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A converter? It's a little device that fits into most fountain pens that normally use cartridges, enabling them to use bottled ink. Converting them from a cartridge pen to a bottle-fed pen. Why eschew the convenience of the cartridge? Choice! There are so many more inks available in bottles, including all sorts of sparkly inks, inks with sheen, washable or permanent, and even fully permanent pigmented inks that can be used in fountain pens with a little extra care.
The main thing to be aware of is that not all converters fit all pens. Matching your pen's brand is the safest option, or find your pen on our site and check the 'Refills & Spares' section for the recommended converter. Many brands use standard 'international' cartridges, though, and most of those can use any standard 'international' converter.
Many fountain pens, especially at higher prices, are supplied with a converter, so check the description if you're buying a pen - you might not need the converter separately. Sadly, this is becoming gradually less common these days.