I used my wife’s favorite pen so you don’t have to

And the overview of some of my favorite pens she got me over the years

Today’s been exactly nine years to the day since I met my wife (then just a random girl who showed up in our rental), so I figured I would talk about my her favorite pen: a BIC.

BICs are horrible. Respectfully.

End post.

Anyway, now that that review is out of the way, I’ll tell you about some actually good pens that my wife got me throughout our relationship. If you ever reads this, honey, I’m not sorry.

One of the greatest things about being in a relationship where your partner appreciates your passion and hobbies is in fact penabling. She’s done quite a lot of penabling in the last 8 years (I wasn’t that deep in the hobby when we met); actually, as I was sitting down to write this post, I realized it would be too long as she’s gotten me way too many pens to count. So, I will just briefly mention some; one of the most treasured ones was the Zodiac Gemini, and there’s a whole review about it from last year you can read. In the meantime, onto the others!

TWSBI Mini AL in Gold

It was a limited edition from 2017, it was stunning, it was loud, and naturally, I had to have it because I was totally going to take it to work and stuff. Of course, once I opened the box to the gloriousness that was the perfect little gold (colored) pen, I was too terrified to take it out into the world. It was suddenly too much of a — you’ve guessed it — a sentimental gift, and what if I were to break it? Or lose it? My heart wouldn’t be able to take it! So into my pen case it went, and outside of my home it went not.

This is the embodiment of compact meets capacity, and I couldn’t be happier with it.

Muji Aluminum Fountain Pen

“I was buying fineliners and I saw this and thought you’d like it” was the most beautiful thing my wife’s ever said to me. I believe she brought this pen to me after stopping at the (now late) Muji store at JFK while on a layover to come visit me from the US to Europe. This pen also posts in a cool way, and is as thin as a pencil, and the nib sings a tiny bit, but I’m a fan. It taught me to like Schmidt nibs.

And it taught me there is always enough time to buy pens even while you’re rushing from one flight to another.

Penbbs 471 Fireworks

Unlike real fireworks, this pen is not loud nor flashy, and so you can fill it with your favorite sparkly ink and it’s gonna look as good and it will also write so well you’ll grin from ear to ear. The stylized fireworks, the eyedropper — talk about the compact meets capacity! — the beautiful artwork that is the nib, and the nib being #6… What else does one need?

If you need some sparkle in your life suspended in clear acrylic, do not look further. :fireworks sounds:

Schon DSGN Full Size Cool Rainbow

This was my birthday gift from this year; let me tell you, if you still get surprised by your partner after nine years, you’ve found yourself a keeper. As most of Schon DSGN pens, this one is also a work of art, with its anodized surface and precise lines and how does this person even come up with these designs I don’t understand.

Elegant, sleek, and turns heads? Sign me right up.

Pilot Falcon

Business in the streets, freak on the sheets (of paper)? Exactly. On the outside, as most of us are, this pen is just an ubiquitous black resin and gold trim, but then you put the nib to paper and your eyes go wide because the bounce on that thing is unparalleled. As with most not-really-flex-pens, you’re not supposed to overdo it, but it will handle some pressure, give you some line variation, and make you feel like the coolest cat in the office.

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With the nod to the OG chaos blogger whose spouse is similar to mine, I will say that finding someone who supports your pen obsession is crucial to building a strong fountain pen collection relationship. I still remember how cool it was holding my first fancy pen I got from the future wife.

For me at least, fountain pens are not just there to write, they’re there to tell a story, and if you’re a sap like me, you should find yourself someone who will buy you pens and make you reminisce about the good old times.

What’s your favorite pen you got as a gift?