PEN CASE REVIEW: FRANKLIN-CHRISTOPH NEW PENVELOPE

Of all the hardshell-type pen cases I know, the Franklin-Christoph Penvelope (review) sits comfortably in my top recommendations, perhaps only to be surpassed by Visconti's Dreamtouch cases (review) to the number one spot. In any case - hah, pun. - the Penvelope is without a doubt a stylish and practical storage option for your pens, and it's offered at an attractive price point. But despite already having the excellent Penvelope - and an extensive range of storage options overall -, Franklin-Christoph recently introduced a second Penvelope-style case to their product lineup: the 'New Penvelope' (not quite the most original naming ever). So obviously I was very curious to give it a try and see what it's all about!

"Why fix what isn't broken?", one could argue, but the New Penvelope doesn't really feel like they just updated the original. Instead, it's a complete departure from the original, meant to serve a different audience based on what you're looking for in a pen case.

In terms of design, only the signature FC beveled edge on the front flap remains, the rest of the design was overhauled completely. The bottom and sides of the case are now completely closed up with a single strip of hard material. That's in contrast to the original Penvelope which has accordion-shaped (?) soft leather sides that allow the case to stretch out when (over-)filled to the brim. This design change makes the New Penvelope more robust - so in theory more protective for your pens - but it also takes away some of the practicality of having extra room to accommodate small notebooks, cleaning cloths, or even additional pens in front of the pen slots. No extra space to do that here.

Top to bottom: FC New Penvelope, Visconti Dreamtouch, FC Penvelope (original) (all 6-pen versions)

Top to bottom: FC New Penvelope, Visconti Dreamtouch, FC Penvelope (original) (all 6-pen versions)

Talking about space, the first thing that stood out is the New Penvelope's incredibly tiny footprint. The original Penvelope is quite a large case, much larger than an equivalent Visconti case, and I can see how that can be frustrating when you want to carry it around in a backpack or purse, or while traveling. The New Penvelope trims off almost an inch (about 2cm) in both height and width, while also being much slimmer. That puts it at an even more compact form factor than the - already quite compact - Visconti Dreamtouch pen cases.

New Penvelope left, original Penvelope right

On the inside, Franklin-Christoph opted for a removable slotted insert made of soft black cotton fabric (gone is the classy ribbed fabric of the 'old' Penvelope, unfortunately). I don't think making it a separate piece was the most space-efficient option, but they pulled it off anyway. The insert is sort of practical because partially sliding it out keeps the flap of the case opened and makes your pens easily accessible. The slots run all the way to the bottom of the insert, so removing the insert from the case won't display anything but the pens' finials, but at least they are well-protected.

One of the unique selling points of the New Penvelope is the addition of - besides the classic boot leather - a leatherless (vegan!) finish called 'Natural Wood Fiber' (NWF in short). It looks like leather (complete with the wrinkly, texture of real leather), it feels like leather (I think it's waxed, not sure though?), it even smells like leather... but it's actually wood-based cellulose made into a kind of fabric. The FC website states it's as durable as real leather, and having the case in hand it sure looks like it will easily stand the test of time. I quite like this material, especially in these muted colorways that FC offers. It's not as soft or cushioned to the touch as the original leather Penvelope though, but I suspect that also has to do with the stiffer and thinner materials used for the structure of the case.

The slots of the New Penvelope are visibly narrower than on the original design

L to R: Pilot Metropolitan (almost invisible), Esterbrook Estie, Leonardo Momento Zero Grande, Edison Beaumont, Lamy 2000, Lamy Safari

Inevitably, the size reduction does have an effect on the functionality of this case. I maybe wish they hadn't taken the space optimization exercise quite as far, because the small form factor physically dictates the maximum size of the pen you can fit inside. The rather stiff construction of the case doesn't budge too much, so I feel like pens up to 14.5cm (5.7") are about the tallest to fit comfortably. Not at all bad for such a compact case, and plenty for a large majority of pens. Though the FC website goes even further with a maximum of 15.3cm (6"). Optimistic, but indeed possible because the long tab of the closure allows for about a centimeter of additional headroom inside the front flap. You can see that even the 15cm long Leonardo Momento Zero Grande could still fit, but it's a bit too cramped for my taste, whereas it fits just fine in the original Penvelope.

Space is limited inside the case, so clips have to face sideways to get them to fit.

The main size limitation is not so much the length, but the maximum diameter of the individual slots. Here's where I don't agree with the FC website: they say it can take pens up to 0.75" (19mm) in diameter, but I just don't see that happening. The Leonardo Momento Zero Grande was again a good test subject (maximum diameter of 0.66" / 16.8mm). It worked, but it's already an extremely tight fit and difficult enough to get out again. I can't see how anything even wider would be possible without getting pens completely stuck inside the slots. For really oversized pens, this case is clearly not your best friend. 

The New Penvelope from Franklin-Christoph is a cool new offering in their extensive range of pen carry & storage options. The NWF material is really neat, it looks and feels almost like real leather. And I think the more compact form factor will appeal to a lot of people that want to slim down - literally - their daily carry. It's almost complementary to the original Penvelope, so I hope Franklin-Christoph will let both cases coexist side by side!

