Luxury Fountain Pens
A luxury fountain pen can be a very nice way to make everyday things just that bit more enjoyable, from taking notes and writing lists to writing letters and cards. Every time you write becomes a little more pleasant. They can also make great gifts, especially because the recipient will remember you whenever they use their pen, keeping the meaning behind the gift in mind for them.
Luxury pens are usually made from high-quality materials, precision-engineered to last a lifetime. They’ll write well, and feel good in your hand, feeling nice to carry and hold, even when you’re not actively writing.
We stock a wide range of luxury fountain pens from the most respected brands in the world, including Montblanc’s classic designs, Pelikan’s much-loved Souverän range, and some of the best Japanese fountain pens from Sailor, Platinum and Pilot. From plain and simple styles that fit in anywhere; to luxurious handcrafted works of art, with layers of urushi lacquer built up over months of work.
Browse our complete range below to find your perfect pen, or the ideal gift for someone you care about.
Fine Writing Fountain Pens FAQ
What’s the best nib material? Are gold nibs worth the extra?
There’s nothing at all wrong with steel nibs, and gold nibs aren’t inherently better. Gold is a more expensive material, and it’s probably fair to say that some manufacturers put a bit of extra effort into their gold nibs, but steel nibs can be every bit as good as gold, and usually are.
For a more detailed look at this, we have an article about nib materials.
What is Maki-e?
Maki-e is a Japanese technique often used for luxury pen barrels, where patterns or images are made up of gold flakes or powder, set into lacquer. Traditional maki-e is a painstaking technique, often taking many months to complete. There are also pens made using ‘modern maki-e’ techniques, where the picture is made up separately as one or more pieces, applied to the pen, then coated in lacquer - it’s much quicker to do, but gives a similar effect.
What is Raden?
Another Japanese technique with layers of lacquer, this time using tiny pieces of coloured shell to make up the pattern or picture.
Are expensive pens really worth the money?
That’s very subjective. If the question is just a matter of functionality, almost certainly not, but to many of us, a pen is far more than the basic functionality. It’s a piece of craftsmanship or even art. And only you can decide if it’s worth it for you to own that beautiful hand-crafted item.
In functional terms, most luxury items wouldn’t be ‘worth the money’, but there’s more to them than that, and a pen is a very personal thing. What better place for a bit of extra luxury and enjoyment than something that’s going to be in your hand every day?
How do I look after my luxury pen?
They don’t usually need much maintenance. As long as you’re careful to only use fountain pen ink in them, the only maintenance that’s usually needed is to give them a flush out with water every so often. And even that is probably not really necessary. Unless the manufacturer specifies things that can be used, it’s best to avoid any cleaning fluids, and alcohol can react badly with some fountain pen bodies, so it’s best to only clean with water and a soft microfibre cloth. Remember that hand sanitiser contains alcohol, so don’t handle your pens straight after using it.
If your pen isn’t going to be used for a while, it’s best to empty the ink out of it, and flush it through with some water - most will be fine left with ink in them for quite a while, but dried up ink can clog a pen’s feed, so flushing it will be safer.
What inks would you recommend for a luxury fountain pen?
Any ink specifically sold as ‘fountain pen ink’ should work fine - avoid any ‘drawing ink’ or ‘calligraphy ink’, as these are very likely to clog a fountain pen’s feed. Good quality ink is generally safer, but doesn’t have to be expensive. Luxury inks like Pelikan’s Edelstein or Pilot’s Iroshizuku are very beautiful, but Diamine also have a huge range of colours, and are very much loved by fountain pen fans. Inks with shimmer or sheen are very popular, but are a little bit higher risk, needing some more careful maintenance.