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If you wish to make a classy statement while writing, use a fountain pen. It is quite practical and is easier to write with, as compared to ballpoint pens. However, there are many types of fountain pens available, so check out the best fountain pens there are in the market today. Writing with a fountain pen is elegant and you don’t have to exert much pressure. You can add a unique touch to the script with a fountain pen. Fountain pens are also environmentally friendly, as you can use it for a lifetime, instead of trashing cheap ballpoints now and then. Some of the best fountain pens come filled with ink. Ink can be poured through convertors or it is contained in special cartridges. There are many manufacturers producing fountain pen inks and ink cartridges for specific models and there are some universal ones as well. So, let’s check out the best fountain pens!
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Best Fountain Pens
Affordable and Great Quality
DRYDEN Luxury Fountain Pen
This is a black fountain pen with gold accents. It comes with a medium-sized nib and ink can be replaced with a standard international ink cartridge. You can buy the pen with a 50 ml Intense Black Ink bottle as an add-on if you wish. It is a retro-style fine-nibbed fountain pen, which is sturdy and dependable. The design is both classic and sophisticated and belongs to the 50s. The barrel is black and made of brass, having chrome trims. It comes with a fine nib and can be refilled with a screw-type ink converter. The pen measures 6.8 x 2.6 x 1.3 inches in dimensions and weighs 0.64 ounces.
The Dryden fountain pen offers a smooth and consistent writing experience, gliding smoothly across the paper. It is a sophisticated brand that gives you a lot of confidence while writing. The vintage pen offers the right combination of weight and comfort so that you can write in a relaxed and graceful manner. The company uses ergocomfort technology, which exerts the least strain on your wrist while writing. It is also designed to accommodate left-handed writers. The design is a timeless one with easy ink flow and innovative technology.
Who Should Buy This?
- Suitable for scribes and journalists.
- It is also an appropriate business gift, which a company can buy in bulk.
- Business professionals and fountain pen enthusiasts who want a sturdy and dependable pen with good ink capacity.
5 Pieces Fountain Pens with Simple Bags
GullorJinhao X750
Gullor Jinhao is a Chinese brand offering great value for the price. It is a solid performer and is reasonably priced. It also has a converter included in it. The pen is hefty at 36 grams and is capable of smooth writing. The design is attractive and it is available in 5 different colors.
As for the nib, it comes in medium size and offers decent performance. The size is 6 and there are several manufacturers and pen brands out there offering this nib size. This is a huge benefit, as you can replace the nib with a higher quality one of another brand. The converter that comes with this pen works well. If required, you can replace the converter with a standard international converter, at a later stage. However, there is no box for this pen set, and it comes in an ordinary bag.
Who Should Buy This?
- Those who are looking for a well-performing fountain pen available at a reasonable price.
- Those who want a well-balanced, comfortable, and flexible pen with a solid grip, which can be used for a long time.
- It is a pen for beginners – to get used to writing with a fountain pen.
Style and Functionality in a Fountain Pen
Moonman Fountain Pen Fude Nib & Glass Dip
The Moonman Fountain Pen with fude nib and glass dip comes in warm colors of green with yellow, orange, and red on its body, offering a pleasant yet attractive appearance. It also has an extra-fine nib of 0.6mm with a glass dip attachment. The fude nib that comes included with the pen makes it a perfect instrument for writing, calligraphy, drawing, or just for signatures.
The pen enables smooth, elegant strokes. You will need a converter having a bore diameter of 26 mm for the pen. The dip pen included with the pen helps you create hypnotic swirls, which is perfect for sketching and coloring on artwork. All you need to do to remove the attachment is to give it a gentle twist. It is a pocket-friendly pen that you can easily carry around with you.
You can also purchase matching nibs ranging from extra-fine to medium. It is a creative dual-use pen, as you can use it in the form of a glass dip pen or just a fountain pen. It is convenient and simple to use. The Moonman pen is a glass dip pen combined with a fountain pen to meet different writing requirements. You can also select ink colors to satisfy different moods. The fude nib is made of stainless steel, which gives a smooth writing experience. It is lightweight and comfortable to hold in the hand, making it very convenient for writing.
Who Should Buy It?
- It can be an excellent business present. It is also an ideal gift for artists, teachers, and students.
