Write on Time – Page 3 – Her Watch and Pen

A Most Functional Watch

Back when I worked in retail, I always found myself looking for a pen when I needed one. Indonesian designer Raka Gemma created a watch that would have made my life, and search for a pen, much easier.

The Helix is a beautifully designed digital watch. Its smooth lines and vertical display are very fashion-forward. Worn as a bangle, the watch curls around the wrist like a serpent. The display looks like a digital ink display, and is colored to create a striking contrast against the smooth plastic finish of the bangle. When not being worn as a watch, it can be uncurled and used as a ball point pen.

As I said, this pen would be perfect for those who need a fashionable accessory to tie an outfit together, but must have a writing instrument with them at all times.

Red

To celebrate the history of the technological marvel that is the Vanishing Point Pen, Namiki has released a red version of the original Vanishing Point pen. The red pens are available with medium point nibs, gold accents, and 18k nibs. Only 2000 of these red beauties are available, so collectors may want to jump on this one!

A New and Completely Different Swatch

Almost in contradiction of the original nature of its business model, the Swatch Group announced its creation of a most opulent watch. The Diaphane One Turn 2 Him and the Diaphane One Turn 2 Her are the most expensive watches ever manufactured under the Swatch name. Both watches have skeletonized movements, and escapements and balances that are attached to a platform that rotates within a cage two times per hour. While not true tourbillons, the watches represent a dramatic turn from the Swatches you normally see.

The Turn 2 Him is a limited edition of 130 pieces, and costs $13,500.00. The Turn 2 Her is a limited edition of 50, and costs $8,000. Both are available only through a few of Swatch’s high-end Tourbillon stores. These are not your father’s Swatches!

A Pen for the Moon…

I am a little late to the party with this one…

The Fisher Space Pen Moon Pen Fisher Space Pen Co. “launched” a new pen to honor the 40th anniversary of the first landing on the moon. The pen, a limited edition of 1,000, is of the model AG7-40LE Space Pen. This model is the anti-gravity space pen that flew aboard the Apollo missions.

Sealed into the pen’s cap is a piece of “Kapton” foil, used as protective insulation on the Apollo 11 command module that carried the astronauts to the moon and back. The lid of the presentation case included with the pen is a beautiful rendition of Neil Armstrong’s iconic first footprint on the moon. The case also includes a magnetic display pedestal for the pen, and is engraved with Armstrong’s first words on the moon and information about the trip and the first steps on the moon.

This is one serious collector’s item! It is available direct from Fisher Space Pen Co..

New Links on the List

I will be expanding the number of links on my list. If anyone has any that I do not have, let me know! If it is a great link about watches or pens, I will add it!

TX Watches

TX 500 World Time Back in 2005, The Callanen Group, a Timex company, launched the TX Watch brand. TX Watches are a definite step up in design and technology from Timex. Using quality leathers in the watch bands, premium sapphire crystals, and innovative designs, TX manufactures beautiful and elegant time pieces. And the best part–TX offers several ladies models! TX offers perpetual calendars, retrograde displays, and available Mother of Pearl faces on the ladies watches.

TX Watches are available at several online retailers, including eWatches and Amazon.

Calligraphy

I have never been good at calligraphy. I do not have the hand control to form the letters perfectly, and my normal handwriting is too irregular. However, I do like writing with calligraphy pens, even if my writing is not up to par. Just using a calligraphy nib makes my handwriting look a little better than it really is.

Several pen companies offer calligraphy sets that will make anyone’s handwriting look a little better. Sheaffer offers several kits for all levels of calligraphy skill. Speedball offers a smaller selection, but excellent quality nibs for practice and other types of calligraphy pens as well. There are kits available from Manuscript, and Faber Castell, as well.

For those looking to create art, or just play like you can (like I do), look for one. It is a great way to have fun with your handwriting, or learn a prettier way to write!

Casio’s New Solar Atomic Baby-G

Casio introduced two new watches to its Baby-G lineup. The watches feature Casio’s tough solar technology and atomic timekeeping, so they never need batteries, and set themselves with the correct time. This is my kind of watch! Low maintenance! Casio has offered solar atomic technology in its G-Shock line for men for a while, and it is nice to see that it is now offering this for women.

Casio Solar Atomic

They currently come in white and black, and are available where most Baby-G watches can be found.

Noodling With the Best…

The August issue of Pen World Magazine has a great article about Noodler’s Ink. Noodler’s Ink is one of the top-quality ink brands in the world. It is made entirely in the United States, and is one of the most economical inks available today. It is non-corrosive, which is very important when filling older or antique pens, and the quality is very easy to see.

I use Noodler’s Ink, and prefer it for my pens. I love the color choices Noodler’s offers–over 65 different shades, including seven highlighting shades. The company even has a fraud-proof ink that can’t be erased from documents with bleach or ammonia. All of the inks are developed in small batches, which ensures the quality of the inks. The inks are all made from quality components, and the production is limited to the components at hand. Again, this is to ensure quality–substitutions are never made for the components of the inks. Nathan Tardiff, the owner of Noodler’s Ink, would never discount the quality of his product.

It is not available everywhere, but I suggest seeking Noodler’s Ink out. If you local pen shop does not stock Noodler’s, ask them to. You won’t regret it!

Balance

Diplomat Pen offers a pen that it claims has perfect balance. The Diplomat Balance line of pens is supposed to weighted and balanced perfectly for writing. Coming in fountain, roller ball, and ballpoint pens, the line is beautiful to see. Coming in blue (shown), white, and black, the pens do look like they would be well balanced and easy to write with.

The Diplomat Balance pen

The Balance fountain pen comes with either a bold or medium nib, limiting its range just a bit. Some, like me, prefer a fine or extra fine nib in a fountain pen. However, the ballpoint and rollerball pens can be changed from the medium point that they come with to a fine or broad point.

Diplomat Pens has been creating and manufacturing precision writing instruments since 1922. The company’s history is long, and the writing instruments it produces are works of art. I have written with several Diplomat pens, and love how it feels. I think I need to invest again! Diplomat Pens are available at My Diplomat Pens.