Grayson Tighe

Youthful entrepreneur Grayson Tighe is making his mark as the youngest professional pen designer and maker in the world. Creation is his life, he affirms, and with a broad range of capabilities at his disposal, his products maintain a distinctive and original look. Of this he is exceptionally proud.

Under the direct tutelage of his father, renowned knife designer/maker Brian Tighe, planning and creating functional art pieces just seemed to come naturally for Grayson.

Today, timeless design, precision craftsmanship and noble materials identify a Grayson Tighe pen. To Grayson, innovation is the key, starting with materials. His use of pure titanium is a trademark. He also uses fossil ivory; stainless steel Damascus; mokumé-gané; tiger coral; precious metals, such as sterling silver and 14- and 18-karat gold; precious stones, such as diamonds and rubies; and other materials as well. This in contrast to the standard use of brass and plastic in the pen industry. Grayson is  continually doing research and development on new materials and distinctive designs to stay one step ahead. With this in mind, he created the Meteorite, Natural Coral, Oosic and Faux Ivory pens.

The materials he chooses are based on several considerations: rarity, beauty, price, demand, workability and practicality. His goal is to be competitive and to stand out in the crowd, something Grayson has always done well. “The last thing I want to do is produce generic- looking pens using the same plastics or metals as everyone else,” he says.

One recent pen creation utilizes real meteorite which  landed in Africa, obtained through the International Meteorite Collectors Association.  One future creation will feature blue coral, “like the color of blue jeans,” from Indonesia. He plans to produce a very limited edition of pens.

Recent Releases

The 5th Anniversary Fountain Pen
Produced in celebration of Tighe’s fifth year of creating limited edition pens, the titanium and steel Anniversary pen is produced in collaboration with Jose de Braga. Each features a Roman numeral “five” on the cap with a lapis lazuli composite inset, and the body of the pen is embellished with another Roman numeral “five” set with five white diamonds.

The Victorian
Tighe’s next release will be another version of the Victorian. The original was produced in wood, but this version is a sterling silver or 18-karat yellow or rose gold rendition. Each requires several days of work to create. They are available as a fountain pen only, with a fine, medium or broad nib. The retail price for the silver pen is $3,000 and just under $22,000-$24,000 for either of the gold versions.
“My goal was to produce a timeless product with a marriage of form and function,” says Tighe of his company, founded in 2000. “I continually strive to create the finest handmade, elegant writing instruments for my sophisticated clientele.”

Choosing collaborators is tough for Tighe, since their work has to be compatible with his designs and brand image. Jose de Braga is his first choice when it comes to collaboration. His work is years ahead of its time, and his detail is microscopically fine. The one-of-a-kind pens they design are considered an investment.

Recognition
Tighe’s creations have been featured in the Robb Report:  In June, 2006, Grayson Tighe’s Bast pen was voted “Best of the Best.” In June, 2005, he was part of the cover story, and his Steel Crystal was voted “Best of the Best.”

His work is recognized internationally, and was featured in the premiere issue of Natural pur in Romania.  Grayson Tighe Odin’s Eye Damascus Pens were used as luxury props to convey the status of the independently wealthy Sir Leigh Teabing in the 2006 movie, “The Da Vinci Code.”

Why use a Fountain pen?
A fountain pen uses a nib that has flex and moves as you move the pen. The best nibs are made of gold of either 14-karat or 18-karat. The nib’s tines and iridium tip cause the ink to take a different shape based upon what’s being written. Upstrokes may look different than downstrokes, and the width of the line varies constantly throughout the writing. Whatever is written seems to look more alive, to have more expression. One can intentionally vary the width of the line by increasing or decreasing the pressure put on the nib, thus increasing or decreasing the space between the tines of the nib. This results in an increase or decrease in the amount of ink placed on the page through capillary action. The writer thus controls the pen rather than the other way around. A fountain pen, akin to a mechanical watch, is a timeless device that is now used less frequently, and it was challenged by technology for the sake of practicality. Modern writing instruments like ballpoints and rollerball pens have gained in popularity similar to that of quartz watch movements. Yet mechanical watch movements with complications and fountain pens with tuned nibs will always stand alone for those connoisseurs of high-end objects. Grayson Tighe pens have also been featured in Newsweek and several other magazines. He specializes in limited edition and one of-a-kind collector and investment-grade writing instruments, including artistic fountain pens with engraving and carving.

