A Symphony in Green and Gold

At a San Francisco Pen Posse meetup earlier this year, I encountered my first Atelier Lusso Pens. I was intrigued by their shape, their design, and most importantly the craftsmanship. Soon after, I persuaded a friend to sell me one of hers, and it rarely left my hand. It wasn’t my favorite color. It wasn’t my favorite material. And yet, I couldn’t stop writing with it.

For someone who doesn’t like sparkling and bright things — I like classic celluloids, vintage materials and urushi pens — I found myself unexpectedly drawn to Lusso pens. I began following Atelier Lusso’s Instagram feed. I learned quickly that the pens that are made in small quantities tend to sell out even before they hit the website. So, I watched the feed like a hawk. Meeting Eric Sands, Atelier Lusso’s creator, at the SF Pen Show ’25 only deepened my appreciation.

I had a red-letter day coming up and wanted to buy something special. When Eric shared a “work in progress” photo of this green-gold-black pen, I knew this was it. After some discussion, I found myself the owner of a Carina Hapalua 15 — made of green and gold abalone and black alumlight resin, fitted with a bronze Mokume Gane clip.

Objects transcend their physical manifestation once they acquire an emotional and spiritual patina. And that is how I feel about this new pen. The warm green, amber, and earthy tones of this seemingly translucent barrel evoke a sense of nature, and the onset of the coming fall season.

Since black is a color of sophistication, formality, and balance, these caps add quiet elegance to the design. The black caps anchor the more expressive natural tones of the barrel, creating a contrast that feels both serious and artistic.

The colors and the way the materials flow into each other suggest organic beauty, harmony, and grounding energy. The pen embodies both Eric’s natural artistry and my own meditative, contemplative state.

I fitted it with a very special Montblanc oblique broad nib from the 1950s, using a special custom adapter. The gold nib gives the pen luxury, refinement, and prestige.

The final combination conveys warmth, timelessness, and durability. It is a tool, but it is also a symbol of elegance.

#newpenday September 29, 2025. San Francisco