BENU Skulls and Roses Fountain Pen Review: A Bold Theme Done Right

Introduction

BENU has built a reputation for trying unusual designs, and not every experiment lands with every collector. The Skulls and Roses collection feels different. It takes a cool, cohesive theme, wraps it in a textured acrylic resin body, and prices it at $163, which feels reasonable for what it delivers. After spending several weeks with the pen, it has genuinely grown on us, and it stands out as one of the more interesting recent additions to the BENU lineup.

Who this product is for

The Skulls and Roses suits fountain pen users who want something expressive without the sparkle and glitter that defines many BENU releases. If you appreciate sculptural detailing, enjoy a pen with visible texture in the hand, and prefer a full-sized pen used unposted, this is a thoughtful option. Writers who favor posted pens or ultra-smooth barrels may want to look elsewhere.

Design and Build: Textured Resin Done Well

The pen is molded from acrylic resin, with the cap and barrel carrying a raised rose pattern that includes stems and thorns. The roses vary in size, and there is no discernible repeating pattern on either the cap or the barrel, which keeps the design from feeling mechanical. The texture behind the barrel is a nice detail, and the red resin on the cap band area is slightly translucent, offering a faint peek at what lies underneath.

One honest caveat: while the imagery is high quality, many of the artistic elements do not pop until you catch the pen in the right light. If you prefer strong visual separation and definition in raised details, temper your expectations. The cap end is rounded and angles up along its full length until you reach the skull-pattern cap band. The barrel tapers at an even angle to a rounded end.

The Three Models: Crow, Red Rose, and Smolder

The collection includes three models with under-the-hood variations. The Crow is all black with a black section and a silver nib. The Red Rose is all red with a red section and a gold-colored nib. The Smolder pairs a black cap and barrel with a red band, a red section, and a silver nib. The BENU name is scattered letter by letter across the barrel, a quirky touch we have not seen on the brand’s other pens.

Nib, Filling, and Everyday Handling

The cap twists off in just over one rotation to reveal a stainless steel number five Schmidt nib, available in extra-fine, fine, medium, and broad. The pen accepts standard international long and short cartridges, and a long cartridge plus a converter are included in the box.

The section starts with a very slight flare and angles up toward the threads, with a step up to the barrel and another step to the remainder of the barrel. The section is narrow at the start, but the upward angle means you can grip further back if you prefer a thicker feel. The resin is not slick, so the grip stays put without slipping forward. The pen posts, but the raised barrel pattern makes posting feel insecure and awkward, so we recommend using it unposted. The texture is noticeable in the hand: bumpy but not sharp or uncomfortable.

Writing Performance

The extra-fine sample nib, filled with a vibrant orange ink, proved surprisingly pleasant. We are generally not fans of fine and extra-fine nibs, but this one avoids the scratchiness that plagues many extra-fine options and even offers a bit of line variation. Reverse writing is a little sharp, but the feed has no trouble keeping up with fast writing. Ink flow is decent, and the nib is one we would happily keep using.

Things to consider before buying

Posting is not practical thanks to the raised barrel texture, so plan to use the pen unposted. The sculpted details need good light to fully show, and the prominent texture will not suit anyone who wants a smooth, quiet pen. On the other hand, nib choice is flexible, the filling system is convenient, and the price sits at a sensible point for a resin pen with this level of detailing.

Buying advice

The Skulls and Roses launches on October 31st through a large number of retailers. If the theme appeals to you, decide between the understated Crow, the bold all-red Red Rose, and the two-tone Smolder. At $163, it delivers an interesting design and solid writing performance, making it a decent value and an easy recommendation for collectors who want something a little different.

Conclusion

BENU does not play it safe, and the Skulls and Roses is a reminder that risk sometimes pays off. A cohesive theme, quality molded detailing, a reliable Schmidt nib, and sensible pricing make this a pen worth a close look, whichever of the three models you choose.