Frequently Asked Questions about Selecting Writing Implements

by Kristen White Blogger

Buying an indisputable and higher quality pen can be as involving a process as purchasing any other instrument that may comprise a large part of your time in work and recreation. Working with a professional can be a great way to get advice and recommendations based on your budget, style of handwriting, and general requirements.

Luxury pens last for decades. Therefore, it makes sense to want to get the very best one that matches your needs and preferences. But with plenty of options and brands to select from, the entire process can be intimidating. If you want to get the most out of the process, it’s in your best interest to learn as much as you can about different brands and their products. This will help you narrow down your options, and eventually, pick a pen that works for you. To help you get started, here are some frequently asked questions about writing implements.

What are the different types of pens available, and what makes them different from one another?
There is a vast selection of pens in the market to suit your needs. The most common distinction between pens and the varieties that most brands offer across several lines are fountain pens, rollerball pens, and ballpoint pens. Fountain pens operate by feeding ink through a gold or steel nib from a cartridge, converter, or other ink-filling mechanism. Fountain pens are usually hailed as offering the smoothest and most customizable writing experience with several ink colors and qualities to choose from, different nib sizes and hardnesses, and a variety of refilling options. Most often, when a brand offers the same pen in these three varieties, the fountain is the most expensive of the three, with good reason. Rollerball pens can offer a writing experience similar to fountain pens with liquid ink, and both types of pens usually utilize caps, but rollerballs differ by not using a nib, but rather a rolling metal ball at their tip to deposit ink on the page. Rollerballs also tend to have less variety in ink selection, but can come in a limited range of ball widths. Higher quality ballpoints operate with largely the same functions of disposable ballpoints, not always using caps and using a rolling ball similar to the rollerball to deposit ink on paper. However, ballpoints can require more pressure to operate and usually don’t offer as smooth an inflow on paper. Some brands offer felt tip pens or fineliners, which use different depositing and refills technology.

How much should I spend on my luxury pen?
Luxury pens come in a wide range of prices depending on the brand, materials, their collection, or status as a limited edition or special edition pen. Non-disposable pens come in a sort of stepping stone pattern of pricing from $20-$100 range for quality but not particularly costly in material or production, to $100-$300 range for many luxury pen brands’ products, but from then on $300-$2,000 for brands of a more extreme price range on most of their lines and some standout collector’s and limited edition pens of very high quality production processes and materials. If you are thinking about more cost-saving options, then you may want to check out the Pilot Falcon pen online.

What pen-buying pitfalls should I avoid?
There are a couple of mistakes that many first-time pen buyers that could be helpful to steer clear of. First, valuing the appearance of a pen or the prestige of its brand without considering how it fits into your writing needs. If you find a pen that you love the look of but find unwieldy in the hand, it might be a good idea to look around, because often you’ll find a brand that offers slim-line ranges, and so on. Second is buying vintage. Although there’s nothing inherently wrong with selecting vintage pens, as they can serve as excellent collection pieces and often have interesting histories, depending on the quality of the pen and the care taken by the previous owner, you may end up with repeated unforeseen repair costs that may dull its allure down the line.

Does the pen body matter?
Most pens use top quality resins. However, more unique higher-end pens may use hand-crafted materials like precious woods, celluloid, hard rubber, or metals like sterling silver and titanium. Ebonite hard rubber is the classic material for high-end pens. In fact, most Namiki pens are made from this material. Quality celluloid also remains a specialty of upscale manufacturers like Montegrappa. Pen body impacts writing experience through the feel in-hand, its production cost, and aesthetic elements.

Conclusion
Whether you are looking for a fountain pen or a ballpoint, the diverse world of high-end writing implements may seem daunting at first. But the choices based on budget, writing characteristics, and style can lead you to a pen that will bring years of enjoyment.