How to Buy Your First Fountain Pen

[@AmyAnnetteHenion]

This could not have come at a better time for me! I had been planning to blind buy a fountain pen online, but now I'm determined to make a pilgrimage to a pen shop and try some out in person. Also, I love Raphael's proper French pronunciation of "chartreuse."

[@luisbalderrama8145]

Its a great community. If you're just starting, Pilot explorers or Metropolitan are great. Lamy Safari or Al Star too. Theyre easy to use and maintain as well as let you find out which nib size you enjoy without breaking the bank. The aspect that is underrated is the paper. Fountain pens are usually wetter than normal ballpoint or rollerball pen, so having good paper makes a difference. Especially when you get ink with sheen or shimmer properties. I am sure thr rep at the stationary store / pen store will have a lot more knowhow and can help you a lot more, but I do hope this helps. Enjoy!

[@AmyAnnetteHenion]

@luisbalderrama8145 Thank you for the suggestions! :)

[@Ybalrid]

@@AmyAnnetteHenion For paper, most of the usual French stuff is great (Rhodia, Clairefontaine). Generally "smooth" (coated) paper is best for fountain pen. Some amazing stuff from Japan too like Tomoe River is *amazing* (it's very very thin, yet ink does not feather in to the paper. It also shows off the special properties of some ink best!)

[@AmyAnnetteHenion]

@@Ybalrid Great suggestions, thank you! :)

[@Adthin]

For me the specifics weren't relevant for me as just a fountain pen will be infinitely better feeling than a ball point, I bought a sailor 1911 for my first pen (~£140) and it hasn't let me down, a fine nib won't bleed through normal printer paper as well so its very safe

[@Pudgeorama]

So interesting to learn about how Gentleman's Gazette came into being! I remember using fountain pens as a kid in England and struggling along with them. Ink always got everywhere, but they probably weren't good ones or I just wasn't very adept. It's nice to know that there is so much information on your site about such a fabulous writing instrument! Thanks, as always, for everything you do out there making these wonderful videos!

[@gentlemansgazette]

Thank you for your support! Happy to know you've enjoyed our coverage of fountain pens

[@richardzak2140]

I've been using a fountain pen for approximately 30 years or so. My first was a Waterman Phineas and I still have it to this day. I have graduated to the Pelikan and Montblanc and enjoy the fine craftsmanship of these pens.

[@johnpetrucellijr.8167]

My first fountain pen is a Parker 21 purchased from eBay for under $20. After a deep cleaning with pen flush and a tine flossing this pen writes very well. I find myself using this pen every day. Nice presentation Raphael. I would like to see a video on fountain pen inks. Keep up the good work.

[@slicksnewonenow]

It's hard to beat an old Parker... They have a very UNIQUE writing feel.

[@linuxman0]

I have six fountain pens and they're all different and therefore, offer a different feel. I'm a lefty and I use the pens, all medium nibs, as daily writers. Your videos never disappoint. I LOVE how you go over your attire as featured in that day's video. Keep up the good work.

[@wullgrew1]

I just got my first one. I'm using brown ink right now, and I absolutely love it! It writes incredibly smooth and I love the way it feels while writing. I wish it was a little larger in diameter though.

[@SonicFlare]

Agree completely - as an ex- Euro dude living in the US, I too grew up on fountain pens... they are a delight and I started getting back into using them over the past year or so... wonderful and a complete opposite to the digital world we are surrounded with day in, day out...

[@jobustify]

Pilot Metropolitan is always my recommendation for first timers. Amazing quality for $30. See if you're into fountain pens before dropping hundreds.

[@topwomble]

Got a Kaweco pen from Nomos with a lid that screws on quite far down. Great hard wearing pen, never have to worry about leaks and writes well

[@Sgw11968]

Thanks for the great content! After watching all of the pen videos I decided to give a Pilot Metropolitan a shot and see if I was a "fountain pen guy". It's been about a month and a half and I think I'm hooked!

