Tuesday

Choose The Right Pen for You with Some of The Helpful Tips

Pens may seem smaller but they have a very vital role in our life. In our everyday life the job of writing anything is fulfilled by pens only. Also we have heard the famous saying “Pen is mightier than sword” which means that pen can do wonders and have a hidden power in it. Since it is used daily for various writing purposes, it is very important to use the right pen to avoid issues like disrupted ink flow, improper writing, etc. since choosing the right pen can be challenging so one can take expert advice while buying the right pen or can simply go through the below points to have a good knowledge about pens and can choose the right pen for themselves.

Useful and helpful tips to choose the right pen
  1. Apart from choosing among different types of pen like ball pen, gel pen, roller pen or fountain pen, there are other factors like width, grip, size and style of the pen that counts.
  2. For greater and detailed writing, choose a fine or micro tip pen.
  3. Lets talk about ball pens first. If you are left handed then ball pens are perfect for you.
  4. Ball pens dry quickly and gives you precise lines with extended write life.
  5. Now talking about gel pens, it is a combination of ball pen and roller pen.
  6. The ink of gel pen is thick which gives a vibrant look to your writing.
  7. Coming to roller pens, they have a juicy ink lay down and have longer drying time.
  8. Fountain pens are by far the best as they  train you to write.
No matter what you think about pens, the right pen for you is that which suits your writing style and provide you comfort. Apart from that, you can try writing with different pens to check whether they are compatible with your hand or not. You can also try some of the reputed foreign brands of pen to have the best writing experience. You can buy foreign pen brands in India such as Franklin Covey, Parker, Cross and many more.

So whichever pen you choose, choose wisely as you have to use it throughout and will be using it daily. Also it is about your writing and a wrong pen may effect your handwriting and may effect your hands too. So for the sake of your writing  choose the best and the right pen.

Know Some Interesting Facts about Fountain Pens

Fountain pens were used almost 5000 years ago. They are nib pens that hold the ink in it so that it can be used further for writing purpose. Fountain pens have a reservoir in it where the ink is stored as the nib draws the ink with the help of a feed using capillary action and gravity. Some pens have the option to fill ink through a Pasteur pipette like an eye dropper or with the help of a syringe. There is another way of filling ink in the fountain pen. It has an internal filling mechanism that creates a suction similar to that of piston mechanism and draws the ink directly from the ink pot. In the advanced version of fountain pens, pre filled cartridges are given and you can simple change the cartridge when the ink is over.

Fountain pens are said to improve your handwriting if you start writing with them from the very beginning. However there are many people who uses fountain pens throughout their life. Also there are much more to these pens which will simply amaze you. So just go through the list of interesting facts about fountain pens below :
  1. Fountain pens were first used by Ancient Egyptians almost 3000BC ago.
  2. Fountain pens are steady learners and can learn you writing style over time.
  3. Aurora Diamante is the most expensive fountain pen as it is made of solid platinum and two precious stones studded in it.
  4. Nanofountain probe is the smallest fountain pen ever recorded and can write lines that are 40 nanometer wide.
  5. Compared to right handed people, left handed people are most likely to write with fountain pens because of the rigid nib.
  6. Famous personalities who were also levers of fountain pens were Arthur Conan Doyle, Neil Gaiman, Ernest Hemmingway and Elizabeth II.
  7. Melville Junior School in Edinburgh has maintained to raise the academic performance of the students by insisting them to use fountain pen from the age of 7.
  8. If you write continuously with fountain pen then you will develop a unique writing style.
With such amazing facts and such amazing design, fountain pens are actually a revolution in the field of writing. They are the best lens to be used and fountain pen can actually be very helpful in writing and are perfect to be used on a long run.

Monday

A Guide for Buying Luxury Pens Online

For the connoisseurs of art, luxury pens are no more a mere writing tool, but an intriguing piece of high level craftsmanship.  The amount of effort with an eye for fine detailing that is involved in making a luxury pens justifies the relatively high price that one pays for it. If you love to collect or present luxury pens, the following guidelines are for your help if you are planning to buy the next piece over the online shopping sites -

Know your brand - If you are an experienced buyer, it will be easier to detect the product and its fine detailing over the ‘view’ panel of online shopping portals. But, if you are a first-time buyer, keep your eyes wide open for the product description and the product image part. Know about the particular brand that you are going to buy from and conduct a detailed research on its mark, emblems etc that are omnipresent in all the products of the particular brand.

Focus on the purpose - Before you start looking out for products, ask yourself ‘why do I need this pen for?’ Your choices will definitely vary with your purpose. For example, your choices will be very different if you want an everyday writing instrument or if you want the next item on your collection closet. Once your purpose is fixed, you will make wiser choice of brands as well as will not most probably waste your money on a whimsical buy.

