Disclaimer: I am an authorized TWSBI retailer and sell select TWSBI products in my shop. My goal, as it has always been, is to offer detailed discussions and overviews of products so that you can make an informed decision about what you ultimately decide to purchase. I strongly encourage readers to do as much research as they can, including from sources other than me, before making any purchasing decision.
The original TWSBI Diamond 580 Smoke and Rose Gold quickly became something of a coveted collector’s item, alongside the TWSBI Micarta, since it turned out to be one of TWSBI’s “experimental” runs intended to test a new design element. Dissatisfied with the look of the original rose gold plating and its durability over time, TWSBI did not re-release a rose gold pen for several years. The latest version, dubbed the “Smoke and Rose Gold II, features the same improved plating found on the rose gold ECO fountain pens, modified to increase both durability and visual warmth, and in my opinion looks much better. It might be my favorite TWSBI currently on the market.
The nibs on the Rose Gold ECO, left, and the Rose Gold 580, right. While the 580 does feature the replaceable nib units, as of the time of writing TWSBI does not sell rose gold units separately.
Rose gold trim has grown in popularity in recent years, and has made up a sizable percentage of my own recent acquisitions. In addition to the White/Rose Gold TWSBI ECO, I’ve also added a Montblanc 149 and a Leonardo Furore. While I don’t dislike standard yellow gold on fountain pens, and have plenty in my personal collection, the reddish warmth of the rose gold (created by adding copper to the alloy) gives the pen some character and makes it look, well, a touch less ordinary. Here, the combination of TWSBI’s rose gold plating and transparent smoke black acrylic on the grip section, cap, and piston knob looks fantastic.
Obligatory dramatic low-light photo.
I don’t intend to re-review the TWSBI Diamond 580 fountain pen - you can read my comprehensive review here, as well as the “Workhorse Pens” writeup in which I discuss how I remain a devoted TWSBI 580 fan even as the TWSBI ECO sometimes seems to take center stage as the latest internet darling. Let’s just say that as TWSBI has reiterated and improved upon the design of its flagship piston filler over the years, I personally think it’s gotten to a point where I have a hard time justifying purchasing similar-looking transparent demonstrators at five to six times the price. As a result, I have a lot of TWSBIs in my collection, and usually have at least one in rotation.
The TWSBI ECO has been attracting more and more attention for good reason: The inexpensive piston filler fountain pen comes in a wide array of colors and finishes, and sits at a price point that makes it easy to rapidly expand your collection.
In addition to just showcasing how good this pen looks, I do want to talk a bit more about the 580’s overall value proposition and why I continue to love TWSBI as a company. TWSBI has always striven to position itself as a manufacturer that creates fountain pens that punch way above their price, offering a great writing experience, a generally high level of quality control, and responsive customer service. The Smoke and Rose Gold II presents a case in point: here you have a piston-filling fountain pen with rose gold plated trim priced at $84.99. To me, that’s a very attractive offering, even if it does nudge this particular pen a touch above the standard $50-60 for a standard TWSBI Diamond 580 Clear or Diamond 580 ALR. Pricing is always relative - what is inexpensive for some is not always the same for others - which is why the having the ECO as a lower-cost alternative presents such a great option.
But how do you maintain quality control on a pen like this at the sub-$100 price point? All I can speak to personally is this: In the past two years I have acquired approximately a dozen TWSBI pens from multiple sources, and I have had no issues. And while I have experienced minor issues in the now-distant past (i.e., more than two years ago) I have never had a problem that TWSBI has not promptly fixed, mostly involving dry nibs and one instance of a minor plastic crack. TWSBI has remained on my Recommendations Lists for years, and it wouldn’t be there, much less stocked in my own shop, if I didn’t have confidence in the manufacturer and their willingness to stand behind their product.
Takeaways and Where to Buy
I love TWSBI pens, and as long as they continue to release knockouts such as the Smoke and Rose Gold II, they will feature prominently in my collection. Personally, I’m still holding out for a Micarta reissue, and maybe another run of the 580 RBT, which was the Taiwan tribute edition with the red cap and blue piston. (Something tells me I may be waiting for that Micarta for a long time.)
I currently stock select TWSBI pens and inks in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, including pens from the Diamond 580 and ECO lines. The Diamond 580 Smoke and Rose Gold II retails for $84.99, and is available in all TWSBI nib widths (EF, F, M, B, and 1.1mm Stub).