[@gentlemansgazette]

Wonderful! Glad to hear you've found the videos useful 🙂

[@sc4589]

What timing! Planned to get my first fountain pen tomorrow and this video pops up. Must be a sign.

[@gentlemansgazette]

Excellent! Which pen did you end up getting?

[@sc4589]

@@gentlemansgazette went with a Sailor Pro Gear Slim. Aiming for a Mont Blanc next. Found a new old stock 145 M nib for the price of around 335-400$ in my country. Contemplating between the 145 & 146 for the next fountain pen . Do you have any advice on which model to aim for??

[@georgejones3826]

I have recently inherited my grandfathers fountain pens from around the 1940s and they are amazing to write with

[@tompegorinno5141]

I too have my own Fountain pen. It was affordable where I bought it at the time and it was absolutely worth it

[@dean0481]

I inherited a fountain pen (one that was never used) and I use no other pen! I write the fastest in class and often get compliments on my writing :) (filled two notebooks these four semesters)

[@benkonczal4584]

I’ve been enjoying fountain pens for years… my go to has been the Montblanc 146 with a medium nib. (I purchased it used). But I just recently purchased a Montblanc 149! (Used from the late 80’s-1990?) It has a broad nib and I love it! I have several others and I enjoy them all.

[@craft-o-matic399]

I would love to see some content on stationery at different price points Raphael. Thank you! Lisa

[@slicksnewonenow]

@@craft-o-matic399 Hi Lisa... Sometimes you can catch "high rag content" typing paper on sale at the various Office Supply stores... The stuff that used to be commonly used for Resumes and other business correspondence. It's usually available in several muted colors, like white, ecru, light green, light blue, light grey, etc... It's normally 8x10 standard "typewriter" size... But when I find it, I sometimes cut it in half to make 4"x 5" "note" size pages. You'll know it when ya see it... It's got a sort of "linen" texture to it and it takes fountain ink incredibly well. Something else I used to use as "fancy" stationary, was called "onion skin" paper... But I haven't seen that for sale in a store for years. Cheers!

[@andrenewell3097]

A subject very close to my heart. I always found writing with a fountain pen to be very elegant but had poor experiences with inferior products (pens and paper). Once I solved this problem I haven't looked back and have been writing (almost exclusively) with fountain pens for the last 10 years.

[@facemeltor2261]

My first "real" fountain pen was a Pelikan M800 in gold/blue. B nib and ive had much fun writing with it.

[@MogelBoom]

My dad tried to mock me 2018 with the sentence „When you graduate your bachelors degree, I’ll gift you a MontBlanc pen“ although he new I’m about to quit uni. Did an apprenticeship, went back to uni 2 years ago alongside my 9-5 and it looks like I’m graduating next year with an 1.5 (A-) in Computer Science and he is getting cold feed haha

[@djt-lu8tw]

Nice job man.

[@LewisLittle66]

I bought my first fountain pen (at least, my first since I was in school) a few weeks ago. Actually I bought 4 different ones, all under £10 each, just to try them out and see what I like. One of them was the Jinhao X450 (which you show in this video at 6:06). I got the same colour, the blue wave one, partly for its classy looks, and partly from seeing many positive reviws of this and other Jinhao pens on KZbin. But mainly, because it was only £7, and I figured that if I decided I didn't like using a fountain pen, I haven't wasted a lot of money. Spoiler - I love it. Its a chunky, heavy pen which I like a lot, it looks and feels and writes like a much more expensive pen than it really is. I have a feeling that my collection will be a lot bigger than 4 pens by the end of the year. 😆

[@slicksnewonenow]

LOVE those Jinhao pens! The price is right and no skin off anyone's nose if they decide that a FP isn't for them...

[@gentlemansgazette]

Enjoy collecting!

[@ornot_toby]

I thought about getting a Mont Blanc but as I didn't write with a fountain pen for 20 years I went for a Lamy Safari just to see if I like it. And I love it, will stick to my Lamy for some more time though before I spend that much. But the day will come...soon

[@marioe6696]

Interesting video. Any plans on making a video about butler/valet (furniture) pieces? Vintage and modern.