Know your type - The next step involves taking a call on whether you are looking for a fountain, roller ball or ballpoint pen. All these three have their own set of advantages and disadvantages, so this point reverts back to the previous one, i.e. the purpose of buying the product. Also, this part will extend itself to the aspect of finances, which involves the money that you are willing to spend.

Buy only from trustworthy sites - It is imperative to check the credentials and the credibility of the seller before you make a purchase. Choose a site that gives cent percent guarantee of genuine products and ships with a warranty card with the original packaging.

Online shopping is an easy job provided you make a wise choice and take informed decisions on the ideal product as per your budget and purpose. It is better to buy pens online from the dedicated sites that deal with pens only rather than the general e-commerce portals to reduce the chances of accidentally buying duplicate merchandise.

Tuesday

Top Tips to Reserve Your Luxury Pens

When you buy a luxury pen for yourself, it becomes a personal possession of pride. A luxury pen not only gets you smooth writing experience, but also is an asset for you that depicts your class. Most of these pens are expensive- so let us assume that you have already spent a major amount of money on it, so it is better you be aware of the circumstances that may damage your fine writing tool.
  • However sturdy the pen looks, do not expose it to extreme conditions. Luxury pens are to be used more like jewelries, more to the show that to the use. Your pen can be harmed by excessive sunlight, humidity and dust.
  • Do not use it as an everyday writing instrument if your job requires commercial writing. Use it as a personal tool which is best suited for indoor and private use.
  • Do not lend your pen to the others. Note it for a cause since everybody puts different pressure and writes in different angels and the nib of your pen will adjust itself to this. If the pressure and angle changes rapidly, the nib will worn out.
  • Be careful while keeping it on the desk. If your pen falls down, there are high chances that it will get damaged. As a precautionary measure, always keep the pen capped while not using. The cap will prevent the pen from rolling over.
  • Do not store the pen horizontally or upside-down position while not in use. Always keep the pen in the cap-up position. Otherwise, the ink will assemble at the nib and if it gets dried there, your pen will not write anymore.
  • If you are going for a vacation and are not planning to take your writing tool along with you, flush the ink from it, and clean it properly. After that, store it in a secured position, but, do not use sealed plastic bags for storage. The best suitable option is to use the designated cases and covers that luxury brands like Parker, Cross, Mont Blanc Pens in India etc provide with their products.
Take care of your beloved luxury pen not just from the angle of its being a status symbol. It is more like a fine piece of art, carefully and meticulously manufactured, which deserves to be preserved and pampered well.

Monday

Top 10 Pen Brands in India

From a mere writing tool to an exquisite piece of art, pens have evolved gradually with years. These writing tools are omnipresent with all spheres of customers, be it a school-going child or a septuagenarian person.  Irrespective of whether you want to use a pen for everyday writing or you want to preserve a fine art specimen in your collection, pens come in different style, type and price range.  There are many brands that cater to a wide segment of customers. Here is an exclusive list of top-ten best selling pen brands in India -

Parker -  This worldwide popular pen brand manufactures exclusive pens since long back. This pen has been an inspiration for writing for many.

Mont Blanc - This luxury pen brand from Germany is a much favorite choice among the pen connoisseurs. Intricate designs and a suave appeal has been the main USP of this brand.

Kaweco Pens - Talk about precision, perfection and performance unified in a beautifully designed body, the answer will always be kaweco Pens. This German company has been in business since ages and enjoys a great deal of market share in India.

Cello - Probably every Indian’s brand, Cello is the top student’s favorite brand. This company manufactures pens in all price range. Lower price and better writing, Cello sticks to its unique genre.

Reynolds - This Chicago based company has always enjoyed the market for pens among the adults in India. After the eminent cricket persona, Mr. Sachin Tendulkar started to endorse Reynolds pens; they also became the children’s preferred choice.

Camlin - Kokuyo Camlin Ltd, formerly known as Camlin Ltd, is a Mumbai based enterprise. Apart from pens, their stationery products are a top choice among the young and mostly student customers in India for their regular Art Contests and other brand-building activates.

Sheaffer - An eminent name in the market of luxury fountain pens, Sheaffer pens speak of class and sophistication. Founded in 1912, this centuries-old company still enjoys a presence in any top 10 pen brands list worldwide.

Classmate by ITC - A newbie in the market, Classmate pens have marked a space among the students and young-professional users.

