We are often asked which pen makes the best introduction to fountain pens. Whether it is your very first pen or your first since a Parker Vector at school, there are more excellent options available now than ever before. Here are our recommendations at every price point.
Jinhao Shark -- The Budget Pick
The most affordable fountain pens we stock come from Jinhao, a Chinese manufacturer with several decades of pen-making experience. Their Shark fountain pen is a great entry point -- fun, practical, and available in a range of colours. The transparent section lets you see the ink inside, and unlike brands such as Lamy, Parker, and Sheaffer, it takes the international standard ink cartridge, which is widely available and easy to source. It also comes with a converter, allowing you to fill from a bottled ink -- opening up a far wider range of colours and better value per millilitre.
Kaweco Perkeo -- The Step Up
The Kaweco Perkeo is made in Heidelberg, Germany, and represents a noticeable step up in build quality. It has a reassuring click cap, a robust feel, and comes in a good range of colours. It is well suited to teenagers and adults alike -- though for younger children, some of the smaller Kaweco models may be a better fit. Browse the full Kaweco range here.
TWSBI Go -- The Bottle-Fill Beginner
TWSBI are a Taiwanese brand that has built a strong reputation for well-engineered, community-informed pens. The TWSBI Go is their entry-level model, filling from a bottle via a simple spring-loaded mechanism -- push it down, release, and the ink is drawn in. It is transparent, so you can see the ink level at a glance, and comes in several colours.
TWSBI Swipe -- The Flexible Option
The TWSBI Swipe is the only TWSBI that accepts ink cartridges (international standard) as well as a converter for bottled ink -- making it the most flexible option in the TWSBI range for those who want the choice.
TWSBI Eco -- The Enthusiast's Starter
The TWSBI Eco is one of the most popular fountain pens in the world at its price point, and for good reason. It fills from a bottle, offers five nib widths from EF to B plus a 1.1mm italic, and has been produced in a wide range of colours over the years. It is the pen many enthusiasts reach for first -- and often keep reaching for long after they have moved on to more expensive pens.
A note on transparent pens: transparent or "demonstrator" fountain pens were originally used by salespeople to show off the filling mechanism in action. They became collectable, and many manufacturers now produce them as standard. They are popular because you can see the ink level and colour inside the pen at a glance.
Not sure which to choose? Get in touch and we will be happy to point you in the right direction.