Clearly after Ana and I read Inky Wandering’s post, we both had the same thought! I broke mine into two groups of five. The first are the lower end pens that I just can’t quit. The second batch are the slightly higher end and more sentimental. In no particular order, here are my 10!
Kaweco AL Sport, Blue Iguana
I love all of my Kaweco AL Sports, but this one might be my favorite color! The pen is easy to carry, doesn’t roll away from me due to the hexagonal cap, can be used with a cartridge or a converter, and rarely hard starts unless I’ve written it out of ink. While the plastic ones are fun, something about the metal warms my heart (and my hands)!
TWSBI Diamond Mini AL Grape
I know TWSBIs don’t excite everyone with their stock nibs and plastic bodies. But I love me an Eco and this one is so much swankier! The Diamond Mini gives you all the fun of the demonstrator, with metal accents and an even better feel in my tiny hands. This one NEVER hard starts. And since I’m an intermittent user, the fact that it writes every single time I grab it, makes it one of my favorites. This one was limited edition and I keep waiting for more so I can collect them!
Jinhao 82
I’m sure this one is going to be controversial because it’s a knockoff of a Sailor ProGear Slim. And I do have two of the real deal, but I can’t help it. This one has a medium nib that is so juicy and it just makes me happy to write with it. It is sacrilegious, but I find myself reaching for it even more than my Sailors.
TWSBI Eco White and Rosegold
I love me a TWSBI. Mostly for the same reasons I highlighted above – they’re fun to look at, and always write when I pick them up. I have 4 or 5 on my desk at almost any given time. So I’ve included the White and Rosegold here as maybe the prettiest I own, but there are more!
Pilot Metropolitan Pop Green Marble
These two Pilot Metro Pops were among my first fountain pen purchases and I still love them deeply today. I selected the Green because it is a medium nib and right now that’s my jam. Again, a relatively inexpensive pen that feels good in my hand and always writes. Plus the design is fun!
Vanness Exclusive Franklin Christoph Pocket 45
This pen wins for a combo of favorite color + favorite style Franklin Christoph + chef’s kiss nib. Ana wrote the post and took the photo on this one, but mine is more or less identical. Franklin Christoph was my first exposure to a more indie brand and different materials, and the color on this one just stole my heart. The nib was ground by the late Jim Rouse, and expertly tuned by the Nib Doctor, Audrey Matteson and it writes like BUTTAH. And while the Pocket 45 no longer exists, this is my favorite model from FC. I’ll never let this one go.
Pelikan Classic M205 Apatite
I have a thing for teal pens ok? I actually REALLY love the M205 limited edition models that Pelikan brings out each year. I also own the Ruby Star and I’ve ogled many others. But this one is my perfect color pen and I have so many inks that match (including the ink of the year – Apatite!) It writes smoothly, is comfortable in the hand and my dad is a Pelikan aficionado, so I think of him when I write with it.
Carolina Pen Co. + Regalia Nib
My Jonathan Brooks’ Carolina Pen Co. in a steely/blue grey glitter was my 40th birthday present to myself. Shortly after I purchased it at the Chicago Pen Show of 2018, I was able to purchase a flex nib from Regalia Writing Labs and the combo has been together ever since. I pair it with Akkerman #7 Queen’s Night Blue and it’s just perfect!
Pineider Avatar UR Fountain
So aside from being teal and lovely to write with, this one has a magnetic cap that is SOOOOOOO smooth and satisfying to play with. ‘Nuff said.
Mont Blanc Meisterstück 149
Although this pen is obscenely large, much too large for me to write with, it will never leave the island. It was my grandfather’s and the story of the acquisition and subsequent non-use is quintessentially my grandfather. Read the linked post up above to get the gist of it. It also still has lifetime guarantee paperwork – priceless!
That’s my 10! What are yours?