deep red matte of the pigment looks as though it's resting on top of that navy charcoal, giving a 3D effect, almost like it's casting a shadow. It doesn't show up as much in written lines, but the matte effect is still there. I don't think this ink would work with a fine or extra fine nib.
While the pigment gives the ink a dry feel, it actually takes an eternity to dry. Somewhere between 30 and 40 seconds it finally chilled out. And while the inkiness washes away easily in water, the pigment stays behind, so a small spill won't eradicate your writing. I wouldn't call it waterproof, but there is an element of permanence. As for color comparisons, I've got nothing. I'm not aware of any similar inks.
This 30ml bottle is only $16 at Vanness Pens, which is a great deal for a vial of undead blood-drinking spirit. And for ink, if that's what you're buying.
(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
The Gravitas Pocket fountain pen is no stranger around here, but there's nothing like an injection of some fun colors to spice up something you've already seen. Teal Splash features a black pen with beautiful blobs of teal scattered over the body to make this pen really stand out.
If you're new to the Gravitas Pocket, here is the summary. It's a short pen that looks and feels similar to a Kaweco AL Sport, but with plenty of unique design choices that bring this pen close to the top of my pocket pen list. The cap unscrews and posts to the back of the pen to make it a more comfortable length for writing, and it takes short international cartridges due to the short body. You can fit some converters into this pen, but they have to be short — a standard converter won't fit.
Where this pen departs from the ordinary is obvious once you take a closer look. The cap features a flat edge that keeps the pen from rolling away, while the rest of the cap and body are round. The tips taper from a cylinder to a point in a really pleasing distance, and there's no branding outside of a tiny Gravtias logo debossed on the lower part of the cap.
Once you uncap the pen, you'll notice the grip section is much larger than the typical pocket pen. This makes for a really comfortable writing experience once you've posted the cap. The grip section also has micro grooves cut into it that provides a soft but tactile grip. The grip also flares out a bit at the end to provide a nice butt for your fingers to rest while writing. Overall, it's a really comfortable pen.
There's a nice feature on both sets of threads for this pen — both for the cap and the section. There's a small o-ring at the base of both of these threads that make for a snug and secure fit when the section or cap are tightened down. I don't know if this is technically necessary for the pen to function properly, but it definitely feels nice.
Something different for me on this model is the nib. This unit has a titanium flex nib that really fits my writing style. When writing with soft pressure, it puts down a line that is similar to any European fine nib. The line is crisp and the ink flows well. But, if you want to add some flourish, just apply a little pressure to the nib to make those tines spread and really distribute the ink. This flex nib isn't as dramatic as some I've used, but this one is so incredibly easy to use. I'm guessing part of this experience is due to the soft titanium material as well as the shape, but it sure is fun to use.
While flexing is easy, you have to be careful not to flex too hard or else the feed can't deliver enough ink and you'll end up with some railroading. This will vary a bit depending on what ink and paper you're using, but it's something to keep in mind. In my use, using soft and moderate pressure to flex the nib is no problem. It's only when I try to max out the tine spread that the railroading happens.
The nib is a #6 size that Gravitas produces in-house. There aren't any markings on it, and I really appreciate the dull finish of the titanium against the shiny black grip and speckled body.
Finally, the finish on the outside of the pen. I absolutely love this edition of the Pocket fountain pen. Teal Splash is a perfect name, and I really enjoy looking at the splatter patterns that adorn the pen. The regular pen is so sleek and unassuming, but this treatment kicks it up a notch to an eye-catching piece of art when it's on your desk.
The Gravitas Pocket Fountain Pen in Teal Splash starts at €120, but the model featured here is €135 due to the titanium flex nib option. In my opinion, the €15 difference is totally worth it for this nib. Gravitas is definitely one of the brands I suggest you check out if you haven't already. If the pen featured here doesn't fit your fancy, there are so many other models and options to pick from, and they all feature top-notch quality and craftsmanship.
(Gravitas provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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, for which I am very grateful.
Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!
