"The first time I tried this pen, it immediately earned a place at the top of my 'to buy' list. The patterned, slightly translucent body with an ink window is already a colourful classic. Then you ink it and put the nib to the page: that's where the Optima seals the deal. Precise, saturated, and smooth with a perfect bit of texture that will have you looking for excuses to write something – anything – by hand just so you can use it again. One of Italy's oldest and most iconic pen companies, the Optima proves its prestige is well earned. "

"Summer is busy. Between work, the regular household chores and evening plans, taking a moment to think through the day ahead is invaluable. The Day pad is the ideal place to dump your schedule and keep track of what's next without the overwhelm of a dated planner."

"Syun-Gyo is a dark shade that's perfect if you want something more interesting than black that's still subtle enough for daily use. Like all Iroshizuku inks, it has flowed perfectly in every pen I've filled with it. Coming back to Iroshizuku after using other inks for a while, I was immediately reminded that my first ink purchase at Laywine's was from Pilot's fantastic ink series. "

"Sometimes a small change makes all the difference – the Z55 is the perfect example. Love your Studio, CP1, or AL-Star but feel like the writing experience could use a boost? The Z55 lets you try out the gold nib experience at a price lower than most gold-nibbed pens. "