As the clock is ticking on 2022, the time has come yet again to take stock of the writing instruments released during the year, and present you our crème de la crème of 2022 in the world of writing instruments!

Brace your selves, read through to the end, and we will be happy to receive your feedback -love or hate- in the comments section, and via more private means of communication.

After all, it is for you that this list is being composed!

So, without further ado, we bring to you

The Best Writing Instruments of 2022!

Ink of the Year

Visconti Van Gogh Inks

Not a single ink, but rather a whole collection that is full of exciting options captivated our attention this year.

Visconti's Van Gogh-inspired collection is one of our all-time favorites from the Florentine manufacturer, certainly ranking below the Homo Sapiens, but safely ahead of most other collections.

Visconti's Van Gogh Inks are a relatively recent addition to the range which included just writing instruments until very recently, and 2022 saw the completion of the inks collection. So, a distinct ink color to match each of the currently available pens is now available.

The range is not too wide - 11 colors in all - but that actually makes for much clarity, and no overlap or hard-to-distinguish colors, leaving everyone happy. Plus, Visconti has chosen to stay away form sparkling of any sort, and stick to clean colors that can be used on an every day basis.

This, for us, was love at first sight, especially when we tried their Souvenir de Mauve, and the Starry Night.

Noteable Mention: Ferris Wheel Press Down the Rabbit Hole series. Although more complicated inks, and hardly ideal for daily use, we have to give it to the Canadians for concept, execution, and presentation. Exciting inks and probably the prettiest bottles in the market today.

Accessory of the Year

Visconti Homo Sapiens Travel Inkwell

We've always loved Visconti's standard Travel Inkwell.

It is one of the smartest accessories in the market, it allows you to carry an extra 5ml of ink safely and cleanly wherever you are headed. It is practical, it is easy to use and clean, and it works with most fountain pens regardless of brand.

When Visconti released it in an edition to match their iconic Homo Sapiens Bronze Age series, we could hardly help our selves from grabbing it.

Naturally, the Homo Sapiens edition comes at a premium to the standard edition, but that hold for most good things in life. Right?

Interesting Tip: We have received several reviews claiming that it is easier and more effective to use the Travel Inkwell in order to fill a power filler pen. Reviews stand for both the standard Travel Inkwell and the Homo Sapiens Edition. We have not tested the claim yet, but have received it from several unconnected sources.  

Get it Here.

Prettiest Accessible Fountain Pen of 2022

Pelikan M605 Tortoiseshell Black

This one was a surprisingly surprising surprise back in the Spring of 2022!

A cool looking M605 with silverish-grey-black tortoiseshell stripe on the barrel that kind of reminds us of the M805 Royal Platinum Radens, but is considerably more accessible, and earns way fewer weird looks in the office.

Furthermore, executed in the M605 series this is a pen that size-wise works mighty fine for most users, and of course has the functionality and the quality characteristics we are used to expect from a Pelikan fountain pen.

The M605 Tortoiseshell Black fountain pen ranks very high among our favorites of the year, and to those interested we would recommend they move as soon as possible if they don't want to miss out, as this is a pen that is mostly sold out already.

Most Intense Pen of the Year

It is Red, it is Black, it has a matte black 18kt gold nib, a beautiful guilloche finish, it is built by Aurora, and we've been drooling over this one since early July.

It is the Aurora 88 Red Mamba, and Santa is delivering around the 20th of December!

This is a very emotional, possibly very aggressive fountain pen, and it has got the look of a keeper.

The red and black gives the Red Mamba a racing look, and of course we already feel our adrenaline just a notch higher!

The "Once upon a time" of 2022

The "Once upon a time" pen of 2022 could not but be Montblanc's Meisterstück Glacier Special Edition!

See what we did there? We got you all thinking we were going to call out the Brothers Grimm, which is quite a nice edition too and according to some the nicest since at least Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, but in fact we were all the time meaning to talk about the Glacier.

