Let’s assume it’s already been two or three years since you started using a fountain pen (again). Your first model was probably a Lamy Safari, a TWSBI, or a Pilot Metropolitan, which, at the time, was enough to give you an idea of how fountain pens work. But somewhere along the way, you’ve come to realise that there’s more to a fountain pen than its purely utilitarian function.
And it’s absolutely true. I’d even say you made the right choice by starting small. However, now that you’re increasingly considering stepping up your game with more elaborate designs, perhaps a gold nib, limited editions, and the plethora of options opening up before your eyes, I feel a certain responsibility to share with you a short list of mistakes to avoid when buying your first luxury fountain pen. Without further ado, let’s dive into it!
1. Buying It Online Without Trying It First
Unless it’s cat food, toothpaste, or a blind-buy perfume your friend was mentioning for weeks, I’d avoid buying important things online without trying them first. I might be old-fashioned, but some purchases are simply better made in person, and your first serious fountain pen is definitely among them.
Visit a physical boutique, be curious, and ask the sales assistants for a few options you can try and compare. Pay attention to how the nib responds on paper, how the pen and grip section feel in your hand, and whether it has enough weight to feel substantial while still remaining comfortable during longer writing sessions.
Once you know your preferences, buying online becomes much safer. But your first luxury pen should ideally be experienced before it is purchased.
2. Going Straight for the Rarest or Most Expensive Option
When making the transition from entry-level to luxury, I’d suggest not going too crazy, unless you’re really committed to it. The reason I say this is that you might be tempted to become overly precious about your first serious purchase.
There’s little pleasure in owning a luxury pen just to admire it on a shelf and only use it for a few signatures a year. I’d go for a model that offers a bit of everything: some pedigree, a distinctive design, perhaps a special technique, a gold nib, and, if possible, a generous ink reservoir. At this point, I’d probably consider the Montblanc 149 (a bit cliché, some might say, but a forever classic) or the Pilot Custom 845.
3. Choosing With Your Eyes Rather Than Your Hand
As tempting as it may be, don’t choose a fountain pen with your eyes alone, or you may end up keeping it purely as a desk display (a terrifying thought, if you ask me). Once you’ve spotted a few models you like, it’s time to test them out.
Visit your favourite boutique, or the nearest one in town, and give each pen a proper test drive on paper. Just make sure the paper is fountain pen friendly, or ask the staff for something suitable. Feel the pen in your hand and check whether it sits comfortably between your fingers. Does the grip feel natural while you write? How comfortable is it when you pick up the pace?
Design is cool. If it’s comfortable too, bingo.
4. Neglecting the Paper
Assuming you’ve bought your first luxury pen, it would be a terrible idea to overlook the paper now. At this point, investing in quality paper is simply mandatory, and there are hundreds of options out there, including Japanese paper, which I prefer not only for its quality but also for its fairly reasonable price.
Believe it or not, the properties of the paper can make or break your writing experience. And it makes no difference whether you’re using a gold nib, a Montblanc, a Pelikan, or a pen from any other reputable manufacturer in the industry.
If the paper isn’t fountain pen friendly, you can expect anything from feathering and bleeding to ghosting. In short, your writing experience will be far from ideal. If I were you, I’d buy the pen and paper together. Don’t forget the ink.
5. Buying One Just Because It’s Cool
Luxury pens are the new cool thing. Don’t believe me? Check out Samuel Naldi on YouTube or Penstatement on Instagram, and you’ll see just how strong the community of pen enthusiasts and collectors really is. And it keeps growing.
However, buying a luxury pen just because it’s cool, without actually having any interest in using it, is something I wouldn’t really recommend. It’s like buying a La Marzocco for home when you don’t even enjoy coffee.
A luxury pen often carries decades of know-how behind it. Some go through dozens of assembly stages, many completed by hand, with craftsmen engraving, polishing, lacquering, or hand-painting incredibly detailed designs. It’s a piece of engineering and, more often than not, a work of art. But most importantly, it can become a trusted confidant, helping you find clarity amid the noise or turn ideas and dreams into meaningful achievements.
For that reason, I believe you have to take your time to appreciate both the writing instrument itself, with all the little details that make it special, and the act of writing that gives it purpose.
