Top 5 Beginner Fountain Pens (and Top 3 for the Risk-takers!)

So, you want to try out a fountain pen, or two...

The single most common question we get from intrigued fountain pen newbies is "which is the best, first fountain pen?" -- and this post should help narrow that down for you. 

As you venture into the fountain pen world, you'll soon notice that much of the appeal of these pens is how personal they can be; my idea of a perfect pen might have a fine nib and a moderate weight, while yours might have a medium nib and be as light as a feather. The point is, with fountain pens, there are many options, and within each pen, you'll find even more options.

The following are 5 of our best recommendations for your first fountain pen, including features, specifications, and thoughts on each pen. I suggest purchasing finer nibs if you are used to writing with 0.5 - 0.7 mm tips, as the transition may be easier. If you're feeling risky and want to try flex writing or calligraphy, scroll down to find three additional pens that are sure to bring excitement to your writing.

For Normal Writing:

1. Pilot Metropolitan

• Cost: $14.95
• Nib Sizes: fine, medium
• Grip: round
• Overall Weight: 26g
• Filling Method: proprietary Pilot cartridge and con-20 converter included
• Durability: metal, very durable (unlike thin plastic which may crack under large amounts of pressure)
• Colors: comes in many colors, including classic, animal and retro pop styles.

The Pilot Metropolitan has quickly become the top recommendation for newbies. It’s a great value, smooth-writing fine nib, round grip, average weight, and strong durability makes the pen suited for the majority of new users. Two thing to look out for: 1) Pilot nibs are proprietary, meaning only Pilot cartridges and converters will fit into Pilot pens and 2) you can’t see the ink level in the con-20 converter, so you won’t know exactly when you are out of ink until the pen stops writing. If this bothers you, Pilot offers the transparent con-50 converter as a substitute.

2. Lamy Safari

• Cost: $29.95
• Nib Sizes: EF, F, M, B, 1.1mm, 1.5mm, 1.9mm
• Grip: triangular
• Overall Weight: 17g
• Filling Method: proprietary Lamy cartridge included. LZ24 Converter sold separately.
• Durability: made of extremely durable ABS plastic
• Colors: comes in many colors (can upgrade to Al-Star)
• Ink window

The Lamy Safari is long considered a staple in the fountain pen world. It is a great value, with a nib known for being smooth, but with feedback (not glossy smooth, but enough to let you know the nib is touching the paper). The barrel of the Safari is made of ABS plastic, the material used to make the famous Lego toys, which can withstand large amounts of pressure -- making the Safari extremely durable. Many beginners choose this pen because later on, you can try out one of the many other nib sizes (ranging from EF to 1.9mm), which is always fun.

3. Kaweco Sport

• Cost: $25.00

• Nib Sizes: F, M, B (also, EF, BB, 1.5 mm, 1.9 mm, 2.3 mm)
• Grip: round, good for all people
• Overall Weight: 10g
• Filling Method: standard international cartridges, can buy separate Kaweco Sport squeeze converter
• Durability: durable plastic, perfect for pocket, workhorse
• Colors: comes in many colors (can upgrade to AL, etc.)

4. Nemosine Singularity

• Cost: $19.95

• Nib Sizes: EF, F, M, B, 0.6mm, 0.8mm
• Grip: normal, round, good for all people
• Overall Weight: 17g
• Filling Method: standard international cartridges and converters (comes with)
• Durability: strong plastic, should withstand pressure
• Colors: comes in many colors, including clear/blue/purple tinted demonstrators
• Demonstrator looks cool, can see ink

5. Platinum Preppy

• Cost: $3.95 - 4.95
• Nib Sizes: EF (02) highly recommend for people who like very thin lines, F (03)
• Grip: normal, round
• Overall Weight: 13g
• Filling Method: platinum cartridge (or buy separate converter but costs more than pen), eyedropper (but beware of cracking)
• Durability: can crack if dropped hard or stepped on
• Colors: 7 different colors, can come in pack too

Top 3 Beginner Pens for Risk Takers

1. Noodler’s Konrad

• Cost: $20 for most, $40 for acrylic materials
• Nib: Fine/Medium Flex (can buy replacement nibs, some flex and some not)
• Overall Weight: 13g
• Filling Method: piston filler (recommended over the ahab for this reason)
• Durability: relatively durable plastic
• Colors: many
• For the tinkerer, and for those interested in flex nibs (beginners)

