Unfortunately my good old trusted fountainpen “died” this week. This makes me sad as it was a gift from Eva at my graduation from Tilburg University a few years ago. My name is engraved and everything. I’ve used it extensively throughout the years (my handwriting still isn’t what it is supposed to be, but that’s another discussion).
Anyway, as some readers may know, I really liked the Waterman Serenite fountain pen. The biggest problem with that particular pen is its price (well over €700). Luckily we have a shop called “de inktpot” (the ink well) here in Deventer. Marevelous shop, great guy, really passionate about his job. Anyway, I had been there a few times in the past and today I decided to actually buy a new pen. No where near as expensive as the waterman, mind you.
My new fountain pen is an Aurora Talentum D11. It is an Italian pen in black and chrome. I also bought some great ink (dark green) as well as luxury paper (with linnen). I’m already looking forward to writing (rather than typing) long letters with this pen. It’s pretty, it’s a great product and quite sturdy.
Of course I’m happy as can be with my new pen. But thinking about it some more, I realized that one of the things I like about it (and many other things) is craftmanship. I can really enjoy tools, objects, art, whatever when it is made by a craftsman. It is amazing to see how people can get very pationate about their job / the product that they make and more often than not it leads to products of the highest quality.