5 Italian Fountain Pens That You MUST Try!

[@horsygall]

Im surprised you don’t stock Leonardo, they are such reliable gorgeous pens.

[@waswas1717]

Second that.

[@raggsj38]

Me too.

[@plannermumsy]

Totally agree!

[@joanwerthman4116]

Amen. I love their pens beyond words.

[@vaporwave_boi_92]

Yea, Leonardo are BEAUTIFUL 🎉

[@davidottman9501]

There's something special about Italian craftsmanship. The general rule seems to be that things we use must make us happy. Everyday life includes so many plain, ordinary tasks, like driving or writing or any number of other chores. Tools and machines that are designed to provide a delightful experience as we do these things make us happy while we get things done! Enjoy all of life! Thanks Drew!

[@Xingqiwu387]

Absolutely agreed!

[@abhishekpanja4363]

You can’t miss Aurora…!!! the list is definitely incomplete.😢😢😢

[@Donna_G]

If it wasn't for the Visconti Mirage Mythos Aphrodite, I probably would not own a Visconti fountain pen. It still took me a while to save up for it. At least three months. But, oh my what a nice pen it is. I would recommend it to anybody who has always wanted to try a Visconti; but, felt as though it was not an affordable pen. It's a budget pen without actually being a budget pen.

[@Gouletpens]

I completely agree! - Drew

[@paulmchugh1430]

I love my Pineider Twin Tank Touchdown with the Quill nib. The performance of the pen is outstanding from the excellent fill of the barrel to the smoothness and flow of the nib.

[@cheesim]

It was great meeting you at DC pen show and thanks for the picture! These pens are gorgeous! Adding them to my wishlist 😂

[@davidparrishproductions5082]

The Visconti Apollo is my very favorite pen I own… I love it so much! When I grow up I want a Homo Sapiens! Thanks for the video Drew!

[@teresaharris-travelbybooks5564]

I recently bought a Gioia Alleria that I'm very happy with.

[@andretaylor3920]

My friend Thanks for sharing this

[@larryjensen303]

Drew 😊- your videos are so entertaining and informative, it’s like having a good friend come visit and your integrity is a gift to the community.

[@Gouletpens]

Thanks for the kind words, Larry! - Drew

[@Xingqiwu387]

Wonderful! I'm anxious to try all these beautiful exemplars of Italian artistry and craftsmanship. They are stunning! And I for one am so happy you guys, unlike a few other notable reviewers of fountain pens, have successfully avoided becoming yet another youtube press release office for Montblanc.

[@gabriellakiss-boros9470]

I wanted to buy a Visconti Mirage Mythos Apollo for a while now. I watched reviewes, made my research, but what made me click the “order” button is Drew’s recommendation. I trust your judgement, Drew! I received the pen today, and omg, I love it! The Homo Sapiens Bronz Age is on my whislist. That is the coolest an prettiest fountainpen ever - to me at least. :)

[@potandpens]

Drew, I’m so jelly of all the ppl that met u in DC. Please come to Atlanta next year

[@brettsmith1655]

Love Italian pens and loved this video. Thanks Drew

[@Gouletpens]

Thanks for watching! - Drew

[@alexandrapirvu7945]

As much as i like the Visconti Mythos, you gotta give it to Leonardo Officina Italiana, who was the first (recent) Italian brand to offer steel nibs on great looking pens! Luxury was made accessible then! Yeah, Visconti did have Van Gogh and Rembrandt series with steel nib and Montegrappa has several models, but all costed over 200$, whereas Leonardo made pens for less

[@Gouletpens]

Fair enough! - Drew

[@waswas1717]

Awesome selection. I would add the Stipula Etruria, Leonardo MZ as well as the Maiora Mitho (the K being an alternativ to the Delta DV Oversize) to the list. I know that their nibs aren't in house ones, but they all bring joy to hold and use. Pininfarina PF two is so underrated. Its a gem of a writer.

