The 5 Best Fountain Pens (2023 Review) (2023)

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If you’re going to write longhand, why not make it fun with a high-quality fountain pen? Whether you’re writing lists, notes, or letters, a fountain pen looks elegant and makes crisp lines. To help you select a writing utensil, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best fountain pens on Amazon. Here are our top five recommendations.

Top 5 Fountain Pens

• Most Nib Options: Scriveiner Fountain Pen
• Best Fine Point: Asvine Fountain Pen
• Most Color Options: Wordsworth & Black Fountain Pen Set
• Best Design: Waterman Fountain Pen
• Best Pack: Dryden Designs Fountain Pen

Most Nib Options: Scriveiner Fountain Pen

No matter if you prefer to write with a broad, extra-fine, fine, or medium nib, this pen has you covered. It’s crafted with a lacquered brass body and chrome accents. Because the pen is small and its weight is evenly distributed, it sits comfortably in your hand.

Key Features

• Medium nib
• Red and silver body
• Available in other nib sizes and colors
• Ink converter, gift box, black ink cartridge, and blue ink cartridge included

What Customers Are Saying

Customers who liked this pen said that it wrote smoothly, featured a comfortable grip, and had a classy design. However, some customers said that this pen broke and leaked ink after minimal use.

Best Fine Point: Asvine Fountain Pen

With a sophisticated all-matte look, this pen is sure to turn heads. It has a stainless steel nib that writes consistently extra-fine lines. Your purchase also includes a silver case that has a foam-like lining with a cutout to hold the pen when you’re taking it from your house to your office and back.

Key Features

• Extra-fine nib
• Matt black body
• Available in other nib sizes and colors
• Ink converter and carrying case included

What Customers Are Saying

Those who were pleased with this pen said that it was stylish, easy to hold, and durable. However, some customers had issues with getting the ink to work properly, saying it skipped, dried, or leaked.

Most Color Options: Wordsworth & Black Fountain Pen Set

From velvet purple to racing green, this medium-point pen is sure to come in a color you enjoy. Each pen comes in a set with a storage case, a gift box, an ink converter, three black ink cartridges, and three blue ink cartridges to give to a loved one or use yourself.

Key Features

• Medium nib
• Purple and silver body
• Available in other nib sizes and colors
• Ink converter, gift box, carrying case, three black ink cartridges, and three blue ink cartridges included

What Customers Are Saying

Positive reviews mentioned that this fountain pen was lightweight and comfortable to hold. However, some customers who left negative reviews for this pen said that it skipped often and was overly heavy.

Best Design: Waterman Fountain Pen

This fountain pen has a lacquered body with 23-karat gold trim. It sits elegantly on your desk or in its premium case. The case is lined with soft fabric that protects your pen from scratches, dents, and dings.

Key Features

• Fine nib
• Black and gold body
• Available in other nib sizes and colors
• Carrying case included

What Customers Are Saying

Satisfied customers liked that ink didn’t dry out quickly with this pen. They also said that its cap made a satisfying snapping sound when they went to close it. However, some customers said that it wrote scratchy instead of smooth. Others were disappointed that it didn’t come with a converter or ink.

Best Pack: Dryden Designs Fountain Pen

This pen comes in a box with 12 black and 12 blue ink cartridges. You can choose which color you want to use on a given day and write with the pen for months to come before needing to purchase more ink.

Key Features

• Medium nib
• Red and gold body
• Available in other colors
• Ink converter, 12 black ink cartridges, and 12 blue ink cartridges included

What Customers Are Saying

Those who were pleased with this fountain pen said that it was well-crafted, made smooth lines, and was easy to refill. However, some unhappy customers had issues with holding it comfortably and getting its ink to flow properly.

Buyer’s Guide

While all fountain pens look and function similarly, they vary slightly in how they’re made. To learn about these differences and find the pen that meets your writing needs, read the guide below.

Nib Size

Fountain pens usually have fine, extra-fine, medium, or broad nibs. Fine and extra-fine nibs create thin lines for drawing or sketching. Meanwhile, broad nibs are good for those who have large handwriting. Providing a good in-between option for all-purpose use, medium nibs are the most common nib size.

Handling

Make sure the fountain pen you’re buying feels comfortable to hold. It should fit the size hand you have and feature an evenly distributed weight. You may not be able to tell how well it’s going to work for you until you purchase and try it, but you can comb through customer reviews and read the product description to get a general idea.

Material

Fountain pens are made from various materials, including stainless steel, sterling silver, and plastic. Each material feels differently in your hand and has a different look. Metal pens are typically heavier, better quality, and more elegant, but plastic pens are more affordable.

Color

The body and ink of fountain pens come in different colors. The color options are endless for the outside of the pens. In terms of the ink, most pens use blue or black ink. These colors are better when you’re doing something simple, such as writing a list. However, if you’re drawing or sketching, you may prefer a more colorful ink option, such as orange, purple, or yellow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a fountain pen and a ballpoint pen?

There are many differences between fountain and ballpoint pens, but the main one relates to how they dispense ink. Ballpoint pens use a thick ink that lasts a long time inside of the cartridge and dries quickly once it’s on paper. While this type of pen is cheaper and works on more surfaces, it can lead to a scratchier, less smooth writing experience.

Fountain pens, meanwhile, use liquid-based ink. This ink takes longer to dry, but it writes smoother. An easy way to differentiate between a ballpoint and fountain pen is to look at the tip, as fountain pens have a large, curbed nib, while ballpoint pens are usually cone-shaped.

How do you use a fountain pen?

To write with a fountain pen, rotate the nib on a piece of paper until you find the spot that writes smoothly without interruption. From there, write as you would with a traditional pen, but apply less pressure to glide the nib across the page without breaking or bending it.

How do you fill a fountain pen?

It depends on if you’re using ink cartridges or ink bottles with your pen. To add an ink cartridge to a fountain pen, unscrew the pen, and remove the empty cartridge. From there, you can insert the small end of the new cartridge into the nib until you hear a click and reassemble the pen.

If you’re using ink from a bottle, fill the pen’s converter with ink. This converter acts as a makeshift cartridge to hold loose ink. It’s placed in the same spot of the pen as a traditional ink cartridge.

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