Year-End Recap: Favorite Pens from 2020

Every December or January I try to publish at least one post recapping the past year. Typically, this involves a lengthy discussion of not only my favorite pens reviewed over the last twelve months, but pen show experiences, travel, events, and more. (You can check out my 2019 recap for reference.) Since 2020 was well, “weird”, I’m going to take a different approach and divide the 2020 recap into two posts: today’s post discussing my favorite pens reviewed or otherwise experienced during 2020 in three different categories, and a post later this week containing my five favorite posts from 2020, which may or may not be product reviews. So sit back with a coffee or wine or whiskey - depending on the time of day you’re reading this - and join me as we celebrate the positive side of a difficult year!

This post contains sponsor/affiliate links and links to the T.G.S. Curated Shop, discussed further below.

Fountain Pens Over $250

With pen shows and a normal in-person retail experience effectively shut down from March onward, makers had to get creative to compete in what has become a crowded market for high-end fountain pens. 2019 saw the launch of several new companies, particularly out of Italy, and Leonardo Officina Italiana and Scribo feature prominently on this list. But my favorites include more than new releases - I dove deep into Montblanc’s back catalogue and took advantage of a “can’t-miss” clearance sale to snag a Virginja Woolf Writer’s Edition pen, which has turned into a constant in my pen case.

1. Leonardo Momento Zero Grande. If you’ve been following my acquisitions over the past year, it should come as a surprise to no one that the creations of Salvatore at Leonardo Officina Italiana continue to top most of my “favorite pen” lists. Leonardo improved the design of the Momento Zero Grande by including an integrated piston filler, as opposed to a captured converter, and continued to release pens in unique materials such as the “Primary Manipulation” acrylics by Jonathon Brooks of Carolina Pen Company.

2. Montegrappa Miya 450 Celluloid. I spent some time sorting through my pen collection at year-end, and if I had to put a theme to it, it would be “rare and/or unique materials,” particularly celluloid. If a maker releases a celluloid pen in a design that’s as eye-pleasing and comfortable to write with as the Montegrappa Miya, I’m all-in.

3. Montblanc Virginia Woolf Writer’s Edition. Sometimes you have to venture outside the mainstream to find something great. In terms of Montblanc Writers Editions, most of the attention goes to the Hemingway and the Agatha Christie editions, but the Virginia Woolf shows that you can still find unique designs within this group of pens without spending thousands of dollars.

4. Matthew C. Martin OG1. My most significant pen show purchase of the year was also one of my favorites. A major reason that I can’t wait for pens shows to resume is so I can once again spend an hour or more browsing Matthew’s table. A usable machined fountain pen is a difficult thing to get right, but the OG1 strikes a perfect balance of beauty, craftsmanship, and usability.

5. Scribo Feel. After some reflection, I decided to add a pen that I haven’t reviewed, but have been enjoying beyond measure over the past month. Scribo is a new brand founded by former employees of OMAS, and the “Feel” offers the reliable writing experience I could never quite get in an OMAS pen. The 18k EF nib arrived tuned perfectly, and the fluted, hourglass shape and ruthenium trim paired with grey-blue acrylic might become one of my favorite design combinations.

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From left: TWSBI ECO Yellow, Opus 88 Omar, Diplomat Aero Volute, TWSBI 580 Smoke + Rose Gold, Schon DSGN Pocket 6

Fountain Pens Under $250

I continue to believe that you can have an exceptional fountain pen writing experience for as little as $30, and the past year only reinforced how good manufacturers such as TWSBI have become at delivering quality without breaking your wallet. It felt especially important this year, as layoffs, furlows, and economic uncertainty forced many to revisit how much of our resources we could devote to our hobby.

1. Schon DSGN Pocket 6. Ian Schon has, in my opinion, perfected the pocket fountain pen. I picked up my first Pocket 6 in Philadelphia, and ordered more a few months later. The small form factor, combined with a full-size No. 6 nib, creates an unparalleled writing experience for so small a pen. Ian typically releases his designs in small batches that may or may not be limited, so if you see one you like, grab it while you can.

2. Opus 88 Omar Demonstrator. I waited a long time to review the Opus 88 Omar, mainly because I thought it was too big. Turns out it’s one of the most comfortable pens I’ve reviewed all year, rivaling the Montegrappa Miya at a much lower price point. That said, it is a big pen, and the Japanese-style eyedropper filling system might be a touch complex for some people.

