Mary Collis, Author at The Pen Company Blog

Diplomat Excellence Rhombus fountain pen review

March 22, 2017 ♦

Expert Advice & Product Reviews, Fountain Pens

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Diplomat’s Excellence Rhombus, a cartridge/converter fountain pen, arrived a couple of weeks ago, and you’d be hard pressed to find me reaching for any other pen. I own a few other Diplomat pens — from the economy model Magnum Soft Touch to the higher-end Aero—and I’ve been consistently impressed with this…

Stunning simplicity: Lamy 2000 Taxus ballpoint pen review

November 8, 2016 ♦

Expert Advice & Product Reviews

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1 Comment

This pen has THE LOOKS. A very close relative of the more easily recognized Lamy 2000 Makrolon ballpoint, the Lamy 2000 Taxus features a hardwood body rather than a resin one. With considerably more heft than the Makrolon version (35 g vs. 16 g), the Taxus is well-balanced and substantial—smooth…

Rainbow Fisher Space Pen Bullet Ballpoint Review

September 16, 2015 ♦

Ballpoint Pens, Expert Advice & Product Reviews

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2 Comments

The official name for this pen is “Rainbow Titanium Nitride Fisher Space Pen Bullet Ballpoint.” That’s some name (sort of like a royal baby!), but quite appropriate as this is a very distinctive looking pen that deserves an equally distinctive moniker. This is one COOL looking pen. I own one other…

Faber-Castell E-Motion Pear Wood Ballpoint Pen Review

March 6, 2015 ♦

Ballpoint Pens, Expert Advice & Product Reviews

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2 Comments

Over the years I’ve become a big fan of Faber-Castell fountain pens. Their nibs are consistently smooth, smooth, smooth. The Faber-Castell E-motion (parquet version) was my first Faber-Castell fountain pen. I love how that pen feels in hand, so it stands to reason that I’d love the E-motion ballpoint just…

Diplomat Life Ballpoint Review

November 10, 2014 ♦

Expert Advice & Product Reviews

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1 Comment

Diplomat (est. 1922) is a pen company that’s flown under my radar until recently. While at the DC Supershow in August, I spent some time at the Diplomat booth and walked away with a Diplomat Optimist Loop fountain pen. I continue to enjoy that pen, and remain impressed by Diplomat’s…

Pelikan Pura (EF) Fountain Pen Review

June 17, 2014 ♦

Expert Advice & Product Reviews, Pens

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1 Comment

My ancestry is 50% German, which may explain why I’m such a fan of German products. I drive a VW Beetle GSR and am knee-deep in Lamy pens, but only recently dipped my toe in the Pelikan pool. Though I’m still in the shallow end of that pool, so far…

Tombow Airpress Ballpoint Pen

April 19, 2014 ♦

Pens

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0 Comments

Much like the Fisher Space Pen, the Tombow Airpress ballpoint pen features a pressurized refill. Each time the knock is depressed, the ink is pressurized so that it remains at the writing tip, meaning that the Airpress will continue to write when other pens won’t— when you’re trying to write…