Pen As Present For Girlfriend

[ozbozz123]

Hello

 

I am looking to buy my girlfriend a fountain pen for her birthday and having no real previous knowledge of fountain pens stumbled across this very helpful forum. So...I was wondering if you might be able to give me some recommendations to have a look at and choose for her.

 

She doesn't have a fountain pen currently and as far as I know has never really had one. She likes to write and hopefully she would use it for that but I still don't think that it would be used everyday, just maybe once every week or two to write several pages in one go. Seeing as between us we know little about fountain pens the only real criteria for narrowing it down other than the above is that ideally I'd like it to have a slightly modernish look (I'm not too bigger fan of the very classic look, hope I haven't offended you all) and that could have a slightly feminine look to it.. she's not crazy about pink however...

 

I would ideally like to get it as a surprise but if you think that it is absolutely impossible to have a good pen without trying it then maybe I will try and find her a shop to take her to.

 

I hope I have given you enough info to make some suggestions, thank you for any help you can give me.

[Pen Is Mightier]

I don't have one myself, but I have heard many good things about the Lamy Safari which has a definite futuristic look.

[olivier78860]

Waterman Audace

http://faistoilabelle.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/d413453eb7f71d1f7fe552a65cda9154.jpg

Sailor Sapporo

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/sailor/Sapporos-02.jpg

Waterman Expert III

http://www.syll.fr/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/p/l/plume_deluxe_blanc_s0952400.jpg

[da vinci]

Buying presents for my partner is something I find difficult at the best of times. When my partner wanted a pen the only hint I got was that she wanted something small to fit in her handbag. This makes sense to me.

 

I looked ata montblanc Mozart I think, as well as some yard o led pens - I ended up going for the latter.

 

If you wanted something small but less costly, you might want to consider a Pelikan m320 or a Kaweko sport or stipula passporto. The latter 2 are not necessarily classically styled.

 

Good hunting!

[Robin Hood 001]

Parker Sonnet Deep Red (F)

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/140595646022?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

[alkman]

Lamy 2000 or Dialog 3 if either are within your budget. Both look very modern with a Bauhaus aesthetic. Otherwise you might look at TWSBI pens, available through a lot of folks online, which have a pleasant shape and utilize non cartridge/converter filling systems, which means they hold a good amount of ink from a bottle.

 

Good luck!

[MaikeruS]

Honestly, I wouldn't buy an expensive fountain pen for someone who has never used one, because of the fear of losing/breaking/damaging/... one and the fact that the pen itself might not suit them.

 

That said, I can recommend the Lamy Safari, but only if she likes that kind of look and if her grip suits the pen. The Safari is notorious well-known for having a triangular(-ish) grip section which can be unpleasant if you don't have a tripod grip. It comes to ~$35 including a converter, which lets one use bottled ink.

 

Another pen in that rough price range include the TWSBI 540, which is a beautiful pen and performs wonderfully. It's available for ~$50 from several online stores and the TWSBI website.

 

 

The nibs (points) of these two pens are also replaceable, so you can swap them over if you fancy another size or style.

 

 

If you did want to go more expensive, Japanese pens made by one of Sailor, Pilot and Platinum are very highly regarded and are typically quite small (with exceptions of course). Some are classically designed (Sailor 1911 and Professional Gear, Platinum #3776, Pilot Custom Heritage series), and some are quite innovative (Pilot Vanishing Point, which is a retractable fountain pen).

 

You'll need ink to go with it, and since the pen isn't going to be used everyday, I'd recommend a well-behaving ink such as Lamy Blue, Waterman Florida Blue, or Noodler's Black (I believe).

 

The Goulet Pen Company (no affil.) is a great place to buy your pen, with great service and good prices.

 

Anyway, I hope that helped,

 

Michael

 

PS:

Edited June 7, 2012 by MaikeruS

[Cerbeos]

+1 on a Safari - Very valid points made about the replacement cost of each component. Plus the fact that it's a TANK of a pen!

[FLJeepGuy]

If you are looking at the Lamy Safari, keep in mind that the Lamy Vista and Lamy Al-Star pens are the same as the Safari, just in different finishes:

 

• Lamy Safari - Matching colored plastic cap, barrel, and section
  
• Lamy Vista - Clear plastic cap, barrel, and section
  
• Lamy Al-Star - brushed anodized aluminum cap and barrel with smoked transparent section
  

The nice thing about these pens is that the nibs are easily interchangeable and come in sizes extra-fine, fine, medium, broad, and italics in 1.1mm, 1.5mm, and 1.9mm. The nibs are available separately so purchasing and using additional widths is possible.

 

Not knowing your price range, I suggest the following as well as good starter pens.

 

• Sheaffer Prelude
  
• Parker Sonnet
  
• Pilot Prera
  

As others have said above, you'll want some ink as well. I personally recommend the Diamine or Private Reserve line of inks.

 

Two of my favorite online vendors are ISellPens.com and Goulet Pen Company. I'm a happy customer of both.

[kps]

We need to know your budget to give you good advice. If it's not very high, we also need to know your country, so that shipping and customs charges don't blow it.

 

Tip: FPN members typically recommend pens up to twice what you say your limit is, so lowball us.

[TMLee]

Ahem ....

 

Consider my handcrafted journals ?

 

I have been told they have been great as gifts .....

 

:roflmho: :roflmho:

[ozbozz123]

Thank you very much for your replies so far, I am in France but am English so can often get stuff from the UK if it is significantly cheaper (not usually much difference) I was hoping to spend maybe around 30-40€ from a quick check it seems that's the kind of price of a Lamy Safari here, I'll have a look to see which of your other suggestions fall into this price range later tonight.