[@kenblair2538]

Yep, have a Visconti Mirage Brown (Opollo). Love it, it's my fav. KB

[@Gouletpens]

Same here! - Drew

[@EthanLenz-gb7pv]

It was nice meeting you at DC pen show if you remember me because you probably met so many people I really want a Leonardo and or a pineider

[@heatherbrinkmeier4080]

I can't watch a video about Italian pens and not beg for Leonardo. It's my favorite pen brand by a mile. I'm always a bit sad that my favorite pen shop doesn't carry my favorite brand, so I have to go somewhere other than Goulet for them.

[@jacksonsardello3959]

I get to try my first Delta pen today! Anxiously awaiting the end of the workday so I can go unbox it. I did purchase a Mirage Mythos, but the first one ended up having some QC defects and so I returned it. I still want one in my collection though! It seems like a great "first Visconti" pen to try before I spend the money on a Homo Sapien.

[@WendysPlans]

Wow! I’m going to Italy in Oct/Nov and I just filmed a video and asked for recommendations for fountain pens made in Italy. I want to bring 1 home. Love Goulet Pens!

[@cherylclough4309]

If you are going to Rome, I highly recommend going to Stilo e Stile. I was just there and the woman behind the counter was charming and knowledgeable. She spoke a little English and I tried out my Italian (her English was way better than my Italian, btw) and we managed to get along. I bought a Visconti Van Gogh Sunflower, a Leonardo Momento Grande 2.0 in Sand and an Aurora O Solo Mio. Have fun, I was there in a July and it was so hot I sweat my brain onto the sidewalk. October should be better.

[@horsygall]

If you’re going to Florence I couldn’t recommend casa Della stilographica more. The staff is super nice and will swap out nibs till you find your favorite. I was there in July and brought back a lovely Leonardo Momento zero aloha. Also if you’re looking for dinner recs I recommend osteria Cinghiale Bianco, just make sure to book a reservation.

[@WendysPlans]

@@horsygall I am going there. Thanks for the information. That helps a lot

[@WendysPlans]

@@cherylclough4309Thank you for the recommendation. I will try to find them while I’m there. ❤

[@evanbasnaw]

Absolutely love the Visconti Mirage Mythos. I have the Apollo in Medium. It's a great pen and right in that same price range as the other common favorites like the Lamy 2000 and Benu Euphoria. I wouldn't go for the Pineider Avatar. It also has the magnetic cap and is in the same price range. That one has a small uncomfortable grip and doesn't seal nearly as well as the Visconti.

[@michellehiggins9465]

I don't have any Italian pens yet. the Delta pens look cool.

[@samstocker08]

Ironically I have some arthritis from having broken multiple bones in my teens and twenties, and the smaller pens are more comfortable. Meanwhile I’m a big dude, 6’6 with mitts that match.

[@abrahamd514]

I get my HS delivered tomorrow, though it’s the Skylight, Steel Age version. Can’t wait!

[@alineharam]

I can’t wait for you. 😊

[@cd3694]

I have the Visconti Mythos Zeus and it writes exquisitely. And that is the first time I’ve ever said that about a fountain pen!

[@davidalexander-watts6630]

This was a very expensive video to watch. Love Italian pens, have bunches of Leonardos, a Visconti Opera, a Montegrappa Fortuna and a vintage Omas Artisan. Now I need a Scribo, a Pineider, a Homo sapiens, a Delta and...

[@FountainPenNews]

I want to try that quill nib and scribo flex so bad! (I do own a vintage Omas which has an awesome flex nib.) My favorite flex nibs are boutique hand-customized nibs by Les at Stylosuite. I also have a Regalia writing labs Cross Flex nib on its way to me. I've tried one, but I can't wait to compare them side by side! Thanks for sharing, Drew! I need to branch out beyond Leonardo for Italian pens.

[@plannermumsy]

Plan on getting your Scribos tuned. They don’t work great out of the box. It’s 50/50.

[@FountainPenNews]

@@plannermumsy good to know! Thank you!

[@davegoodridge8352]

Those are some gorgeous pens

[@tootsfour956]

Great Drew but I would have liked to hear the price of each. Thanks

[@fossilimprint2954]

Mama Mia! Thank you.

