Fountain Pen Review: Tibaldi Bononia Seashell Mist

Last year, fountain pen brands introduced new pens to their series and collections. It was like a feast as beautiful pens were announced one after another. One of these brands is Tibaldi, a highly respected brand in Italy and the world. I first learned about the Italian brand during one of our regular fountain pen meets at Amici in Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City. I was still new to fountain pens then and all I remember now is the pen's beautiful material and how elegant Italian fountain pens are. 

Also last year, I got my first Tibaldi fountain pen, the Amber Yellow N°60, a modern pen that reminds me of the famous Tibaldi Impero from the early 2000s and the Modello 60 from the 1990s. Like the N°60, Tibaldi's newest pen line, the Bononia, has a modern design that takes after a very special pen from the 1990s. A well-written history of the first Bononia is available at Tenpen, and it describes the pen as one dedicated to Bologna, the birthplace of Guiseppe Tibaldi and Tibaldi pens in the 1900s. It was designed to be a modern pen and perfect writer, which is also what describes the new Bononia fountain pens.

When I read about the Tibaldi Bononia, I was so excited to try them especially the red Seashell Mist. I don't have many red fountain pens, and red Bononia has a beautiful pattern and an amazing gloss and shine. The Bononia has an excellent design made from fine pearl resin with vertical stripes. The resin is amazing and the red Seashell Mist fountain pen is beautiful! It's a happy, bright, cheery red pen that looks like a shiny bar of sweet candy, or a glowing, hot, crackling fire.

Tibaldi's presentation box is sturdy and a strong elastic band secures the pen in place. The box also contains a Certificate of Warranty and two complementary ink cartridges.

Launched late last year, the Tibaldi Bononia collection is the most recent addition to the company's pen styles including the Perfecta, Infrangibile, and N°60, all inspired by iconic vintage pieces. The Bononia looks and feels very modern, but it is inspired by a vintage design. Tibaldi's collection of pens marks the company's effort to reinvent itself and appeal to wider, younger, and trendier consumers.

"Write from the heart" is Tibaldi's message to all pen lovers. Tibaldi promotes not only the love of writing but the power of the pen as well. To them, a pen is not only an object of distinction but a tool to be used for writing. A pen moves from world agreements, peace treaties, and world declarations to love letters or a simple signature. Tibaldi's starting point for their writing instruments lies in the power of the pen and how it gives voice to thoughts and ideas, and how this leads people to write from the heart.

Tibaldi Bononia Seashell Mist

Inspired by a 1990s pen, the Tibaldi Bononia collection is available in five lovely resin hues: Rich Black, Seashell Mist (red), Martini Olive (olive green), Peal Mist (silver gray), and Bora Bora (blue). The Bononia is also available as rollerball and ballpoint pens. These pens' caps and barrels are made from gorgeous fine pearl resin with vertical stripes, which is also called spaghetti resin.

The Bononia Seashell Mist is a beautiful, happy, bright, cheery red fountain pen.

The Bononia Seashell Mist fountain pen has the following measurements:

• Length, capped: 5.8 in | 14.7 cm
• Length, uncapped: 5.1 in | 13 cm
• Length, cap posted: 6.5 in | 16.5 cm
• Diameter, barrel: 0.48 in | 1.2 cm
• Diameter, section: 0.42 in | 1.06 cm
• Weight, capped: 24 g | 1.2 oz

The Bononia is a light pen despite the metal trims in the section. The material and design made this possible, and the cap posts well without any discomfort. This pen can be filled with ink using a standard international cartridge or a converter, and both are included in the Tibaldi box. The threaded Tibaldi converter screws onto the section for a secure fit, preventing ink spills if the converter is accidentally pulled out. The metal section adds to the durability and stability of this pen.

The Bononia can be filled with ink using short or long standard international cartridges or converters. Tibaldi includes both in the pen's presentation box.

The Bononia is fitted with the classic tie-shaped Tibaldi clip design, similar to the Impero's and first Bononia's clips. The cap bears Tibaldi's logo between the clip and the iconic three cap rings. 

Tibaldi pens are proudly Italian-made. "Made in Italy" is etched at the other side of the cap.

The Seashell Mist's resin is beautiful and has different vertical patterns.

Tibaldi offers the Bononia fountain pen series with a size 6 stainless steel nib in extra-fine, fine, medium, broad, and double broad (BB) widths, fitted to an ebonite feed to ensure continuous ink flow and smooth writing. The markings on the nib include Tibaldi's logo and the nib size.

The Tibaldi BB nib is smooth and wrote well out of the box.

The Bononia is a full-length fountain pen and shares almost the same length as the N°60. Both pens are comfortable to use even for longer periods of writing.

The Bononia is a full-sized pen, sharing almost the same length as the Leonardo Furore, Lamy Al-star, or PenBBS 323. It has a slim section, but well-balanced and comfortable to use.

The Bononia (middle) shares almost the same length and design as a Leonardo Furore.

Uncapped, it's the same length as the Edison Coller and Leonardo Furore.

