Looking For A Gift For The Wife... But Not A Fountain Pen.

[bc214]

Hello all,

 

I have, over the past year, converted almost entirely to fountain pens. I have had quite terrible handwriting for majority of my life, and have written in print since they stopped forcing us to use cursive in sixth grade. About a year ago I purchased a fountain pen on the recommendation of a friend, and began the arduous task of relearning cursive. Although my print has not gotten much better (I write very fast by habit while printing), my cursive is tolerable. Because of the lack of cursive seen lately, most people see my so-so legible cursive and compliment me. Anyway, I have assumed fountain pens as a hobby on top of a nice easy writing method, and have amassed a small but respectable collection. I use a Pilot Vanishing Point and a Lamy 2000 as my daily pens (school life and personal things), and keep an Edison Collier on the desk. While at work I am forced to use ballpoints/rollerballs due to the demands of quadruplicate forms, but I keep a a Sheaffer 100 in my uniform for those few times when I can get away with it.

 

Anyway, moving on to the point of this post. My wife is a nurse, and not able to use fountain pens on a daily basis. She spends half her time working with patients, and the other half as an administrator. She says that she "writes too fast" for fountain pens, but I'm not sure what she means. Anyway, she lacks the hobby angle of FP's that I love, but wants a "nice" pen for daily writing at work and for her day-to-day letter writing/journal/etc. She tends to write with free junk pens, and that is rough.

 

Her birthday is approaching, and I would like to get her a few things. First, I want to get her a Rhodia journal. Second, is a pen that she can use for her journal work as well as take to work with her on admin days. I would like to get her a rollerball, but something that can be found in a fine. I know that Sheaffer makes a few pens that can take other brand's "fine" rollerball refills.

 

So, do any of you have any good recommendations on a nice, daily pen? I'd like to have something that looks nice, but can write for days without being a burden in the hand. I am not looking to save money, and have an upper limit of about $200, but I think that, as her first nice pen, about $100 would suffice in the event she looses it.

 

I was looking at the Sheaffer Sagaris online, but I've never held it and am reluctant to buy it without a recommendation. I have posted a link below to this pen, as well as a link to a purportedly Shaeffer safe "fine" refill.

 

Please let me know what you guys think, as well as any recommendations and tips you may have.

 

Thank you.

 

-BC

 

http://www.coloradopen.com/product/Sheaffer-Sagaris-Rollerball-Blue/Sheaffer-Sagaris

http://www.coloradopen.com/product/schmidt-rollerball-refill-5888/sheaffer-rollerball-refills

[Algester]

How bout something as lowly as a uni-ball jetstream refill but with a custom body... Maybe a signo... But you said roller ball huh... Never particularly liked RBs because of the ball rolling sound you hear as you write on paper...

But I degress I'm was and probably still is a pilot fanbow so I recommend a Pilot precise v5 or V7 rt with a karas kustoms body

Edited September 26, 2015 by Algester

[usk15]

I recommend a Pentel Energel alloy RT, maybe in pink. Nice metal body, light, durable and great gel refills.

 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=pentel+energel+alloy

[2brothers]

How about a Caran D'ache Ecridor or "849" ballpoint pen? They come in many different designs and some very feminine ones. The all metal ones would be good for your wife so she could sanitize them without worrying about hurting the finish.

 

They are on what I would say is the smaller(shorter and slimmer) side of pens.

 

Also, CdA ballpoint refills are the smoothest writing I've ever used.

[ac12]

Cross, Classic Century

www.cross.com/writing-instruments/shop-collections/classic-century.aspx

Several different finishes available.

 

Or the Cross Spire, red

http://www.amazon.com/Cross-Titian-Lacquer-Rolling-AT0565-5/dp/B005KGM160

http://www.acedepot.com/cross-spire-titian-red-lacquer-ballpoint-pen-at0562-5.html

 

note that the Classic Century and Spire are "THIN" pens, about the diameter of a standard wood pencil.

Edited September 30, 2015 by ac12

[inotrym]

+1 for the CdA Ecridor/849 and Cross Classic Century/Spire

 

I may add the Parker Sonnet Slim ballpoint

and perhaps the super cute Parker Urban Premium

 

Also, for an inexpensive toss around pen consider the Cross Click.

 

Both Parker pens take the standard parker style refill, but you could use the gel refills.

The Click also accepts the parker style refills if you add a small spacer.

 

 

edit to add: Faber Castell Emotion and maybe Monteverde Invincia capless rollerball would be also nice if she´s into fatter pens

 

edit 2: I take it from the link you provided that you are open to capped pens. If so, take a look at the Waterman Hemisphere or Expert. They both fit the lovely Pilot G-2 refills.

Edited September 30, 2015 by inotrym

[goodpens]

So, do any of you have any good recommendations on a nice, daily pen? I'd like to have something that looks nice, but can write for days without being a burden in the hand. I am not looking to save money, and have an upper limit of about $200, but I think that, as her first nice pen, about $100 would suffice in the event she looses it.

 

 

http://www.coloradopen.com/product/Sheaffer-Sagaris-Rollerball-Blue/Sheaffer-Sagaris

http://www.coloradopen.com/product/schmidt-rollerball-refill-5888/sheaffer-rollerball-refills

I suggest the Parker Sonnet rollerball. I bought one for my husband and chose it for many of the same attributes you are looking for. The refills are available in a wide array of sizes, including an XF (similar to a Pilot V5) and a F (Pilot V7). It has nice weight to it, but isn't too heavy. When I bought mine from the Fountain Pen Hospital in NY, they were able to engrave it, so I added his name--something you might consider for this type of gift. It is a available in a variety of colors/trims and prices.

 

http://www.fountainpenhospital.com/Index_Showcase.asp?BOD=/collections/collection.asp%3FMFG%3D23%26CK%3D1098

 

Enjoy picking it out and let us know what you choose.

Edited October 9, 2015 by goodpens

[bobje]

BC, you might consider the Italix Parson's Essential ballpoint with a gel refill. It would be about $49 with shipping. I bought one to accompany my Parson's Essential fine cursive italic fountain pen, and it's gorgeous.

 

http://www.mrpen.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d184.html