Brands are becoming aware that people are ‘customising’ the refills to the point that Karas Kustoms, makers of Retrakt, Bolt and Render K pens have taken to providing a piece of plastic tubing with their pens to allow you to ‘customise’ refills to mix and match the pens and other brand refills. There are stories of people opting to “cut to fit” when it comes to refills, and making the cartridge they have fit the pen, though there is plenty to go wrong with that option. Obviously, pens in the Parker range fall into this category, and also models from Pelikan, Schmidt, Schneider and Visconti. Some of the most popular pens that need a Parker-Style refill include Faber-Castell’s Ballpoint Pen and Scribero Gel Ink Roller, Moleskine’s Ballpoint, Gel Refill and Roller Gels, and several from the Monteverde range. There are lots of pens on the market today that can take a “Parker-Style” refill – often referred to as a G2 – though Pilot also makes its own G2, and to confuse names further, there are also lots of models that take Hi-Tec C refills, also by Pilot. Parker-Styleīecause of their widespread appeal, some of the bigger pen manufacturers have started to adopt a more universal sizing strategy. The pen dispenses its ink over the metal ball at the point – the “ball point” – and as it is a more reliable option than fountain pens for giving a consistent finish, the ballpoint is now the most widely used refill across the globe. Understanding how your ballpoint pen works will go some way to helping choose the correct refill for it. “It’s always about being non-complacent.” Here, a look inside the nib department, before the ink begins to flow.Few things are as frustrating as having your pen run out of ink when the words you want to write are flowing, although having to track down the right size refill when you’re not really sure what you’re looking for might come close. “Every new solution brings a new touch to the writing instrument,” Kamal adds.
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(Last year, the company released Augmented Paper, which digitally transcribes handwritten notes.) “Our working steps combine different technologies with handmaking,” says Frank Derlien, the head of the nib department, where custom state-of-the-art machinery balances ages-old manual techniques. The company is diligently focused on constant evolution, from aesthetics to efficient technology to the pen’s actual use. For me, it’s as precise as a ballet dancer.”ĭespite the ubiquity of digital communication, Montblanc pens remain as relevant as ever. “There’s a memory when it comes to gestures. “I always call it the gestures of familiarity,” Kamal says. It’s a craft mastered mostly by women, whose expertise lies not only in how a nib is supposed to look but also feel and sound. The nib is the heart of a fountain pen, and Montblanc’s are made from 14- or 18-karat gold. Such collaboration is key, considering that each pen takes more than 100 assiduous steps to create, and the pen’s nib requires around 35. “One of the most important things in my process is working together with the manufacturers.” “It truly requires the thinking of an engineer ,” Kamal says. “Our pens are a combination of design, material, and detail,” says creative director Zaim Kamal, a self-described “child of the seventies.” His rock ‘n’ roll and vintage inspirations winningly combine with the technical know-how of Montblanc’s engineers to create innovative pieces. Montblanc pens are both objets d’art and feats of intricate engineering, requiring great skill, patience, and time to make. With a client base that spans Ernest Hemingway to Queen Elizabeth II to Barack Obama, it’s safe to say that the maison is behind some of the most significant stories and signatures of this century-and for good reason. The German manufacturer of timepieces, leather, and writing instruments began making its flagship Meisterstück fountain pen in Hamburg in 1924. It’s fitting, then, that the making of writing instruments is an art itself. A tool for storytelling over the ages, it’s the very basis of advanced societies. By Courtney KenefickĪt its best, writing is a fine art. At Montblanc’s headquarters in Hamburg, Germany, making world-class writing instruments is a modern-day pursuit.