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Fountain Pens

1938 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.

Pilot Capless Fountain Pen Matt Black by Pilot at Cult Pens
Matt black version of the popular retractable fountain pen
Benu Talisman Fountain Pen Edelweiss by Benu at Cult Pens
LAMY safari Fountain Pen White by LAMY at Cult Pens
White finish safari
Platinum Plaisir Fountain Pen PGB-1000 Black Mist by Platinum at Cult Pens
Black - the Platinum corporate colour for the 2019 Plaisir
LAMY dialog cc Fountain Pen Blue by LAMY at Cult Pens
Stunning successor to the Lamy dialog 3
Laban 325 Fountain Pen Sakura by Laban at Cult Pens
TWSBI Diamond 580 Fountain Pen Iris by TWSBI at Cult Pens
Faber-Castell Hexo Fountain Pen Blue by Faber-Castell at Cult Pens
LAMY joy Fountain Pen by LAMY at Cult Pens
An elegant calligraphy fountain pen
Kaweco AL Sport Fountain Pen Anthracite by Kaweco at Cult Pens
Parker 51 Fountain Pen Midnight Blue by Parker at Cult Pens
1 in stock
LAMY 2000 Fountain Pen Stainless Steel by LAMY at Cult Pens
Steel version of the classic Bauhaus design
Opus 88 Koloro Eye Dropper Fountain Pen Teal by Opus 88 at Cult Pens
TWSBI Vac 700R Fountain Pen Clear by TWSBI at Cult Pens
Innovative vacuum-filling clear-barrelled fountain pen
Pelikan Souveran M600 Fountain Pen Black / Green by Pelikan at Cult Pens
Top-quality mid-sized fountain pen with piston-filler
Laban Skeleton Fountain Pen Rainbow by Laban at Cult Pens
Kaweco Frosted Sport Fountain Pen Sweet Banana by Kaweco at Cult Pens
LAMY joy Calligraphy Fountain Pen Gift Set by LAMY at Cult Pens
Beautiful calligraphy pen set for lettering
Kaweco Frosted Sport Fountain Pen Fine Lime by Kaweco at Cult Pens
Helix Oxford Premium Writing Fountain Pen Rose Gold by Helix Oxford at Cult Pens
No nonsense fountain pen for everyday use
Kaweco Collection Fountain Pen Iguana Blue by Kaweco at Cult Pens
Herbin Transparent Fountain Pen with Converter by Herbin at Cult Pens
Herbin's popular fountain pen, now with a converter!
TWSBI Diamond Mini Fountain Pen Classic by TWSBI at Cult Pens
Pocketable clear-barrelled piston-filled fountain pen from TWSBI
Parker Jotter Original Fountain Pen Red by Parker at Cult Pens
Kaweco Collection Fountain Pen Mellow Blue by Kaweco at Cult Pens
Kaweco Steel Sport Fountain Pen by Kaweco at Cult Pens
Opus 88 Omar Eye Dropper Fountain Pen Clear by Opus 88 at Cult Pens
A substantial fountain pen with an unusual filling system
TWSBI Diamond Mini Fountain Pen Clear by TWSBI at Cult Pens
Pocketable clear-barrelled piston-filled fountain pen from TWSBI
TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen Transparent Yellow by TWSBI at Cult Pens
TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen Salmon by TWSBI at Cult Pens
Platinum Prefounte Fountain Pen Vermillion Orange by Platinum at Cult Pens
Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen Black by Pilot at Cult Pens
Laban Rosa Fountain Pen Lilac by Laban at Cult Pens
Kaweco Ice Sport Marker Set Glowing Yellow by Kaweco at Cult Pens
Highlighting fountain pen
Pelikan Souveran M600 Fountain Pen Black / Red by Pelikan at Cult Pens
Top-quality mid-sized fountain pen with piston-filler
LAMY studio Lx Fountain Pen All Black by LAMY at Cult Pens
Kaweco Liliput Fountain Pen Black by Kaweco at Cult Pens
Pilot Falcon Fountain Pen Black by Pilot at Cult Pens
Superb flexible nib pen from Pilot-Namiki
Pelikan Pelikano Junior Fountain Pen by Pelikan at Cult Pens
Brilliant pen for first-timers and anyone with a grip problem
Pelikan Souveran M1000 Fountain Pen Black by Pelikan at Cult Pens
Top-quality super-sized fountain pen with piston-filler
Parker 51 Fountain Pen Plum with Gold Nib by Parker at Cult Pens
LAMY cp1 Fountain Pen Black by LAMY at Cult Pens
Slim metal fountain pen
Kaweco Frosted Sport Fountain Pen Soft Mandarin by Kaweco at Cult Pens
Kaweco Liliput Fountain Pen Brass by Kaweco at Cult Pens
Lead-free metal pocket pen
Kaweco AL Sport Fountain Pen Blue Stonewashed by Kaweco at Cult Pens
Kaweco Liliput Fountain Pen Silver by Kaweco at Cult Pens
Platinum Plaisir Fountain Pen PGB-1000 Bali Citrus by Platinum at Cult Pens
Striking pale green colour for the 2018 Plaisir
LAMY Lx Fountain Pen Marron by LAMY at Cult Pens
Benu Talisman Fountain Pen Dragon's Blood by Benu at Cult Pens

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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.