2. Pilot Parallel

• Cost: $10, $26.95 for all four
• Nib Sizes: 1.5mm, 2.4mm, 3.8mm, 6.0mm
• Overall Weight: 10g
• Filling Method: pilot cartridge (con-50 converter can be used, sold separately)
• Durability: relatively durable plastic
• Colors: four colors, corresponding with nib
• For those interested in calligraphy, must get used to nib to use it well, can do color gradient, check out @seblester

3. Lamy Joy

• Cost: $27.95 - 35.95 (for AL)
• Nib Sizes: 1.5mm (fine), 1.5mm (medium), 1.9mm (broad)
• Grip: triangular (not suitable for people without “normal grip”)
• Overall Weight: 17g
• Filling Method: comes with cartridge, but must buy separate converter (can see ink level), proprietary to Lamy
• Durability: made of extremely durable ABS plastic (what legos are made of)
• Colors: three colors

Review of the Pelikan Souveran M805 Vibrant Blue Fountain Pen

There are many blue pens that exist in the world of fine writing. Pelikan has not just made another blue pen, but the blue pen that separates itself from all others before it.

The Souveran M805 Vibrant Blue (launched April 2016) is the blue you've been searching for all your life.

People who favor blue are said to revel in its tranquil, calming qualities. The layered, acrylic material of the M805 Vibrant Blue hits those serene notes with its pearlescent, marbled barrel and cap. Light penetrates the semi-translucent, blue material, creating a stained glass effect.

Turning the cap to unscrew it from the section, the 18ct gold, rhodium coated nib can be spied through the translucency, as if it were submerged in shallow water. Bringing the pen's barrel to light, the ink that is held within the body can be seen sloshing around and should clearly indicate when a refill is soon needed.

As with other M800/M805 model Pelikan pens, like the Stresemann we reviewed last year, the Vibrant Blue has an oversized profile, more suitable for larger hands.

Top to Bottom : OMAS Ogiva Cocktail, Pelikan M805 Vibrant Blue, Pelikan M215 Blue

Souverän M805 Vibrant Blue Dimensions
Length Capped : 5.5"
Length Posted : 6.5"
Length without Cap : 5.00"
Barrel Diameter : 0.52"
Section Diameter : 0.42"
Weight : 0.89 oz
Ink Capacity : 1.2mL

18ct gold goodness

The large nib on the M805 rhodium coated to match the gleaming silver color of the palladium trims and signature Pelikan "beak" clip. The silver trim is a perfect compliment to the deep, placid blues of the pen body. As with other Pelikan 18ct nibs that I've personally experienced, this one had a small case of baby's bottom. For the uninitiated, baby's bottom is the over-polishing of the nib's iridium tip that can cause a gap in the nib's writing contact surface and lead to some missed strokes and starting issues. Writing on a coarse surface, like a brown paper bag, is usually recommended to remedy the problem. However, I prefer using micro-mesh instead. With a little slight scribbling, I was gliding around on paper like an olympic figure skater on ice.

I know, I know. You should be shocked that a pen of this caliber would not write anything but perfect out of the box, but it happens occasionally. If you have experienced this with any new Pelikan (or any fountain pen) purchased from us right out of the box, please do contact us if you aren't comfortable with nib adjustments / troubleshooting. We'll either get it working exactly like its supposed to, or replace it to make sure you have a writing instrument that you are in love with.

Written with M805 & Edelstein Aquamarine on Tomoe River Paper

Baby's bottom aside, this nib is super-smooth with a tiny bit of springiness. There's no flexibility to speak of, nor would anyone recommend to flex the nib to attempt any line variation. The pen writes a bit on the drier side. My writing sample for the demonstration is done with the Pelikan Edelstein ink of the year 2016, Aquamarine.

As the M805 Vibrant Blue is a special edition for 2016, I imagine this will be a design that will be sold quickly and will be a highly demanded collector's item a few years from now. At the time of this writing, we had received our first shipment of Vibrant Blue last week and they are currently on-sale at Goldspot.com.

