BENU Talisman Shooting Star Review: A Meteorite-Infused Fountain Pen That Glows

Introduction

BENU’s Talisman line gives each pen its own infusion of material with a mythological backstory, and the Shooting Star is one of the more evocative entries. This limited edition of 300 units is available exclusively through Goldspot Pens and is infused with a powder made from meteorite. It is a cartridge-converter fountain pen with faceted resin, glow-in-the-dark accents, and a stainless steel Schmidt nib, priced at $139.

One piece of context worth knowing before buying: BENU was originally based in Moscow, Russia, and its owners have publicly stated their strong opposition to the military aggression in Ukraine, moving operations to Armenia. Payment for this pen goes through BENU’s Armenian bank rather than Russian financial institutions, and 10% of the proceeds are donated to the International Rescue Committee, a charity providing vital support to displaced Ukrainian refugees.

What’s in the Box

The Shooting Star arrives in the standard BENU box, with the pen nested in a paper sleeve on the brand’s characteristic bed of crinkled paper. Alongside it you get product and warranty information, a card explaining the Shooting Star’s infused material, and a standard international long cartridge. A converter is also included, so the pen is ready to write out of the box.

Material and Design

The barrel and cap are made from an interesting resin with octagonal facets that alternate down the length of the pen. The deep shimmering blue transitions into a lighter tone, with iridescent stars scattered through the material. When the light hits it just right, the blue genuinely resembles a star-filled night sky. BENU is known for materials with plenty of flair and pizzazz, and while many of its models go further than some tastes allow, this one feels restrained rather than overdone.

The ends of the pen, in a milky sky blue, glow in the dark. Importantly, the material looks good in its non-glow state too, which is not always the case with glowing pens, some of which lose their appeal when dormant. In the dark, the glow is not overly bright: a blue with just a hint of green that looks genuinely attractive.

Other design details include a rounded cap top containing a cluster of stars, a sword-shaped rocker clip that lifts at the front when you press the back, and the BENU name at the end of the cap filled with silver acrylic in place of a traditional cap band. The barrel stair-steps down with the alternating facets to a slightly concave end.

Nib and Writing Performance

The cap twists off with two and a quarter rotations to reveal a number six Schmidt stainless steel nib, available in fine, medium, or broad. Schmidt nibs are somewhat underrated, and this one performed well. The medium is very generous, sitting on the broad side of medium, and even produces a little line variation, which is unusual for a standard straight stainless steel nib.

The ink flow is similarly generous, and the feed keeps up without issue during fast writing. Reverse writing is a little scratchy, though it lays down a nice medium-fine line. The section begins with a medium-size flare and is on the thinner side, angling up toward the resin threads, but it is long enough to be comfortable in the hand. The cap posts securely, and since it is fairly light it does not back-weight the pen, so this is a good option if you enjoy posting.

Filling and Everyday Handling

This is a cartridge-converter pen that accepts standard international cartridges, both long and short, and a converter is included in the box. With very little metal in the pen and a one-piece barrel construction, and with appropriate silicone grease on the threads, it should also work fine as an eyedropper if you want maximum ink capacity.

In terms of size, it sits between BENU’s larger models like the Euphoria and smaller pens such as the Tessera. Compared against common benchmarks, it is similar in scale to a TWSBI Eco and a Lamy AL-star, and noticeably larger than a Pilot Metropolitan.

Who Should Buy It

The Shooting Star retails for $139, which is in line with the other glowing Talisman models, while the non-glowing versions sit at $129. That price feels reasonable given the build quality, the unique look, and the writing performance. Add the charitable donation element and the limited edition of 300 units, and it has genuine appeal for collectors and everyday writers alike.

Conclusion

The BENU Talisman Shooting Star is an interesting addition to the lineup: a well-made, unique-looking pen with a generous nib that performs nicely, glow-in-the-dark charm that works in both states, and a price that matches its quality. If you want a fountain pen with a story and a bit of sparkle without going overboard, this limited edition is worth a close look.