Fountain Pens

Pen Ratings

5 pens reviewed

PenNibSizeTypeScore
Pelikan Souveran M809 Matte Black Special Edition 18K Gold Medium Piston ★★★★★★★★★★
Sailor 1911 Realo GT 18K Gold Medium Piston ★★★★★★★★★★
Pelikan M120 Iconic Blue Special Edition Steel Fine Piston ★★★★★★★★★★
Lamy 2000 14K Gold Fine Piston ★★★★★★★★★★
Esterbrook Estie Raven Steel Fine Converter ★★★★★★★★★★

How Pens Are Rated

Graded on a weighted scale

  • 50%PerformanceNib
  • 20%DesignMaterials & Features
  • 20%ExecutionFit & Finish
  • 10%Value-to-PriceValuation vs. Price
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Pelikan

Souveran M809 Matte Black Special Edition

Ink: Diamine Forever Cherry Red

98/100 4.9 out of 5
Pelikan Souveran M809 Matte Black Special Edition Pelikan Souveran M809 Matte Black Special Edition

Pen Details

Manufacturer
Pelikan
Model
Souveran M809 Matte Black Special Edition
Nib
Pelikan 18K Gold
Nib Size
Medium
Fill System
Piston
Purchased From
Truphae
Purchase Price
$920.00
Valuation
$800.00

Characteristics

Feedback
Smooth Tooth
Flow
Wet Dry
Stiffness
Flexible Stiff
Balance Point
Tip Butt
Line Width
0.7 mm
Line Variation
+ 0.2 mm

Performance Nib · 50% of total

Reliability
No Issues 5 Occasional Issue 3 Unreliable 1 5 pts × 80% = 4.0
Composition
Gold 5 Titanium or Palladium 4 Steel 3 5 pts × 20% = 1.0
Performance Total
5.0 × 50% = 2.5

Design Materials & Features · 20% of total

Visual Aesthetic
Attractive 5 Average 3 Ugly 1 5 pts × 40% = 2.0
Materials
Exotic 5 Above Average 4 Average 3 Poor 1 4 pts × 40% = 1.6
Special/Limited Edition
Yes 5 No 3 5 pts × 20% = 1.0
Design Total
4.6 × 20% = 0.9

Execution Fit & Finish · 20% of total

In-Hand Feel
Premium 5 Acceptable 3 Cheap 1 5 pts × 40% = 2.0
Finishing Work
Flawless 5 Acceptable 3 Poor 1 5 pts × 40% = 2.0
Threading
Smooth and Precise 5 Acceptable 3 Rough or Loose 1 5 pts × 20% = 1.0
Execution Total
5.0 × 20% = 1.0

Value to Price 10% of total

Value ÷ Price
$800.00 ÷ $920.00 = 0.9 0.9 × 5 = 4.5 pts
Value to Price Total
4.5 × 10% = 0.5

Evaluation Results

Performance Score
2.5
Design Score
0.9
Execution Score
1.0
Value to Price Score
0.5
Out of 5
4.9 / 5
Out of 100
98 / 100

Notes

A very elegant, high-end pen. It's overpriced, but a good representation of Pelikan.

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Sailor

1911 Realo GT

Ink: Sailor Kiwaguro

98/100 4.9 out of 5
Sailor 1911 Realo GT Sailor 1911 Realo GT

Pen Details

Manufacturer
Sailor
Model
1911 Realo GT
Nib
Sailor 18K Gold
Nib Size
Medium
Fill System
Piston
Purchased From
Goldspot Pens
Purchase Price
$600.00
Valuation
$650.00

Characteristics

Feedback
Smooth Tooth
Flow
Wet Dry
Stiffness
Flexible Stiff
Balance Point
Tip Butt
Line Width
0.45 mm
Line Variation
+ 0.1 mm

Performance Nib · 50% of total

Reliability
No Issues 5 Occasional Issue 3 Unreliable 1 5 pts × 80% = 4.0
Composition
Gold 5 Titanium or Palladium 4 Steel 3 5 pts × 20% = 1.0
Performance Total
5.0 × 50% = 2.5

