A Review of our Estie Sea Glass
by Howard Cunix
For many years, celebrated Kenro Industries has been the USA Distributor for important world-wide brands--Montegrappa, Aurora, and other manufacturers which we instantly recognize, utilize daily, and, include in our pen collections. In 2018, Kenro acquired the illustrious Esterbrook brand, and what they have achieved in just 3 years is probably unmatched in the history of modern fountain pen brand development. Lilac, Maraschino, Honeycomb, Ebony, Tortoise, Cobalt, Evergreen, Rocky Top, Aqua, Gold Rush, Peacock, Sparkle, and now....Sea Glass.
Upon opening the presentation case to view the Sea Glass fountain pen...The physical aspect immediately noticed is the glistening acrylic body--it is remarkably exquisite with its Sea Glass color combination. In case you did not know, sea glass is physically and chemically weathered, frosted, smooth pieces of glass found on beaches along bodies of salt water. You can learn more about it here.
The component of the fountain pen which receives the majority of our attention and dominates our pen discussions, is, indeed, the nib. One official definition of the verb, glide, is... to move smoothly, continuously, and effortlessly--and this Estie nib literally glides across the paper! The nib is constructed of choice, gold-plated steel in a 6mm size, produced by Germany's JoWo. It can be ordered in Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, 1.1 Stub, Scribe, or, with the Esterbrook Journaler nib assembly--the cost is $50. The Journaler nib has been described as a practical daily writer that adds elegance to our writing style. The Estie is equipped with a modern nib and can be adapted using Kenro's precisely engineered, MV Nib Adaptor, so that the full range of vintage Esterbrook nibs can be experienced with your contemporary Estie. This is another bonus feature and benefit from Kenro.
The Estie's grip is comfortable because it is correctly balanced in the hand, attributed to the specific dimensions which are carefully designed, i.e., weight, length, diameter. The polished clip supports convenient pocket placement--the pen slides easily into a shirt pocket. The secure screw-on cap with Estie's Cushion Cap Closure System plus the dependable feeder, ensure that ink flows consistently without hesitation even after the Estie has been unused. The threading is flawless--it does not bind, catch, or hang-up. This advantage occurs as a result of perfect engineering tolerance--a term familiar to tool and die makers. Whether a bolt and a nut, or a cap and a barrel--the goal is the elimination of wobble or play that adversely affects the threading operation. The number of turns for cap removal and replacement is just right. Standard-size cartridge is included, as well as a Schmidt converter for bottle-filling. Please note that certain Estie finishes are sold-out. The good news is that some are still available for purchase. The Estie Sea Glass is offered in both gold and palladium finishes, and designed in a standard size and oversize. General Specs for the Standard size: Weight: 24g. Dimensions: 5.9" closed, 5" open, 6.7" posted. General Specs for the Oversize: Weight: 33g. Dimensions: 6.1" closed, 5.3" open, 7.3" posted.
And the Collection is completed with Rollerball and Ballpoint.
If you don't already own an Estie, consider this to be the first of many in your collection. It is no wonder why it remains a top-selling fountain pen in the luxury market. And it's only just beginning!