A Few Choice Words

Summary :

• Writing Quality : 18ct solid gold nib performs smoothly and with expected refinement. The weight and size is perfect for those with larger hands, but can work for those who can write un-posted. (grade A-)
• Aesthetic Quality : That Blue... Oh man. Hard to resist just gawking at that blue and the translucency. (grade A+)
• Utility : Pelikan always gets the checkmark on this category for the large internal piston-filling mechanism for its ability to hold a tanker-full of ink. This pen is on the larger side and may have a little difficulty fitting with some pen loops and pouches. (grade A)
• Price : This type of quality and Pelikan brand-name craftsmanship does come at a hefty cost. The +$800 retail price may give most sticker shock, but, if you're in the market for a grail pen, we're offering a discounted street price that will be competitive to any US retailer. (grade B)

Final Grade : A
Pelikan has a knack for taking all the classical elements of their flagship pen model, this case being the Souveran, and forcing pen fanatics to fall in love again with new styles like this Vibrant Blue. Although Pelikan tends to be rather conservative in their everyday pen lines, these exotic special editions are perfect for writing enthusiasts to obtain a Pelikan that has more of a "vibrant" personality. If you're a blue lover like I am, this is going to be a pen you will want to sell other pens to justify adding it to your collection. Buy the Pelikan Souveran M805 Vibrant Blue at Goldspot Pens.

A Guided Tour of Modern Fountain Pens

Getting into fountain pens can feel like you've fallen down the rabbit hole. It's exciting to discover a world exists that flies in the face of modern technology. It's as if you've grown up your entire life shopping at Barnes & Noble and then realized that libraries existed - and that people still go to them!

If handwritten posts on social media have your interest piqued, then this post is what you need to read to start your quick-and-dirty education.

To the uninitiated, fountain pens seem alluring, yet the aspect of getting started with them can be daunting. Many of the questions we get from beginners : What pen to start with? How much should I have to pay to get a good quality fountain pen? Which pen is going to be the best value for the money? What nib size should I choose?

As with many of the purchases that we make these days, one can spend days on fountain pen research. An abundance of information exists in the forms of videos, reviews, forum posts and so on. There's so much information that many first-timers hesitate to commit. Some call it "paralysis by analysis."

Lets make it simple by giving you a guided tour of what you need to know when selecting your next fountain pen.

Consider us your sherpa on this expedition. Goldspot has sold pens online since 1999 when we started out listing Sensa and rOtring pens on eBay. I'm being modest when I say that we know a thing or two about pens. We also rely heavily on the feedback of our customers and the fountain pen community to validate our pen suggestions.

Before window shopping (and getting distracted by the bright and shiny's, ask yourself these questions :

• What am I using the fountain pen for?
• What do I usually like to write with?
• What is my budget?

These questions are important to ask because it is easy to get sidetracked by all the flex nibs, gold nibs, piston-fillers and limited editions. If you are using the fountain pen for detailed note-taking and your hand writing is quite small, a large, music nib isn't suitable for your needs. Taking into consideration the pens you already enjoy using will give you a basis for comparison to find a fountain pen that will satisfy your requirements for size, weight and grip. Lastly, setting a budget may prevent the unpleasant conversation you will have with your significant other regarding the credit card bill.

For true beginners that are looking to inexpensively try out using a fountain pen for the first time, we've put together a list of our best fountain pens for beginners. View List >>

If you like one of the pens on this list, but are curious to see if comes in different colors or point sizes, click on the related items links at the bottom of the product detail page. In the example below, if you want to look at ALL the Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop pens, colors and point sizes, you would click on the link that reads Metropolitan Retro Pop.

"look for similar items"

You don't have to be a master penman like Jake Weidmann to enjoy a good calligraphic fountain pen. Fountain pens with calligraphic or stub nibs can be fun to write with as an everyday pen. Go for smaller point sizes (like 0.8mm) for note-taking. The popular Pilot Parallel is an excellent choice to get started inexpensively. View List >>

Want to keep on writing for a long time without having to go back for a fill-up? Piston-Filling fountain pens provide a higher ink capacity than traditional cartridge converter fountain pens and fill from bottled ink exclusively. View List >>

It's easy to spend one's fountain pen kitty quickly. Hey, we know not everyone can afford to spend a car payment on one fountain pen. That's why we created several tiers to accommodate your budget.

• Fountain Pens Under $50
• Fountain Pens Under $100
• Fountain Pens Under $200

These are some of the best fountain pens in those price ranges that give you the most bang for your buck.

Looking for a fountain pen that is as convenient as a retractable ballpoint pen? There's a fountain pen for that! This selection of retractable nib fountain pens are convenient and just plain cool to play with (especially in long meetings). View List >>

View all of our suggestions and more on our Fountain Pen Guide page at the Goldspot Pens Store.

