Why a fascination for pens and the ancient art of writing in this day and age of iPads and iPhones and MacBook Pros? With all the conveniences of modern, electronic "paper", there remains the romanticism of writing, a mystery and elegance in the written word, in letters carefully inscribed on parchment, permanently etched to last the test of time, which cannot be made to vanish with simple delete commands.
And of course there is your all-important signature, the representation of your person, your wealth and influence, with the ability to seal a precious contract or transfer fortunes, all with a few strokes of your pen. And with a fine luxury writing instrument to ink your agreements, you not only autograph your convictions but you also express your taste for style and individuality.
Personally, I started enjoying script writing again when I shifted to Moleskine Legendary Notebooks for my personal journals, Bible study and Sunday message notes, and for the office.
I recently bought a Montblanc Starwalker Midnight Black Fineliner that has Ruthenium-plated fittings and clip, the latter with an embossed Montblanc lettering and individual serial number, Black precious resin, and a floating Montblanc emblem in a transparent cap-top. This is the lowest-priced Montblanc you can get. But where should you buy it?
In Singapore, the big Montblanc shops are in Mandarin Gallery and Raffles City Shopping Center, plus a number of others. The ones I most often go to, given my travel and weekend schedules, are the Montblanc at Changi Terminal 2 in Singapore, the Montblanc at the Pavilion in Kuala Lumpur, and the Montblanc at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport departure terminal (at Gate C). There are nuances in the items they carry, so it's good to browse and check which items you really like. What's the little-known fact that a few people have started to discover? That you can ask for a discount at the Montblanc KLIA Duty Free, and they'll give about ten percent! Not bad on an SGD 400 pen! I'll pocket the savings anytime! I discovered this because I was asking if they could match the promotional discount that the Bangkok Duty Free was giving, and to my surprise, they did! Of course the SGD 40 isn't all that big, but it's a great feeling to buy below market value, and know that you're getting instant appreciated value on your personal investment article.
if you're in the market for luxury pens, there is one shop you have got to visit - Aesthetic Bay at the 4th floor of Ion at Orchard, in Singapore. They have the widest collection of pens available and on display that I have ever seen. This can open your eyes to the world of luxury writing jewels and see past the advertising dominance of Mint Blanc, and consider other compelling options.
The shop carries the more mainstream brands like Parker, Cross and Sheaffer,
to more exotic brands like Caran d'Ache and Cartier
to very expensive brands like Montegrappa, S.T. Dupont, Visconti and AP.
There are many more brands carried that I haven't mentioned, so check out the Aesthetic Bay website. It's quite impressive in that it features a world of brands, and selected models of each brand, complete with good close-up photos, a history of the brand, plus prices, so you can immediately gage which ones you might consider as being right for you. They mostly feature the Limited Edition and high-end pens in their website, but in the shop they have pens ranging from an affordable hundred dollars (SGD) to a heart-stopping couple of tens of thousands of dollars (SGD).
A trip to Aesthetic Bay is like going to a museum with fine art pieces and intricate works of craftsmanship, a really enjoyable experience for connoisseurs of fine writing jewels.
Click on the images to see them in higher resolution. In most of my photos, you can enlarge them to see the price tags. I just hope they don't get bumped to a lower resolution after uploading.
Here is the One Thousand and One Nights Fountain Pen from S.T. Dupont, with a price tag of S$2,710.
Here is a Visconti Chinese motif blue pen for SGD 6,420.00.
And here on the right is a Krone General George Armstrong Custer pen for SGD 8,507.00.
The Montegrappa Italia pens are exquisite, and the company has a rich history. They have a broad selection of precious resin, celluloid, precious metal and Limited Edition pens. All the metal parts including the clip and the central ring have always been made of solid silver, and it's a special blend of silver, a closely guarded secret of the company, that oxidizes more slowly then regular Sterling Silver. The different craftsmanship techniques they employ are interesting trivia on their website. The prices in this display of Montegrappa pens ranges from SGD 1,100.00 to SGD 18,340.00
And here are Montegrappa pens from SGD 650.00 to SGD 1,360.00.
Here is the S.T.Dupont Le Vendome Limited Edition Pen and Lighter for SGD 7,720.00. S.T. Dupont of Paris is another captivating luxury pen brand. You can read about their fascinating history on their website. A curious trivia is that they have been a manufacturer of luxury travel cases, so expensive that at one point a piece was the equivalent of a house in Paris! Among the engaging stories of history and technology, what stands out for me is the tedious crafting of lacquered pens, using the sap of the Rhus Vernicefera tree as a precious natural material. I must also say that the new S.T. Dupont ballpen refills glide very smoothly and are quite impressive.
For Dunhill of London, the Sentryman luxury pens look very distinguished and masculine, and are a pleasure to hold with the right feel and balance, despite what may look to be a huge size at first impression. What's stimulating about the Sentryman is that it's design is inspired by the English pillar box. Now if you're not from the U.K., you'd be asking what's that? Here is an interesting article on the history of the pillar boxes and how their look has changed over the years. The Dunhill pens here range from SGD 430.00 to SGD 850.00
AP pens from SGD 21,188.00 to SGD 28,248.00.
And some other Ultra high-end AP luxury pens.
A number of websites are not optimized for the iPad, so you may not get the full intended experience if you are using one. But still check it out using any device.
Read up to the end to get an added valuable tip.