Or to put it more precisely, the Glaciers and all sensitive parts of our ecosystem. Although hardly connected to Montblanc's Special Edition, the planet's ecosystem came into focus as soon as we heard of the Glacier, and the same thing happened with Aurora's Ambienti pens, and Visconti's Opera Master Antarctica Limited Edition.

People have to move, and we have to make certain we're each doing our part to prevent the destruction of our ecosystem before the glaciers (and more) enter the domain of things that were upon a time.

Back to the pens though.

Although a humble Meisterstück the Glacier gave us a very interesting range, and the one that stands out the most in our opinion is the Classique White with the light blue trims. This is a rare white Montblanc, and most likely the first ever to be released with blue PVD trims. The Classique is a lovely size - although it could do with a larger nib- and the particular execution is a pen that has drawn a lot of attention to itself, possibly more than it's bigger brethren.

A simple but really cool pen, and by the way did you notice that Montblanc ships them out with a nice fabric pouch that will protect them for ever and ever?

 

The End of an Era

Montblanc's Patrons of the Art series has kept people's attention for a full 30 years, fascinating users and collectors, yet Montblanc has announced that with this year's edition, the Tribute to Victoria and Tribute to Albert, the line is coming to an end.

A series that begun in 1992 with an edition dedicated to Lorenzo de Medici, and a relatively simple fountain pen of vintage inspiration issued in 4810 numbered pieces has grown to a full blown craze that delivers in the latest edition four variations, limited to 4810, 888, 100, and just 8 pieces respectively.

A total of 33 Patrons have been celebrated, and some of the editions now command astronomical prices, out of reach for most collectors. A large number of pens remain -sadly in our opinion- sealed in their boxes as "investment" pieces, and traded as common assets, instead of being inked and realizing their potential.

Criticisms abound regarding the Patrons selected, regarding the styles of the pens and the inclusion or the exclusion of cultures or personalities, but we are not here to judge!

We are here to conceed that Montblanc's Patrons of the Art series was (is) a full-blown phenomenon that attracted the attention of a large number of uninitiated to the otherwise secluded world of fountain pens, and most manufacturers are should be quite thankful for that. 

Are you fond of the pens or not - it does not really matter, the cycle is completed, an era comes to an end, and we would like to take a moment and celebrate by having a look at the duo of pens released this year: the Tribute to Victoria and Tribute to Albert.

Notable mention: Another Era ended in 2022 as the Reign of Queen Elizabeth II came to an end just a few weeks after Parker celebrated her Platinum Jubilee with a beautiful Special Edition Sonnet.

 

Pen of the Year 2022

There is a pen that we really feel was ahead of the herd this year.

It is a pen in which natural wood and platinum coated metal met, presented in a style that alters the design language of that particular manufacturer, and yet unmistakably complements the manufacturers offering. 

It is a pen that although of considerable length and weight when capped is feather light when it is time for action, and is exceptionally soft and interesting to the touch. It does not boast of technical innovation, but comes with the signature of a manufacturer well known for his commitment to quality and holistic excellence.

The pen that we consider to be the best release of 2022 is Graf von Faber Castell's Magnum in walnut wood.

Pure, clean lines in a novel torpedo shape. An impressive cap, impeccable construction. The unique aesthetics of natural wood which are so closely connected with Graf von Faber Castell.

This is a pen that feels like a future classic, and we invite you to take a closer look at it!

 

A final note, all opinions expressed above are completed subjective. We invite all debate, and are very happy to hear your opinions regarding fountain pens, after all, your experience may be different from ours.

Our opinions are naturally informed by the pens we have access to, obviously we cannot opine on pens from manufacturers we do not work with, or items we never got a hold of.

Finally, we've kept a spot open to mention a few pens released this year that were gorgeous but did not have an exceptional outstanding characteristic so as to merit a more extensive expose. Among them Pelikan M205 Apatite Special Edition, Visconti Kaleido Woodstock, Kaweco Collection Ruby Red, and Parker IM Monochrome Blue.

Thank you for reading!