Limited edition 011 - I love the form factor of the Mark One. I’m less impressed with the coating. In less than 2 months it has worn down to the metal underneath. Also, as a personal preference, I do not like the standard ink cartridge supplied. It is thick and inky. Day one I had to order a new refill.
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Ebony · September 5, 2024
Even Better Than Expected
The limited edition 11 in stainless steel is a wonderful study in “less, but better” design. The refill is well-suited to it with good flow and feel, and the conical tip compliments the angle of the body beautifully. For those of you who are worried about feeling some friction in the click mechanism out of the box—this is normal. As with any metal-on-metal component, there is a small break-in period and after a few days of use it will both feel and sound delightful. I’m a sucker for vintage yellows, and this one is no exception. It’s a rich, slightly desaturated yellow that pairs nicely with earthy tones. The cerakote coating gives it a subtle shimmer in direct light, while also providing a little bit of texture for added purchase while writing. The only thing I would change about this pen is the PVD knock. Aesthetically it is pleasing, though a glossy finish will mean it shows scratches/defects more quickly than the body. From a design philosophy, I prefer materials that aren’t pretending to be other materials. In this case, a genuine copper knock would have been lovely; over time it would have developed a patina with use and still looked good with the vintage yellow. I understand this would complicate the sourcing and manufacturing process, so I can respect the decision not to go down that road.
Overall, I highly recommend the Mark One, specifically in stainless steel, and having this limited edition 11 in my collection is an honor. Thank you, Studio Neat, for paying attention to the things that matter and eliminating the functional and visual noise. Cheers!
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Shane · August 2, 2024
Stop rolling of my desk please
Lovely writing tool, although a bit heavy (steel instead of aluminium). However - when not writing there is nothing to stop it from rolling of my table. There is a design problem you can work on!