- Those who want to use it for signatures, calligraphy, drawing, artwork, etc.
Personalized Fountain Pen
Dayspring Pen
The Dayspring pen has a good, heavy feel and is the perfect instrument for daily use. It comes with a cartridge, an exchangeable nib, and a nice box. The engraving is perfect and you can select your engraving information just as you would like it to appear on the fountain pen. You get a full metal construction pen that comes with the adaptive nib, which assists you in accentuating each line of your writing. It is easy to use and simple to refill.
The medium-nib in it distributes the ink consistently and freely. The grip is ergonomic and itis comfortable to hold. The barrel is medium to large so that your engraving will always be visible. The fountain pen comes in carved red lacquer color with gold accents. It includes an ink converter along with 2 black starter cartridges. The personalized message or name is engraved in the finish so that it remains as a permanent message. You are allowed a maximum of 25 characters.
It’s great to give away as a gift, for the person you care about. It offers the best value for money. The barrel size is 1.5 cms and the weight of the fountain pen is 5 oz.
Who Should Buy This?
- Those who want a personalized pen with their name on it.
- Those who want a solid fountain pen for everyday use.
- For those who want to purchase a gift to give away as it comes with a nice box. You can buy it for gifting at graduations, to give professors, colleagues, or for birthdays.
Great Value First Fountain Pen
Pilot Metropolitan Collection
It comes in a black metal body with a glossy black accented band and a silver trim. The nib is stainless steel and it also includes a black ink cartridge along with a squeeze converter that you can use with bottled ink. You could also upgrade to a Con-40 converter. The cap is of the snap type. Bottled inks may be used in the pen along with the proprietary ink cartridges. The filling mechanism is a cartridge type or a converter. The grip material is made of resin. As for the nib size, it is a medium nib of 1.0 mm stub in silver color and made of stainless steel. The length of the body is 5 inches and the length of the cap is 2.2 inches with the nib length being 0.7 inches. The overall weight is 3.68 oz, as it is all brass and not plastic; it offers a feel of luxury and balance.
It is easy to refill the pen from a bottle of ink and if you don’t like that you can get ink cartridge refills as well. It is also well balanced and the weight is very well suited for a long writing session. The stainless steel nib works well straight out of the box. The option of a cartridge or a converter is very useful. It’s a solid quality fountain pen for everyday writers.
Who Should Buy This?
- If you are looking to introduce your loved ones to fountain pens, this is a great one to get started with.
- Those who want a smooth and reliable fountain pen. Suitable for school, work, office, and journalists.
- Those who want a stylish yet inexpensive fountain pen that writes smoothly and has a classic look.
Sleek, Slender and Weighted Fountain Pen
Picasso 903 Sweden Flower King
The Picasso collection comes in a bold French design with the Chinese capability bringing it to perfection. It is made of a material similar to marble and weighs 33 grams (1.12 Oz), offering a wonderful feel while writing.
The nib is made of stainless steel with a length of 137 mm and a diameter of 11 mm. The cap is of the push-type with a converter being screw-type. You can also purchase the Picasso ink cartridges for the pen. The push type cap enables easy closing and opening of the pen. The set includes the Picasso 903 fountain pen, one ink converter pump along with the gift box. The nib is a superfine one that offers elegant lines. It also makes use of ergonomic technologies, so that it results in an experience that offers the least stress to your wrist or hand while writing. You can also try out calligraphy skills with great precision, due to a regulated and controlled flow of ink.
It is very easy to refill the pen using the ink converter pump. The converter is efficient and does not leak, so there is no risk of blotted ink when you use this pen.
Who Should Buy This?
- If you are looking for the perfect gift for business clients or office colleagues, then, this is the pen to buy.
A Top Price Value Proposition Fountain Pen
Jinhao X450
You get two pens, one in Red Ice and the other in Dark Red colors in a pouch. It is a decent looking pen in deep red and black color. It is rather a heavily built pen with an enamel or lacquer coating of brass. The cap is of the friction fit type, which means that it is a snap-on and snap-off type that opens and closes with a pop. The cap is held in position with a plastic internal cap.The pen has a nice torpedo kind of shape.