 

Thanks for the ink suggestions aswell hadn't really thought of that.

 

EDIT: I'm not too bothered about a futuristic look it was just when looking before I'd seen a lot of very "classic" designs that was all I wanted to try and avoid, think she would prefer something slightly more contemporary the suggestions so far seem to be pretty much spot on so thanks again

Edited June 7, 2012 by ozbozz123

[pen2paper]

Ditto-ing the Ahem.

One of TMLee's journals, Plus a reliable-reliable pen = Lamy Sarfari, I'd suggest the 1.1 italic, or fine nib.

Or, Goulet's have the Platinum Plaisir on sale, The red is a bright cheery red, I love mine in fine point.

 

Note: working with TMLee is a wonderful experience in itself. Delightful gentleman.

 

Lamy Safari finishes come in all but indestructible ABS, in bright green, red, blue, yellow, black, white, with silver clip/nibs, the textured finish charcoal comes with black clip/nib. < has a cool stealth look, you may wish to try this one : )

 

Al-star is aluminum, nice metallic colors, but will show some body wear after awhile, unlike the Plaisir's anodized finish which, in my experience so far, holds up quite well.

 

Refilling converter with modestly priced Lamy bottled ink is a savings over cartridges, (though cartridges may be refilled), excellent starter ink- washes out of clothing nicely.

[pen2paper]

http://www.fountainp...l-139b-a6-size/

 

 

does she like red?

This with the Red or Yellow Safari

http://thewritingdes...Safari&cat=pens

might fit your budget : )

best regards.

PS, the Plaisir

http://www.gouletpen...aisir_s/880.htm

Lewertowski, Penseller from France

 

http://stores.ebay.com/PEN-SELLER-FROM-FRANCE

Edited June 7, 2012 by pen2paper

[kps]

Lamy also make a bunch of cylindrical pens within your price range, if you're not a fan of the chunkiness of the Safari/Vista/Al-Star: Logo, Pur, ST, maybe Linea and CP1. All of them have relatively inexpensive replacement nibs if you find your original choice is too thick or too thin.

 

Another option would be the Faber-Castell Basic.

 

All the above have versions under £30 from reputable UK sellers, so I expect should be under €40 in France.

[reval]

I don't know the reputation of the Lamy Safari in France, but in several European countries they are still known as student pens. You might want to consider that if you plan to give one to your gf.

 

 

 

[olivier78860]

ozbozz123, a Lamy Safari costs 19-20€ in France. Add 6€ for a converter.

The main question is, will she want to use an ink bottle to refill it ? As you mentionned, she will use her pen once in a while, to write a few pages. So maybe cartridges are more relevant. And a pen which will accept international cartridges will be less of a bother to a "rookie" user.

 

Also, not to be mean, but Lamy Safari are quite ugly pens, even if they write decently and are quite sturdy, and as reval said, more in the school pens range.

 

If she wants something slim, there are nice Waterman pens, and you can find some with a good price from "pensellerfromfrance" at ebay.

 

Parker Rialto pens are quite slim and unbreakable.

Edited June 7, 2012 by olivier78860

[inkstainedruth]

The Plaisirs come in a variety of colors and are relatively inexpensive. They have nibs in different widths (mine is a medium, which writes fairly dry and fine) and the nib color sort of matches the barrel color (mine is a pale violet with a darker violet nib). If you go that route you'll probably also want to get a converter (which is sold separately) so you can use bottled inks. With the converter I paid about $24 US for mine from isellpens.com (no affiliation other than being a happy customer). Dunno what shipping will be for where you are -- in the US the shipping is $6-8 (but of course I was spreading that across the order, which was a couple of other pens and a number of inks samples). You may be able to find a dealer across the pond for them (which reminds me -- I need to go clean mine out....

) They are relatively sturdy pens, and not overly large. I can't comment on either Lamy or TWSBI (don't have any of those brands), but I'll admit that I don't find the Safari particularly attractive -- they're just a little too severe looking (and the clips, IMO, look like giant paperclips). A lot of people on here have them and like them though, so YMMV.

I also really like my Parker Vector (although they're no longer being made, so they're not as cheap as when I got mine a couple of years ago for $9 US). It has the advantage of being a workhorse that starts right up every time, no matter how long it's been since I used it last (it sat in my brother in law's house for two months, in a ziploc bag with my journal, and then spent a week in the bottom of my husband's car including in sub-freezing temps for another week, then started up as if I had just put it down five minutes before). It is a smaller, thinner pen, though, and some people don't like that; I have small hands so I don't want some huge horsy pen.

I won't recommend Noodler's for a first pen, but I like my Flex-Piston a whole lot. The larger model Konrad is one I really want to like, but I've had issues....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

edited for typos

Edited June 7, 2012 by inkstainedruth

[whitedot]

Lamy also make a bunch of cylindrical pens within your price range, if you're not a fan of the chunkiness of the Safari/Vista/Al-Star: Logo, Pur, ST, maybe Linea and CP1. All of them have relatively inexpensive replacement nibs if you find your original choice is too thick or too thin.

Another option would be the Faber-Castell Basic.

 

All the above have versions under £30 from reputable UK sellers, so I expect should be under €40 in France.

 

 

The Lamy Pur's design was recently updated with a few cosmetic changes. The previous version is now priced to clear, e.g. at Cultpens, a UK retailer which ships worldwide. (No affiliation.)

 

They use the same nib, which is suitable for a first-time user. It costs 5 EUR to replace, and it is stiff, which is more durable and intuitive to use than a flexible or soft one.

Edited June 7, 2012 by whitedot

[jra81]

Umm.. somebody suggested a red Platinum Plaisir. I have heard even some women cannot cope with it´s appearance of a giant lipstick