Mary Collis, Author at The Pen Company Blog

Diplomat Excellence Rhombus fountain pen review

March 22, 2017 by Mary Collis

Diplomat Excellence Rhombus black fountain pen with silver grid pattern on handwritten blue ink text

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 … Read more

Stunning simplicity: Lamy 2000 Taxus ballpoint pen review

November 8, 2016 by Mary Collis

Black and silver retractable ballpoint pen on handwritten dotted paper background

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 … Read more

Rainbow Fisher Space Pen Bullet Ballpoint Review

January 10, 2019September 16, 2015 by Mary Collis

Rainbow Fisher Space Pen Bullet Ballpoint pen on handwritten text background

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 … Read more

Faber-Castell E-Motion Pear Wood Ballpoint Pen Review

March 6, 2015 by Mary Collis

Faber-Castell E-Motion Pear Wood ballpoint pen on handwritten notes with ink splatters

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 … Read more

Diplomat Life Ballpoint Review

November 10, 2014 by Mary Collis

Red Diplomat Life ballpoint pen resting on handwritten notes with black ink text

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 … Read more

Pelikan Pura (EF) Fountain Pen Review

January 29, 2016June 17, 2014 by Mary Collis

Close-up of Pelikan Pura fountain pen nib and section resting on handwritten blue ink text

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 … Read more

Tombow Airpress Ballpoint Pen

April 19, 2014 by Mary Collis

Close-up of Tombow Airpress black ballpoint pen on handwritten notebook page with ink visible in pen window

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 … Read more