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One way to look at it...

 

Everyone can appreciate a nice car - it's not necessarily indicative of someone with taste. Even rappers and sports stars appreciate nice watches now and is no longer an indication of someone who can appreciate fine mechanics. But fountain pens are one of the last bastions of a detail oriented person. It's a highly personal object that shows you enjoy and appreciate handwritten notes. It's definitely something special and something written by your hand (especially) by fountain pen will be more special than an email or text message to the recipient!
Lastly, pens vary tremendously. The best pens in the world by writing feel top out at around $1000 USD. The Pelikan M1000, Graf Von Faber Castell Magnum, Montblanc 149, Namiki Urushi 20, Visconti's Homo Sapien, Sailor's King of Pen, etc. After that, it's just special materials - you want a gold plated barrel, or Maki-E art. So it's not terribly expensive if you just want a wonderful tool to write with. The ones named above are all the "larger nib" variety (larger nibs offer more shock absorption for longer writing sessions and shorter words or if you write Asian characters with small pen strokes - every time you lift the pen and put the pen back on the paper there's some shock that your hand will eventually feel tired from after a thousand small shocks) and you may find you prefer a stiffer smaller nib too (which would likely cost even less since they have less gold in the nibs). And if you want something that is even more special, then go for a highly decorated nib with either a gold barrel or maki-e art on it! Of course, the price goes up too. They even have jeweled pens that cost six figures!

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Montblanc
34 Comments view entire thread 

Another pairing of pens…

 
By: orahu : October 19th, 2024-17:17
Yesterday I posted a photo of two Montblancs that “l love.” That prompted one member to enquire about other pens that I love. The answer is not easy because earlier this year I sold many of my pens, mostly Montblancs, some in boxes and never inked. I simp...  

Allow me to make an unsolicited recommendation.

 
By: patrick_y : October 19th, 2024-18:39
I had been collecting Montblanc pens for over 20 years. And while I always knew about Namiki fountain pens, I never really paid that much attention to them. One day, a few generous individuals loaned me their pens to write with. Some for just 20 minutes. ...  

Thank you, Patrick, for the nice reflection about Namiki.

 
By: orahu : October 19th, 2024-19:14
I know Japanese pens well — I have retained two Namikis— they are works of art — plus, one Nakaya. I have tried Sailor pens several times over the years and I have always been disappointed by the writing experience and those pens have not stayed in my col... 

Oooh! Lovely collection.

 
By: patrick_y : October 19th, 2024-19:40
You're right! I forgot you already experienced Japanese pens. Sorry, I don't remember everything, I must be getting old! Sailor is definitely a little different. There's a slight scratchy texture to Sailors which I sometimes like and I sometimes don't lik... 

I”m surprised with your feelings with Sailor.

 
By: aWtchslvr : October 19th, 2024-20:43
I worship the nibs and writing of that brand. Well, everyone has their preferences.

I do see two camps...

 
By: patrick_y : October 21st, 2024-15:30
I see people who like the Sailor style of nibs, because they like the "pencil lead feedback" that the Sailor gives. And I see people who value the buttery smoothness of the Namiki. And I see a small amount of people who like both.

I have several Sailors but only

 
By: aWtchslvr : October 21st, 2024-15:55
one inexpensive Pilot so I don’t have a solid opinion of this brand. By now.

I've got a friend who adores Sailor.

 
By: patrick_y : October 21st, 2024-16:00
He still has a few Pilots and a Namiki, but he has more Sailors. He was the one who told me that many people go one direction - to the smoother Namiki/Pilot or to the scratchier Sailor. I frankly find both to be very interesting.

For 20 plus years, my main pen was a Montblanc 146.

 
By: patrick_y : October 19th, 2024-19:42
I liked other fountain pens, but I kept on going back to the Montblanc 146. Now, my writing style has changed and I'm mainly writing letters and memos to friends. So I'm mainly using a flexible falcon nib fountain pen (from Pilot) that I enjoy very much. ... 

