Pocket Size Review 50: Benu Minima Skulls and Roses
It’s been a year and a half since our last pocket size review, but that’s no reason not to dive right back in.
Today is Halloween, and I am fortunate to be carrying a brand new BENU pen that is releasing today, the BENU Minima Skulls and Roses, specifically in the two-tone red and black “Smolder” colorway. Those who have been paying attention to BENU over the years will remember that this is not actually the first time they’ve released their Minima model with a skull motif, however the roses are a new addition, and looking at the five year old link above, one can definitely see an evolution in BENU’s design.
That evolution is great to see, because design is what really sets BENU apart. Originally launching as a Russian pen brand, BENU moved this year to Armenia, after founder and chief designer Alex Semanin was allegedly arrested for joining a protest in Moscow against the invasion of Ukraine. The protest and arrest and international move might not be directly related to pens, but in this modern age when consumers like to know who and what they are supporting with their dollar, I think it’s worth noting that the chief designer behind the design evolution we are discussing is the type of person willing to stand up to their own government for what they believe is right. And also for anyone who hasn’t kept close track of the comings and goings of pen companies, but who knew of BENU as a Russian brand and has any hesitations about buying Russian products right now, they should know that BENU is now an Armenian company.
But back to the design evolution itself, the 2017 Minima Skulls featured raised outlines of a skull and crossbones. The pen had an out-of-place (in my opinion) gold colored cap band, and a matching gold colored steel nib. The 2022 Skulls and Roses, however, has 3D sculpted roses lining the pen, and a ring of 3D skulls around the cap band. The texture of the barrel between the roses is more matte and crackly, almost as if to evoke the feeling of an older worn-in leather-bound tome. The Schmidt nib is silver-colored steel now, which feels cleaner and more neutral for this design. The pen also comes in an all black “Crow” and an all red “Red Roses” colorway, for those who don’t prefer the two-tone look.
I’ll save my full thoughts on Schmidt nibs for my upcoming review of the BENU Talisman, but in brief I will say that I will never let a Schmidt nib make me think twice about a pen ever again. It’s easy to be wary of a nib that advertises its iridium tipping, but Schmidt nibs have provided me with such good performance of late that they can advertise whatever they want. This pen writes, and it writes well.
But the takeaway for me, from the BENU Skull and Roses, are all of the little design surprises. The letters B, E, N & U being mixed into the design on the cap, not quite jumbled, but also not quite spelling out the brand name. The extended grip area behind the cap threads on the barrel, so that the awkward step doesn’t come too close to your fingers. The fact that despite this pen absolutely being a design piece it also manages to firmly post its cap. I am a great lover of “design-first” pens, even though they often prioritize form over function. I’ll make do with a pen that is less than ideal because it just makes me happy to look at it. With the BENU Skulls and Roses I’m getting the best of both world, though. The pen has an impressive unique look, but also posts, and has a sculpted design that acts as a roll-stop. It has a quality nib and fills with cartridge or ink converter. [Note: Officially, BENU does not support posting this pen, because of the damage that the stress to the cap band could do long term, so please be aware of that.]
BENU has shown that they can design a pen that looks like no other without sacrificing functionality. And on top of that they were willing to uproot their business and move to an entirely different country in order to ensure that their revenues weren’t going against the values that they support. Honestly, every time that I sit down with a BENU pen I am just more and more impressed.
As mentioned above, this pen launches today; Halloween day, October 31, 2022. You can order it direct from BENU at the link above, or from any of your favorite pen shops that are authorized BENU retailers. I am all for making “spooky season” a year-round celebration, so this pen won’t be leaving my rotation any time soon.
Thank you to Luxury Brands of America, BENU’s US distributor, for providing me with this pen.