Fountain pen users - are there other types of fountain pen categories you would recommend for first time writers? Please let us know in the comments section if you feel any categories or pens should also be included in our guide.

In Defense of the Noodler's Konrad Acrylic Flex Nib Fountain Pen

] Ever since Noodler's Ink began their production of piston-fill fountain pens, I've wanted to get behind the brand's efforts in crafting an entry-level pen that spreads the pen-addiction bug to ordinary "muggles."  In the opinion of customers I've conversed with and my own opinion, the wizardry fell quite short of expectations.

Every time I was introduced to a new model, first the standard Creaper, then the Ahab, then the Konrad and the Neponset, I went into the experience with optimism that this would be an amazing experience for the cost. Plans began to formulate in my head to obtain one of every color, because it would be an iconic pen that was affordable enough to justify collecting the entire series. However, the moment I would open the package, I would be underwhelmed and disappointed.

OK, so I know most of the criticisms that I shall now list can be negotiated or modified to be suited for one's own needs. As someone who believes that a good pen should be a solid writer directly out of the box, unaltered, I approach my critique of the Noodler's pens with the same eye that a person with limited experience in fountain pens would have. As the Noodler's brand occupies the entry level market price point, it should also be accommodating of the entry-level end-user. Although Noodler's pens are typically considered to be the "tinkerer's pen," it shouldn't require a few hours of research on discussion forums and watching YouTube videos just to get it to function properly.

Noodler's Pen Criticisms :

• The Smell - Right out of the box, the body material of the pen has a certain odor that is unpleasant to most people. Personally, I don't care for it. I've read and followed suggestions on how to help the smell dissipate, but each pen still had a faint stink, no matter what. 
• The Flow (or lack thereof) - The feed of the pen has to keep up with the demand of a flex nib when it is flexing. In past experiences, not only would the Noodler's pen railroad constantly, but I would often get a complete seizure of ink flow that would result in having to prime the filling mechanism just to force more ink into the feed to write anything at all.
• The Filling Mechanism - Having experience with a Pelikan piston mechanism first has me spoiled for this "you-get-what-you-pay-for" Noodler's mechanism. The piston head is often sticky and stiff to operate, requiring a bit more force to get it going. My own experience with the Ahab plunger system was the worst of all the models. I went to prime the feed after the nib went dry. I couldn't simply nudge the plunger forward a millimeter or two, it was stuck. I ended up having to rush to the sink just to get the pen working again, as pushing on the plunger any harder would result in the nib squirting with ink.

As you can guess, when I opened up the new Noodler's Konrad Acrylic Tinian Treasure fountain pen, my bar of expectation was set quite low, to say the least. Despite all my reservations about the Noodler's pens I've tried in the past, along with the feedback I get from our customers, I still remained optimistic that Noodler's has to be getting something right. After all, there are those who swear by their Noodler's pens and use them often.

In putting this pen through its paces, I went over my previous objections about Noodler's pens and was pleasantly surprised to see my criticisms were defied.

Noodler's Konrad Acrylic in Tinian Treasure

The Smell of the Acrylic Konrad is actually OK.
It smells like a normal pen would. The acrylic material is devoid of the odor that still plagues the standard Konrad. Comparing it to the new, limited edition Konrad Tahitian Tortoise with the Non-Flex vented nib, the Tortoise still has that distinctive smell while the Acrylic Tinian Treasure does not.

The Flow of the Acrylic Konrad is manageable for flex writing.
As you would be able to view in my video of the Konrad's flex test, the nib does railroad, but you have to find its sweet spot. Positioning the pen at a more vertical angle to the paper does limit the amount of line variation, but it does support a constant flow from the feed to manage the demand of ink. Please keep in mind this evaluation was done without any alteration of adjustment to the pen. These results are right out of the box.

As with any pen that touts "flex" capability, flex it responsibly. Imagine you're meeting a dance partner for the first time. You wouldn't go straight into a fast-paced, complicated number straight away. Take it slow, find out where the pen's sweet spot it is and accommodate your grip and speed to suit the pen's ability.

The Konrad Filling Mechanism is sound.
While being a little sticky at the start, the internal piston mechanism does respond smoothly and draws up a great deal of ink into its body. Having the ink view window is a fun and useful feature on this model.

