Grayson Tighe Matches Me with a Pen

Steel Crystal Pen

One of my readers wrote to me and told me I just had to experience the pens made by Grayson Tighe. Since I’m a writer, I’m familiar with many of the fine pen companies including the usual suspects Montblanc, Omas, Caran d’Ache and Visconti. I’d never heard of Grayson Tighe, so I decided to find out why my reader had taken out his pom-poms and was cheering so vociferously for this brand.

First off, Grayson Tighe is a who, not a what. He’s a Canadian all of 28 years of age and has already been creating pens professionally for over 10 years. If the name Tighe sounds familiar, it’s because Grayson’s father Brian Tighe is an artisan knife maker with many awards to his name. Grayson entered into the world of pens through his dad who started making wooden pens from kits and suggested they try to fashion some from metal with a lathe he purchased. Needless to say, Grayson took to this new vocation like a quill dipping into a pool of rich ink.

Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa

Grayson never had any formal training, learning by experimentation and the school of trial and error. He admits to being a bit of an eccentric fellow. He raises reptiles, including Gila monsters, Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boas, Fiji Banded Iguanas, and Ball Python morphs, finding beauty and elegance in their prehistoric forms.

Specializing in limited edition and one-of-a-kind pens, Grayson makes everything by hand except the nib. All the designs are carved and formed from rare and luxurious materials such as titanium, meteorite, Damascus steel, Mokumé-gané and include precious metals and stones.

In Grayson’s hands, the pen becomes a canvas for his art that is as beautiful as it is functional. For his work, Grayson has been honored with five Pen World Readers’ Choice awards and been voted “Best of the Best” by the Robb Report.

Tighe/Le Brassus 8 Jours

Grayson’s pens caught the attention of Marc Hayek, CEO of Blancpain. Specifically it was the Steel Crystal pen that led to the partnership that has resulted in three series done in collaboration and two more on the way. The most recent is based upon the Le Brassus 8 Jours, the 13RO movement treated with PVD and the white gold guilloche dial pattern the same as on the titanium pen.

Certainly if Grayson could create a watch with Blancpain, he could come up with one suitable for the Watch Matchmaker. Being left-handed and not liking a weighty pen, I’m a bit of a tough customer. Usually luxury pens tend to be heavy from ornamentation and therefore more suited for exhibition than actual work in the field. Taking into consideration my requirements, Grayson set to work to make a pen especially for me.

He came up with a beautiful composition of titanium and African Blackwood, two of the lightest materials he works with, and it comes in at a feathery 48 grams total, 33 grams with the cap off, which is how I use it.

Grayson gave me a selection of ballpoints to choose from. I like how the Schmidt Fine Roller slides smooth and creamy over the page. I’m convinced the pen elevates my writing and brings me good luck. I make sure to sign all my contracts with this pen.

Titanium and African Blackwood

Grayson Tighe makes just 100-200 pens per year. For a true art pen that is rare and unusual, you can select from his lovely assortment or create one with him. You can visit his site here.