"Sailor was founded in 1911 in Hiroshima, Japan, by Kyugoro Sakata, becoming one of the country’s earliest fountain pen manufacturers. Renowned for meticulous craftsmanship, Sailor produces many of its gold nibs in-house, including distinctive 14k and 21k options. Popular models such as the 1911 series and the Professional Gear (Pro Gear) line are celebrated for their classic design and writing precision. Their specialty nibs including Music and Zoom are prized for expressive, characterful writing. A Sailor pen appeals to those who value refined feedback, exceptional nib quality, and over a century of Japanese writing heritage."
I've tried almost all of the pocket fountain pens out there, especially the ones with a #6 nib, and this Quark is my favorite of the bunch.
The material choice in a stone wash finish is perfect for a pocket pen. It provides good texture to grip and handle the pen, which you will be doing a lot because you need to unscrew to uncap and then screw to post... and then again in reverse to put the pen away. But the zing! of the zirconium makes each writing opportunity such a pleasurable experience. You're able to do this quickly as well because of the minimal turns it takes manipulate the cap. The grooved texture of the grip is also excellent. Just enough to give you a good grip but never in your way. I do wish the grip section was about 1mm thicker though.
I have mine fitted with a Pilot #15 nib and eyedroppered. I smile every time I take it out of my pocket... the zing... the reveal of the 14k Pilot nib... the perfectly textured groove section. The whole package just comes together so lovely!
If I had to complain though, my one gripe is that when posted, the cap wiggles ever so slightly. It's very minor, but you do feel it move in your hand when writing from time to time. Also, mine takes about 1.5 rotations to uncap, but the description says 0.6 turns. On the plus side, it can post in 1.5 turns, even though the description says 2 turns. Not sure if this is just a variance in manufacturing.
But overall this is an amazing pen. I have been eyeing it for over a year and now I wish I had gotten it sooner.
Gravitas - Quark Zirconium Stone Washed Pocket Pen | New |
