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The Harmonic
Aun no kokyū is a Japanese saying that I often think about. It describes partners who move as one—without words. This can be used for couples, close friends, co-workers, sports teammates, or musicians who perform flawlessly together. I have been fortunate enough to have experienced this feeling. The unsaid words that say everything.
It is the feeling that I usually try to find in the inanimate objects that make my life come alive. And since fountain pens are really a big part of my days, I try to experience this perfect harmony in the pen, the nib, and the ink. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does … bliss.
Anabelle Hiller, a spectacular jeweler and a nib expert, did the honor of making her famed Harmonic nib, that she tuned for me. “Harmonic Nibs are individually handcrafted 14k gold nibs, designed, cut, shaped, tipped, slit, finished and ground by me,” she writes on her website. “This is a unique, layered nib, that is forged from a single piece of gold.”
This series is named after an acoustic phenomenon of waves and frequencies that, through layering on top of its fundamental, create the very sound characteristics we’re surrounded by. This nib also achieves its particular qualia of writing feel from its layered design, allowing support to the structure, while not losing any of the material’s inherent softness. Due to the nature of the creation process, no nib will look exactly alike, and each nib will be ground to the desired size and grind after an order has been placed.
Her blue ink-stained hands are a legend in themselves. Initially, the nib was destined for one of my favorite Kasama pens, but after a little deliberation, I ended up moving it to this creation by Vivek Kulkarni of Urushi Studio India called “The Sea and Sky.” The pen tells the story of two ducks helping move a tortoise from a desert to the land where there is water.
The ink is Kobe Ginza Antique Gold made for the Itoya Ginza store. I grabbed the ink in 2019. The ink was simply waiting, patiently to find the right partners. I think the three—the pen, nib, and ink— are in harmony.
Japanese also have saying: Ishin denshin — which roughly translates into a partnership so in tune that communication happens intuitively.
November 13, 2025.
I wish the focus in the mqcro shot were on the nib instead of the engraving, and that we had more complete views of the scene painted on the body & cap. The words raise my anticipation, the photos let me down
Jesse,
My photography is almost always abstract so I never really try and shoot sharp stuff. But since you asked, there are two close-ups of the nib and the pen. I took those with the iPhone and uploaded them so you can have a closer look.
Well written as always, Om – very enjoyable!
Do you have one of Ian’s Monoc nibs, which are also fairly bespoke? If so, how does it compare to Annabelle’s Harmonic?
I must admit that I’m more intrigued by the Harmonic, although I’m not sure that I have a pen that is worthy of either, except for possibly my Skogsy LVED.
Thanks for these wonderful entries – it’s always a treat to read your stuff, and doubly so with this new series on our shared hobby.
Thanks for the comment. I do indeed have a Monoc and love it. harmonic is very different in what it is and how it feels. To me this is akin to a bespoke pair of shoes or perfect fitting shirt. I absolutely love writing with it.