New 2025 editions

[Mercian]

Well, the Safari in 'Scarlet' is now available from e.g. Cult Pens†.

And so too are the new Lamy inks 'Petrol' and 'Sepia' 😊

 

† I have no personal affiliation with them, other than being a repeat customer of theirs.

[chravagni]

I've seen the new Denim and Aubergine Al Stars. I didn't expect them, just didn't know they were to come. They were to buy in the local shop. The first is light blue with neon orange grip, the second is... kind of eggplant (Aubergine!) color, with neon yellow grip. Both have black nib. I'll probably buy both, they are the best LE in a long time, to my taste.

[inkstainedruth]

I'll admit that neither of those pens wowed me when I saw the ads for them.  The barrel and cap color for the Denim was okay, but the orange section was a deal-breaker for me.  As for the Aborigine?  Ehhhhh.  The barrel color didn't make me up and down and didn't like the section color at all.  

Won't be the first time that I didn't like the Lamy SE models and probably won't be the last....  Plus, there have already been plenty of SE Safaris and al-Stars that I DID think were worth buying, and they might not be the last.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[bassmannate]

Never been a big fan of the Al star. I would probably scratch up the anodizing fairly quickly. The Safari is much more robust for me. Still waiting to see the special edition safaris. 

 

I do like the inks that came out. Looks kind they're new standard colors and not special editions, though.

[jchch1950]

Not very attractive at first sight, but coming to like them now.

[Carrau]

Safari limited editions in Sunset Coral and Dark Dusk are available now at some retailers.

[inkstainedruth]

Yeah, I've seen some listings already.  

Sunset Coral I'd have to see in person (it was hard to tell from the photos whether it's more pink or more red/orange, but Dark Dusk *definitely* looks interesting.  Of course the listings I've seen only list them as coming with EF, F, or M nibs, so I'd probably have to spend more money to maybe get a more "exotic" nib....  I just checked my notes and have a bunch with F nibs and M nibs....  And I tried one with an EF nib at someone's table a few years ago at OPS, and didn't like how that nib wrote....  

Also have a couple with B nibs and one with a 1.1 mm stub, but almost never use that pen, so I suspect I wouldn't like any of the wider stubs.  Although the discussion in another thread has now making me think there might be another Hanzi nib in my future....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Mercian]

On 5/2/2025 at 1:15 AM, inkstainedruth said:

but Dark Dusk *definitely* looks interesting.

 

WHY did I look that up?
Now I wants it!

[bassmannate]

On 5/4/2025 at 4:22 PM, Mercian said:

 

WHY did I look that up?
Now I wants it!

We NEEDS it, precious! 

 

It's starting to grow on me. I wasn't thrilled with it when I first saw it but the longer you look at it, the deeper and more complex the color gets.

[inkstainedruth]

Well, in theory mine will be arriving by the end of the week (it's made it to the Indianapolis Distribution Center for USPS as of a few hours ago from Little Rock).  

Is it weird that I don't really like any of the "standard" colors for Safaris and al-Stars -- just some -- okay, a LOT -- of the SE colors?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Glenn-SC]

For Your Information 

Comparison of Sunset Coral (top) and the Strawberry:

 

[inkstainedruth]

Hmmm.  Still too hard to tell whether I'd want either of these or not.  

OTOH, the Dark Dusk arrived early enough on Thursday that I could show it off at my pen club meeting Thursday evening, even though I didn't have time to flush it out until the next day.  That one looks even better in person than the photos suggested.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Black Spot]

Dark dusk is very cool and looks sort of Magic.

[inkstainedruth]

Yeah.  It's probably technically a very dark navy blue, but looks almost black or a very dark blue-purple in some light.  Really glad that I got a black nib for it instead of a standard steel one, because the clip is *almost* black itself.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Black Spot]

You are right the dark dusk looks different depending on the light and how the light hits the pen. it reminds me of the how the dice from dice art  look they have a sort of depth to them like you can see into them.

[bassmannate]

When I first saw the dark dusk, I had no desire for it. Now that I've seen some videos where you can see the light change, I feel different.

[inkstainedruth]

Whereas I saw the original photo and went "ooooooh".  But I'm more hesitant about the Sunset Coral -- that one I'd definitely have to see in person.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

ETA: Plus, when I was showing off the Dark Dusk to folks at my local pen club last month, one guy was complaining that Lamy tends to do very similar-looking SE models every few years that are only *slightly* different in shade from previous SE models. 

[Glenn-SC]

Whereas if I like or dislike a pen style or color I don’t care what anyone else thinks about it.  If there was a pen in a color that I liked and the manufacturer came out later with a similar color, I’d probably like that one too. 

[Black Spot]

I saw the Sunset Coral, its just a red pen. 

[Glenn-SC]

10 hours ago, Black Spot said:

I saw the Sunset Coral, its just a red pen. 

And red just happens to be my favorite color.  Ergo, I am attracted to red pens. 
 

I always remember that my least favorite color is someone’s favorite.  (And mine their least.)  That’s why there are so many colors, patterns and materials out there!   Something for everyone.