Design Materials & Features · 20% of total

Visual Aesthetic
Attractive 5 Average 3 Ugly 1 5 pts × 40% = 2.0
Materials
Exotic 5 Above Average 4 Average 3 Poor 1 3 pts × 40% = 1.2
Special/Limited Edition
Yes 5 No 3 3 pts × 20% = 0.6
Design Total
3.8 × 20% = 0.8

Execution Fit & Finish · 20% of total

In-Hand Feel
Premium 5 Acceptable 3 Cheap 1 5 pts × 40% = 2.0
Finishing Work
Flawless 5 Acceptable 3 Poor 1 5 pts × 40% = 2.0
Threading
Smooth and Precise 5 Acceptable 3 Rough or Loose 1 5 pts × 20% = 1.0
Execution Total
5.0 × 20% = 1.0

Value to Price 10% of total

Value ÷ Price
$650.00 ÷ $600.00 = 1.1 1.1 × 5 = 5.5 pts
Value to Price Total
5.5 × 10% = 0.6

Evaluation Results

Performance Score
2.5
Design Score
0.8
Execution Score
1.0
Value to Price Score
0.6
Out of 5
4.9 / 5
Out of 100
98 / 100

Notes

Outstanding fit and finish. Piston fill. Nib grind has interesting, angular, geometry. This is Sailor at it's best.

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Pelikan

M120 Iconic Blue Special Edition

Ink: Diamine Forever Blue Indigo

86/100 4.3 out of 5
Pelikan M120 Iconic Blue Special Edition Pelikan M120 Iconic Blue Special Edition

Pen Details

Manufacturer
Pelikan
Model
M120 Iconic Blue Special Edition
Nib
Pelikan Steel
Nib Size
Fine
Fill System
Piston
Purchased From
Unknown
Purchase Price
Unknown
Valuation
$120.00

Characteristics

Feedback
Smooth Tooth
Flow
Wet Dry
Stiffness
Flexible Stiff
Balance Point
Tip Butt
Line Width
0.5 mm
Line Variation
+ 0.2 mm

Performance Nib · 50% of total

Reliability
No Issues 5 Occasional Issue 3 Unreliable 1 5 pts × 80% = 4.0
Composition
Gold 5 Titanium or Palladium 4 Steel 3 3 pts × 20% = 0.6
Performance Total
4.6 × 50% = 2.3

Design Materials & Features · 20% of total

Visual Aesthetic
Attractive 5 Average 3 Ugly 1 3 pts × 40% = 1.2
Materials
Exotic 5 Above Average 4 Average 3 Poor 1 3 pts × 40% = 1.2
Special/Limited Edition
Yes 5 No 3 5 pts × 20% = 1.0
Design Total
3.4 × 20% = 0.7

Execution Fit & Finish · 20% of total

In-Hand Feel
Premium 5 Acceptable 3 Cheap 1 3 pts × 40% = 1.2
Finishing Work
Flawless 5 Acceptable 3 Poor 1 5 pts × 40% = 2.0
Threading
Smooth and Precise 5 Acceptable 3 Rough or Loose 1 5 pts × 20% = 1.0
Execution Total
4.2 × 20% = 0.8

Value to Price 10% of total

Value ÷ Price
Purchase price unknown — scored neutral (1.0) 1.0 × 5 = 5.0 pts
Value to Price Total
5.0 × 10% = 0.5

Evaluation Results

Performance Score
2.3
Design Score
0.7
Execution Score
0.8
Value to Price Score
0.5
Out of 5
4.3 / 5
Out of 100
86 / 100

Notes

Small form factor. Nib is a little sticky. Not the best representation of Pelikan.

