What's the most expensive pen that's WORTH IT?

[ethernautrix]

BerneseMtDogEatsArco, I did not want to like this pen, cos I did not want to spend the money for it. I wanted to save the money, maybe for something else not even a fountain pen (GASP!), but when I tried it... it did me in. I forked over the cash like a, like a... like an ATM machine, except not twenties. Heh.

 

But I was happy to do it, cos not only did I get a wonderful fountain pen but a work of art as well.

 

BTW, looking at this pen and writing with it today helped to counter Dandelion's beguiling review and photos of her Delta 365. Ha ha ha, like a crucifix in a vampire's face! (But a NICE vampire. Not the truly evil kind.) So having this Komori actually saved me about $200 today. Probably helped me save more on other pens the temptation of which I resisted because of having this one.

Edited July 22, 2009 by ethernautrix

[bardharlock]

Pretty soon, I'd have a solid diamond pen hand carved by elves (rare elves - not the ubiquitous Santa's elves) in little huts hidden away in the high emerald plains of Saturn!

Okay, I want one.

 

I'm with her.

[Tsujigiri]

This is a difficult topic and I've also noticed my spelling mistakes, so I'll be more careful. The problem here is that to know the answer one has to have a multiple of expensive pens. There wouldn't be too many people out there with too many. So we just end up with a bucket of personal opinions. It's like when people do reviews, we know it's going to be a rant about how great it is before we read the review. The objectivity flies out the door. So once again it's just a matter of opinion with no definitive answer. Best Aesthetically? Best Flex? Best Bling? Best Everydayer? Best Reliability?........it's all too hard.

Thanks

 

I don't think that's really true. Everyone has expectations buying a pen, and pens are scored based on how well they meet these expectations. Based on the reviews I've seen, there's a lot more than just rave reviews. There are reviews from people who are disappointed, and reviews from people who like their pen, but admit a few flaws. Just because I buy a pen doesn't mean that I end up liking it; that's illogical. I'm willing to believe that most people rate pens objectively.

[Philip1209]

Having worked with Brian Gray while he was designing his new prototype, now dubbed The Huron, and having had it in my possession now for two weeks with two upgraded nibs (one stub) I can say that for around $250 you will be as happy as you can be for what these days is not terribly expensive for a new, custom designed, hand made fountain pen. Being in on it from the start, choosing the materials, the nib, the grind, to clip or not to clip, etc., well it doesn't get any better than that. Oh, and did I mention that working with Brian is like working with your guardian angel?

 

Check out the pens at edisonpen.com and see what I mean.

 

You can see mine here. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...p;#entry1131646

 

This is excellent advice. My Edison Pearl is an outstanding pen that is by far my smoothest writer.

[caliken]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3477/3743940748_2041ed5c86_o.jpg

ethernautrix :

 

Beautiful writing! (and beautiful pen)

 

caliken

 

[BerneseMtDogEatsArco]

Having worked with Brian Gray while he was designing his new prototype, now dubbed The Huron, and having had it in my possession now for two weeks with two upgraded nibs (one stub) I can say that for around $250 you will be as happy as you can be for what these days is not terribly expensive for a new, custom designed, hand made fountain pen. Being in on it from the start, choosing the materials, the nib, the grind, to clip or not to clip, etc., well it doesn't get any better than that. Oh, and did I mention that working with Brian is like working with your guardian angel?

 

Check out the pens at edisonpen.com and see what I mean.

 

You can see mine here. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...p;#entry1131646

 

This is excellent advice. My Edison Pearl is an outstanding pen that is by far my smoothest writer.

 

Thank you both! I've actually been working with Brian on a custom for a few days, and I've got to say, I'm really impressed!

 

 

[Mrsal]

Pretty soon, I'd have a solid diamond pen hand carved by elves (rare elves - not the ubiquitous Santa's elves) in little huts hidden away in the high emerald plains of Saturn!

Okay, I want one.

 

I'm with her.

 

 

can you add another to the order? :roflmho:

[docsamson]

If you're really talking about WRITING PLEASURE - then Nakaya. This is a writer's pen. No other pen I own comes close to feeling like it was made for the sheer simple practice of putting ink on paper as much as my Nakaya.

 

Sailor isn't too far off but it still feels like an off the shelf pen - the body, not necessarily the nib.

 

Nakaya feels custom made all the way. It can be simple or ornate, it's up to you. You'll feel the quality in every stroke you lay down and you'll know exactly where your money went.

 

Good luck.

Edited August 7, 2009 by docsamson

[Akumar]

So. So so so. Um.