Overall, I'm quite pleased, and surprised that this Konrad exceeds my expectations for a Noodler's fountain pen. True, it isn't one of their least costly models at $40, but it is a value buy in terms of obtaining a flexible nib fountain pen. Since your options for a flex or semi-flex nib pen are very limited and often expensive, this Konrad fits in nicely as a solid option for a value flex fountain pen.

I'm interested in hearing about your experiences with the Noodler's fountain pen. Love it? Hate it? Have you tried all the tips and modifications to enhance the pen's writing capability? If so, were you pleased by the result? What do you think of the smell? Please write us a comment below.

Review written & video produced by Tom Oddo @ Goldspot Pens

OMAS 90th Anniversary Icons Celluloid Set Review

So, there's a lot going on over at OMAS that serves as a pretext to this 90th Anniversary celebratory set. Presently, the Chinese holding company that owns 90% of the Italian pen company want to liquidate the company. To save it, the employees at OMAS are making a bid to take back the company. The OMAS US distributor has indicated that two companies are interested in purchasing the company.

We wish the employees of OMAS the best of luck during the trying time. All OMAS pen fans are pulling for this transition to continue the manufacture of their writing instruments for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, a capable company will purchase OMAS and allow it to keep making awesome fountain pens like the ones included in this 90th Anniversary Set.

It seems rather ironic that a company would go to such lengths to produce a limited edition that celebrates a milestone in glamorous fashion. Meanwhile, the rug gets pulled out from under them with the possibility of never seeing the 91st anniversary. Well, lets cut short the commentary and talk about this awesome, limited set of delicious, celluloid fountain pens.

First, a little history and background on the creation of this set, taken from Kenro Industries' website :

Exactly 90 years ago, on June 15, 1925, Armando Simoni founded in Bologna Officina Meccanica Armando Simoni. Thus was made OMAS, a workshop that would become in later years one of the most significant expressions of "made in Italy" and prestigious player of high-end writing instruments.

The set celebrating the 90th Anniversary dedicated to Historical OMAS’s Shapes, has been therefore made with the same passion of our Founder. Created by hand entirely in celluloid, the set is composed by The Paragon Vintage piston filling fountain pens, designed by Armando Simoni in 1931, Ogiva model original designed in 1927 and 360 model created in 1996. The set is realized with historical celluloid Pearl Grey.

The exclusive Limited and Numbered 90 Sets are enriched, for the first time, by special engraving on the ring, placed to celebrate the nine decades of history.

Available in silver finish with odd numbers and gold trim with even numbers.

The 90th Anniversary "Icons" perfectly fits the bill when it comes to what you would expect of a pen that celebrates the history and distinction of this pen company. They take three of their most recognizable and beloved models, cast them in a material (celluloid) that isn't used often by other pen manufacturers and fit nib sizes that no contemporary pen maker can match. In short, this isn't just a run-of-the mill re-hash of a glory-days pen model with a cheap stainless steel nib slapped on it (*cough* Esterbrook *cough*). The 90th Anniversary Set is a legitimate collection of pens that, while expensive, totally cater to the fountain pen enthusiast that loves to write.

The Epic Unboxing

Anyone who has purchased an OMAS pens know that the Italian company does not skimp on packaging. The pen boxes are usually given a substantial amount of attention, with soft, fabric-lined interiors and a single pen sleeve that carries your brand-new pen. The 90th Anniversary set takes packaging to the next level with a pen chest with a rose, velvet-like top. Opening the top reveals all three pens, laying in their own spot. Each pen is slid into a textured, leather pen sleeve imprinted with the OMAS logo. A special booklet is also included that talks about the history and includes the edition number that matches your set.

The Arte Italiana Milord with 18kt BBB Nib

The Arte Italiana is one of my favorite OMAS models. The 12 faceted sides are excellent for taking photos. You never have to worry about one rolling off on you! The Milord model is usually built with a cartridge or converter, but for the purposes of this limited edition, a piston-filling mechanism is installed in this pen.

I wasn't sure what to expect from the 18kt triple broad nib. Originally, I was thinking that it would be just a really, really broad nib.  And yes, it is broad. I can almost paint the trim in my room with  how thick it is. What I wasn't expecting was the stubbiness of the nib. A thick, vertical stroke is contrasted with a noticeably thinner horizontal line.

