Is a gold nib worth it?

[dval]

Ok, I've got my lovely Century II fountain pen, F nib, but it is steel... I've seen the 18 carat gold nib at Montgomery Pens for $56... is it worth? Will it provide a relevant difference? I'm also considering the possibility of getting another FP, maybe paying more to get a new one complete with gold nib is worth more than having a "spare" steel nib not to be used at all... And no, sending it to Cross to have the nib swapped would be WAY too expensive... (btw, any advice on where shall I buy is welcome!)

 

Cheers!

[TWRDO]

I think it would depend on the particular nib. I have pens with both gold and steel nibs, and some of both are good and bad. Most of my best nibs are steel, actually. If you're happy with the steel nib, I wouldn't bother replacing it.

 

In what part of Chile do you live? I lived there for about 2 years.

[wheezur]

The steel vs gold question has been asked numerous times before. The link below is to an article by brian gray (edison pen company):

 

http://edisonpen.com/page.cfm/In-Praise-of-Steel-Nibs

 

IMHO, it makes no significant difference and I would put the additional money into another pen.

[dval]

The steel vs gold question has been asked numerous times before. The link below is to an article by brian gray (edison pen company):

 

http://edisonpen.com/page.cfm/In-Praise-of-Steel-Nibs

 

IMHO, it makes no significant difference and I would put the additional money into another pen.

Thanks! That article is quite clarifying... I won't bother swapping the nib, but if I said I will never buy a gold-nibbed FP I would be a big, fat liar. Still haven't decided yet, though, whether a Townsend or going Pelikan M400 or M600... I want something slightly heavier and fatter than the Century II, but not too much, and it's not a priority right now. By the way, yes, I'm a wet FP guy (my rotring is also very wet).

 

Answering TWRDO's question, right now I live in Santiago, but I lived in Valdivia (roughly 500 miles south) during my childhood.

[rookieboyliu]

Pelikan 400 and 600 are good choices, but if you want to explore others, I'd suggest Visconti.

[TWRDO]

Answering TWRDO's question, right now I live in Santiago, but I lived in Valdivia (roughly 500 miles south) during my childhood.

 

Cool. I lived in San Bernardo, Talca and Concepción.

[jsroe]

I have a Pelikan M400, and I find the two tone gold nib to be similar to the Townsends gold nib. Both are wet writers but I find the Pelikan fine nib which is more like a medium seaps ink through paper whereas my Townsend medium does not have that problem, and is smoother than the Pelikan. Maybe a Pelikan medium to Townsend medium would be a better comparison, but if the fine nibs seaps through the page, I dont think a medium would do any better. The Townsend comes with 18Kt gold nib whereas the Pelikan is 14KT, and costs a lot more than a Townsend. My suggestion would be go for the Townsend with the solid metal body instead of the plastic M400 or M600. I have a Townsend chrome with fine steel nib ($115 US) which is as smooth as the Pelikan which cost a lot more and will probably outlive it too.

 

As for steel vs gold. I have a steel fine Century II nib as well as a Townsend steel fine nib. I also have a gold century II steel fine nib and Townsend gold medium nib. On fine paper I can't tell much difference betweent the steel and gold nibs, but I find the gold nibs are a little smoother on wider variety of paper. For example on course photo copy paper the gold nibs seem to glide over smoother than the steel nibs. So if you use your FP on fine paper mostly, the steel nib should be just as good as the gold.

[dval]

So if you use your FP on fine paper mostly, the steel nib should be just as good as the gold.

Fine paper? What's that? I use photocopy paper because notebooks here are even worse.

 

Now, the natural question... Does the Townsend get too heavy? I admit I like the idea of a 18 carat nib, but I wouldn't like something too heavy. And yes, even though a red M400 or M600 is very beautiful, a blue/silver cap is just

[Joe in Seattle]

I prefer Pelikan steel nibs to their gold ones. This is due to width of line, not smoothness. I've been able to tell no difference between steel, 14K, 18K, or Sailor's 21K. A well designed nib should write well. If the pen lasted as long as it has, usually (YMMV) the vintage nib is fine, too.

[langere]

To answer your question, dval, no, the Townsend is not all that heavy. It is a substantial pen and it's very beautiful. But it is relatively slim, so it doesn't feel like a big hunk o' metal in your hand.