 

I'm kinda in a rut here.

 

I've had a few pens pass across my desk, and for some reason, haven't really "bonded" strongly with any of them. I have some that I favor (149's), but I don't really feel like I've found a pen that I can't see myself trading in the future. I've owned and/or had the opportunity to try out some very nice pens, and some great vintage pens, and the question hit me: "when does a high price coincide with what you get"? I tried searching variants of this and couldn't really find any answers, and am wondering if you could maybe shout out some pens that you've run across.

 

I'm looking for higher end pens, because I have a bit of a fund set up for the more affordable pens and they drift in and out of my collection, which is enjoyable, but I'd like to try some of the "mostest bestest". The tough thing for me is that any of the nice pens I've had have been gorgeous jewelry (which is great), but I'm looking for a pen that delivers $1-2k of WRITING PLEASURE, and not necessarily "eye candy", "social status", or "limited edition availability", though it's OK if those come along with it. I am just looking for something I can write blind with and really really enjoy. I know that a well-tuned gold nib and good ink transfer is all that's really required (along with good paper!), but some part of me still wishes for the ultimate writer's pen. While I currently have an open query posted regarding stiff nibs, I'd prefer to keep all of the options open for this topic.

 

Mostly related: Are there perhaps custom pen builders with whom I could design a pen?

 

Pens I've had the pleasure of owning (in case I've missed a crucial area to explore):

MB 144 B

MB 146 F, M

MB 149 XF, F, M, B

MB Dumas B

MB Boheme M

Stipula Etruria M, Stub 0.9

Lamy 2000 XF, M

Delta DVOS M

Aurora Optima M

Danitrio Mikado F

Sheaffer Valiant M

Pilot VP M, M

Tibaldi Impero, M

Bexley Poseidon Stub

Waterman Phileas M, M

Rotring Initial F

Visconti Ripple (never used)

Pelikan M600 XF

Pelikan M800 M

Pelikan M215 M

Omas new Paragon M

 

At this moment, the only pens in my stable are two 149's, a Lamy 2000, a Delta DVOS, and an Aurora Optima.

 

Very best,

Michael

 

 

have you seen Pelikan souveran solid gold?

 

[voop]

My personal choice is the Waterman Exception Night & Day. I got the Gold and there is also a Platinum version.

 

The pen is very good looking, but it is the writing experience that "blows me away" - to me, this is the best of the best and there could not be a better writing pen. I have stopped looking for the best pen - this is it for me. When I got the pen three months ago my pen rotation ended - this is my daily writer.

 

+200

 

Absolutely agree. My first "real" FP were Exception Ideal and N&Ds. After a long day of testing every single pen in the pen-shop (ok, maybe not, but close) they blew me away and I ended up going home with all four variants. I also use all four, daily -- they're absolutely excellent writes with good nibs, but the weight, the balance, the in-hand-comfort is unbeatable. I've been using them for a couple of years now (since 2004 or 2005, I think) and they're just quite simply without comparison.

 

To me, these are definitely 'worth it' -- and while certainly on the north side of $50, as some seem to consider to be the cut-off between "practical" and "bling", they're worth it. If you were the one proposing the $50 limit, it can only be because you've not given the Exceptions a try.....

 

Now, for the "precious metals" version of the Exception, the Silver may be pushing it but the 10000 Eur massive gold version definitely, for all the qualities it may have as a writer, definitely is bling-galore. No, I ain't got plans to get one.....

[Bearcat]

For the $50 group: what pens would you recommend in this price range? I haven't found any pens below $100 that write well enough to see a lot of use. Is there anything new at $50 that has the refined feel of a Sailor, the smoothness of a Lamy 2000, or the flex of a Pelikan m1000?

 

 

A good, used Lamy Studio, perhaps?

[dandelion]

Danitrio pen painted by artisan Hironobu Okazaki.

 

This simple design incorporates many different Maki-e techniques: The cap is Akebono-nuri, painted with red Urushi then covered with black gradated Urushi and then clear Urushi to be Tame-nuri. The moon is made of gold leaf. There are five bats: the top two little ones on the cap are black Urushi; the top two on the barrel are #12 gold powder and have abalone Raden eyes; and the bottom larger bat is #5 gold powder. Then the entire pen was carefully burnished. [Paraphrased winedoc's description in his sales thread.]

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3477/3743940748_2041ed5c86_o.jpg

 

This is slightly off topic - what a beautiful pen, Ethernautrix. I'm willing to trade it for the Delta (which is a magnificent writer) any day - just drop me a line.