My favorite one to write with is the Namiki Emperor.

 
By: Jaseewasee : October 19th, 2024-21:25
Something about the size and feel of the nib really appeals to me. I have used all three nib sizes. Didn’t care for the fine, enjoyed the medium, but really adore the broad. I just picked up the new Montblanc 149 from The Origins collection. Haven’t had a... 

Namiki Emperor is an amazing pen.

 
By: patrick_y : October 21st, 2024-15:43
I honestly don't really use my Emperors to write with. A little weird. You must write a lot! I'm mostly writing short memos and thank you cards. So my writings are usually shorter.

I’ve always been more reluctant to spend significant

 
By: aWtchslvr : October 19th, 2024-19:35
amounts of money in fountain pens than in watches. Now, you are seriously tempting me. Great reading.

One way to look at it...

 
By: patrick_y : October 19th, 2024-19:53
Everyone can appreciate a nice car - it's not necessarily indicative of someone with taste. Even rappers and sports stars appreciate nice watches now and is no longer an indication of someone who can appreciate fine mechanics. But fountain pens are one of... 

The maki-e Namikis are authentic works of art.

 
By: aWtchslvr : October 19th, 2024-20:52
And there’s no periodic maintenance. Any day I go to Madrid, I see one in the flesh and who knows…

There's some maintenance and preventive maintenance.

 
By: patrick_y : October 21st, 2024-15:40
It's important to clean the pen periodically, more often if you have dirty, perspiring, and/or oily hands. The Urushi lacquer degrades in the sunlight. It's important to avoid strong light exposure, thus, don't put the pen where there is sunlight or under... 

Thanks for this valuable info.

 
By: aWtchslvr : October 21st, 2024-16:01
I meant that with pens one has not to spend lots of money in the maintenance, all the contrary with watches… With your advice and considering I’m very careful, if I buy a maki-e I think I’ll pay only once.

Oh yes!

 
By: patrick_y : October 21st, 2024-17:08
You're absolutely right there. Much less goes wrong with a pen! I won't buy Perpetual Calendars anymore. Too much goes wrong and the maintenance on this is just too much!

Perpetual calendars and annual calendars are both problematic.

 
By: patrick_y : October 21st, 2024-17:51
In general, complex watches don't always work perfectly. The tension on the internals has to be very precise sometimes to encourage the correct changeover. Also, sometimes the leap year doesn't work, and the watch is already out of warranty by the time th... 

That one is much more reliable.

 
By: patrick_y : October 21st, 2024-18:02
In fact, that one is one of the few exceptions to the rule.

Those are really nice.

 
By: Champthekid : October 19th, 2024-18:41
I need to take some pen pictures myself sometime soon 👍

Two beautiful pens, thanks for sharing.

 
By: Derreck : October 20th, 2024-05:49
I didn’t know that the MB 1912 had a flex nib, it’s sadly quite hard to find quality modern flex nibs, I’ll try to check one if I can manage to find one somewhere.

Oh ok, thanks for the heads up.

 
By: Derreck : October 20th, 2024-17:58
I saw that you commented those nibs live in rouge et noir line. I have a rouge et noir bebe, it’s nib is as you described pliable but there is no tine separation, I really like writing with it, one of my favorite pens, I also have a Nakaya with a soft med... 

1912...

 
By: Cardio : October 20th, 2024-05:49
I have an aversion of recent MBs in general...this said, the 1912 is indeed quite special and somehow, they managed to persuade management to do a nearly one-off nib design: more pliable, more finesse, sweeter, yet not-out-of-control writing experience. T... 

I did not know this...

 
By: Cardio : October 21st, 2024-04:36
But then, it appears like a Renaissance based on the most recent NYT coverage of a pen show. I would have thought a trickle of visitors but it does appear to be a robust trade to say the least. In the age of data inference and machine learning, every lett...