TWSBI Comparison - Fountain Pen Showdown

The latest Fountain Pen Showdown video is now available for your viewing pleasure.
In this video I am comparing:
The TWSBI Eco with Van Dieman Devil Black ink
The TWSBI Diamond 580 with Diamine Autumn Oak ink
The TWSBI Vac700R Iris with Lamy Crystal Rhodonite ink
The TWSBI Draco with Diamine Red Dragon ink
Which pen will come out on top?
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The opinions are my own, based on my own experiences with the product. Not to be used for reference or as gospel.

[@juliafalling4069]

I have three different TWSBI models: the ECO-T, 580ALR (a silver & a navy), and the 700R Iris. I love and use them all, but the more expensive pens seem to write more smoothly. I have medium nibs on all at this time, but have fine, broad and stub nibs that I can switch out on my two 500ALRs. They hold a lot of ink. I, too, like to see the ink sloshing around inside the pen - it becomes part of its beauty.

[@Magniboards]

this is awesome! Just picked up a new diamond AL 580 because of this (I wouldve picked the vac700r but it costs double and a hassle for the seal) but great review! Much appreciated!

[@ShaifN]

I recently bought the Vac700r Iris, and i just love the pen.

[@elspethdarby4015]

For info, the size is on the Eco nib, it is just below the word TWSBI and is partly obscured by the end of the grip section.

[@glennpaddison7210]

Really helpful review Gary, very thorough, told me all I needed to know about theses pens,

[@ciannacoleman5125]

I received two Jinhao pens for Christmas and when I bought my first batch of ink I got a Metro and TWSBI Eco. I mistakenly thought four pens would be enough but I underestimated my desire to collect art supplies. Two of my pens will be dedicated to specific inks and a writing project starting in Jan which only leaves me two to write/draw and play with ink. I am going to avoid building a massive collection but have decided I need a variety of nib sizes and available colors for note taking lol. Really want one of the 580ALs but will likely get some more Ecos for price reasons

[@P90Camper]

Thank you for the review - very helpful! I have got an Iris inbound. I wonder if these are limited... .they seem to be back in stock on the TWSBI site. Also - it seems the Draco can be had on the secondary market for around 130 - 150 which might make it more palatable for some. Cheers!

[@edaytrade2157]

I love your evaluation and review. Very informative for newbies on those pens and inks you are reviewing. Keep up the good work.

[@GarryEves]

Thanks.

[@nanobyte588]

Very Impressed by your thorough comparison! Enjoyed your candor regarding each pen. I subbed!

[@GarryEves]

Thank you.

[@josemiddelhuis6902]

Top Gar6 the only I miss is the thickness of the pens. Because of mine fingers who are need a thick pen. txs sincerely José

[@vanessachishti1503]

What a thorough comparison! Really enjoyed watching this. I've got three ecos, love them! I have been eyeing the 580 and Vac 700 and this will really help me decide :) Thanks for all the work that you put into making this video!!

[@GarryEves]

Thanks. Which one did you decide to go for?

[@vanessachishti1503]

@@GarryEves the Vac 700! I just have to wait for iris model to be back in stock :)

[@sathishrao7926]

Draco and 580 are my favorites - I like 580 in Rose Gold trim though.., but Draco is insanely expensive here in India (about 300 USD)

[@ZenMasterIDontThink]

I had an Eco for a couple of years but sold it on as I could afford to upgrade my pens. I now have the 580, Vac 700 regular, the Iris, Draco, and also the Precision and Classic. The latter two are rarely commented on but I reckon that they are beautiful pens. Twsbi make such good pens, one of the best brands on the market. I tend to use them with broad nibs, but they are easily replaceable. Thanks again for such an excellent video.

[@GarryEves]

Thanks. I've added the Precision and Classic to my to-buy' list. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@CelticVOLSGirl]

I've got the vac700R Iris as well. I find it a bit scratchy, especially compared to my Pilot Metro. Been eyeing an Eco with broad nib for shimmer inks. Keep telling myself the Eco is fine and I don't need the Diamond. 🙄🤣🤣

[@deshan314]

I've tested my ECO. If I post it, it's so cleverly designed that it does not turn the piston knob. 😉

[@glenpolo8696]

thank you for this..i've been thinking of adding the twsbi to my collection but i can't seen to pull the trigger because of some concerns with their pens..

