There are pens that tell stories quietly, and others that seem to carry the force of nature in their design. Sailor’s Ripple series belongs to the latter. The first chapter, the Ripple Blue, captured the calm depth of the sea, waves of color that seemed to move with every glance. Now Sailor turns from water to fire with the Ripple Magma, a pen born of the earth’s core, where rivers of molten rock carve and recreate the landscape. Destructive, yes, but also marking the beginning of something new.
The first thing you notice is how alive it seems. The ebonite swirls with deep black and streaks of red, like veins of molten rock forcing their way to the surface. It doesn’t come across as mere decoration—it’s raw, almost untamed, as if Sailor’s craftsmen tried to bottle up the energy of an eruption and turn it into something you can hold in your hand, and maybe even calm down through writing.
The Making Of
Most people fall in love with Urushi’s beauty, but there’s much more to it than just the visual appeal, especially the way it’s made. It all begins with ebonite, the material Sailor has chosen as the foundation of the Ripple series. Warm to the touch and able to carry intricate patterns, ebonite gives both character and function. Once the base is shaped, the pen enters its most demanding stage: the Urushi lacquer process.
Urushi is a natural lacquer derived from the sap of the urushi tree, and working with it is anything but simple. Each layer has to be applied by hand, then left to cure in a carefully controlled environment of heat and humidity. Only when the surface has hardened can the next layer be added. This cycle is repeated over and over, with patient polishing in between, until the finish reaches its trademark depth and durability.
The result is a surface that doesn’t just sit on top of the material but fuses with it, making the pen resilient to wear, moisture, and time itself. What you hold in the Ripple Magma is not just color and shine: it’s the sum of hours of meticulous work, guided by tradition and a refusal to take shortcuts.
The Ripple Magma is produced in a very limited run of just 88 pieces worldwide, making it a rare release. That scarcity places it firmly in the realm of collector’s items, not just another special edition. Each piece represents a continuation of the Ripple series, now moving from the ocean-inspired Ripple Blue to a design that takes its cues from fire and earth.
The two editions complement each other but highlight different elements. While Ripple Blue reflects calmness and fluidity, Ripple Magma embodies intensity and transformation. For collectors who followed the series from the beginning, the pairing offers a clear narrative: water and fire, stability and force.
While it’s clearly not an everyday writer by definition, the Ripple Magma has the kind of presence that tempts you to use it daily. Images hardly capture its depth, and I must say this is a pen that has to be experienced firsthand. Whether you reserve it for special moments of reflection or decide to place it in your daily rotation, chances are you’ll be struck not only by its charming appearance but also by the writing experience it delivers.
Sailor’s craftsmanship is second to none when it comes to nibs, and the Ripple Magma is no exception. Paired with the brand’s dedication to traditional Urushi techniques and its willingness to explore bold, elemental themes, this edition is a reminder that fine writing instruments deserve to be more than functional: they can be objects of culture, art, and expression.
Limited to only 88 pieces worldwide and priced slightly above €1,400, the Ripple Magma is already open for order and is expected to become one of Sailor’s most sought-after releases.
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