 

BTW, Valdivia is gorgeous and I hope to return to Santiago soon!

 

Erick

[jsroe]

By fine paper I mean a journal. I use a Moleskine journal and the paper is quite smooth, and my steel nibs feel as smooth as my gold nibs.

I buy some cheaper journals with low grade paper just to goof around with from the dollar store, and I find some of my steel nibs tend to dig in a bit on the low grade paper compared to the gold which still seem smooth. I dont know for sure if it's the actual difference between gold and steel that is the difference or if the gold nibs are higher quality and designed better or have a coated tip that make them feel smoother on rougher surfaces than the steel ones. I have the Pelikan M200 and M400, and while both are great fountain pens of high quality, they feel very light compared to the Cross and the plastic body (sorry resin) make it feel cheaper than the solid Century II or Townsend which feel substantial and solid like a fine precision instrument, without feeling heavy.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Well, I'd put my M Steel, Townsend away...expecting to send it off to be made cursive italic...come the day.

 

I just ran a slew of pens through the New MB toffee.

 

In my pens with shading in medium, the Cross Townsend steel falls between a Pelikan 400 Tortoise 14 K(84-96) and Geha 790 KM semi-flex 14 Kwet writer.

It has nice shading in that ink. It is a very good nib, steel or not.

 

Sigh.....it's still going to go off and become an Cursive italic...I don't have one of them, and the Cross is a very nice nib in that ink.

Edited May 7, 2010 by Bo Bo Olson

[Ravenmoon]

I have to say, I'm a gold nib snob - LOL. All 5 (yes, 5, the shame) of my Townsends have 14 or 18K nibs, and I adore them. I also have a Visconti Opera with an 18K nib, and a VanGogh with a steel nib. Visconti makes one of the best steel nibs I've used, but to me, there is a difference. The steel VanGogh is just not the same silky smooth flow as the gold, though it's essentially the same nib....(I'm considering buying a gold nib for my VanGogh, in fact.) Maybe if you can get hold of a gold nib, give it a try, and if you can't tell the difference, then write on?

[Pepin]

I have to say, I'm a gold nib snob - LOL. All 5 (yes, 5, the shame) of my Townsends have 14 or 18K nibs, and I adore them. I also have a Visconti Opera with an 18K nib, and a VanGogh with a steel nib. Visconti makes one of the best steel nibs I've used, but to me, there is a difference. The steel VanGogh is just not the same silky smooth flow as the gold, though it's essentially the same nib....(I'm considering buying a gold nib for my VanGogh, in fact.) Maybe if you can get hold of a gold nib, give it a try, and if you can't tell the difference, then write on?

 

Yes, the difference is there. Gold nibs self-correct up and own strokes, allowing more consistent lines due to the natural vibration absorbing property of gold. Steel nib writes like chalk over glass and be severely punishing on fragile hands.

[pricenelson]

from my experience I have found that a gold nib holds a better line at a higher pressure than steel. however, i do prefer a fine steel nib for drawing.

[bluemagister]

I picked up a red Century II with the gold-plated nib in F and find it to write more like my Phileas M. It's a wonderful pen and I keep it fed with a large supply of clearance Cross Blue-Black carts. I can't find any flaws with the pen or the nib.

 

The key point is not so much the composition of the nib, but the composition of the tip. A deft application of tipping material (iridium/rhodium/unobtanium) goes further in smoothness than having a 21kt nib with a botched tip job.

[jaqcp]

Ask your wife if she wants a gold wedding band with diamonds or gold plating and cubic zirconia. Is there a difference?

 

I thought so.

 

I am sure that the quality of the craftsmanship of a nib is more important than the base metal. But gold is always better because it is PRETTY!

[ExcaliburZ]

If you are doing professional calligraphy for money or a serious hobby, yes. Otherwise no.

[rogerb]

A properly gold-plated nib, such as on the Onoto 261, will LOOK exactly the same as a solid gold one, no less 'pretty' ..... apart from the markings which identify it as such.

[Koyote]

Yes, the difference is there. Gold nibs self-correct up and own strokes, allowing more consistent lines due to the natural vibration absorbing property of gold. Steel nib writes like chalk over glass and be severely punishing on fragile hands.

 

Huh?

 

Anyway, my steel nibs write nicely. No difference in the writing quality between a good steel nib and a good gold nib.