Kilik Celestial Calico Koi vs Red Abalone: Two Galen Leather Special Editions Compared

Introduction

Turkish brand Kilik has built a reputation for high-quality, good-performing, and genuinely beautiful fountain pens, and its Celestial model has been a standout of the lineup. For these two special editions, Kilik partnered with its countrymates and frequent collaborators Galen Leather on a pair of Galen-exclusive versions of the Celestial: the Calico Koi and the Red Abalone.

Both pens use resin created by Jonathan Brooks, and both retail for $290 on the Kilik website, in line with the standard Celestial pricing. The question is whether they live up to the standard set by earlier Kilik models. On the evidence, they do.

Unboxing and Materials

Galen Leather orders typically arrive with a generous set of extras: a reusable pouch, a letter telling the story of the company, a postcard, a sticker, tea, Turkish coffee, a leather pen pouch, a discount code, and a small evil eye amulet meant to protect against negative energy. It is a thoughtful package that sets the tone before you even reach the pen.

The pen itself arrives in a box that flips open to reveal a use and care guide, a polishing cloth, and information about a certificate of authenticity. The Calico Koi resin is a blend of browns, creams, oranges, and a touch of red, meant to evoke a koi fish. The Red Abalone is the standout of the pair for many enthusiasts, with an iridescent, mother-of-pearl depth that genuinely resembles the interior of an abalone shell.

Parts and Features

The cap finial uses what is called the charcoalic pattern, also known as the wheel of fortune, a twelve-sided dodecagonal design that refers to the complex order of the astronomical zodiac. It is a distinctive touch that ties the Celestial’s name to its design.

The Red Abalone version carries a sterling silver clip with a 925 stamp underneath, finished with a layered, slightly antiqued look that steps down like a staircase. The Calico Koi, by contrast, uses brass for all of its trim and extremities, so the two editions read quite differently on the desk.

There is a faux band with a couple of grooves near the cap, which angles up slightly before angling down to a small step into the barrel. Notably, the decorative band sits on the barrel rather than on the cap. The band is on sterling silver on the Red Abalone and features an intricate geometric pattern in the tradition of Turkish art, where such designs often represent heavenly bodies and celestial order. The transitions are fairly smooth, so the band does not feel bumpy in the hand.

Nib and Ink Capacity

The cap twists off in about one and a quarter rotations. Both pens use a number six JoWo nib in stainless steel: the Calico Koi gets a gold-plated nib to match its brass trim, while the Red Abalone gets a silver-colored nib that pairs naturally with its silver band.

The nib carries an imprint taken from a photo of Galen Leather’s founder and her son, a nod to the company’s origins. It does appear somewhat upside down relative to how most brands orient their logos, though it reads normally while writing.

This is a cartridge-converter pen that accepts standard international cartridges, and a converter is included. Because of the metal trim, an eyedropper conversion is not recommended. The section has a distinctive flare at the end and smooth transitions throughout, so even writers who grip further back should not feel any sharp steps.

The cap can be posted even though the company does not officially recommend it. In practice it posts deeply enough that the weight sits in the hand rather than at the back, and the balance stays comfortable.

Writing Performance

The test units came fitted with a medium and a broad stainless steel nib. The broad lays down a decent amount of ink with a rather generous flow. As expected from stainless steel, there is not much line variation, and reverse writing is a little scratchy, though it produces an extra-fine line. The feed keeps up very well even during fast writing.

Pairing inks to the resins works nicely here: a light blue ink with a pinkish sheen suits the Red Abalone’s shell-like finish, while a reddish brown complements the warm tones of the Calico Koi.

Buying Advice

At $290 each, these editions sit at the standard Celestial price point, and the quality of the materials and trim feels well worth it. With 22 different nib choices available, including standard sizes, italics, obliques, 14-karat gold options, and the Galen-exclusive dentist nib, a variation of their architect grind, it is worth browsing the Galen Leather website carefully before ordering.

If you prefer cooler, shell-like iridescence and silver trim, the Red Abalone is the natural pick. If warmer, organic colors with brass hardware appeal to you, the Calico Koi is the better match.

Conclusion

Both Galen Leather exclusive Celestial editions deliver the quality and looks that have made Kilik a favorite among fountain pen enthusiasts. The Red Abalone’s mother-of-pearl resin is arguably the more striking of the two, but the Calico Koi’s warm blend and brass trim give it a character of its own. Either way, at $290 these are special pens that live up to the Celestial name.