pen recommendations?
- Thread starter lily25
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Montblanc pens are HORRIBLY made. They are so not worth the money - and I have been using fountain pens for years. Their servicing is also awful.
If you want something durable and nice, look at Pelikan, Cross, Waterman or Omas before considering Montblanc.
If you want something durable and nice, look at Pelikan, Cross, Waterman or Omas before considering Montblanc.
I've had my Montblanc ballpoint pen for 10 years and I've had no problems with it. Works like a dream. I love it.
Thanks for the brand reccomendations.Pelican and Waterman are available locally so I will try them tomorrow!
Hubby has a few S.T. Dupont his clients gave him as thank you presents, Some of them not working anymore (we can blame hubby's old poodle for that), and those that are fountain he doesn't like.
Oooh that Greta garbo is TDF very pretty Sammyjoe!
, its just a roller pen but I love it. I am sure you will have fun looking for ideal pens for you both. Hopefully others will chip in with their pen recommendations
If you do some searches on Montblanc, you will find that pen aficionados are not big fans - the quality is really poor. They do brilliant marketing, however.
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And the limited edition writers' series pens (like the Agatha Christie and Hemingway, etc.) used to be made for them by Bossert and Erhardt - better manufacturing. Some, however, are still quite poorly crafted, with the resin cracking near the nib sections, leaking, etc. It's especially worrisome with limited edition pens because replacement parts are also limited...
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And the limited edition writers' series pens (like the Agatha Christie and Hemingway, etc.) used to be made for them by Bossert and Erhardt - better manufacturing. Some, however, are still quite poorly crafted, with the resin cracking near the nib sections, leaking, etc. It's especially worrisome with limited edition pens because replacement parts are also limited...
I will try The William Faulkner series today, and other pens form other brands as well. I am a pencil fan, and I will check propelling pencils out too, but I love the fountains too. Thanks for the very useful information everyone. I'm not into pens and I really value every bit of information!
Honestly, if you are looking at MB pens - I would look very seriously for ones that are 10 years or older. I think the 1950s-1990s are the best, and I do think they have suffered recently in quality. Last time I took a pen in for service, it took four months. After the piece was repaired, they sent it from Germany to Dubai (where it sat around in a back room for a month) and then back to Germany... and finally back to me.
I do think MB still has the best inks, though
For pretty designer pens, I do like Cartier and some sterling Tiffany pens.
I love Pelikan. I'm currently also lusting after an OMAS pen, but I sadly do have other expenses. Another pretty pen with a lot of heritage is the Graf Von Faber-Castell pens.
I've heard good things about several japanese pen designers, but I'm too Euro-centric. Or my pen store is. Either way, I haven't tried them yet
Parker is fairly good. Waterman is a good writer, but not my favorite.
The best online shopping is at:
http://www.fahrneyspens.com/
Or Martini auctions
I do think MB still has the best inks, though
For pretty designer pens, I do like Cartier and some sterling Tiffany pens.
I love Pelikan. I'm currently also lusting after an OMAS pen, but I sadly do have other expenses. Another pretty pen with a lot of heritage is the Graf Von Faber-Castell pens.
I've heard good things about several japanese pen designers, but I'm too Euro-centric. Or my pen store is. Either way, I haven't tried them yet
Parker is fairly good. Waterman is a good writer, but not my favorite.
The best online shopping is at:
http://www.fahrneyspens.com/
Or Martini auctions
Tiffany makes nice pens, I'm not sure if they still make fountain pens though. You might be able to find one from time to time. When I used to work there they were selling a 18k gold fountain pen for $500 for employees that was regularly $2,000, as good of a deal as it was I still couldn't justify spending that much on a pen.
There is no Tiffany's locally, and I can't order from the US because for luxury items over 120 euros the customs will charge me about 40% of the price... Only UK and EU for me at the moment! Thanks anyway!!!
I've looked at Cartier too, but I prefer a company that primarily manufactures writing instruments.
I really like Graf von Faber-Castell Classic Anello fountain pen. It got really good reviews from Stylus magazine too, 91/100.
I'm also intrigued by the rave reviews of Pilot Custom 823 Demonstrator.
http://www.stylophilesonline.com/01-06/01823.htm
I also want to try the Nakaya pens (my teacher recommended) from detailed and precise kanji writing but I have to wait till February to try them in Berlin. I will probably buy 2 fountain pens for myself, one with standard Western flex nib for western writing and another for character writing.
I've looked at Cartier too, but I prefer a company that primarily manufactures writing instruments.
I really like Graf von Faber-Castell Classic Anello fountain pen. It got really good reviews from Stylus magazine too, 91/100.
I'm also intrigued by the rave reviews of Pilot Custom 823 Demonstrator.
http://www.stylophilesonline.com/01-06/01823.htm
I also want to try the Nakaya pens (my teacher recommended) from detailed and precise kanji writing but I have to wait till February to try them in Berlin. I will probably buy 2 fountain pens for myself, one with standard Western flex nib for western writing and another for character writing.
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I personally love the Sailor line. I like pens that write in a very fine line and the japanese pens write finer than the European. I have several Sailor pens, including a fabulous new pink demonstrator model. They are also affordable at less than $200 for the fountain models (except the maki-e).
The pilot 823 is a fabulous pen as well.
The pilot 823 is a fabulous pen as well.