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This month is International Correspondence Writing Month (InCoWriMo), a celebration of putting pen to paper and the perfect time to buy yourself a fountain pen.
Fountain pens may seem like a relic of the past, something charming but antiquated. But fountain pens never really did go out of style; in the last 10 years or so, new fountain pen companies, stores, and reseller websites have sprung up and thrived. Sol James, resident pen expert at Goods for the Study in New York, noted a marked increase in customers coming in looking for fountain pens after the pandemic, which had given people more time to get into at-home hobbies.
The fan base is also shifting. While collectors have long sustained the luxury fountain pen market (the Wall Street crowd has kept Fountain Pen Hospital in business since 1946), new and younger enthusiasts are often drawn to the “gadget” quality of the pens, opting for more affordable, modern-looking implements.
For more about fountain pens, along with a list of pens we recommend for beginners, read on.
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What Is a Fountain Pen?
Image Credit: The Print Collector/Getty Images You may be wondering what a 19th-century fountain pen has in common with today’s new releases; the answer lies in the mechanism that allows the ink to flow. The invention of this mechanism enabled pens to become successful self-contained writing utensils, marking a revolutionary moment in the history of human writing.
After feathered quills, the first major innovation in writing implements was the steel dip pen, which John Mitchell began mass producing in Birmingham, England, in 1822. These pens offered an improvement on the quill because the tip could stay sharp for far longer than a cut feather could (quills tended to last about a week). Unfortunately, a writer still had to interrupt the flow of writing to dip the pen in a bottle of ink, often leading to drips and blots. It was also inconvenient if you were a person on the move and had to carry a fragile inkwell with you.
The solution was obvious, and not only in hindsight—a smattering of patents for pens containing their own ink were issued in several countries in the 19th century, one of the first (if not the first) going to Frederick Fölsch in England in 1809. Even before that, records indicate that both the Fatimid Caliph Ma’ad al-Mu’izz li Dīn Allah in the 10th century and Leonardo Da Vinci in the 16th century had their own ink-holding pens, but neither instrument survived.
The invention of the modern fountain pen came about in 1883 when Lewis Waterman, a New York insurance salesman, grew exasperated with his pens’ propensity to leak and devised an effective system to regulate the flow of ink. To understand his design, it’s helpful to know the three main parts to a fountain pen: the nib, the feed, and the barrel.
The nib is the metal point that touches the paper. The barrel is where you hold the pen and where the ink is stored. The feed is the system that manages the flow of ink. Waterman was the first to develop a feed that released ink in thin rivulets, which allowed it to run through the nib by capillary action (the same force that draws liquid up between the bristles of a paintbrush).
Waterman’s design also included space to allow airflow into the ink reservoir to prevent air bubbles, which would cause ink to stop and spurt. Everyone could now write as consistently as with a quill without having to worry about replenishing ink for pages on end.
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Why a Fountain Pen?
Image Credit: Coypyright © Pool Photograph/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) Fountain pens dominated the world of writing until the mid-20th-century introduction of disposable ballpoint pens, which never had to be refilled; like many of the consumerist innovations of the time, throwing something away was seen as a welcome simplification of life. Today some are drawn to the fountain pen for the opposite reason; several green influencers count getting a fountain pen among their zero-waste swaps.
But perhaps the most important reason why fountain pens are sticking around is the writing experience itself. Unlike with ballpoint pens, which use a quick-drying gel ink, fountain pens use a smoother-flowing water-based ink, and because of capillary action, you don’t have to exert any pressure while writing with one. Many writers (Stephen King is one) swear by fountain pens for that reason, as you’re able to write longer and with less hand fatigue.
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Things to Consider When Buying a Fountain Pen
Image Credit: Jeff Overs/BBC News & Current Affairs via Getty Images Ready to dive headfirst into your own fountain pen obsession? To start you off, here’s what you need to look for when buying one. (And if you want a deeper immersion, many web sites, like The Goulet Pen Company and JetPens, offer basic tutorials, and communities like r/FountainPens are at the ready to answer your questions.)
- Nib material: Nibs mostly come in two materials—steel and gold. Steel is cheaper, but gold is softer and more malleable to your mode of writing. Note that some steel nibs are gold plated, and some gold nibs are plated with platinum or rhodium, so don’t rely on color alone.
- Nib size: Nib size is slightly more complicated than material; the most common sizes are extra fine, fine, medium, and broad. However, sizing varies depending on brand and country of origin. Most pens come from Asia or Europe; Asian brands like Sailor and TWSBI have narrower nibs, while LAMY and other European brands have broader ones. There are also specialty nibs for calligraphy and other less common sizes.
- Filling mechanism: Early fountain pens had to be filled by eyedropper, but several innovations since then have made refilling a breeze. The easiest option is a pen that takes cartridges so there’s absolutely no mess, but other pens use twist pistons, squeeze converters, or vacuum filling systems. Cartridge pens almost always have inexpensive converters available to make them refillable.
- Design: Today, fountain pen styles range from colorful to stately to tech-y. In addition to the look, think about your preference for things like weight, girth, length, and whether the pen has a clip.
