TWSBI Diamond 540 Fountain Pen Review

Palimpsest admits that it was the glowing Fountain Pen Geeks review that prompted the purchase of the TWSBI Diamond 540. Palimpsest wouldn’t have ordered a demonstrator (the Lamy Vista was quite sufficient) but bowing to the others’ higher wisdom hastened to order a Diamond 540 from the Writing Desk. Following the arrival of said pen, pernickety Palimpsest was too quick to comment unfavourably on the Diamond’s presentation box (too much, too plastic), on the Diamond’s body (too many diamond-shaped edges), on its cap (a screw-on, how annoying) and on its fine nib (too fine). However, Palimpsest finds that as of late the Diamond 540 has become a constant companion. What has changed?

Some time has elapsed. The nib is now conditioned nicely. There is some resistance as it glides on paper but it is a pleasant resistance with an ever so slight flex to it. Inked with J. Herbin Perle Noire (a lot of it, too, for the reservoir is of enormous capacity), the Diamond 540 performs wonderfully. Ink flow is consistent (no skipping) and the nib has the right amount of wetness. Should one wish to convert the Diamond 540 into an eyedropper, the pen’s Apple-sque presentation box comes with a silicone tube and wrench to remove the piston.

This is not a pen with a smooth body (Palimpsest is partial to smooth bodies) but the diamond-shaped facets on the barrel are attractive and glimmer in the light. You see, dear Readers, even these diamond shapes that Palimpsest found annoying at first are now described in poetic terms. Palimpsest does like them and doesn’t even mind the ribbed surface where the cap screws on. It is a pleasure too to watch the ink moving inside the Diamond and shimmering darkly.

The Diamond 540 is a substantial pen and even more so when it’s posted: it becomes this enormous (and heavy) writing instrument that people stare at when Palimpsest uses the Diamond in public places. But it’s OK. Palimpsest forgives the enormity and prefers holding the cap in the other hand. And a wonderful cap it is with its simple clip, wide band and the metallic TWSBI logo at the top set against the red background. The only thing against it: it is a screw-on not a snap-on cap. And it does take some time to screw on, which is more noticeable when one is in a hurry. But never mind. Palimpsest feels that screwing on a cap, after a writing task is finished, gives one an air of importance.

And thus, dear Readers, Palimpsest finishes this review by self-importantly screwing the Diamond’s cap on and proceeding in recommending the TWSBI Diamond 540 warmly.