The Ogiva with 14kt Extra Flessibile Fine Nib

I'm still fawning over the Ogiva Cocktail that was recently reviewed (and I recently purchased...yay employee discount). My Ogiva has the extra flessibile nib and the one on the 90th Anniversary pen does not disappoint. The flex on this nib offers excellent variation and soft springiness that allows you to throw additional flourish into your writing.

The pearl grey celluloid is especially striking on this smooth, rounded profile model. The gold bands on the cap and before the section threads are intricately engraved with Greek key frets. The band at the section has "9OMAS" and "Anniversary" engraved on it.

The 360 with 18kt Medium Nib

The triangular 360 is one of the more recent OMAS models that has a distinctive, three-sided profile. In contrast to the Arte & Ogiva, the 360 is a snap cap design with a triangular grip to match the body of the pen.

The 18kt gold nib in medium point is a perfect, middle-of-the-road writing nib. The triangular section is easy to hold. The girth and balance of the pen would make the 360 an ideal choice for long writing sessions. In comparison with the flexible 14kt nib on the Ogiva and the ultra-thick 18kt BBB nib on the Arte, the medium writing nib on the 360 is a welcome, moderate choice for those who may not need to do flex in their writing or paint a house with the triple broad.

A Few Final Words

Summary :

• Writing Quality : OMAS has put themselves forward as one of the premier "writing" fountain pen brands that focuses on enhancing the writing experience. Offering a new nib along with nibs that simply don't exist in the current market make these pens hard to imitate. (grade A)
• Aesthetic Quality : Celluloid is steadily becoming harder to find in the world of pens. And, when a pen is made of it, the price is usually much higher due to the rarity and difficulty to manufacture the material. The grey celluloid has plenty of chatoyance and the trims are sublime. (grade A+)
• Utility : Every pen fills via piston, so points for ink capacity. The packaging isn't the most shelf-friendly, but if you're planning on showing off the set in a glass display, the box is rather impressive. The pen sleeves are a nice touch to protect your pens. (grade B+)
• Price : $3,550 Retail. Yikes! The sticker shock is overwhelming for most. Each of the models separately are  being currently sold in other materials (besides celluloid) for a fraction of the cost. To argue for the price, the set is only a 90 piece edition and they are made of celluloid. (grade C)

Final Grade : A-
Regardless of the fate of OMAS after 2015, this 90th Anniversary Celluloid Icon set is a testament to a company that is built upon artful quality and an excellent writing experience. 3 classic models, all in piston-fill with 3 fantastic nibs. What else can an FP Geek ask for? Maybe a second mortgage?

OMAS Ogiva Cocktail Limited Edition Fountain Pen Review

Go ahead and sit while I fix you a drink. What'll it be?

OMAS Ogiva Cocktail : Blue Angel, Vodka Lemon & Bloody Mary

Some prefer a mixed cocktail to unwind and loosen their tongues. I think you'll agree that a beautiful fountain pen in hand is as enjoyable to hold and is capable of the same effect.

In particular, the 2015 limited edition from OMAS is intoxicating and absolutely irresistible for fountain pen writing enthusiasts. The Ogiva Cocktail is the sequel to the 2014 Ogiva Alba limited edition demonstrators. If their popularity is any indicator of how quickly these pens will be imbibed by collectors, you better belly up to the bar quick before it's "last call."

Limited to 327 pieces of each color, the Ogiva Cocktail is available in three colors : Blue Angel, Vodka Lemon (yellow) and Bloody Mary (deep red). The Ogiva model has a rounded profile and flutes that run down the cap and barrel. The classic appeal of the profile is matched with silver trims and a cap band that has engraved Greek key work.

The translucent cotton resin on the Cocktail is stated by OMAS to be more durable than standard acrylic resins. The bright yellow of the Vodka Lemon is cheery and, by far, the most transparent of the three. The rich, blood red of the Bloody Mary is trumped by the cobalt blue of the Blue Angel for the most opaque material.

OMAS deluxe gift box for the Ogiva Cocktail

Dimensions:

• Length - Body 105mm (4.13in)
• Length - Cap 70mm (2.76in)
• Length - Overall (Closed) 146mm (5.75in)
• Length - Overall (Posted) 172mm (6.77in)
• Diameter - Body 13mm (0.51in)
• Diameter - Section 11mm (0.43in)
• Weight 22g (0.78oz)

From a fountain pen geek point-of-view, there's a lot to love about this pen. The heart of the argument is the nib. Most pen manufacturers are sizing down their inventory of nib variations, with most only offering fine and/or medium in their fountain pens. OMAS is going in the opposite direction and is offering this limited edition in a whopping 9 nib types : double broad, broad, medium, fine, extra-fine, stub (18kt) / extra-flessible extra-fine, extra-flessible fine, and extra-flessible medium (14kt).