Cross - This American brand enjoys the legacy of the oldest US based Pen brand, since the company was founded in 1846. The Cross brand was founded by jewelry makers and artisans of usable luxury, and has been crafting fine writing instruments for more years than any company in the Western world.

Linc - Linc pens are affordable and cater mainly to the small to medium budget customers. But, their huge availability and lower price makes this brand a must-have brand for everyday use.

Please note that the above listing for the top selling pen brands in India is not exhaustive and does not represent the ranking of the top ten brands.

Wednesday

Why Luxury Pens are The Best Gifts

Whether we love it or hate it, we all have to write, since it is a quiet-essential part of education.  But, at an age where technological invasion has made the practice of writing almost obsolete, pen and paper are of very little use. Most of the writing now takes place in digital method. But, as the saying goes, what makes it different makes it precious. A luxury pen that speaks class and elegance is an evergreen statement of sophistication.  Luxury pens not only emphasize the taste of the presenter, but also enhance the charisma of the recipient.  The perks of presenting a pen as a gift are -
·        Uniqueness - What can beat the best tool to preserve the fine art of writing on paper? In the era of clichés, stand out with something as unique as a luxury pen.

·      Class - Truly, a luxury pen with fine detailing is a great and evergreen piece of art. If your budget suits, you should surely go for the limited edition engraved pens that the luxury brands roll out occasionally. 

·       Appeal - Pens cater to nostalgia and ensembles the class of a person. A finely detailed pen not only looks better when it peeps out from your pocket, but also feels so beautiful while put to use. These pens are usually very smooth and cater to effortless writing.

·       Value - Some expensive pens are made with gold nibs and other precious metals in the body. They can be passed on a family heirloom from generation to generation.

·     Artsy - Pens are nowadays more like art/collection item than regular utilization tools. Heritage gifts are always loved by the recipients and they are surely going to cherish your unique gift.

So, if you have finally decided for buying a luxury pen, pick a “collection” piece from the top names in the market like Parker, Mont Blanc etc. Pens like Parker Sonnet can be the ideal choice for their sleek and minimalistic yet exotic designs. You may also shop from the dedicated e-commerce sites that bring the best of collections.

Tuesday

The Evolution of Pens

When novelist and playwright Edward Bulwer-Lytton had written the eponymous line “The pen is mightier than the sword” in his historical play ,Cardinal Richelieu , he had never known that his ‘pen’ would be remembered for innumerable years to come. Clashing of swords in the battlefield might be forgotten, but the might of a pen makes its presence felt at every moment we read historical descriptions of The Bible, the wars of Independence or the major revolutions, along with major literary works of the Bard, William Shakespeare. But pens were not so advanced in their technology and classy in their appearance, so as to call them luxury writing instruments. Just as humans have evolved with the passage of time from being savage to civilized, pens have also undergone a lot of transitions, beginning from the Sumerians several thousand years ago.

The first writing instrument and hence the first writing form were created by the Sumerians and known as Stylii and Cuneiform respectively. These were specially-shaped sticks to press wedge-shaped characters into soft wax or clay tablets. The ink was a mixture of water and natural dye, extracted from fire soot. As writing instruments, cuneiform was followed by brushes with thin tips and reed pens. Reed pens were popularly used by the Romans to keep extensive records of their empire on a writing surface known as Papyrus. But constant re-sharpening of the reed makes it soft and inappropriate for use and hence it got replaced by quill, that is, a big feather from the wing of a large bird (generally goose). The cursive and decorative fonts like the Copperplate, Spencerian etc. were a gift of the quill during the 17th and 18th centuries. The writing surface also evolved from using papyrus to vellum (dried animal hides) and eventually to paper.

With the emergence of the Industrial Revolution at the end of the 18th century, the first mass production of metal pens took place using special moulds and sheets of metals, generated by steam powered presses. The blooming industrialization enriched the market for luxury writing instruments with the invention of fountain pens, ballpoint pens, ink rollerball pens and propelling pencils as popular examples of modern design. Along with other European countries, Germany played a significant role in making this exclusive range of pens for more exquisite handwriting. They stand out from others by their virtue of innovation, reliability and artistic brilliance coupled with intelligence. The harmonic symbiosis of high-end craftsmanship and complex technological processes in German-made pens like Kaweco, gift us an unforgettable writing experience, along with an enviable look and perfectly balanced weight. Other popular American and French pen brands have also made their presence felt not only in the western countries but also in tropical countries, like Sheaffer and Waterman pens in India, to name just a few.

So, we have witnessed a huge advancement in the manufacturing of pen since antiquity – from quills to becoming luxury writing instruments. The pen is actually becoming mightier with each and every technological innovation all across the globe.