8 Mar 2016

my thoughts on the TWSBI 580AL Diamond Purple with a Fine nib

In late-2015 and after being paid for some peer teaching I do, I decided to treat myself to a TWSBI 580AL Diamond in purple. Currently on a no-spend ban, I'm glad I purchased this beauty before the ban came into place! It has a piston-filling mechanism and I love the demonstrator nature of it because I can easily see what it is inked with (to an extent - most of the inks in my current collection are shades of blue-black!).


The packaging and design are both so simplistic and beautiful at the same time. I love the purple accents which contrast nicely with the red TWSBI logo at the end of the pen cap. The pen feels very sturdy and it is the right length for my, larger than average, hands. I opted to get the fine nib and I love how it writes. Before we explore that further, let's just have a little look at the nib - isn't it beautiful?!


The first ink I decided to fill it with is Diamine Denim (more on that in a few weeks' time) and there is a slight purpley tinge to it that goes well with the pen design. The ink capacity is also ridiculous - it only needs to be filled once or twice a week (maximum three) whereas I'm changing Lamy cartridges once a day sometimes! Just amazing. My next goal? To fill it with J Herbin's Poussiere de Lune at some point to see how that looks.

Finally, how it writes. I use it unposted because the cap is actually quite heavy and adds a bit too much weight to the pen when posted. The writing sample below is from a lecture I was sat in and my favourite thing about this pen is how it didn't dry out even when inactive for a few minutes. 


Overall, this pen is amazing and I'm still trying to pluck up the courage to take it on placement with me. Mainly because I currently tote my Lamy and the amount of times I've had people ask to borrow a pen makes me shudder at the thought of someone ruining this lovely TWSBI offering.

6 comments

  1. Twisbi pens are gorgeous, but especially this purple! :D
    I don't post any of the caps for my fountain pens, and have stopped putting the caps on the top of even regular ballpoints. I realized that I only ever did it before to, one, not lose the cap, and two, because I thought you were supposed to. But it is never any better to write with it on!
    That being said, if I were you, I'd take this pen everywhere and anywhere...and keep a ballpoint handy, for those that need to borrow a pen ;)

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    1. I would love to carry this one everywhere with me but because I can't use it posted means that I'll inevitably lose the lid somewhere :( And I think that would break my heart haha. I definitely keep at least two spare pens in my placement bag though! x

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  2. I totally agree; I have this pen (but not in purple) and love it. I use it all week for notes, lists, everything. Ink lasts me a full week and the pen is so consistent. I also worry about loaning it out to people!

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    1. The ink lasts forever! And it writes like a dream. I worry about loaning even my cheapest of pens out to people - I think medical professionals are the worst at stealing pens on the sly! x

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  3. Yes I agree with the poster above....keep a cheap pen on hand if people need to borrow. I buy my own pens for work (I'm a med lab tech and picky about pens!) and am very protective of them. If I had a pricey fountain pen I wouldn't let anyone touch it. Use it and enjoy it, and give people who can't be bothered to keep a pen on them a cheap Papermate or something:)

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    1. Don't worry - I always have at least two cheap biros in my bag :) x

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