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Fountain Pens

1952 Results

Fountain pens are still considered by many to be the only ‘proper’ pens. There's a bewildering variety available, from a few pounds to several hundred (and to several thousand pounds if you really want). Just remember that beyond around £150 you're not usually buying a better writing experience, you're buying additional barrel ornamentation. But there’s nothing wrong with a bit of ornamentation!

 

You can experience the joys of fountain pens - or introduce a young one to them - from less than £10. Try the Platinum Preppy or the Kaco Retro. Exceptionally good pens can be had for up to £30 - try the Parker Jotter (yes, it’s a fountain pen as well as the familiar ballpoint), the Kaweco Perkeo or the LAMY safari. And if you’re happy to stretch to around the £100 mark, there is plenty of choice from Platinum, Laban, TWSBI and Faber-Castell.


And what about nibs? Well, most sub-£100 pens employ steel nibs, while above that they tend to use a gold nib, which can give a better feel, but don't get hung up on it. Any decent quality steel-nib pen writes perfectly smoothly and both steel and gold nibs offer a range of nib sizes to suit all writing styles. Choose a fine nib if your writing is small and neat, but go for broad if your letters are large and loopy! And why not try an italic (or stub) nib for a spot of everyday calligraphy?


No fountain pen would be complete without ink. Many fountain pens will take both cartridges and - if you fit a converter - bottled ink, while some take only bottled ink. However you feed your pen, there is a huge choice of colours and types of inks out there, and the ritual of refilling your fountain pen is a curiously satisfying one.


When choosing a fountain pen, the thing to remember above all is that the process is quite personal: what’s great for somebody else may not be what’s good for you. So take advice, experiment a little, and then go with your gut.

TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen Transparent Blue by TWSBI at Cult Pens
Competitively-priced, clear-barrelled fountain pen
LAMY safari Fountain Pen Spring Green by LAMY at Cult Pens
Platinum Prefounte Fountain Pen Dark Emerald by Platinum at Cult Pens
TWSBI GO Spring Loaded Fountain Pen Sapphire by TWSBI at Cult Pens
TWSBI GO Spring Loaded Fountain Pen Smoke by TWSBI at Cult Pens
Nahvalur Schuylkill Fountain Pen Asfur Bronze by Nahvalur at Cult Pens
1 in stock
Piston-filling fountain pen
LAMY AL-star Fountain Pen Dark Purple by LAMY at Cult Pens
2010 special edition colour for AL-star
LAMY AL-star Fountain Pen Turmaline by LAMY at Cult Pens
Kaweco Frosted Sport Fountain Pen Blush Pitaya by Kaweco at Cult Pens
Kaweco Skyline Classic Sport Fountain Pen Grey by Kaweco at Cult Pens
Silver-trimmed compact pen
Platinum Prefounte Fountain Pen Graphite Blue by Platinum at Cult Pens
Pelikan Classic M200 Brown Marbled Fountain Pen by Pelikan at Cult Pens
LAMY safari Fountain Pen Yellow by LAMY at Cult Pens
The classic Lamy design
Opus 88 Demonstrator Eye Dropper Fountain Pen Clear by Opus 88 at Cult Pens
Kaweco Frosted Sport Fountain Pen Natural Coconut by Kaweco at Cult Pens
TWSBI Diamond 580ALR Fountain Pen Nickel Grey by TWSBI at Cult Pens
LAMY safari Fountain Pen Pink by LAMY at Cult Pens
The classic Lamy design
Kaweco Frosted Sport Fountain Pen Light Blueberry by Kaweco at Cult Pens
Diplomat Magnum Fountain Pen John Doe by Diplomat at Cult Pens
TWSBI Diamond 580 Fountain Pen Smoke Rose Gold II by TWSBI at Cult Pens
Kaweco Classic Sport Fountain Pen Red by Kaweco at Cult Pens
A classic design from the 30s
LAMY safari Fountain Pen Red by LAMY at Cult Pens
The classic Lamy design
LAMY safari Fountain Pen Green by LAMY at Cult Pens
The classic Lamy design
Pelikan Souveran M805 Fountain Pen Stresemann Anthracite by Pelikan at Cult Pens
Top-quality large-sized fountain pen with piston-filler
Pelikan Classic M200 Green Marbled Fountain Pen by Pelikan at Cult Pens
Highly desirable yet affordable, with gold plated trim and plunger filling system
Pelikan Classic M205 Blue Marbled Fountain Pen by Pelikan at Cult Pens
Beautiful iridescent blue fountain pen
TWSBI Precision Fountain Pen Gunmetal by TWSBI at Cult Pens
Kaco Retro Fountain Pen Black by Kaco at Cult Pens
Platinum #3776 Century Fountain Pen Laurel Green with Gold Trim by Platinum at Cult Pens
Kaco Retro Fountain Pen Red by Kaco at Cult Pens
Kaco Retro Fountain Pen Blue by Kaco at Cult Pens
Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen Brown by Pilot at Cult Pens
Pelikan Souveran M600 Fountain Pen Black / Blue by Pelikan at Cult Pens
Top-quality mid-sized fountain pen with piston-filler
Nahvalur Nautilus Fountain Pen Cephalopod Black by Nahvalur at Cult Pens
TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen Pear Green by TWSBI at Cult Pens
Nahvalur Schuylkill Fountain Pen Chromis Teal by Nahvalur at Cult Pens
Piston-filling fountain pen
Pelikan Souveran M800 Fountain Pen Black / Green by Pelikan at Cult Pens
Top-quality large-sized fountain pen with piston-filler
Moleskine x Kaweco Fountain Pen by Cult Pens at Cult Pens
Platinum Prefounte Fountain Pen Crimson by Platinum at Cult Pens
Nahvalur Schuylkill Fountain Pen Dragonet Sapphire by Nahvalur at Cult Pens
LAMY safari Fountain Pen Black by LAMY at Cult Pens
The classic Lamy design
Gorgeous lacquer and beautiful nib
TWSBI VAC Mini Fountain Pen Clear by TWSBI at Cult Pens
Mini version of the popular vacuum filler
Kaweco Skyline Classic Sport Fountain Pen Black by Kaweco at Cult Pens
Silver-trimmed compact pen
Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen Vodka On The Rocks by Benu at Cult Pens
Platinum Plaisir Fountain Pen PGB-1000 Nova Orange by Platinum at Cult Pens
Great value aluminium-bodied pen
Pelikan Twist Fountain Pen Classy Neutrals by Pelikan at Cult Pens
Cool twisted barrel kids fountain pen
Kaweco Perkeo Fountain Pen All Black with cartridges by Kaweco at Cult Pens
1 in stock