[@GarryEves]

I've read on a few sites about people finding cracking. So far I have been lucky and not seen that.

[@santauxia]

Eco its a great, easy to use humble pen. 580 ready to go anytime, good looking pen. 700 only issue one (for me) one must turn nub to allow ink flow, other than that gorgeous pen. In my opinion all well made affordable pens. Great video Mr. Eves.

[@GarryEves]

Thank you. the shutoff valve does often catch me out on the 700 - I'm writing away then the pen stops writing.

[@santauxia]

@@GarryEves Thats exactly it. I think I'll remove the rubber gasket and fill up the pen with a syringue.

[@oscarmedina1597]

Nice comparison, Gary. I have one Eco and a Precision, and I’ve been considering picking up a 580 or a Vac700. This settles it for me.

[@GarryEves]

Thanks. Which one did you decide to go for?

[@oscarmedina1597]

The Vac700

[@j.vincent3625]

I'm sure you are aware that others have easily removed the small sealing washer at the base of the plunger of the vacuum 700 because of the inconvenience of the ink flow. Just sayin`. Nice vid...thank you.

[@GarryEves]

Thanks. I haven't done that with the 700 yet, but have with some Chinese vacuum fillers. I may give it a go on the 700.

[@azzamhawwari9229]

👍

[@wesfoulds47]

Mine cracked and got in all over everything

[@GarryEves]

👍

[@jamesaritchie1]

Every TWSBI, other than the extra fine, which I think is a very silly nib to have on a fountain pen because it shows none of an ink's characteristics, has a butter on glass nib. If one doesn't, send it back because that's not the norm. The truth is that all these pens write exceptionally well. I'm not fond of the Vac because I think all vac fillers are a poor choice. The mechanism is very cool, but does nothing a regular piston filler doesn't do, and is much more prone to failure. Two hundred and fifteen dollars for the Draco is an outrageous price. Why so expensive? They cost one hundred and fifty dollars here, and aren't even worth that. They aren't nearly worth that. The Draco is pretty, but it's still just a pen made from ordinary, cheap acrylic, and it has a stainless steel nib. I can get one of several pens with gold nibs for that kind of money. The Draco is the only TWSBI I don't own, and I probably never will. I have pens that cost many times what the Draco costs, but they not only have gold nibs, they all have much, much better material from front to back. I also have pens with gold nibs that were much cheaper than the Draco. On top of this, I am not in the least impressed by "limited" edition pens. Being limited does not make them better, and certainly does not justify the huge extra cost for a pen I don't like as much as I like a demonstrator. And it's amazing how many so-called "limited" edition pens become regular production pens, if they sell well enough. You didn't even test my favorite TWSBI pens, which are the 580 ALR and the Precision in gunmetal. Or my most used TWSBI, which is the GO.

[@GarryEves]

Thanks. I am in agreement with you about the Draco. it does look nice, but hindsight tells me I could have got a better pen for the money. I currently don't have a Precision or a Go - they are on my list to buy, but for every pen I take off the list another 5 appear on it.

[@ciannacoleman5125]

The only TWSBI I have right now is an Eco EF. While I agree that if you want to use an interesting ink it won’t show the properties, it works perfectly for my purpose of a fine line in Noodler’s Black which is a “boring” color that does not have properties to show off.

[@josephaziz785]

On Eco: Awful pen for its section nubs near nib. Very annoying reminder to write horizontally, which is how poor writers write. Edge of section near nib must be round and smooth, which Chinese manufacturers could have done, if they had any brains (they don't). We are not children that need to be reminded to write horizontally for heaven sake. Some write with grip close to nib and will hit nubs in this case. Smallish nib makes one want to write nearer to the dreaded nubs with Eco. Of course you can grip away from nubs, higher up on section, but what good pen maker ever forces you to do this? Answer: None.