[@sandyschannel6917]

I don't get to watch like I used to but I'm glad you do these videos and this one is setting me on the right path. Thank you for taking the time and effort

[@lanceroparaca1413]

This kind of videos but for watches would be great

[@BillWrightabc]

Not bad--not bad at all. From day one, I fell in love with the Parker 51 (Vacumatic and Aeromatic) and have a number in my "accumulation. Waterman Carenes--again several including several Limited Editions. I noted there were two Namiki Vanishing Points used (one being used as a writer, one was the cartridge/nib unit) and I have many of these as well. I'd offer two further suggestions. Please consider the Visconti marque--solid pens across many price points. If you live in NYC, Fountain Pen Hospital is THE place to go for all things pens, ink, paper, AND advice. The staff is knowledgeable and caring. I been a customer there since I moved to Manhattan. 4.5 out of 5 stars on this video!!

[@THKLOTTWIZ]

My son bought me a Waterman fountain pen. When I was in high school I always loved using one. It was a fad back then. But recently I bought 500 ink refills that came with 3 cheaper pens, but I'm amazed at how they feel with writing with them. I so love the fountain pen! I still use the Waterman one also, but I use that one for more of a signature, etc.

[@pjyast]

I got my 11yo niece a Lamy and one called the parallel as a gift and she loves them. I took them for a spin and enjoyed the writing experience although I almost never hand write anything.

[@callaway5148]

My first fountain pen was an Esterbrook Camden which I received as a graduation gift. It has set me off on a whole new adventure...

[@yobanyhernandez125]

After being in fountain pens for 8 months now, I found that Lamy and pilot are the pen brands for me. Dependable, edc and even classy when I need it to be.

[@JacobsP]

I got my first fountain pen from my grandfather. It was made in USSR and it has a golden nib which makes it expensive so I was afraid of losing it. Also golden neeb doesn't work for me because of it's softness. Recently I've bought Faber-Castell Fresh fountain pen for about 10$ and I enjoy it. I can grab it wherever I want and it also has a place for the second cartridge inside which makes it a perfect instrument for travels. I would highly recommend this pen to newers just to taste how it feels.

[@edrianbobbycalabio1]

I have the Wordsworth & Bläck fountain pen. Love it 🖤

[@gabrielcareaga4847]

Absolutely love your videos, thank you for all the information shared, I love my cross.

[@gentlemansgazette]

Thank you for your support! Which Cross pen do you own?

[@nerferothdrake559]

Actually, it was Gentlemen's gazette, that inspired me to try out fountain pens. Before watching your series of videos I had an impression that fountain pens are impractical and fussy to use. Nonetheless, loving everything classy and classic I decided to give it a go and bought myself a nice Jin Hao pen after reading some positive reviews on them. Eventually, I've been using it for nearly half of the year, and I've realized that writing with a fountain pen is not only stylish and more elegant but also quite more economical, since the single bottle of ink I'd bought simply doesn't want to finish. All in all, I'm really grateful for your advice and encouragement to use fountain pens, they are absolutely worth it.

[@gummyberrygaming9676]

Great video, thank you! ❤

[@kletts42]

My first pen was a Cross pen which was a gift . After that, I bought four from artisans. All the pens are wood covered (not the nib or clip, of course). I like all but one. One of them doesn't keep the ink flowing even after I cleaned it. The rest are great pens. I do hope to get a montblanc some day.

