"Ergonomics, classic style and precious materials are high on my list of desirable pen traits, and Yard-o-Led Viceroy Grand meets all three in an iconic design. The discreet patina of the sterling silver has a character all it's own that plating can never duplicate. The heft of solid silver and the beautifully proportioned 18kt nib combine to provide an ideal writing experience."

"High performance meets discreet presentation: Midori's wonderful paper holds my extra-fine and fine line widths with ease in a compact A5 format that travels well in my briefcase. The affordable price means I can use multiple notebooks for the many different projects I have going simultaneously - a flexible strategy that fits with the many tasks I have. I'm not paying for a fancy cover, just for the pages I'm using, which makes perfect sense to me."

"Every writer needs a 'solid blue' they can call their own, and Pilot's Asa Gao is my pick for the ideal combination of saturated blue and reliable performance in all my pens - from Aurora to Yard-o-Led. What more can you ask of a blue ink?"

"There's something magical about brass. Futagami's large tray is where my keys and change live when my pockets are emptied at the end of the day; it is large enough to accommodate everything and the octagon curve of the edges lends a touch of class I can appreciate. I was pleasantly surprised at the heft of the solid brass; it conveys a sense of quality that isn't readily apparent, but feels reassuringly solid."