The Jinhao X450 fountain pen comes with a gold plated, medium nib. You can upgrade the nib to a Goulet nib. The Goulet Pen’s 1.1 mm stub nib can fit perfectly in the Jinhao X450. The length is 138 mm and it comes with a screw-type converter. The weight of the pen is 45 grams. The nib is made of stainless steel using the 18KGP technique. It is 0.5 mm and offers a smooth writing experience for signature and general writing.
The converter is a removable ink-type and you can replace it with an international standard ink cartridge if you wish. It is also capable of absorbing the ink that you buy locally. Alternatively, you can buy an ink cartridge online. The two pens come in a pouch each, with a soft inner material, to prevent it from getting scratched.
Who Should Buy This?
- For those who want to buy a mainstream, entry-level fountain pen.
- Those who would like to use it mainly for their official signatures.
Excellent Quality and Writing Experience Fountain Pen
Kaigelu 336 Marble Celluloid
The Kaigelu 336 looks gorgeous with the cap, barrel, and crown being made of checkered resin – a shimmering, translucent, brown-black color in a checkered appearance. The major portion of the cap is in brushed gold metal and all the accents on the pen are in gold-colored metal. For instance, the clip, the finial, the cap band and the end cap, the barrel coupler, and the upper band are in gold-colored metal. The stainless steel nib is a two-toned one having the Kaigelu name and the trademark kangaroo and a band stamped on it.
As it is mostly made of brass metal, it is quite heavy and nice to the touch. The end cap snaps on well to the pen and can also be removed easily. The spring is also easy to open and has a good grip when kept in the pocket.
The nib is a medium grade one and the ink flow is good. The pen has good aesthetics, good overall quality, and is worth every penny that you spent. The length is 138 mm and the weight is 42 grams. The medium nib is 0.5 mm and the cap is Push Type. As for the ink, it works with bottled ink as well as standard cartridges. The package includes the fountain pen along with one Ink Converter.
Who Should Buy This?
- Those who want an excellent quality fountain pen that gives a great writing experience.
- Those who want a classy looking pen at a reasonable cost.
Beautiful Timeless Design Fountain Pen
PARKER Sonnet
The Parker Sonnet comes in a beautiful and timeless design offering a flawless writing performance. It is made of stainless steel. The cap is made of blue lacquer and the barrel is accented with a clip and trim finished in palladium. The nib is made of solid 18k gold with a rhodium finish. The cap is a pull-off type with the trademarked arrow and oval design stamped on the cap band along with the name.
The cap is excellent and stays put behind the pen while writing. It weighs 7.8 Oz, which is considered a medium weight for a lacquer pen. The weight is well balanced for writing for a long period. The nib performs well on all types of paper.
It is also easy to disassemble for cleaning. The converter is easy to fill with ink, as you just have to stick the nib in an ink bottle and twist the back. This pen is attractive and anyone would be proud to use it. It also comes packed in a beautiful gift box.
Who Should Buy This?
- Those who want a durable, well balanced, everyday writer, in a timeless design.
- Those who want a workhorse that will never let them down.
- Those who want to gift it to someone special.
Elegant and Detailed Fountain Pen
Picasso 902 Gentleman Collection
The Picasso 902 has one of the nicest designs in fountain pens. As its name implies, this fountain pen looks very elegant and has a detailed design. The nib is a medium tip having a small curve and it makes use of bottled ink. It also comes with a converter. It has a net weight of 37 grams and is 11 mm in diameter, making it easy to handle. The clip is a push-type and that makes it look very stylish.
The nib is made of stainless steel. The length of the pen is 137 mm. The cap is a push type. It also has a converter, which is of screw-type. You can also buy additional Picasso ink cartridges for this pen.
The tip of the pen is beautiful, the carving on it outstanding, and the engraved craftwork is solid. The collection has been inspired by Picasso’s father. It comes with the original box and a converter ink pump. Only bottled ink can be used in this pen.
Who Should Buy This?
- You can buy it as a gift for business colleagues. It comes with the original package.
For decent Calligraphy and Everyday Writing
LAMY Joy Calligraphy Pen 1.1 MM
This is a black resin fountain pen with a nib size of 1.1 mm. It comes in a red cardboard box with one blue colored Lamy T10 ink cartridge in it. It has a sleek design with a steel clip in red, a red finial and a red tip at the bottom, as part of the accents. The cap can be snapped on and off and it can be posted while writing. The barrel comes with two flat sides and two rounded ones. It measures 179 mm capped and 169 mm when uncapped with 176 mm when posted and weighs 11 grams unposted.
