Buyers Guide > Fountain Pens
Fountain pens are popular because they offer effortless writing, expressive penmanship and longevity. They contain a reservoir of water based liquid ink, usually in a cartridge or converter. The ink is fed to the nib through a ‘feed’ via a combination of gravity and capillary action. The slit down the centre of the fountain pen nib transports the ink to the tip.
The fountain pen nib is usually made of stainless steel or gold (14 or 18 karat). Stainless steel nibs are very hard-wearing, whilst gold nibs benefit from flexibility and resistance to corrosion. Gold nibs are tipped with a hard alloy, often called ‘Iridium’. Fountain pen nibs will improve with age as they adjust to the user’s writing style. Nibs are also available in various point sizes, ranging from extra fine to broad.
Fountain pens take either ink cartridges or converters. Cartridges are mess free and easy to refill on the go, whilst converters are more economical and can take a wider variety of inks. Ink cartridges come in various shapes and sizes, although most European fountain pen brands (e.g. Caran D’Ache, Faber-Castell, Waterman, Monteverde) take a standard ‘international cartridge’. Some fountain pen manufacturers have developed their own ink cartridge such as Parker, Lamy and Sheaffer.
Our Collection of Fountain Pens - most pens can be engraved and personalised
| Caran D'Ache | Coles Deluxe |
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| Faber-Castell | Laban |
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| Lamy | Parker |
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| Sheaffer | Waterman |
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Laban | Parker | Waterman | Lamy | Sheaffer | Faber-Castell | Graf Von Faber Castell | Caran D'ache | Fisher Space pen | Yoropen | USUS pens | Monteverde | Online | Coles Calligraphy | Coles Deluxe | Italian Journals | Aurora | Worther | Atoma | Visconti
