TWSBI Diamond Mini logo and clip

TWSBI Diamond Mini Fountain Pen Review

8 February 2016 By ian

TWSBI Diamond Mini review

With all the attention TWSBI’s Vac Mini is getting it might be easy to forget that TWSBI made a pocket-sized pen before, the piston-filling Diamond Mini.

TWSBI Diamond Mini posted

Price: $50 (USA) £42 (UK)
Nib options: extra-fine, fine, medium, broad, 1.1mm stub, 1.5mm stub (all steel)
Barrel options: black, clear, classic (clear barrel, black ends and cap)
Filling system: piston
Size: 11.7cm capped, 10.8cm, 14cm posted; 1.2cm diameter
Weight: 18g

My Diamond Mini is the black version with a fine nib. It has a classic look to it (even though there’s a different version called the classic). The barrel has diamond facets on it, giving the pen its name. The cap has the usual red TWSBI logo. I really love the logo but if you don’t like it, it’s unsubtle and hard to ignore.

TWSBI Diamond Mini logo and clip

The clip my pen has too much side-to-side wobble. This may be age: I’ve had it quite a long time and I bought it second-hand so a new pen might not have this problem. But then a clip is designed to be used and shouldn’t develop problems like this.

TWSBI Diamond Mini uncapped

The cap screws closed and there’s an o-ring between the section and barrel to form a tight seal. Unposted the pen’s just about okay to write a quick note with but, really, you’re going to want to post this pen. Unfortunately you have to screw the cap onto the barrel to post and not only is this a bit of a pain, the clip never lines up with the nib, which irritates me, and because there are two starting points to the threads half the time the clip rests against your hand. This is uncomfortable so you have to unscrew the cap and try it again. This is a mini pen and mini pens, in my mind, are meant to be convenient to carry about so they’re to hand if you need to take a quick note or two. The design of this pen means it’s quite likely taking that note will be uncomfortable either because the clip is pushing into your hand or because the pen’s too short because you didn’t post.

(There are always trade-offs with pens. My pocket pen of choice is the Kaweco Liliput which has a cap you must post because the pen’s so small. This cap also screws on. However, it doesn’t have a clip and the trade-off with this pen is that it’s tiny. The extra effort is worth it because what I get in return is a very small pen that’s hardly noticeable when I’m carrying it in my pocket. The Diamond Mini isn’t small enough to make the extra inconvenience worthwhile.)

TWSBI Diamond Mini and a very big hand

The piston-filling mechanism is neat and works well. It does require a little maintenance, involving removing the piston with the supplied tool and putting a little silicon gel on it. I put this down as a black mark when I reviewed the Eco because I see the Eco as being a beginners pen (although good enough to appeal to anyone). A pen for newbies shouldn’t need that kind of effort (in my opinion). I’ll give the Diamond Mini a pass with this: its target market is, I think, a little different. But do bear in mind that if you don’t remember to grease the piston (which sounds dodgy, for some reason) your pen will one day break.

TWSBI Diamond Mini capped

The nib is lovely. It’s smooth with just enough feedback to remind you you’re writing on paper and has good consistent flow.

TWSBI Diamond Mini nib

The Diamond Mini doesn’t quite do it for me. There’s nothing wrong with how it looks but I can’t get excited about its appearance. It’s not small enough to be a super practical pocket pen but it’s too small to be a great ‘normal’ pen.

Pros

Lovely nib, with lots of options
Piston filler

Cons

Wobbly clip
Middle of nowhere size
Inconvenient posting arrangement

TWSBI Diamond Mini handwritten review