Though there is one blue ink cartridge that comes with the package, you can buy a Lamy converter for use with bottled ink. The grip is triangular so that your fingers remain in the proper position. The nib comes unadorned, in typical Lamy style, bearing just the nib size on it and the Lamy name. The Lamy Joy calligraphy pen is slightly more expensive compared to other plastic pens for calligraphy. However, it is a decent calligraphy fountain pen. It is a sleek resin pen, is light-weight, and easy to work with especially during long writing sessions.
It is also easy to swap the nib, so you can achieve any line-thickness that you need. It does not fatigue your hand even after prolonged use. The triangular contour, the extensive length, and the balance of the pen make it a perfect instrument of writing.
Who Should Buy This?
- Mainly intended for artists. You can use this pen for calligraphy, ink sketching, or for general writing.
Elegant and Simple Fountain Pen
Lamy Al-Star Ex-Fine Fountain Pen
The Lamy Al-Star is a German-make fountain pen. It is made of aluminum and features a triangular grip area, which is useful for a proper grip of the pen while writing. The design is basic and the nib is an extra-fine one, made of stainless steel. It comes with a short fine nib and offers smooth and consistent writing with smooth ink flow.
It is a full-sized and well-balanced fountain pen. When it is capped, it measures 5.375 inches in length and when posted, it measures 6.625 inches in length, and unposted it measures 5.125 inches. You can easily use it unposted and it is not long or unnaturally heavy even when posted. It comes in several colors such as black, ocean blue, graphite, copper orange, and purple.
The nib is made of pure stainless steel and you can exchange it for any other sized nib. You can very easily swap the nib in30 seconds, as you don’t even need to remove the ink. There are also many spare nibs available for the fountain pen. You can also use nibs of other Lamy pens, such as the Safari or the Studio and Logo pens. It comes with a cartridge but there is no converter with the pen, though you can purchase a Lamy converter. The weight and the balance are excellent and the converter filling system works very effectively.
Who Should Buy This?
- Those who want a simple and functional design in a fountain pen.
- It is suitable for beginners as well as those experienced in using fountain pens.
Vintage 1970s Fountain Pen
Sheaffer 330
The Sheaffer 330 is made of injection-molded plastic with a squarish silhouette at the top end of the cap. It comes in a unibody shape and you can hold it in different angles so that it suits a wide variety of users. It comes with a burgundy plastic cap and body and sports a chrome trim. The nib is a fine one and it is inlaid. The ink system is cartridge type and a converter is included in the pack. The shape is a square silhouette that culminates at the cap, being more rounded when it goes down to the nib. It has a silver clip and it weighs 2.08 ounces. The cap is held in its place by friction. You can post the pen and the posted cap remains in place due to friction.
It comes in burgundy colorand has a diamond inlaid fine nib made of stainless steel and offers a good flow of ink. Sheaffer pens can be considered one of a type, as they have been in business since 1913. Sheaffer has pens that can be filled instantly using any inkwell just with the touch of a finger. They are also able to clean themselves automatically while filling.
The merits of these vintage fountain pens are that it gives a fine line, there are no leaks and it has a unique look.
Who Should Buy This?
- People who want a good pen that can be used everyday and are agreeable to using an inlaid nib.
- Those who want a unique, vintage pen that is comfortable to hold and has a bold mark.
- It requires extra care, so it is not suitable for those new to fountain pens.
Conclusion
If you spend money on buying a really good fountain pen, it will last you a lifetime. Some of the above fountain pens are disposable and some use ink cartridges that need to be refilled.
While selecting one, efficiency should be the most important factor. Consider factors like fine, medium, and broad tip sizes, a wet or a dry nib, the size of the ink sac, flexibility levels such as Flexi – semi-Flexi, wet noodle nibs, etc. The material is also important, for instance, stainless steel is a very popular material for a nib, whereas gold and platinum are other expensive alternatives. Most fountain pens use converters or cartridges, which can easily be filled in. Happy Writing!
