Who a fountain pen suits
A fountain pen suits someone who still writes by hand: the journal keeper, the student, the teacher, the colleague who signs things properly. It also suits someone who loved handwriting once and drifted to typing. People who write by hand tend to have opinions about pens, and a good one says that their handwriting is worth caring about.
It makes a fitting graduation gift, and a gentle introduction for a beginner who has always wanted to try one.
What to look for in a fountain pen
- The nib. Fine nibs write a thinner line and suit small handwriting. Medium suits most handwriting and is a good place to start. The listing names the nib size.
- How it fills. Cartridges are sealed tubes of ink that click in, and are the least messy. A converter lets the pen draw ink from a bottle, for more colours. Some pens come with a converter and spare cartridges. Cartridges are often specific to a brand, so a spare box from the same maker is a thoughtful addition.
- The body. Light plastic or aluminium suits everyday writing. Brass has more weight, and wood has a warmer feel. Weight matters over a long page.
- The grip. Some grips are moulded for right-handed writers. If the writer is left-handed, look for a plain round grip.
- The box. Some pens arrive in a presentation box, which helps for a gift.
- The paper. Fountain pens suit smooth paper, and ink can show through thin paper, so a good notebook is a natural pairing.
When a fountain pen is the wrong gift
If their only handwriting is a signature on a delivery scanner, it will stay in its box. Left-handed writers can smudge wet ink as the hand moves across the page, so check the grip before you buy. And if they throw pens in the bottom of a bag, remember that a fountain pen likes to be capped and kept upright.