3. TWSBI ECO Yellow. While I’m mainly known for my love for red and burgundy pens, I’ll also buy anything yellow, and when you can get a yellow pen that looks this good for around $30, I’m guaranteed to buy it. The TWSBI ECO continues to be a mainstay on my list of most-recommended pens, and I don’t see it moving anytime soon.

4. The Return of TWSBI Rose Gold. TWSBI brought back rose gold trim with a white and rose gold ECO as well as a “smoke” and rose gold TWSBI 580. While earlier iterations of TWSBI’s rose gold pens had issues with the trim wearing thin in places, TWSBI not only fixed the issue but improved the overall look. I find the current rose gold trim absolutely gorgeous, with tons of depth and a warm patina.

5. Diplomat Aero Flame and Volute. Another pen that I’ve previously reviewed, but not in these particular iterations. Diplomat has leaned hard on the Aero as it’s flagship offering, and for good reason - it features a unique design, a size that’s comfortable for most people to use, and now higher-end, special finishes to compliment the standard lineup. I’ll be inking both of these pens for review during the new year.

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From left: Mazzuoli Nobile ITALIA, Spoke Pen, Sunderland mk1, Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint, CW&T Pen Type-B

Non-Fountain Pens

In terms of non-fountain pens, I went out of my way to try for the first time pens that I hadn’t otherwise picked up despite receiving rave reviews elsewhere. By far, the ones that surprised me the most were the Sunderland MK1 and the CW&T Pen Type-B, which have both been around for years but never made their way into my pen case. Both look to be fixtures for some time to come.

Disclaimer: I carry a few of these pens in the T.G.S. Curated Shop. Since my goal for the shop over the past year has been to selectively stock pens (1) that I think are great and (2) don’t get enough retail exposure from larger vendors, I don’t believe my opinion has been affected by the fact that I sell them, as opposed to the opposite (i.e., the fact that I sell them in the first place is driven by my opinion). But I’m a fan of full disclosure up front.

1. Sunderland MK1. Not only is the Sunderland MK1 an incredibly well-designed and crafted machined pen, but it holds Montblanc rollerball and fineliner refills - two all-time favorites. It’s also incredibly rare to find a machined pen that posts as well as the MK and doesn’t require you to thread the cap on the back of the barrel.

2. Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint. As a fan of vintage-inspired design, I’ve long been drawn to the Traveler’s Company “Bullet Pencil,” which they have now redesigned and released in ballpoint, fountain pen, and rollerball versions. Not only does the ballpoint maintain the form factor of a classic bullet pencil, but the refill is a needle-tip gel/ballpoint hybrid that writes a true fine line. This one spent a week at the beach clipped to the front of a book I was reading, and served as the perfect annotation pen. (T.G.S. Curated Shop Selection)

3. Spoke Pen. The Signo DX is an ultra-fine gel refill that until now, lacked it’s own dedicated pen barrel/housing. The Spoke Pen comes from the same design family as the excellent Spoke Pencil and Baux Pen. While I first reviewed a prototype Spoke Pen in 2019, the pens fully launched and became more widely available to the public in 2020.

4. CW&T Pen Type-B. Speaking of fine-tip gel refills, Pilot’s Hi-Tec-C has long been a favorite, and a darling of penmakers looking to create custom machined housings for specific refills. The Pen Type-B is one of the oldest such pens, but until this year I had never added one to my personal collection. I went all-in on a black Cerakote-plated titanium version that sits on my desk by my keyboard full time. And the pneumatic sleeve is my No. 1 fidget-toy. (T.G.S. Curated Shop Selection).

5. Giuliano Mazzuoli Nobile ITALIA. It took some convincing to get me to try this compact, ergonomic ballpoint/mechanical pencil hybrid, but from the moment I had this pen in my hand I loved it. It’s perfectly weighted and balanced, with a design inspired by “Italia” airship from the 1930s. Hint: Hold the pen with the clip facing down to see the inspiration. (T.G.S. Curated Shop Selection).

Many thanks for your support this year, and stay tuned this week as I continue to revisit 2020 and prepare for 2021!