With a rich heritage dating back to 1883, Kaweco promotes a vision that blends tradition with innovation, offering entry-level writing instruments priced from $18 to $250. Their pens are appreciated by enthusiasts and collectors for their diversity of finishes, color, and portability, which makes them so easy to carry everywhere. I have to admit, I’ve never been a big fan of pens that are too colorful, but there are a few versions in the Kaweco portfolio that I consider must-haves: and here I’d mention the iconic Kaweco BRASS Sport and STEEL Sport (with a brushed finish) as well as their classic line. However, today is about the new ART Sport collection, the latest addition to the Sport series.
Design & Size
Although they have an iconic shape, many of Kaweco’s pens don’t necessarily excel in terms of design. However, the new collection does. Consisting of 4 versions, Terrazzo, Mineral White, Hickory Brown, and Pebble Blue, the collection boasts marbled designs with a vintage flair somewhat resembling Esterbrook finishes. Besides looks, the strength of the Kaweco Sport series has always been the pocket size which makes it excellent to carry everywhere. The pen measures 10.5 cm when closed, and extends to an average size of 13 cm with the cap attached. I like that it takes up little storage space and at the same time is comfortable to write with. Unlike the older version, this one comes with a built-in clip.
Material & Construction
Kaweco has used high-quality acrylic and colors of different intensities to achieve a beautiful marbled finish. The magic happens during the molding process, where a special technique turns each pen into a unique piece with a three-dimensional pattern. This is followed by an additional polishing stage where the surface gets a glossy finish. I like that Kaweco chose two versions of trim for this collection, silver for Pebble Blue and Mineral White and gold for Terrazzo and Hickory Brown, thus creating a chromatic harmony.
Nib Material & Size Availability
The nib availability ranges from extra-fine to extra-broad on these models, making this collection quite versatile and catering to many users. As for the material, you don’t get much variety, as the nib is only offered in steel. It’s something I would have liked to see, a gold nib for this new collection. Perhaps Kaweco will offer this option in the future once it expands the Art collection with more versions.
Writing experience
Contrary to what some might be tempted to believe based on the pocket size of Kaweco pens, the writing experience is a delightful one. I have quite big hands and I didn’t encounter any difficulties when writing, for example. By attaching the cap, the pen gets to a decent size suitable for most users. However, I recommend testing it out in a boutique first, on this occasion you will also fall in love with the retro finish.
Conclusion
As mentioned above, I think this is a must-have edition that you should look out for if you’re a Kaweco fan, but also if you’re just starting out with writing instruments. Putting the design aside, this is a great pen for everyday use. In fact, I think this is one of the coolest pens you can get for less than $150. It might even have the potential to be a collector’s item alongside other pieces in Kaweco’s portfolio.
For more information, visit kaweco.com or any authorized vendor.