The New Penvelope is not without its faults though: The new closure system doesn't look quite as clean as the magnetic closure, the fabrics used for the pen insert feel a bit cheaper, and the overall finishing doesn't feel quite as premium and plush as the original  Penvelope (although that's just due to the thinner and stiffer overall construction I think). The compact form factor also means that this case is simply not ideal for larger pens, although it should still be plenty spacious to fit the majority of 'normal' pens.

In the end, it manages to redeem itself with an incredibly competitive price point though. The original Penvelope already offered excellent value for its 65$ price tag, but the new model sits even lower, at just 45$ (for the 6-pen variant). Of course, you can also go for the smaller or larger 3 and 12 (not 13!) form factors. But regardless of the size you choose, the New Penvelope is consistently more affordable than the original (even if you do choose the slightly more expensive boot leather finish!). That makes it an excellent storage option if you're on a budget, yet still want to keep your precious pens safe and easy to carry around.

This product was provided by Franklin-Christoph, so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affiliate links.

REVIEW: FRANKLIN-CHRISTOPH PENVELOPE SIX PEN CASE

Franklin-Christoph is one of those Jack-of-all-trades brand that has more than just pens up for offer. From specialty nibs and custom nib grinds, to inks, notebooks and all kinds of leather goods. Of course they are best known for their great fountain pens, but the product I was actually most eager to try from them is this one: the Franklin-Christoph Penvelope six! My thanks to FC for sending one of their latest itterations of their custom pen case over for review.

One thing I admire about Franklin-Christoph is how consistent their designs are. Their aesthetic is simple, yet unmistakable: straight lines, minimal decoration, no fuzz. A distinct design element in all their products are the chamfered edges: it makes up their four-diamond logo, it comes back in almost every one of their pens and accessories, including the Penvelope cases. 

As I said, Franklin-Christoph generally likes to keep their designs simple, and the Penvelope is no different. If it weren't for the chamfered edges, this case would just be a big fat leather square. Look at it from a distance though, and those chamfered edges fit right into the design you'll see an envelope to carry your pens - a Penvelope - clever! The entire case keeps its clean and minimal appearance by being unadorned, except for a hot-stamped FC logo on the back.

New in this instance of the Penvelope cases - which have been around for years now and have become a staple in the pen community - is this 'Boot Brown' leather finish. The matte, distressed leather offers a bit more character than the Fxcell leather they normally use, and ages rapidly with use. It starts out as a fairly pristine, matte leather, but with use it becomes a bit shinier and picks up scuffs and scratches. 

Fit and finish is excellent, as I would expect from a premium pen case. The leather is folded all the way around the edges for a neat look, and all the edges are stitched through with beige thread. The front flap of the penvelope is held shut by a magnet that is neatly concealed. The interior is lined with black ribbed fabric that feels very stiff to the touch. The pen slots itself are also made from this fabric. I suppose the entire case - including the pen slots - are lined with a stiff cardboard or plastic material, making the entire construction is very rigid. For the outside 'shell', that rigidity offers protection to your pens, but the pen slots are perhaps a bit too stiff for my liking. Despite being rigid, the fabric of the slots doesn't scuff or damage your pens.

The only part of the case that isn't rigid are the sides, which are made up of a pliable layer of leather. This allows the entire case to stretch a bit, for example when you put a small notebook, cleaning cloth or additional pens in between the front of the case and the pen slots (as you can see in the photo above, I like to keep a cleaning cloth handy in there!). 

As the name suggests, the Penvelope 6 case can hold 6 pens (there's also a 'Lucky thirteen' version that holds - you guessed it - 13 pens!). It's an obvious comparison to my staple pen case: the Visconti Dreamtouch 6 pen case (reviewed HERE). Putting them side by side brings up an obvious difference: Measuring 6" x 7" x 1.25", it's a substantial chunk of leather compared to the Visconti, even though both carry the exact same amount of pens. 

The FC website claims pens up to 17.8 cm (7") tall, and 1.9 cm (0.75") in diameter. While it certainly does hold very tall pens, I wouldn't suggest it for really wide and oversized pens. In practice, most pens will be just fine, even a Montblanc 149, Pelikan Souverän M1000 or equivalent fit perfectly. Anything wider (Like the Delta Dolcevita Oversize) would be a bit too snug for the stiff pen slots. For really tall or really short pens, the Penvelope case actually has the upper hand over the Visconti case. Especially small pens can be clipped to the slots to keep them aligned nice and tidy, whereas in the Visconti case they fall all the way to the bottom. 

Because the front flap can be opened flat or even fold all the way back, you can display your pens visible and easy to reach on your desk. This is something I really appreciate, and its an area where the Visconti Dreamtouch cases lack because their lid can't stay open by itself. 

For 65$, the Franklin-Christoph Penvelope six offers excellent value for the money. It's a sturdy and well-built case that does a great job protecting your pens. On top of that, it's quite versatile due to the large pen slots and extra space for small items. The design is quite bulky to carry around, and perhaps not as elegant as the ones Visconti makes. But the fact that it's less than half the price of the Dreamtouch case, makes for a very compelling argument in favor of the Penvelope.

This product was provided by Franklin-Christoph, so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affiliate links.