Retro 51 Tornado Vintage Metalsmith Roller Ball Pen - 0.7 mm - Franklin

5 for asthetics. 5 for writing experience (for a ballpoint - 4 in comparison to Fountain Pens). When it was brand new, it would lay down a very dark black wet line but not as good as a really good fountain pen. It is a pretty saturated ink. For a ballpoint, it is pretty good. 3 for bulletproofness (just a water test). If you drop water, it will bleed all over the place, but if you continually run water over it, the surface level ink will wash off, and then you are left with gray lines that are still visible. And a 2-3 for cartridge drying out prematurely or really hard to get going after it hasn't been used for a while. I shook it at least a dozen times and I am finally getting good flow on it. But after a few sentences, I find myself having to shake it some more. I've only had the pen 2 months.

The tornados all write very well with great ink. It a very beatiful pen and I recommend. The only big downside is its a little expensive compared to your gel inks and ballpoints but it is well worth it.

I'd had my eye on this pen for a good couple of months and finally decided to purchase it. I have crimson accents in my office and I wanted a pen that would go with this color theme, but I also needed a solid performer to write notes with. The Retro 51 Monroe is more impressive than I had imagined. The balance and weight of the pen in my hand is comfortable. The rollerball writes smoothly and the black ink is very dark and appealing. The construction of the pen is flawless. It is well milled and the knurled twist cap is smooth. I love the deep crimson color and the diamond texture not only gives you a good grip on the pen, but it creates facets that sparkle in the light. It is now my go to pen on my desk. I simply love it.