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Lamy

2000

Ink: Diamine Forever Cherry Red

94/100 4.7 out of 5
Lamy 2000

Pen Details

Manufacturer
Lamy
Model
2000
Nib
Lamy 14K Gold
Nib Size
Fine
Fill System
Piston
Purchased From
Goldspot Pens
Purchase Price
$196.42
Valuation
$250.00

Characteristics

Feedback
Smooth Tooth
Flow
Wet Dry
Stiffness
Flexible Stiff
Balance Point
Tip Butt
Line Width
0.5 mm
Line Variation
+ 0.1 mm

Performance Nib · 50% of total

Reliability
No Issues 5 Occasional Issue 3 Unreliable 1 5 pts × 80% = 4.0
Composition
Gold 5 Titanium or Palladium 4 Steel 3 5 pts × 20% = 1.0
Performance Total
5.0 × 50% = 2.5

Design Materials & Features · 20% of total

Visual Aesthetic
Attractive 5 Average 3 Ugly 1 5 pts × 40% = 2.0
Materials
Exotic 5 Above Average 4 Average 3 Poor 1 4 pts × 40% = 1.6
Special/Limited Edition
Yes 5 No 3 3 pts × 20% = 0.6
Design Total
4.2 × 20% = 0.8

Execution Fit & Finish · 20% of total

In-Hand Feel
Premium 5 Acceptable 3 Cheap 1 3 pts × 40% = 1.2
Finishing Work
Flawless 5 Acceptable 3 Poor 1 5 pts × 40% = 2.0
Threading
Smooth and Precise 5 Acceptable 3 Rough or Loose 1 5 pts × 20% = 1.0
Execution Total
4.2 × 20% = 0.8

Value to Price 10% of total

Value ÷ Price
$250.00 ÷ $196.42 = 1.3 1.3 × 5 = 6.4 pts
Value to Price Total
6.4 × 10% = 0.6

Evaluation Results

Performance Score
2.5
Design Score
0.8
Execution Score
0.8
Value to Price Score
0.6
Out of 5
4.7 / 5
Out of 100
94 / 100

Notes

A very reliable everyday type of pen.

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Esterbrook

Estie Raven

Ink: Diamine Forever Cherry Red

60/100 3.0 out of 5
Esterbrook Estie Raven

Pen Details

Manufacturer
Esterbrook
Model
Estie Raven
Nib
JoWo #6 Steel
Nib Size
Fine
Fill System
Converter
Purchased From
Goldspot Pens
Purchase Price
$202.50
Valuation
$150.00

Characteristics

Feedback
Smooth Tooth
Flow
Wet Dry
Stiffness
Flexible Stiff
Balance Point
Tip Butt
Line Width
0.6 mm
Line Variation
+/- 0.0 mm

Performance Nib · 50% of total

Reliability
No Issues 5 Occasional Issue 3 Unreliable 1 3 pts × 80% = 2.4
Composition
Gold 5 Titanium or Palladium 4 Steel 3 3 pts × 20% = 0.6
Performance Total
3.0 × 50% = 1.5

Design Materials & Features · 20% of total

Visual Aesthetic
Attractive 5 Average 3 Ugly 1 3 pts × 40% = 1.2
Materials
Exotic 5 Above Average 4 Average 3 Poor 1 3 pts × 40% = 1.2
Special/Limited Edition
Yes 5 No 3 3 pts × 20% = 0.6
Design Total
3.0 × 20% = 0.6

Execution Fit & Finish · 20% of total

In-Hand Feel
Premium 5 Acceptable 3 Cheap 1 3 pts × 40% = 1.2
Finishing Work
Flawless 5 Acceptable 3 Poor 1 3 pts × 40% = 1.2
Threading
Smooth and Precise 5 Acceptable 3 Rough or Loose 1 1 pts × 20% = 0.2
Execution Total
2.6 × 20% = 0.5

Value to Price 10% of total

Value ÷ Price
$150.00 ÷ $202.50 = 0.7 0.7 × 5 = 3.5 pts
Value to Price Total
3.5 × 10% = 0.4

Evaluation Results

Performance Score
1.5
Design Score
0.6
Execution Score
0.5
Value to Price Score
0.4
Out of 5
3.0 / 5
Out of 100
60 / 100

Notes

Nib is unremarkable, writes at least 1 grade fatter. Pen has a nice aesthetic, but fit and finish is not well executed. For example, nib came misaligned with the feed, cap threading is very rough, and the threading is very sticky.

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