Maiora Seppia Flegrea Ink Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

If you read my review of Robert Oster's Whiskey ink a few weeks back and thought an ink with that name should be a bit more brown, then I have an excellent ink to show you. Maiora Seppia Flegrea is a lusciously brown ink that also mimics the aged spirit.

If you haven't heard of Maiora before, then just know that I was unaware before receiving the ink from Pen Chalet. Maiora is an Italian pen maker that also dabbles a bit in ink creation. Seppia Flegrea is their take on the sepia tone, and it is a lovely warm brown color that fluctuates a bit to mimic moving liquid.

Since this is a new brand to me, I really didn't know what to expect from this ink. It's not uncommon at all for pen makers to venture into the world of ink mixing, but sometimes this seems to be only for the marketing bump versus creating a unique and complementary collection of inks for their pens. For Maiora, their ink is of the latter ilk, and you should have no concerns when deciding whether to purchase an attractive color.

Brown inks aren't my typical go-to color, but I'm always pleasantly surprised when I ink one up and give it a go. In the case of Seppia Flegrea, this is a medium brown with some mild to medium shading, so that adds a lot of visual interest compared to a dark brown or brown-black. I'm not a fan of brown-blacks because they just look like washed-out black to me, but medium browns with shading characteristics are really interesting.

Aside from the lovely shading, this ink behaves like I'd expect any other ink in this price range and pedigree. The line edges are sharp and crisp, the ink flows easily from the nib, and I haven't had any issues with starting or when trying to write after a couple of days of the pen sitting unused. There's no bleeding or feathering, and the ink doesn't show through to the back of the page much despite being a somewhat dark color.

The main downside to this ink is the dry time. It took about 35 to 50 seconds for the ink to dry to a point where it was smudge-proof. That's quite a while to wait for ink to dry, so you definitely need to think ahead about how you'll use this ink. It won't be good for hasty notes in a pocket notebook or for left-handed writers. The ink color and shading is so great that it's really a shame that it takes so long to dry.

As far as I can tell, Maiora only sell eight basic colors in their ink line, and they all come in a 67ml bottle. 67 is a specific number, and I'm very curious as to how they settled on that number for their bottle capacity. Regardless, this is a large bottle of ink that will last you quite a while. At $24, it's also priced similarly to most other inks. You can also pick up a sample if you're not sure you want to commit to such a big bottle.

I've really enjoyed using Maiora's Seppia Flegrea over the past couple weeks. I'm even eyeing Viola Amalfitano and Verde Capodimonte from their collection as those look like interesting purple and green inks to try out. Now that I know one ink behaves well (aside from the long dry time), I'd have no hesitation to pick up some more if the color speaks to me.

(Pen Chalet provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on July 3, 2024 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Maiora.

Teranishi Fujiyama Irodori Sai Yellow Ink and Wearingeul Ash Leaf Color Swatch Card Giveaway

I’ve been loving all of the inks Teranishi has been putting out recently, and combined with Wearingeul’s Swatch Cards, they have been fun to play with. This week, I’m giving away a bottle of Teranishi Fujiyama Irodori Sai Yellow Ink and a pack of the Wearingeul Ash Leaf Color Swatch Cards to one winner. To enter, read the rules below and get to it!

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Giveaways.

CW&T Pen Type-C Review

One of my favorite product review categories is products I’ve used for years and have never reviewed. Many times, I’m simply too busy enjoying the product to spill a few hundred words on it. But I clearly love a product if it has lasted that long in my writing rotation, so I may as well share my thoughts now, right?

The CW&T Pen Type-C is one of those pens that is perfect for me, but is not for everyone. One look at its design will tell you that. This is a thin pen - so thin that it can be used as a bookmark - with just enough space on the short sides of the rectangular shape to make it work for my traditional tripod grip. I’d almost say it is comfortable to hold, although it wouldn’t be my longform writing implement of choice.

When I’ve discussed this pen in the past on the podcast or in my newsletter, I always bring up the fact that this design reminds me of those old wire-flip ballpoint pens. You know, the kind found in baskets on the counter in the unskippable gift shop at the end of the museum. Or like this one I recently found on eBay:

Comparing the Pen Type-C to a swag pen is unfair, given the over-engineering CW&T puts into every product they make. That’s why this pen is always handy, and frequently in use. In fact, I emptied out its current refill while copying a few lyrics for this post in my Field Notes.

That’s where this pen sits most of the time, clipped inside the front cover. It is so thin I can throw it in my pocket, bag, or backpack, and not have to worry about any additional bulk added by a more traditional cylindrical pen or pencil. On top of that, it uses a great refill in the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto, and in a unique way.

Most pens of this stature use a D1 type refill, but CW&T, as they do, went a different direction. Their Pen Type-A was purpose built for the traditional Pilot Hi-Tec-C refill, and the Pen Type-B followed suit. How could they keep the feel of this great refill, and make a slim pen like the Pen Type-C? They popped the end off the Coleto refill.

This refill is designed to fit Pilot’s popular multi pen lineup, and each refill has a plastic attachment designed to be used as the knock when inserted into a Coleto barrel. Pull off that knock and -BOOM- perfect refill length and diameter for the Pen Type-C.

“But Brad, isn’t this too fidgety for a pen?” Yes! I refer you back to my original comment that this is not a pen for everyone. It can be uncomfortable to hold. You can stab yourself if you aren’t paying attention when “uncapping” the pen. The refill is extra fine. The refill is also exposed. It’s protected by the wire so it won’t ink places it shouldn’t be inking, but, oddly enough, it never dries out. That is not something I can explain. Not once I have ever snapped this pen into use and had it not write. It’s uncanny.

Uncanny is a good descriptor for this pen. Who in their right mind would make this? CW&T, that’s who. And not just this titanium version I have been using since launch. They have expanded their barrel materials, color range, and finish type greatly, and are always experimenting, so different models do move in and out of stock frequently.

At $60 for the base version, I have gotten my money’s worth out of it. Depending on the factors listed above, the price can go up to $80 for special finishes, and higher for limited collaborations.

Given how much I use mine, I need to buy a few extra refills because I am currently out. Or, I could just open up the new Neon Green Cerakote Pen Type-C I added during their recent 55 66 88 Kickstarter campaign, which, in typical CW&T fashion, went absolutely sideways on them, but completed successfully. Sometimes I don’t know how they do it, but I’m glad they do.

(This product was purchased by me as part of the original CW&T Pen Type-C Kickstarter campaign in 2019.)

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