[@hawkowldolphin]

Drew what about Aurora Ipsilon’s. The nibs are great and price reasonable. Beautiful pens. I have a mythos, bronze age and other Visconti. The Aurora is as smooth as the Mythos. How come Aurora never gets attention. Is it because you dont carry them? Great video.

[@Gouletpens]

I probably would've mentioned the italic nib Ipsilons if they were still available. Even when we did carry Aurora, those specific nibs had been discontinued, which was a shame. They were some of the crispiest italics available - definitely worth a try! - Drew

[@hawkowldolphin]

Drew i went out and found on Ebay an Aurora Ipsilon with a Broad nib. Not an Italic. Smooth as butter. Aurora makes beautiful pens. Pencast question. Why doesn’t Goulet carry Aurora anymore? Would you give them another try.

[@watcherowl5387]

I'm a halfie so Ty for talking about FPs from the Motherland 🇮🇹 🤌🏻

[@BhumibolShakyaUAB]

The only problem for me as a Visconti user is the dry feedback. It dried out while writing. This might be the only pen I bought. But Italian pen are like art.

[@seanjun6209]

if you havent noticed, the best pens in the industry are made by germany, italy, and japan... hmm heard of those three before💀

[@Eagile22.]

Which ones are the best brands in these 3 countries ?

[@seanjun6209]

@@Eagile22. depends on what you consider good, i would say montblanc and pelikan for germany, aurora and leonardo officina italiana for italy, and pilot for japan

[@agabrielhegartygaby9203]

Regarding the Passion of the Italians I have 2 words relevant in strange ways to fountain pens:: Opera and Ferrari - gorgeousness and engineering....

[@gogogomes7025]

Bro is talking about pens like his shirt ain't full of Corgis 😂😂😂

[@carolanne3017]

I missed the corgis!! Love Drew’s shirts!

[@KatelynJoe]

The way I wished I could try them through the screen as you pushed them our way 😅😅😩

[@Gouletpens]

Me too! - Drew

[@TartaricKnight]

I would have contested Visconti Rembrandt as an affordable Visconti. I was able to snag one of the final 'calligraphy' nibs, which were essentially small stubs. But as a steel nib, it definitely has the feel of a great gold nib.

[@manuelsalazar3938]

That Calligraphy set is almost the best steel nibs in my collection. I had the chance to buy one of those as NOS some years back and it's been inked continuously for at least 3 years now 😅

[@TartaricKnight]

@@manuelsalazar3938 absolutely! I actually swapped it with a TWSBI 580 ALR and I absolutely love the modification. Fortunately I only needed to swap the nib, and kept the original TWSBI feed with no issues

[@CraftyKrystal]

Are all of the Pineider nibs the quill type? Or it is like a add on?

[@Gouletpens]

Not all - just their gold nibs. - Drew

[@anguswhite8233]

come on Drew: if you’re going to recommend an Italian fp, it’s got to be able to at least write!(good luck with any Visconti!:(; sorry, but to not mention Aurora is unforgivable: they make their own nibs and I guarantee they’ll write out the box everytime because, just like Lamy, they test each nib before it leaves the factory as you would expect if you’re paying £450 - in the fp community, these are legendary:)

[@Gouletpens]

My Visconti Mythos writes really well! It's never given me anything but consistent performance. And you're right about Aurora - they are one of the few Italian brands that make their own nibs (and feeds) in-house. - Drew

[@manuelsalazar3938]

All my Visconti's have worked great out of the box (Divina, Michelangelo, Rembrandt), I think their infamous nib issues are not as bad as people try to make it look, same as TWISBI, the cracking issue is only notorious for the number of TWSBI fanboys out there, if both had real issues they'd be out of business since long ago. And you're right on Aurora, they are always so underrated that it's really an insult to them 😅

[@monkpato]

TWSBI definitely has issues! But as long as people keep buying them they aren't going to change.

[@theblanklogo]

I'd be happy to try them all. Mind shipping them to me?

[@mihacz]

I do not really agree with what you said about Montegrappa. In fact they make many pens below 1k USD, that are not „exhibition” pens, but directed into experience, mixed with great materials and history behind.

[@mosesmartinez4364]

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GREAT MONTEGRAPPA?

