How to choose a fountain pen and where to find it.
Sometimes it is not easy to choose, from a wide catalogue, the one or those products that can best suit a person, whether it is for oneself or as a gift for a loved one. Especially if you do not have a deep knowledge of the products you want to buy. Fountain pens are a clear example of this. There are dozens of brands, hundreds of models, and an infinite number of combinations of colors, materials, and prices.
At writing-pens.com we want to make easier this search and for this we have made, on the one hand, a first selection of those fountain pens that we consider most attractive taking into account their characteristics. On the other hand, we list below some guidelines to follow for those undecided who do not know what to buy or give away.
Obviously this section is not aimed for collectors, fans or experts in fountain pens who, in general, are looking for a specific piece or know what they want, but rather for those outside the world of fountain pens, for those who want to make a one-off purchase or for those who want to start in this widespread hobby. As for collectors, we are sure that they will appreciate the magnificent prices that we offer when it comes to increasing their collection.
How to find a fountain pen that suits my needs:
Set a budget range. The number of models is so high and the prices so variable depending on the quality and design of the fountain pens that the first decision to be made is how much to invest in writing, being able to reduce or increase the amount slightly later if you find some out of range that best suits the wishes of each person.
Think about the style of the person for whom the fountain pen is intended. It can be very easy if the recipient is yourself, but if not, it can help to think about the recipient's tastes, hobbies, age, style of clothing and general lifestyle. If you are a man or a woman and if are classic, romantic, enthusiastic, practical, serene... Any trait of personality can help you opt for one or the other option. These features can decisively influence the choice of one fountain pen design or another.
Be clear about what the fountain pen is intended for. It can be used in long writing sessions, to write a diary, to take simple private notes, to take notes at university or work meetings or simply to sign a contract, at a wedding, etc. The destination of use of the piece, together with the physical structure of the user (size of the hands, physical strength, habit of writing, etc.), can help to opt for a large, wide, heavy, slim, short, balanced, comfortable fountain pen , etc. There are also purely decorative fountain pens, for desks, displays or as a prize or thanks for some outstanding action, being able to look for a base, box, inkwell or additional complement, taking comfort in writing to the background.
Another fact to take into account is the line width. Like the fountain pen itself, the destination of the pen, in addition to personal preferences, can decide whether to buy an extra fine, fine, medium or thick nib. As an example, thick nibs can be used in calligraphy, to sign documents or to make designs. The thin ones are usually purchased for those who write regularly, take notes or need a more uniform and clean writing. Most fountain pens offer different types of nib, thus being able to choose the line width.
Materials can be decisive. Many fountain pens are authentic jewels made of precious metals and stones such as gold, diamonds, platinum, silver or palladium. Resins, lacquers, leathers and woods can also be very attractive depending on who is the recipient of the purchase. Likewise, the creatoin process of the fountain pens can influence the choice; Handmade creations, partially handmade or mass-produced, have different value both intrinsically and for the user, and may affect the possibility of being unique pieces. Think about the material and the creation process when making your choice.
Another attribute to take into account is whether it is a regular, special or limited collection. Regular collections are those that are in the regular catalogue, can be purchased in large numbers and are available for a long period of time, although some regular editions can be discarded or evolved according to their acceptance in the market and every year some new products come out. The special editions are dedicated to a matter of interest and are available for a determined period of time, and cannot be obtained once this period and the stocks have finished: people, historical moments, objects, cultures, artistic works, etc. are likely to be the reason for a special edition. Limited editions, as their name indicates, are limited to a number of units, and may be a numbered edition (the corresponding number of the numbered edition is engraved) or unnumbered. Once this number is finished, it is not possible to acquire them as first hand. In general, they are very special pieces, of high quality and high price, being exclusive products.
In the case of a gift, and like any gift, another aspect to take into account is the relationship with the recipient of the gift. A family relationship (father, mother, siblings, grandparents...), friendship, love (Valentine's gift, partner's birthday, etc.), a professional relationship (boss, employee, retirement farewell, etc.) is not the same. ), gratitude (doctors, lawyers…). Depending on the type of relationship, you should look for serene fountain pens, with more standard color combinations, or other more original and risky ones.
In case you don't know the person, we recommend looking for a low-risk design. The combination of black and silver or black and gold or completely silver or gold are classic compositions with consolidated success.
How to buy a fountain pen online and where to do it
Once the model has been chosen in a store with a wide catalog and in which it is easy to search (through attributes such as colors, brands, materials, collections, etc.), we recommend making the purchase in a store that offers the best relationship between price and confidence.
Unfortunately, there are web pages on the Internet with a dubious reputation, some of which are fraudulent, which harm those that scrupulously comply with the law. They harm them because a bad experience on a Web page or in an online store can cause the consumer to lose confidence and not make purchases on the Internet again, harming all Web stores, including those of different products. Below we make some recommendations regarding the choice of the page where to make your purchase:
Be wary of excessively low prices. They can be second-hand items (although they may be in good condition), or that do not offer the manufacturers' guarantees (brought from other countries in a doubtful way, with criminal origins, etc.).
Be wary of websites and domains that pose as manufacturers, brands, or legal stores.
Look up the legal conditions. Online stores, like any physical store, must be supported by a freelancer or company with a Identification Number that supports them, and this data must be published on the Web itself.
Buy in stores with secure payment gateways such as Redsys or Paypal or by transfer to a bank account, preferably from a bank you trust.
Take special care with stores whose registered office is located in a country that can be considered a tax haven or difficult to legally cover.
If in serious doubt, do not purchase from that store. Sometimes it is preferable to pay a little extra to make a safe purchase.