What is Damascus Steel?
The stainless steel variety of Damascus is the preferred kind because of its corrosion resistance. Damascus is made by forge pattern, welding two different grades of stainless steels together in one billet. The layering and manipulation by forging continues until the laminated material is around 100 layers. Once the finished part is machined from the rough billet, it is then heat-treated and tempered for optimal results. When the metal is etched in a special acidic solution, the artistic pattern is visible because the dissimilar metals dissolve at different rates and reveal contrasts. The process of Damascus steel has rich historical valueand dates to approximately 500 A.D. It dominated the weapon industry from the Iron Age to the Viking Age. Damascus Steel was responsible for everything from double-edged Viking broadswords to fearsome Katana blades of the Japanese Samurai. The magical images of the patterns made the owner feel invincible. Damascus also goes by the names “Damascene” and “Damask.”

What is Mokumé-gané?
Mokumé-gané is an ancient Japanese metalworking technique developed in feudal Japan by master swordsmiths. The name translates to “wood grain metal,” referring to one of the most popular patterns created with this laminated metal technique; it is akin to Damascus steel. In this process, layers of contrasting colored non-ferrous metals (copper, brass, nickel silver, gold and silver) are fusion-welded, using very high heat and pressure, into one solid block or billet of metal. This billet is further manipulated by forging, twisting and carving to develop more and more complex patterns.

What is Mammoth Ivory? Is it legal?
Mammoth ivory or mastodon ivory is fossilized from an extinct mammal similar to that of an elephant (but larger). The woolly mammoth originated in Alaska and Russia and has been extinct for at least 10,000 years. Their now-fossilized ivory tusks are a very rare and precious material, buried deep within the permafrost. The mammoth has a rich historical and antique value. Mammoth tusk is as high quality as elephant ivory, while saving the lives of modern giants. Mammoth ivory is 100% legal to export internationally.

What is Titanium?
Titanium is an element (symbol Ti) like gold, silver and platinum. Its atomic number is 22, with an atomic weight of 47.9, an electron configuration of 2-8-10-2, and a specific gravity of 4.5. Titanium has a melting point of 3020 F (1660C) and a boiling point of 5949 F (3287C). It is a silvery white non-ferrous metal with the highest strength-to- weight ratio of any known element. For this reason, titanium is the favored material in the aerospace industry—85% of the structural components in the space shuttle are made of titanium.

The name titanium was derived from the Titans of Greek mythology, known for their extreme and superior strength. Titanium belongs to an elite category of elements known as refractory metals. Titanium is naturally platinum gray, but by applying heat or electricity,
one may unleash its refractive properties, inducing various oxide thicknesses on the material surface. The resulting titanium oxide causes an optical interference with a purity and vivacity much the same as witnessed in the luminescent colors of oil on water, a peacock’s feather or a rainbow. These colors are not the results of dyes, but a natural oxide produced by the metal when stimulated.
Titanium has positively and diversely impacted mankind more than any single element in history. It is the element that took us to the depths of the ocean and the far reaches of the galaxy, and it elevated our capacities in medicine, industry and science. Titanium is the material of preference in the medical world for surgical tools, implants, pacemaker cases and other internal casings. It will not react to any chemistry other than hydrofluoric acid. Pure titanium is 100% hypoallergenic. It won’t react with the body or chemicals, making it a great choice for even those persons most sensitive to other materials. And unlike silver, titanium will never tarnish!

What is Renaissance Wax?
This “perfect wax” from England has been the number-one choice of major museums, art galleries and institutions for the preservation of precious art pieces. A can of Renaissance Wax is provided with the purchase of any Grayson Tighe pen that would benefit from it.

• It lifts oil, dirt and the murky accretions of other polishes. The surface detail remains crystal clear through unlimited applications of this translucent wax; it removes previous wax build-up; it reveals fine detail and wood grain; and it is non-staining and non-abrasive.

• It revitalizes and returns objects to pristine condition. Renaissance Wax buffs easily to a hard, transparent finish that will not discolor. It renews fading colors and “tired finishes” and retains matte finishes when unpolished. It also buffs to a high gloss. -It will guard your precious pieces against the damaging effects of humidity, heat, dust, environmental destruction, aging and ordinary wear. Renaissance Wax provides a barrier against fingerprints and the devastation of water. With its high moisture resistance, it forms a durable, lustrous protective coating that helps prevents tarnish and corrosion. 

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