The new Sailor Cocktail series for 2023 includes colors and styles that are rather familiar. They seem pretty close to last years cocktail series, with the exception of this years Cyclamen.
The cocktail series is a set of fountain pens with colorways inspired by mixed cocktail drinks. Last years edition include a blue, red, purple, green, and white dominate colors, and while they are different than this years it seems the color variation is only slight. The standout exception is the Cyclamen, a purple capped yellow bodied fountain pen.
The other colors is the series are lovely, but one you might already have in your collection. Could the Cyclamen be the pen for you? Read the full review to learn more.
The Cyclamen pen design
The Sailor Pro Gear Cyclamen is crafted with the same quality and skill as other Sailor fountain pens. It is made of resin and comes with a 21 karat yellow gold nib. The nib is solid yellow gold, and the trim matches. The yellow gold, while not always my favorite, pairs nicely with the mellow yellow of the resin body.
The yellow of the body is slightly pale, and slightly translucent, which gives it a very nice quality and feel that adds to the emotions of the pen without being overbearing. The purple of the cap is muted, almost dull, it not at all vibrant, but works well with the yellow. The purple also has a slight translucent quality, but less so than the yellow. You can see this best where the resin of the cap is between the two cap bands.
The finial on the cap, and the finial on the barrel, are a ever so slightly darker yellow. For the barrel it gives a slight variation of character which does not distract from the yellow but keeps it from being a boring continuation of the barrel color. The finial cap, while being the same color, contrasts more with the purple giving a stark look. You will know what pen this is peaking out of your pen case when you see it.
I love the look of this pen. It's not a color combination I have seen before from Sailor, and I feel it is unique among the colorways in my collection. Beyond that the colors themselves work very well together. It was released at just the right time, as it is very much a Spring fountain pen. It reminds me of early mornings at the coffee shop, the chill in the air breaking just as the sun begins to rise. The trees are already budding and green, and flowers are opening in anticipation of the coming light. I think this pen would not evoke such emotions in me if the yellow were not just slightly transparent as it is.
Writing experience
As with other Pro Gear models the pen is a perfect fit for my hand, and lovely to write with. The cap posts nicely on the end of the body, and I don't notice it at all when writing. The body of the Cyclamen is long enough that I do not have to post the cap, but I find it more comfortable when it is posted.
The nib is from Sailor, and the quality is impeccable. I chose a Medium-Fine nib that marks a line about 0.5mm to 0.7mm, which is a size that is easy to read and not too bold for my handwriting style. The nib has that famous Sailor feedback, a ever so slight feeling of roughness as the nib glides across the page. It is not harsh or sharp, it is similar to writing with a pencil, just enough feedback to feel connected to the paper, to the words.
Beautiful Pens
The Cyclamen Pro Gear is available where Sailor pens are sold, most places have it priced at $336. Which is similarly priced to the Pilot Custom 823, the Lamy Dialog 3, and some Visconti fountain pens.
It's a lovely pen, unique in it's colors, and writes beautifully; if you enjoy the colors then it's a must buy, and a good value.
The Cyclamen Pro Gear is a beautiful pen, a joy to write with, and would be a good addition to your collection. It has a unique quality that brings out in me memories of fond spring mornings, and for that alone I enjoy writing with it. That the quality of writing is also high makes it a wonderful pen to use.