[@slicksnewonenow]

@@kletts42 Hiya Kletts! That pen that you have, that doesn't flow well... It can be tweaked until it does. If you can get your hands on a good quality Emery Board and a decent pad of good paper, make sure your pen is filled with ink. Take the pen in hand and "draw linked circles" back and forth on the grittier side of the Emery Board... Make a good ten passes forward and back, using the same hand pressure that you normally write with. Next, wipe the nib with a lightly moistened SOFT paper towel and take the pen to the paper pad and try writing something... Write your signature a few times. If the nib is still grabbing in an unpleasant way, or the ink flow is still unsatisfactory, use the finer grit side of the Emery Board and write lower case Cursive "e" over and over, forward and back... Another ten times. Wipe the nib with the again with the moistened paper towel. Try the pen on your paper pad again to see if it's writing the way you feel that it should... Keep repeating those steps until the nib "evens out" to your liking. It's a bit time consuming, but well worth the effort. I hope that helps you out! Cheers!

[@becauselifts9913]

Excellent vid. The previous ones regarding FP's were less so. Edit: My current FP depends on where Im working. EDC in the field: Hong Dian Black Forest. In office: Pilot Custom 823.

[@DannyStammers]

I've learned to write with fountain pens. The Lamy abc. Unfortunately I don´t have it anymore. Throughout my school years I've used fountain pens, even though the rest used ballpoints. After my school years I've been writing mostly with ballpoints. The past few years I've rediscovered the fountain pen and noticed that for me it is just the superior way to write. The pen from school that I still use is the Stypen Up. I'm even thinking of learning to write cursive again. Very few people write cursive that is actually readable, though. I'm currently looking for a sub- €100 fountain pen to up my craft. I feel that going beyond that is overkill for me at the moment. The Pilot Metropolitan (or MR2 as they are called here) looks professional and seems to write really well, but the only version they sell here are the animal line, and I prefer the 'regular' ones.

[@flybalbu]

My first fountain pen was a papermate i got when i was 7 for school Recently i changed to a cheap lamy safari clone that was less than a dollar, it works but the nib was a bit scratchy so for drawing i updated to a slightly more expensive kids pen but that slight upgrade gave a better experience for drawing (i still use the safari clone for journaling though)

[@gabrielbaca-ps9oo]

Great story 👍, and I love your videos.

[@blktauna]

Your German Pen bias is showing ;-D Hilariously my favourite pen so far is a Pilot Kakuno in M, MF and F. Your Mom's method is also good for using fun bottle colours.

[@prof.cecilycogsworth3204]

Thanks!

[@andrewscott9610]

My first fountain pen was the Jinhao 159.

[@RubberKid100]

I don't even remember what my first fountain pen was. Probably a Bic or a Parker. It's been twenty years, and I was a small child. These days I mostly write with a Lamy 2000. Though I enjoy my other pens a lot, still.

[@RobertHowe-f5z]

A Parker my choice for the first fountain pen.

[@dakotarayprice]

I m a fan of watermen pen guy and paker guy to

[@ljr35]

We should embrace all the small pleasures to be found in this life, that is my reason for using a fountain pen. I find them much more pleasurable to write with compared to a ballpoint pen, the ink flows better and I like the varied ink options. If spending over €200 (even over €50) on a pen you absolutely need to buy from a shop so you can try out the pen. For example I had thought about buying a Mont Blanc a few years back but when I tried it in the shop I found it uninspiring and ended up with a Pilot Falcon Fine instead which suited my writing style better. I saved around €200. I do recommend Mont Blanc inks however, some of the best around and fairly priced.

[@banjopiggottwright1802]

When I buy my first fountain pen, it will most likely be from either Mont Blanc or Parker, great work as always GG.

[@petermuller9940]

Dankeschön… auf ein Füller-Video habe ich schon gewartet. Welche chinesischen Hersteller sind denn zu empfehlen. Bei Uhren kenn ich mich da aus, bei Füller leider nicht. Ich benutze übrigens einen Lamy und einen Mount Blanc.

[@ralphmarkasher]

Raphael, The Japanese Surrender paper was signed with a 1928 Parker Duofold selected by MacArthur.

[@capezyo]

Visconti....top pens...

[@pdexBigTeacher]

Pen-in-hand is essential. I prefer larger pens yet a fine nib, unless it's a Japanese make like Sailor, whose fine nibs are 'finer' than European or American fine nibs. I have gone down the fountain pen rabbit hole, and now trying to wean myself from the next shiny toy that catches my eye!