The Power of God's Written Word
"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (Matthew 5:17, 18 NASB)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV)
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. (Revelation 22:18, 19 NIV)
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30, 31 NIV)
One final tip:
Aesthetic Bay gives discounts on pens AND refills. As much as 20%, depending on the model. So if you have a chance, visit, compare prices, and ask for a discount! (remember Rule # 1)
That's it for now. Happy writing!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
And of course there is your all-important signature, the representation of your person, your wealth and influence, with the ability to seal a precious contract or transfer fortunes, all with a few strokes of your pen. And with a fine luxury writing instrument to ink your agreements, you not only autograph your convictions but you also express your taste for style and individuality.
Personally, I started enjoying script writing again when I shifted to Moleskine Legendary Notebooks for my personal journals, Bible study and Sunday message notes, and for the office.
I recently bought a Montblanc Starwalker Midnight Black Fineliner that has Ruthenium-plated fittings and clip, the latter with an embossed Montblanc lettering and individual serial number, Black precious resin, and a floating Montblanc emblem in a transparent cap-top. This is the lowest-priced Montblanc you can get. But where should you buy it?
In Singapore, the big Montblanc shops are in Mandarin Gallery and Raffles City Shopping Center, plus a number of others. The ones I most often go to, given my travel and weekend schedules, are the Montblanc at Changi Terminal 2 in Singapore, the Montblanc at the Pavilion in Kuala Lumpur, and the Montblanc at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport departure terminal (at Gate C). There are nuances in the items they carry, so it's good to browse and check which items you really like. What's the little-known fact that a few people have started to discover? That you can ask for a discount at the Montblanc KLIA Duty Free, and they'll give about ten percent! Not bad on an SGD 400 pen! I'll pocket the savings anytime! I discovered this because I was asking if they could match the promotional discount that the Bangkok Duty Free was giving, and to my surprise, they did! Of course the SGD 40 isn't all that big, but it's a great feeling to buy below market value, and know that you're getting instant appreciated value on your personal investment article.
if you're in the market for luxury pens, there is one shop you have got to visit - Aesthetic Bay at the 4th floor of Ion at Orchard, in Singapore. They have the widest collection of pens available and on display that I have ever seen. This can open your eyes to the world of luxury writing jewels and see past the advertising dominance of Mint Blanc, and consider other compelling options.
The shop carries the more mainstream brands like Parker, Cross and Sheaffer,
to more exotic brands like Caran d'Ache and Cartier
to very expensive brands like Montegrappa, S.T. Dupont, Visconti and AP.
There are many more brands carried that I haven't mentioned, so check out the Aesthetic Bay website. It's quite impressive in that it features a world of brands, and selected models of each brand, complete with good close-up photos, a history of the brand, plus prices, so you can immediately gage which ones you might consider as being right for you. They mostly feature the Limited Edition and high-end pens in their website, but in the shop they have pens ranging from an affordable hundred dollars (SGD) to a heart-stopping couple of tens of thousands of dollars (SGD).
A trip to Aesthetic Bay is like going to a museum with fine art pieces and intricate works of craftsmanship, a really enjoyable experience for connoisseurs of fine writing jewels.
Click on the images to see them in higher resolution. In most of my photos, you can enlarge them to see the price tags. I just hope they don't get bumped to a lower resolution after uploading.
Here is the One Thousand and One Nights Fountain Pen from S.T. Dupont, with a price tag of S$2,710.
Here is a Visconti Chinese motif blue pen for SGD 6,420.00.
And here on the right is a Krone General George Armstrong Custer pen for SGD 8,507.00.
The Montegrappa Italia pens are exquisite, and the company has a rich history. They have a broad selection of precious resin, celluloid, precious metal and Limited Edition pens. All the metal parts including the clip and the central ring have always been made of solid silver, and it's a special blend of silver, a closely guarded secret of the company, that oxidizes more slowly then regular Sterling Silver. The different craftsmanship techniques they employ are interesting trivia on their website. The prices in this display of Montegrappa pens ranges from SGD 1,100.00 to SGD 18,340.00
And here are Montegrappa pens from SGD 650.00 to SGD 1,360.00.
Here is the S.T.Dupont Le Vendome Limited Edition Pen and Lighter for SGD 7,720.00. S.T. Dupont of Paris is another captivating luxury pen brand. You can read about their fascinating history on their website. A curious trivia is that they have been a manufacturer of luxury travel cases, so expensive that at one point a piece was the equivalent of a house in Paris! Among the engaging stories of history and technology, what stands out for me is the tedious crafting of lacquered pens, using the sap of the Rhus Vernicefera tree as a precious natural material. I must also say that the new S.T. Dupont ballpen refills glide very smoothly and are quite impressive.
For Dunhill of London, the Sentryman luxury pens look very distinguished and masculine, and are a pleasure to hold with the right feel and balance, despite what may look to be a huge size at first impression. What's stimulating about the Sentryman is that it's design is inspired by the English pillar box. Now if you're not from the U.K., you'd be asking what's that? Here is an interesting article on the history of the pillar boxes and how their look has changed over the years. The Dunhill pens here range from SGD 430.00 to SGD 850.00
AP pens from SGD 21,188.00 to SGD 28,248.00.
And some other Ultra high-end AP luxury pens.
A number of websites are not optimized for the iPad, so you may not get the full intended experience if you are using one. But still check it out using any device.
Read up to the end to get an added valuable tip.
The Power of God's Written Word
"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (Matthew 5:17, 18 NASB)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV)
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. (Revelation 22:18, 19 NIV)
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30, 31 NIV)
One final tip:
Aesthetic Bay gives discounts on pens AND refills. As much as 20%, depending on the model. So if you have a chance, visit, compare prices, and ask for a discount! (remember Rule # 1)
That's it for now. Happy writing!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Malaysia
very nice Blog about pens which had a great collection in it and also in different kinds
ReplyDeleteGift Ideas For Men
https://www.williampenn.net/