Fine Writing International – Chinese Constellations (1&2 Gen)

July 27, 2016

Fine Writing International, 尚羽堂, is a small shop based in Taipei, Taiwan. Their main products are the high-end stationary goods and custom-order fountain pens with exotic materials. Occasionally, they released some mass-production pens for the beginners. The Chinese Constellations, 星官, is a series of fountain pen released by Fine Writing International back in 2014 (1st gen in early 2014, 2nd gen in mid 2014, and 3rd gen in mid 2015 but different style) Even through the series is a mass-production line, the total number (I think) is less than 2000 pieces for each generation.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a111/choumai/16cbc2de-b0a3-4dfc-a531-f11b0389b2dd.jpg

The barrel is made with acrylic. With the coloring method, there are no 2 identical pen in the world. Those in the photo are the ones I have, still missing 3 colors I think. Disregard with the naming (that’s painful to translate them), my favorite one is the red one (4th from the right).

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a111/choumai/dfcb12f6-8f05-4e88-a8aa-590725a67e44.jpg

They came with steel nibs, normally extra fine with some exception if you’re lucky, from WIN, Germany. Very standard European nib size that good for daily use. It has some flexibility (NOT A FLEXIBLE NIB, NO, NOT, DON’T) that not as hard as Lamy nib and isn’t that easy to get tired after whole day writing.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a111/choumai/fb3015d7-4829-494f-a9ca-8253347690a0.jpg

Here is the facts for this series:
capped: 142mm
un-capped: 102mm
diameter: 13mm/14mm
session: 11mm
nib: steel nib, normally EF, occasionally F
You can screw the cap onto the tail but I didn’t do that.

CP value: 97/100, considering this was about $30 USD

Edited July 27, 2016 by choumai

August 8, 2016

those look nice. i had no idea they produce these. would love to get one or two from the batch.

August 8, 2016

So where can one buy one of these - their website link? When I did a search the site I found, even translated was not easy to use. Oh yes, what's the cost in USD??

Edited August 8, 2016 by brgmarketing

August 10, 2016

Thank you for your post, introducing the beginners' series of pens by FWI. Actually, I just went to Fine Wrting Int. today and played with their many new 'toys'. Rudy's service is first rate. No affiliation.

August 11, 2016

Wonderful pens, choumai!

I've been taking a look at this company for quite a while, but wasn't yet able to figure out how to get hands on their products as a non-chinese speaker.

That brass one caught my attention: http://finewriting.com.tw/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=57_30_239

Someone showed some pictures of using it as an eyedropper, which absolutely looked amazing (even though i wouldn't do it because of the metal).

August 17, 2016

Thanks all.

This series is sold out already (I think by mid of 2014) I'll try to review the 3rd gen. as soon as I can - they still have some of the 3rd gen. in the store.

@rudyhou
They released this set in 2014 when nobody really paid attention initially and all in the sudden became crazily popular

@brgmarketing
it will be easier to ask from their Facebook page where they post the new arrival (in Traditional Chinese)
this pen initially was NTD 750 and later on NTD 800, which was about USD 25-28 before shipping.

＠mchenart
somehow I think I know who you are.... lol

@Berghain54
The brass one is one of the later limited edition they released for their 5th anniversary and also a black matt version to celebrate 10K fans on their facebook page. The barrel itself is plastic (acrylic or something that's not that easy to crack) and the brass tail is screw/glue on. The ink would not touch the brass part directly so totally safe for eyedropper (and it takes about 3.5mL of ink to fill the entire barrel.... never gonna finish it)
It's much easier to msg them on Facebook(linked above) but they're off on Monday (Taiwan time)

Here is the black matt version of brass pen, same barrel as the brass version, and also takes about 3.5mL of ink to fill it up
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a111/choumai/8090db8f-ca44-411f-b84c-2266ec1f71fb.jpg

August 18, 2016

Just like Michael said right above , I also had the pleasure to play around try out some of these pens last week and they are wonderful! I bought a fantastic solid brass mechanical pencil which I have been using non-stop since I landed in Shanghai.

As always , Rudy's kindness and hospitality is fantastic!

Edited August 18, 2016 by Nikolaos