- Paper: Fountain pens sometimes get a bad rap for being “scratchy,” which can be the case. But it can also be the fault of your paper, so choose a high-quality paper like Rhodia to get the best writing experience.
Now that you’re armed with some basic knowledge, take a look at some of our favorite pens for beginners.
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Fountain Pens We Recommend
Image Credit: Jet Pens 
Platinum Preppy
Best Pen If You Aren’t Sure You Need a Fountain PenWho would have guessed that you could get a fountain pen for $7 or less? The Platinum Preppy isn’t the only one—the Pilot Varsity is another great option and rings up for only $3.50 at some retailers. But the Preppy is a slightly better value for several reasons. While the Varsity is disposable and comes in only one nib size, the Preppy comes in three. And while you can use the Preppy as a disposable pen, you can separately buy refill cartriges or even a converter to make it refillable with your own ink.
Pilot Metropolitan
Best Fountain Pen for Absolute BeginnersFor quality-to-price ratio under $30, you can’t do much better than the Pilot Metropolitan. Its brass barrel gives it a heft uncommon in this price range, and the steel nib writes smoothly. Pilot is one of the most popular fountain pen brands (it’s the maker of our most expensive recommended pen, too), and starting with the Metropolitan can get you used to a very good nib and style.
As for design, the Metropolitan comes in an understated matte black or in a variety of bright metallic colors, and both fine and medium nibs are available. It comes with both an ink cartridge and a squeeze converter, offering a versatility that can take you from absolute beginner to polished pro.
Sailor Pro Gear
Best Modern Fountain PenA gold nib is one of the most exciting ways to upgrade your pen game. Gold is softer than steel and will adjust over time to the way you hold the pen and write. Sailor Pro Gear and Pro Gear Slim, the pens of choice for pen guru Sol James, both feature solid gold nibs, an amazing 21K for the former and 14K for the latter. “I write at a slant, and the gold softens to that slant,” James explains. The body is playful but simple and elegant, featuring a flat top, solid cool colors, and gold detailing.
TWSBI Swipe
Best Value in a Big-Barrel PenTWSBI is a relative newcomer on the fountain pen scene, but the company quickly made a name for itself by including features typically found in much more expensive pens. The affordable Swipe offers four different ways to fill it with ink: Not only does it come with cartridges, a standard converter, and a spring converter, but the entire barrel can be filled with ink with an eyedropper. The converters and cartridges hold almost double the standard amount, and even more when you fill the whole barrel. The one downside is that the design is more understated than other TWSBI pens, which tend to let you see every mechanism in action.
Pilot Custom 823
Best Classic Fountain PenMany people assume that the classic pen worth saving up for is a Montblanc, and indeed, the German luxury brand makes many handsome pens that are favorites among the rich and famous. But if you’re looking for more than just a status symbol, allow us direct you to the Pilot Custom 823. It’s not as pricey as most Montblancs, though at $336, it’ll still take a bite out of your budget. And it’s worth every penny.
No pen is universally loved—each person’s writing preferences are too distinct—but the Custom 823 is a classically styled pen that’s not fat or too slim. It comes in just two colors—amber and black—and three sizes of 14K gold nib (fine, medium, and broad). One of its rarer features is the vacuum filling mechanism: You depress a plunger, and almost instantaneously the large reservoir fills with ink, which is oh-so-satisfying. In all, you just can’t beat the 823 for sturdiness, ease of writing, and understated elegance.
Esterbrook Estie
Best Retro-Look PenOne of the joys of fountain pen ownership is their beauty, so why not invest in something that adds style to your desk? Esterbrook was once the largest pen manufacturer in the United States, making pens used by everyone from John F. Kennedy to Peanuts creator Charles Schulz. The original company went under in the 1970s, but in 2018 it was rebooted by Kenro Industries.
The revival of a storied brand can sometimes be something to steer clear of, but the new Esterbrooks—now made in Taiwan—maintain the original quality (if not the original price). Style is, of course, a personal preference, but it’s hard to go wrong with the Estie’s mesmerizing marbled colors, and simple gold accents.
LAMY 2000
Best Pen for a Low GripMost fountain pens have exposed nibs, which means you may have to hold the pen higher up on the barrel that with other pens. If you prefer the control of holding a pen close to its nib, try a pen with a covered nib like the LAMY 2000—the German brand’s flagship pen. This pen design is unique enough to merit it inclusion in the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection. The nib is platinum-coated 14K gold, giving it a modern look without sacrificing the malleability of gold.
Kaweco Sport
Best Pen for TravelWhen capped, the Kaweco Sport measures just 4.2 inches, making it easy to throw in a pocket or just about anywhere else. Despite its small size, it’s not awkward to write with, thanks to the large cap, which makes it a respectable 5.2 inches when the cap is attached to the top. And perhaps most important for travel pens, the cap does not budge, so leaks are not a worry. The round shape of the barrel combined with the angular shape of the cap creates an interesting look all together, kept sleek in solid-color resin ($29) or metal ($76–$200).