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Fountain Pen FAQ

Why should you use a fountain pen?

Fountain pens are great for anyone who writes a lot. They're very smooth, and can write with no pressure. They are also perfect for adding some individuality to your writing. Bottled ink gives you the choice of thousands of fountain pen inks. The option of different nibs means you can give your writing a different style, from italic to super broad to super fine. And once you’ve bought the pen, bottled ink can also be cheap and use minimal packaging, mostly recyclable - so they’re good for the environment *and* your pocket!

What is the best ink for fountain pens?

The easiest option is to use fountain pen cartridges, but one of the joys of using a fountain pen is bottled inks. Using a converter means you can use lots of different inks, and you can pick between inks from the top pen makers like Parker and Montblanc or ink specialists like Diamine, Ferris Wheel Press or Robert Oster .

What is the difference between a fountain pen cartridge and a converter?

A cartridge is a small plastic tube, pre-filled with ink, that you just push into the pen and you’re done. They’re quick, clean, and easy, and you can carry a spare and refill anywhere. A converter lets most cartridge-filled pens use bottled ink. Bottled ink will almost always work out cheaper, and gives you access to far, far more colours and types of ink, while also doing away with that single-use plastic.

Do fountain pens leak?

Many years ago, fountain pens did risk leaking. That really isn't a problem these days. A modern fountain pen is no more likely to leak with normal use than a ballpoint or rollerball pen. Inky fingers are a risk when refilling with bottled ink, but can be avoided with a bit of care.

What nib should I get with my fountain pen?

That’s a very personal question, which only you can decide. If you really don’t know, medium is the safest option. If you prefer a broader line and smoother writing, a broad nib will give you that. And a finer nib will, of course, give you a finer line, but usually with a slightly more ‘scratchy’ feel.

What is a good starter fountain pen?

A good fountain pen for beginners would be easy to use, solidly made and perhaps most importantly doesn’t break the bank. Have a look through our hand picked selection of starter fountain pens to find yourself a classic at an entry price, while you figure out what you like in a pen.

How long does a fountain pen last?

A properly looked after fountain pen should last at least ten years, but plenty of them are still going for decades after that. We’ve used pens from the 1930s that are still going, with just a little maintenance needed.

Which paper shall I use with my fountain pen?

Most paper works fine, but some brands are better than others. Look for paper that says it’s fountain pen friendly to be on the safe side, though we’ve often found even quite cheap notebooks often work well. Rhodia and Clairefontaine are often favourites among fountain pen fans.

When was the fountain pen invented?

The history of the fountain pen is pretty fascinating. It's thought that Leonardo da Vinci might have designed one for himself, way back around 1500, but it wasn’t until the 1800s before they started to become reliable and commonly used. The early 1900s saw much more reliable designs for the feeds, getting ink to the nib with less mess, with innovations from Waterman and Parker. The Parker “51” gave us several improvements to make fountain pens work more reliably, including some that are in common use even in rollerball pens today.