[@montfordpointmarines9474]

The pen is mightier than the sword.

[@atlantacabil]

I'm not a fountain pen person myself but I used to work in a luggage and gift shop that sold Mont Blanc fountain pens. Very costly to say the least

[@gentlemansgazette]

Are Mont Blanc fountain pens worth it? www.gentlemansgazette.com/is-it-worth-it-montblanc-fountain-pen/?

[@jules2957]

Jinhao has pretty good cheap pens. Slight mods can make them way better.

[@peterzabilka3664]

I wish I was right handed. I mainly only use medium and fine nib pens.

[@warhawkjah]

This is oddly interesting. The first fountain pen I had was a 3 pack of disposable pens; I think they were Pilot. I’ve had problems with bad handwriting all my life and this was my attempt to write better. I also just saw on Amazon that retractable fountain pens exist as well. As far as my handwriting, I’ve found that I have the best luck with either fountain pens or super fine ballpoint pens.

[@slicksnewonenow]

@@warhawkjah Hiya Hawk- If you really like "fine" nibs, take a look at the incredibly inexpensive (but beautiful) JINHAO pens... They're available with "F" nibs that truly are FINE. Almost like writing with a ballpoint pen... And they're very smooth. It's great to see that a younger person has taken care to try and write more legibly... Do you write in Cursive? That sounds like a crazy question, but when my nieces and nephews see me flying along writing in Cursive, they stand and stare as if mesmerized... They're in their early and mid Teens and apparently were never taught to write in Cursive at school. I have to admit that I don't write as much as I used to... I have MS and it's gotten uncomfortable to even hold a pen. But I did have beautiful Penmanship at one time. Do me a favor? If you get the chance, teach a young kid how to write in Cursive. I guarantee you'll look like a magician to the kid... And they'll have something not many others do. Cheers !

[@owenlee3771]

I’m a bookies pen type of guy myself.😂🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@gentlemansgazette]

😅

[@andrewx8888]

Do not buy a cartridge for your fountain pen, it may be "popular" but you will get poor writing performance and clogging very frequently. Also, do not buy something called India ink, you permanently break your nib and converter. Only buy bottled fountain pen ink.

[@daled4191]

Love a fountain pen but as a lefty they dont like me! So space pen all the way for me, small sleek form factor is hard to beat.

[@RT65CB-SWL]

I am a ‘lefty’ too! I have inherited my fathers Parker fountain pen & propelling pencil set. He also is a ‘lefty’. Unfortunately I do not have the original box or gift box.

[@TTripp1]

Writing left handed works with fountain pens too. It has more to do with the ink you use and how absorbent the paper is. Also, it depends on how you write. If you are an “under writer” your hand won’t even touch the ink while it’s drying.

[@drdghattierdc]

I have fountain pens from the 1920s through late 1990 s. Not one Mont Blanc is reliable. This includes a Diplomat My Duofolds work better. Best day to day is the old style pelican 200. Nibs easy to replace. First pen in the 60s was a pelican 120 from meine Grossmutter. In Stuttgart. Servus!!

[@tomrusack3266]

Should one fly with a fountain pen? Thinking here of changing air pressure within the pen.

[@jonathans1759]

Rotting designed a pressure compensation system

[@torben_vp]

Go to the store?

[@gregoryshaughnessy7541]

Lamy 2000 is a great first pen also the Pilot 823. Both are great moderately priced pens with great functionality and style. I got into fountain pens a few years ago. It’s a great hobby, but beware it is addictive and before you know it you can spend a lot of money on pens. Also recommend TWSBI as a great brand of inexpensive but good quality and good looking pens, their Eco, Diamond 589 and 700R Vac are all awesome! The real fun of fountain pens is all the different ink colors. Great video as always Rafael!

[@TTripp1]

A lot of gold nibbled pens are less than several hundred dollars - particularly if you look in the vintage market.