[@Gouletpens]

A great brand! - Drew

[@MrAtheta]

I have the old Oro, nib is great and much better looking!

[@anthonyporter3741]

What! No Aurora?

[@ajaybahure111]

Next video I want on Best French Pens. I only know Waterman brand.

[@chillausmc]

Lamy Lava 2000?!

[@comprehendeth92]

I love Visconti pens, but am not so pleased with the nibs. The body of a Bronze Age is incredible. But the nib isn't great. I wouldn't trade mine for the world, I just have to constantly tune it.

[@Gouletpens]

The Mythos has been great! - Drew

[@SeaJay_Oceans]

Internet, Email, & Social Media convinced me to return to writting letters. By hand, with a pen. 🙂 Yes it may be slower, but it is far more meaningfull.

[@matthewperegrine208]

I have a Visconti Homosapiens dark age and a Visconti Mirage (blue) They are stunning. Pineider alchemist is made from lava rock too

[@metcard]

Molto bene

[@yashpapriwal5763]

How about Indian pens?

[@Gouletpens]

Great idea! I'd love to learn enough to recommend five of them! Right now, I would probably just pick the Magna Carta Mag 600 five times! ;) - Drew

[@philnordin7255]

@@Gouletpens Oh goodness Drew, how about Lotus pens? They don't make their own nibs--I think they use Jowo's--but for whatever reason they feel different. The pens themselves are well-built, attractive and reasonably priced.

[@Bazerkly]

KOOL.....

[@reveme]

Where is Aurora 😳

[@Gouletpens]

I thought about it! - Drew

[@wkasimer]

Leonardo???

[@Gouletpens]

They make great pens, for sure. Apart from being generally solid in terms of looks and performance, what reason would you give to encourage someone to give one a try? I'd love to hear - as I'm definitely less experienced with that brand. - Drew

[@wkasimer]

@@Gouletpens Well, looks and performance are not exactly minor advantages :-). Their acrylics are gorgeous, the pens are very well constructed, their quality control is good, and I like pens that are easy to maintain - the Leonardo cartridge/converter pens like the regular size Momento Zero have screw-in nib units that can be easily swapped and removed when switching inks. My only complaint is that Leonardo generates too many special editions and exclusives with some of your competitors - I'd like to buy them all. And unless you have to have gold nibs, Leonardo prices are more reasonable than some of the other Italian brands. That said, I do like the Mythos, and at some point, maybe I'll buy a Homo Sapiens. Unfortunately, by the time I feel as though I can afford the latter, the Earth Origins will likely be long unavailable....

[@garykarlin1777]

You said it yourself, solid looks and performance. And fairly priced for what you get. ​@@Gouletpens

[@-yeme-]

I never knew until now that Pineider is Italian. I thought they were German for some reason.

[@waypastbeyond]

On a recent day I was thinking how curious is that the Axis countries stand as some of the finest fountain pen producers of the world, if not the best, I don't think, and really hope, it doesn't have to do with anything political but with cultural factors, a strong tradition of rigorous industrial standards, a space for little industries to stand out through excellence in craftsmanship, a history of artistic and aesthetical sensitivity and strong connections to their pasts. Still, I find it really curious it's precisely the three Axis members.

[@plannermumsy]

Visconti has super poor quality control imo. For the price of the Homo Sapien they should be perfect.

[@CinkSVideo]

I’m sorry. Did I miss your call to sit across from you and try these?

[@Gouletpens]

I was wondering why no one showed up! I knew I was forgetting something! - Drew

[@ameliabuns4058]

I'd, if I had the money :P

[@marynorby9530]

Analog?

[@Lemon_Inspector]

The Marino brothers!? Their wine might taste like mouthwash, but at least they make good pens.

[@sajjadhusain4146]

Aurora 88 Aurora Internazionale Stipula Etruria (celluloid) Montegrappa Extra 1930 Delta DV original oversized)

[@MrMountie11]

Yeah I'll for sure get right on taking out a bank loan so I can try some of these pens out. Kidding of course love you Drew

[@Gouletpens]

Haha you're not alone there! - Drew