To test how the Tibaldi Bononia's BB nib writes, I filled it with Diamine Poppy Red, a matching Bright and happy red ink. The pen wrote instantly out of the box, and I did not experience any hard starts. The number 6 BB steel nib wrote smoothly without any nib priming or modification. It wrote very well, and there were no skipping or inky blobs. I had no trouble writing with it at all. The Tibaldi Bononia is such an enjoyable pen and one that can be used for long periods of writing without any discomfort.

I love the Tibaldi BB nib on the Bononia. It's smooth and not overly wet, perfect for this happy Diamine red ink.

The Bononia's section is easy to grip and comfortable for writing.

I am very happy with the Bononia Seashell Mist, my happy red fountain pen, and I will definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to explore and know this iconic brand. It's a beautiful pen and well designed for long-term use. Tibaldi and the Aquila family are long-time experts in pen design and manufacturing and use only the best materials for their pens. Get one for your collection!

Rants of The Archer thanks Tibaldi for providing the Bononia Seashell Mist for review purposes. The Bononia fountain pens are available for purchase at Tibaldi.com where it retails for €195.00. Aside from the Bononia, Tibaldi also offers the following series: Perfecta, Bamboo, Infrangibile, and the N°60.

To learn more about Tibaldi, where to buy their pens, and for other details on purchasing their pens, visit their website at https://www.tibaldi.com/en/home or follow them on social media:

• Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tibaldi.official/), 
• Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tibaldi.official/), 
• Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.it/tibaldiofficial/)
• YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP1McBgCu4wB40ttTzVPvkQ)

Fountain Pen Review: Tibaldi N°60 Amber Yellow

In May 2006, the world watched eagerly as Robert Langdon discovered a religious mystery protected by a secret society as he tried to solve a murder in The Louvre. Pen enthusiasts, however, waited for the limited edition Tibaldi Da Vinci Code fountain pen. In an exclusive agreement with Sony Pictures, Tibaldi launched the official Da Vinci Code Collection during the film launch. Like any Da Vinci or Dan Brown fan, I waited to see the pens that were designed to achieve divine proportion and Tibaldi did not disappoint — the pens are simply divine.

The first time I saw and held a Tibaldi fountain pen was during one of our regular fountain pen meets at Amici in Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City. I was still very new to fountain pens then and all I could remember now is how beautiful the pen's material was and how elegant Italian fountain pens are. Through the years, I got more involved in using fountain pens, I began collecting them and writing reviews about them, too. My small collection has Asian, American, and European fountain pens, but it doesn't have an Italian brand yet. Now twelve years into the hobby, I came across Tibaldi again, not in a pen meet, but through my favorite social media platform — Instagram.

Receiving the N°60 fountain pen to review prompted me to read on Tibaldi's story, and I learned a lot about their history. Authentically Italian, Tibaldi has been around since 1916. It was founded in Florence by Giuseppe Tibaldi, a man with a great passion for making pens. Tibaldi was founded when the market for fountain pens in Italy was still very young, and writing was dominated by reed and metal pens. The company became one of the industry leaders until 1965. Tibaldi went through a number of management turnovers ever since and is now presided by the Aquila family, life-long Italian leaders in pen design and manufacturing, and a major proprietor of both the Tibaldi and Montegrappa trademarks. In 2004, Tibaldi's headquarters moved from Florence to Bassano del Grappa, signaling the Florentine brand's inclusion in the portfolio of Aquila Brands S.p.A..

The N°60 Amber Yellow fountain pen was sent in this big black box.

"Write from the Heart" — Tibaldi's catchphrase is moving, heartwarming, and truly unforgettable. 

The big black box contains the N°60 Yellow Amber fountain pen in its presentation box, Tibaldi's compliments card, and a carrying bag. Tibaldi's pens are packaged in boxes produced with less environmental impact. Their pen boxes are made from upcycled paper using natural fibers with less harmful chemicals.

Tibaldi's presentation box is sturdy and an elastic band secures the pen in place in its soft velvet bed.

The box also contains Tibaldi's Certificate of Warranty and two complementary ink cartridges. Tibaldi's products are guaranteed for 24 months against manufacturing defects. 

Launched just last year, the Tibaldi N°60 collection is the most recent addition to the company's pen styles which also include the Perfecta and the Infrangibile, all inspired by their iconic pieces. The N°60 looks and feels very modern, but it also reminds me of the famous Impero from the early 2000s and the Modello 60 from the 1990s.  The N°60 collection, together with the Perfecta and Infrangibile marks Tibaldi's effort to reinvent itself and appeal to a wider, younger, and trendier consumers.

Tibaldi promotes the love of writing and the power of the pen. To them, a pen is not only an object of distinction but a tool to be used for writing. A pen moves from world agreements, peace treaties, and world declarations to love letters or a simple signature. Tibaldi's starting point for their writing instruments lies in the power of the pen, how it gives voice to our thoughts and ideas, and this leads us to write from the heart.

A classic pen style since the 1950s, the Tibaldi N°60 collection is available in five lovely resin hues: Rich Black, Emerald Green, Amber Yellow, Samarkand Blue, and Ruby Red. The N°60 is also available as rollerball and ballpoint pens. These pens' caps and barrels are made from gorgeous glossy marbled resin, accented with palladium trims.