[@doc8125]

bought a gold nib vintage pen for 30 bucks the other day, writes great

[@matorix003]

Important to note: Faber Castell has a more prestige line of pens going under the name „Graf von Faber Castell“

[@LordTRight]

I have an issue here: I have cleaned two of my grandfather's vintage fountain pens. Both have iridium nibs, and celluloid bodies. Although I mildly sandpapered the tips of nibs, they still have very stiff and scratchy feeling when writing with them. Do I need to buy a new pen, modern ones, or is a scratchy writing a normal thing?

[@gentlemansgazette]

Don't forget that fountain pen nibs need to be written in, so continue working and writing with your vintage pens to reduce that scratchy feeling over time.

[@gentlewolf]

Raphael, What do you want your epitaph to be?

[@go35ffc]

are pelikan's good pens for everyday use?

[@robertnyc4489]

Yes.

[@Guregoru1]

I have question. What is that paper in 6:28? Looks great

[@goodmorningtokyo5355]

❤❤❤

[@Reverend_Salem]

i have several fountain pens and even a few dip pens. my favorite fountain pen is my Zebra V-301. i do not recommend dip pens.

[@Sourpusscandy]

I have owned dozens of fountain pens, but none over $150.

[@gentlemansgazette]

Do you have any favorites from the ones you've tried?

[@hardcoredoom5892]

You haven’t lived, bro.

[@LatimusChadimus]

❤ ❤ ❤ 🖊

[@schylerlewis8467]

Buy a pilot and be happy for the rest of your life!!!

[@chykalov]

There is a theory… If you doubt just buy Pilot 😊

[@channelsixtynine069]

I'm left handed, so choosing a fountain pen is a little involved. Nib types, ink flow, ink and paper must all be considered. Writing styles may need to change, to avoid smudging. Since left handed writers push the pen, rather than drag it across the page, this can damage a fountain pen nib, care must be taken.

[@ProductionsFromBeyon]

Lammy Safari the end

[@ecthelionalfa]

i got myself a 2 dolars fountain pen and used to draw for like a month or 2, then i bought a Lamy fountain pen, that i use to draw and write

[@TheodoreKokkoris-x4z]

Have you received my question??????????

[@windigo1592]

reading pelikan in a french accent was so unneceseary

[@DeeZ36]

Bought fountain pen 6 years ago.. and never want to write using ballpoint again.. The downside is your wallet gonna get hit because you WILL start collections of fountain pens and ink.

[@EZBISME]

I choose a stylus

[@slicksnewonenow]

Pfffff... I'm so "vintage", I just use a twig in the sand....SO THERE! 😂

[@Matto5433]

@@slicksnewonenow If you are going to be immature about this then just leave.

[@Metabbroke4587]

​@@Matto5433 Why so serious

[@josephcletus6578]

First comment

[@MikhaelHausgeist]

Lol!!! 4:52 Caran D'ache sounds like russian word for a pencil... Wonder why?.. No, really wonder! But in the end it difinetely be boring stuff like about Unitas, Campagnolo and etc... But still!

[@doc8125]

The amount of wrong information in this video is so great that I don't even know where to start ... also, why name only german brands for "popular brands", plenty of those you mentioned probably don't sell a % of what pilot for example does ... if this video got you interested in fountain pens, I suggest doing some further research beyond this to find out what you actually want

[@thevanishingsaxon663]

I just don't trust myself enough to carry around a fountain pen in my $400 Peter Christian sports coat.

[@miles2378]

Did you order the Sports coat online if so how did it fit?

[@thevanishingsaxon663]

@@miles2378 It fits great.

[@miles2378]

@@thevanishingsaxon663 did you have to have any tailoring done to it after geting it?

[@EpicMLKGamers]

Fountain pens are absolutely horrible in every way possible and this video certainly isn't going to convince me otherwise

[@DylanSmith-br5zv]

Explain your opinion please

[@chi-towncalifornia5916]

With that sort of close-minded attitude, no video is going to convince you otherwise.

[@fatal3713]

I would love to know your reasons also.