Wet and Wise Infinity 8 Review: A First Foray into Urushi

Introduction

Wet and Wise is a small pen company based in Belgium, run by Nabil Dastarouri, who combines a background in practical art and mechanical engineering with a love of fountain pens. The company has previously focused on resin and ebonite pens, and the Infinity 8 marks its first foray into ebonite and urushi.

The name itself comes from the founder’s love of Belgian comics like Tintin and the Smurfs. He wanted alliteration similar to a comic title called Blond in Blue, so Wet and Wise was born: wet like a fountain pen nib, wise like an old master writing his wisdom.

Two Finishes: Aka-tamenuri and Midori-tamenuri

The Infinity 8 comes in two versions, Aka-tamenuri and Midori-tamenuri. The Aka-tamenuri is a brownish-red lacquer, while the Midori-tamenuri layers in green. Both are very polished, attractive finishes that show the depth you expect from this style of urushi work.

The pen is clipless, fully faceted with eight facets that carry a slight twist, and comes to a pointed, somewhat rounded end at the cap and barrel finials. The W and W logo on the barrel end is hand-painted rather than engraved. One detail worth noting: the cap and barrel pattern does not always align at the seam. Interestingly, the small step and swale between cap and barrel visually breaks up the design, so the mismatch bothered us far less than it usually would.

##Nib and Filling System

The pen uses a number six Jowo stainless steel nib, available in fine, medium, and broad, in polished steel or gold-plated finishes. There is currently no gold nib option. The nib carries the Wet Noodle logo and pairs with a plastic feed. The section has a gentle swell that sits right where a natural grip falls, which makes the pen very comfortable in the hand.

This is a cartridge converter pen that accepts standard international cartridges, and a converter is included. Because the interior is ebonite, it seems likely the pen could be eyedroppered with the right amount of silicone grease, though that depends on how well the transitions are sealed. One thing to avoid: do not post the cap. Urushi is a natural material, and pressure from posting can mark the finish.

Writing Performance

In a medium nib, the writing experience is very pleasant. The nib performs nicely, with ink flow on the medium side, and reverse writing lays down a nice extra extra fine line. During fast writing, the feed keeps up well.

A reddish-brown ink like a discontinued Franklin-Christoph Terra Firma pairs beautifully with Aka-tamenuri finishes, while a rich green ink suits the Midori-tamenuri version. The broad nib on the green version is tuned nicely and handles its ink well too.

Price and Value

Here is the sticking point. The Infinity 8 sells for 800 euros, roughly 925 dollars, and at that price the stainless steel nib is a hard pill to swallow. We are not gold nib snobs; plenty of steel nibs perform outstandingly. But above a certain price threshold, buyers reasonably expect a gold nib, and this pen is well past that threshold.

That said, there are real cost factors. This is a small manufacturer working with urushi artisans in Japan, apparently for the first time, so production costs are likely high. With a gold nib, the pen might have landed in the 1,100 to 1,200 dollar range, which for a high-quality urushi pen is not unreasonable. The build quality and the artisanship of both finishes are genuinely high, and it is admirable to see a maker step outside its comfort zone.

Buying Advice

The Infinity 8 suits collectors who already appreciate urushi and want something from a smaller, design-driven maker. The faceted twist design, hand-painted branding, and 3D printed presentation case with a matching pen stand, polishing cloth, and notepad all add character.

If you expect a gold nib at this price, look elsewhere or wait. If you value the lacquer artistry and are comfortable paying for it with a steel nib, this is a promising first urushi effort and a sign of interesting things to come from this company.

Conclusion

The Wet and Wise Infinity 8 is a very well-made pen with genuinely attractive Aka-tamenuri and Midori-tamenuri finishes and comfortable ergonomics. The stainless steel nib at a 925 dollar price is its biggest drawback, but the overall artisanship is high, and the future looks bright for this small Belgian maker’s urushi line.