The Tibaldi N°60 fountain pens are made from high-quality glossy resin, a waterproof and durable material. This fountain pen measures 5.75 inches long and weighs 28 grams with the cap. Without the cap, it is only 5.2 inches long and weighs 15 grams. This pen's cap is postable and measures 6.7 inches when the cap is posted. Some fountain pen users prefer posting their pens' cap, and at 6.7 inches, the N°60 is still comfortable to use with its cap on. However, I do not usually use my fountain pens with their caps posted. Posting becomes a little top-heavy for me.

The Tibaldi N°60 can be filled with ink using cartridges or converters.

Tibaldi fountain pens include converters upon purchase. The Tibaldi logo printed on the converter is very classy.

The N°60 can be filled with ink using a standard international cartridge or a converter, and both are included in the box. The threaded Tibaldi converter screws onto the section for a secure fit, preventing ink spills if the converter is accidentally pulled out. The metal section adds to the durability and stability of this pen.

The N°60 has a threaded metal section which adds to its durability and stability.

The N°60's clip is a classic Tibaldi design, similar to the clip of the Impero. The cap bears Tibaldi's logo between the clip and the iconic three cap rings. 

Proudly Italian made. Tibaldi etched this at the other side of the cap.

The Amber Yellow's barrel is truly captivating. The colors and translucence reflect light beautifully. The resin also shows exceptional gloss and shine.

The N°60's cap finial and barrel end are from the same resin as the pen's body.

Tibaldi offers the N°60 fountain pen series with a size 6 stainless steel nib in extra-fine, fine, medium, broad, and double broad (BB) widths, fitted to an ebonite feed to ensure continuous ink flow and smooth writing. The markings on the N°60's nib include Tibaldi's logo and the nib size.

The Tibaldi N°60 is a standard full-length fountain pen, sharing almost the same length as a Bexley Intrepid or Edison Collier. Its middle section is as thick as the Intrepid. It's well-balanced and comfortable to use.

The Tibaldi N°60 Amber Yellow fountain pen shares the same length as a Bexley Intrepid or Edison Collier.

Uncapped, the N°60 is longer than the Collier and share almost the same length as the Intrepid.

To test how the Tibaldi N°60 fountain pen writes, I filled it with Robert Oster Signature African Gold, a matching golden yellow ink. The pen wrote instantly out of the box, and I did not experience any hard starts. The number 6 broad steel nib wrote smoothly, it wrote very well, and there were no writing skips, no inky blobs, I had no trouble at all. The Tibaldi N°60 is such an enjoyable pen and one that can be used for long periods of writing without any discomfort.

The steel Broad nib in Tibaldi's N°60 Amber Yellow fountain pen is a joy to write with, especially in Tomoe River paper. The nib just glides effortlessly on this special paper.

This pen does more than write, it can do ink art, too! This is my first ink art using a regular broad nib. All of my previous ink art pieces were done using italic nibs.

Aside from the limited edition pens in the Da Vinci Collection, Tibaldi has also produced pens in partnership with Bentley Motors in 2006, to celebrate Bentley Motors' 60th anniversary and Tibaldi's 90th. The Tibaldi for Bentley Collection highlights the history of the two famous luxury brands. In 2007, the Tibaldi Brooklands limited edition collection was introduced during the launch of the Bentley Coupé. The writing instruments celebrate the centenary of the circuit where Bentley Motors won some of their important races.

Did you know Tibaldi also offers a bespoke pen service? The idea originated from the thought that, just like a handmade suit, a pen can be personalized to best reflect the character or the taste of the person for whom it was intended. The first Tibaldi bespoke series is the Fulgor Nocturnus (Night Glow), a black diamond- and ruby-studded pen.

Tibaldi also created an exclusive jewel Tibaldi for Pelé, to honor the Brazilian football player. The pen's barrel is in 18k gold, studded with 274 emeralds surrounded by 718 diamonds. The cap is covered with 744 yellow sapphires and 187 green emeralds inspired by the Brazilian flag. It was said to be auctioned with the proceeds going to a charity of Pelé's choice.

Evelina Hristozova, Head of Operations at Tibaldi, kindly sent this book with the pen. It has an illustrated complete history of Tibaldi from its creation in 1916 to its present story. It's a good read and an excellent material for many fountain pen enthusiasts!

I am very pleased with the Tibaldi N°60 Amber Yellow fountain pen, and I will definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to explore and know this iconic brand. It's a lovely pen and well built for long-term use. Tibaldi and the Aquila family are long time experts in pen design and manufacturing and use only the best materials for their pens. Get one for your collection.

Explore Tibaldi's other two pen styles, the Perfecta and the Infrangibile.

The N°60 Amber Yellow fountain pen in this review was sent by Tibaldi where it retails for €185. To learn more about Tibaldi, where to buy their pens, and for other details on purchasing their pens, visit their website at https://www.tibaldi.com/en/home or follow them on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tibaldi.official/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tibaldi.official/), Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.it/tibaldiofficial/), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP1McBgCu4wB40ttTzVPvkQ).