Review: Benu Pen Supreme Collection Nebula Fountain Pen

Thanks to Benu Pen for sending this absolutely gorgeous pen for review! The Supreme Collection Nebula is currently a campaign on IndieGoGo so please do check it out!

ABOUT

Body material: Resin
Trim: Chrome
Cap: Screw on
Posts: Yes, friction
Clip: Yes
Filling System: Standard international cartridge, converter, or eyedropper
Nib material: #6 Schmidt steel
Length (capped): 132.06 mm/5.19"
Length (uncapped): 126.69 mm/4.98"
Length (posted): 172.21 mm/6.77"
Length (section): 23.24 mm/0.91"
Diameter (barrel): 11.62 - 14.80 mm/0.45" - 0.58"
Diameter (section): 10.57 - 11.0 mm/0.41" - 0.43"
Weight (all): 25 g
Weight (cap): 11 g
Weight (body): 14 g
Price: Pledges start at $98 but this particular finish is $180
Where to buy: IndieGoGo campaign

PACKAGING

The Benu Pen Supreme Collection Nebula was presented in a cute, whimsical little cardboard box. The box was deep grey with silver glitter, and had 'Benu' printed across the top. The lid can be removed and there is a bed of shredded brown paper inside. On top of the paper, the pen is rolled up in Benu kraft paper with a piece of twine securing it.

I love it. It's simple, minimal packaging that is recyclable - no plastic! It's nice and it works.

APPEARANCE

The Nebula is a beautiful pen. It's a round pen, widest at the top of the cap and tapering towards the end of the barrel. Both ends of the pen are smoothly rounded, slightly flat ends. The clip is attached to the cap with a wide metal band that is secure and does not slip around. The clip itself sits fairly close to the cap and is plain. There is no center band or other trim on this pen. Near the end of the cap, there is a subtle engraving of "Benu' in the material.

The section is smooth and round, tapering slightly towards the nib before ending in a flared ridge. There are cap threads at the back of the section. It looks and feels like a full size section. It doesn't look small to me, and it seems proportional to the rest of the pen.

Enough of that description. The highlight of this pen is, without a doubt, its stunning finish. The base is a deep black with subtle glittery sparkles throughout the material. It's not a very obvious glitter so it does not take away from the beauty of the barrel. The barrel is sprinkled with blue, green, yellow, pink, and silver glitter. I love the effect and how unique it looks. It is like holding a little nebula in your hand! LOOK AT IT!

Two more things I love about the finish - the ends of the barrel actually have a thin clear layer, so it looks like the glittery material is floating. It's hard to describe but it's beautiful in person. This is a pen that really appeals to me, even though cigar shaped pens are my favorite, this finish is irresistible!

NIB & PERFORMANCE

The nib on the Supreme collection is a #6 Schmidt steel nib. The nib has a single slit, a round breather hole, and it is engraved with some flourishes, the nib size (B), and Schmidt Iridium Point. I have used about fifteen Benu Pens and they have all performed really well. No nib issues. This one is no different! It is a fairly smooth writer with a touch of feedback; it's well tuned, well adjusted, medium wet, dries pretty quickly, and offers just a little line variation. It's a solid, reliable, consistent writer that really is just right. It's not an outstanding or unusual writer in any way, but it works really well.

This is the only thing that I really take issue with on this pen, because the pen is otherwise so special and unique that the Schmidt-branded nib takes away from it a little. There's nothing wrong with a Schmidt-branded nib, but it feels like an incomplete package.

IN HAND

The clip is spring loaded and it's really easy to operate one handed. It's safe to attach to papers, pouches, and pockets because it doesn't tear as you remove it. 

The section is long and comfortable, with smooth threads and no sharp ridges. I really like the shape and design of it, it's not slippery, and it works well for longer writing sessions.

Unposted, the pen is perfectly comfortable, well balanced, and it feels great. It works well for me for long and fast writing sessions and I never felt the need to post the pen. The cap is designed to be posted and it does so pretty securely, but it makes the pen feel too long and unbalanced in my hand. I would have to grip too high up on the section - almost on the barrel - to make it feel balanced. I like the idea but I don't think it was necessary because the unposted size is comfortable enough. For me, anyway. It also looks a little silly when it is posted.

The filling system is a simple standard international cartridge/converter and the pen can also be used as an eyedropper. That's fun if you want more ink in the tank, but the downside is you can't see what your ink levels are as you use it. 

PROS & CONS

OVERALL

The Supreme Collection Nebula is a gorgeous pen. It is well made, performs really well, is practical - cap can post snugly (although I do not like it posted), the clip is effective, the nib is solid - but most of all, it's all these things and it's gorgeous. What a stunning, unique finish! I find that hard to pass up. The price of the pen nears (some) custom pen prices, and you can also get pens around this price with a gold nib elsewhere. The downsides for me are the price and the unbranded nib. Again, there's nothing wrong with a Schmidt nib, but it's such a unique pen otherwise that the generic Schmidt logo is a bit dull.

Who is this pen for? Anyone attracted to the finish, anyone who likes the shape, comfort, and practicality, anyone who just wants to try a new pen or add a different pen to their collection... the pen is for everyone, if it suits you!





I received this item free of charge for the purposes of this review. This post was sponsored and all that means is I was monetarily compensated to shift this review to the top of the queue. I have done my very best to be objective and honest. Everything you've read here is my own opinion. Some of these links are affiliate links, which provides me with a small commission but does not add any extra cost to your purchase. Some links are just referral links, but there is no obligation to purchase through any of these links. Your purchases through my links help support this blog and allows me to fulfill review requests. Either way, I appreciate your readership and your support so much, so thank you!