The 18kt gold set of writing nibs are non-flexible and offer a high-quality writing nib for general purpose use. The stub 18kt gold nib offers a great deal of line variation with thick vertical strokes and thin horizontal lines. The extra-flessible 14kt nibs are a whole other experience that is to be savored for those who appreciate writing with a flex nib. The extra-flessible can be written with like a standard extra-fine, fine or medium writing nib. Once you flex the tines by applying gentle finger pressure at the right angle on a downstroke, the tines spread to paint ink on the paper like a brush. Much like the Pilot / Namiki Falcon, the OMAS extra-flessible is your go-to for contemporary flex nib writing quality.

The Ogiva has an internal piston mechanism that drinks in the ink much more than your standard cartridge or converter. Being able to see through the tinted, cotton resin, a writer can see exactly how much ink is left sloshing around inside the barrel.

Grabbing a drink of Kon-Peki, the OMAS Ogiva Cocktail Blue Angel gets taken for a spin around some paper to get a feel for how this pen writes. The pen posts rather long, at over 6 1/2 inches in total length. It is a shallow post, so I was concerned the cap is connecting directly on the blind cap that operates the piston. Thankfully, it doesn't, and I was able to post & un-post the cap without moving the piston (and getting ink all over the place). The pen does not feel too long with the cap posted. Due to the lighter weight of the cotton resin, the pen is comfortable to write with for long periods of time.

The section steps down twice from the fluted barrel. There isn't much of a lip between step from barrel to section and screw threads to front nib section. The section between the threads and the barrel is where the limited edition number is engraved. This area is particularly useful to grip if you are writing in "flex mode" and need to hold the pen at an angle more acutely to the paper. The same Greek key design on the cap band wraps around the end of the section and is a classy accent to the overall design.

Writing with the extra-fine, extra-flessible 14kt nib, I immediately went to testing out the flex. I routinely write with vintage flex nibs and can tell you that the OMAS extra-flessible is the real deal. With no pressure, the nib writes a delicate extra fine. With flex, the tines spread out to provide a thick, double-broad line. Easing up on the pen returns the tines back to their original position smoothly and quickly. Take a look at the writing samples and the video to get a sense for how well this nib performs in providing flourish and high degree of line variation.

Writing with this pen is an absolute pleasure. The size is just right to either write posted or with cap-in-hand. The flex on this "flessible" nib is a writer's inky dream. I like to take detailed notes, and being able to write with a standard, extra-fine writing nib is perfect for quick jotting. When I'm writing thank you notes or signing consignment forms, then I can bust out the big, bad flex to really let this nib do what it was made to do.

OMAS kindly provided us with a 90th anniversary 5" x 7" journal for us to do with as we please, so we're giving it away in celebration of this mighty fine writing instrument! Use the form below to enter. You have until Tuesday, October 20th at 2pm Eastern time to enter. Be sure to tell your friends!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Few Final Words

Summary :

• Writing Quality : I get #drunkonflex every time I write with this pen. Although writing with the pen normally is quite satisfying, flexing the tines allows the writer to experience writing on a whole other level (grade A+)
• Aesthetic Quality : Classic profile with fluted, column-like barrel and cap with greek key fret silver bands is like a renaissance in pen design, taking influence from greco-roman architecture. The colors of the cotton resins are outstandingly beautiful. (grade A+)
• Utility : The wheel clip is a bit tight, which is my one and only gripe about this pen. You can get loaded on a ton of ink with the large, internal capacity. The cap posts nicely and feels great in-hand for long writing sessions. (grade A-)
• Price : $495 Retail. Not an inexpensive value pen, but certainly worth the money, considering the level of nib quality from OMAS. Add in the fact that these are part of a small limited edition that is destined to sell out quickly, these pens will be going for a premium sometime in the near future. (grade A-)

Final Grade : A
If you ask me which pens I'm going to be writing with for the next few months, this OMAS will most likely be on the top of my everyday carry. With the vintage-style, flexible nib, large ink capacity and classic style, this is a pen that I can't stop looking at, let alone put away in my pen case. Be sure to get your OMAS Ogiva Cocktail pen before supplies run dry!