Narwhal Eclipse Review: A Retractable Fountain Pen With a Twist

Introduction

Every so often a fountain pen arrives that does not resemble anything else in a brand’s catalog. The Narwhal Eclipse is exactly that kind of release: a retractable-nib pen with an activation mechanism we have not seen before, machined aluminum construction, and a price of $99. It borrows the retractable concept familiar from the Pilot Vanishing Point and the Platinum Curidas, but the way you deploy the nib is genuinely unusual.

So is this a bold step forward for Narwhal, or one step back? After spending time with it, the honest answer is that it is a bit of both, and mostly in a good way.

Models and Packaging

The Eclipse is available in six models: Black Gold, Black Silver, Aridium, Pure Gold, Pure Silver, and Electrum. Do not let the names fool you. Despite names like Pure Silver, Pure Gold, and Aridium, the pen bodies are machined from aluminum with no actual precious metal involved. Only the models with “Black” in the name actually contain black elements. One very small quibble: electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, so the gold-body, black-trim Electrum model does not quite live up to its name.

The pen arrives in a box style that appears new for Narwhal, with a lid that lifts off. Inside you will find the pen itself and a QR code linking to instructions on how to fill and maintain it, which is a thoughtful touch.

What Makes the Eclipse Different

The defining feature is that there is no knock or button to extend and retract the nib. Instead, you press the two halves of the pen body together, and the facets interact to actuate the mechanism with a satisfying click. It is a genuinely novel approach.

That said, engaging the nib takes a bit of intention. The mechanism works well, but it requires some effort, and it is realistically a two-handed operation. If you try to do it one-handed, you have to grip the pen by the lower rear section, because applying pressure to the middle of the barrel actually inhibits the mechanism from doing its job. For quick, one-handed deployment in the style of a Vanishing Point, this design asks more of you.

The Grip: The Biggest Compromise

The section, and we use that word loosely here, is the issue some buyers will struggle with most. There is not much of a true section. The raised portions of the twelve barrel facets are not overly sharp, but they are not a comfortable grip surface. Your options are to grip back on the facets, move up onto the clip band which is slick and small, or use the forward angled portion, which is not really viable for writing.

One interesting escape hatch: the clip is removable. It takes a little effort to slide off, but once removed you get a more traditional short section. The trade-off is that the exposed section is very short, so your grip still tends to spill over onto the facets. A larger forward portion would have made the clip-removal option far more useful. In practice, the clip actually helps index the nib at the right writing angle, though fans of thinner pens who dislike Vanishing Point-style clip placement may find the thick Eclipse more forgiving here.

For collectors who enjoy pens that feel unlike anything else, the unusual in-hand experience is part of the appeal. It is certainly unique, and for us it is livable, though we wish the grip were better resolved.

The Nib and Clip

The nib emerges through a small trap door that opens as the nib extends. It is somewhat similar in size to a Pilot Vanishing Point nib, but where the Vanishing Point uses gold nibs, the Eclipse uses stainless steel. Nibs are currently available in fine and medium, made in-house by Narwhal, with wider options possible as production ramps up. The nib is stamped with the company logo, though you will not see it while writing.

The clip itself is a bit polarizing. It looks fine, but on such a modern, futuristic pen we would have preferred a more contemporary clip design. This one has a slightly retro look and feel. The good news is that you can simply remove it if it bothers you.

Filling and Maintenance

Filling requires unscrewing the back of the pen so the two halves separate, then removing the nib unit. The converter appears very close in size to the Pilot converter, and the feed is plastic. Notably, the company states you should not use this pen with cartridges.

To ink it up, you activate the converter, dip it in bottled ink of your choice, wipe it off, and slide the unit back into the barrel. Little notches on the side of the nib unit line up with a notch inside the barrel. There is a spring in the mechanism as well. The barrel then screws back together; it does not require a specific orientation, but you do need to apply a bit of pressure so the black plastic portion clears the thread before twisting it shut.

Size and Comparisons

The Eclipse is a thicker pen than the Pilot Vanishing Point, which changes how the clip interacts with your grip compared to that slimmer rival. Next to other Narwhal models such as the Nautilus and the original demonstrator, the Eclipse reads as the company’s most futuristic design yet. Against the Platinum Curidas and the Pilot Custom 823, it holds its own as a full-sized writer. For exact dimensions, checking the company’s product page is worthwhile, since the faceted body makes it feel different in hand than its measurements suggest.

Writing Performance

The medium stainless steel nib writes on the fine side of medium, so do not expect much line variation. Ink flow is fairly decent, and the feed keeps up very well during fast writing. It also handles reverse writing well, which is a nice bonus even if few people will use a pen like this for that purpose.

The fine nib runs noticeably finer than the medium and suits faster, more compact handwriting. Paired with Narwhal’s own bottled inks, which have been pleasant so far, the overall writing experience is solid rather than spectacular.

Things to Consider Before Buying

• The squeeze-to-extend mechanism is genuinely novel but works best as a two-handed operation.
• The faceted body makes for an awkward grip; the removable clip helps but leaves a very short section.
• Stainless steel nibs only (fine and medium at launch), no cartridge compatibility.
• $99 is a reasonable price for this level of uniqueness.
• Inventory has been spotty as production winds down; stock comes and goes.

Buying Advice

At $99, the Eclipse asks you to accept some ergonomics quirks in exchange for a mechanism and design you will not find anywhere else. If your collection already includes comfortable daily writers and you want one intriguing conversation piece, this is an easy recommendation. If you need a pen for long writing sessions or quick one-handed deployment, think twice, or plan to run it without the clip.

Conclusion

Is the Narwhal Eclipse a perfect pen? No. But it is intriguing, unique, and different, and there are enough positive qualities here, especially at this price point, that we find it worthwhile. For anyone who enjoys unusual mechanisms, it deserves a spot on the shortlist.