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For this list, we picked fountain pens based on actual customer reviews and ratings on Amazon. For every category, we carefully chose parameters based on our research and determined products with the highest review score within those parameters.
For the best overall fountain pen, we chose the Waterman Allure Fountain Pen. It has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 800 Amazon global reviews.
The Waterman Allure Fountain Pen has a durable engraved nib and a French-inspired design. It has a lacquer finish that can elevate your style and writing experience. Waterman pens are assembled and tested by experts. Each nib is also checked to ensure smoothness and quality.
This writing instrument is a great first step into the world of fountain pens. It is quite affordable and comes in a durable, stylish body. Customers said that this pen has superb ink flow with minimal skipping. It is lightweight, which makes writing easier and pleasurable. Its sleek body is also suitable for people with smaller hands. However, several reviews said the nibs are scratchy. One customer also mentioned that the casing's paint easily chips off, but this seems to be an isolated concern.
With a 4.6 out of 5 stars rating on Amazon US, we picked Waterman's Expert Fountain Pen as the best fountain pen you can get for under $100.
The Waterman Expert Fountain Pen is a mixture of modern and traditional styles. It is handcrafted in France and comes in various finishes, including matte, metallic and glossy. The pen also has a fine nib, producing smooth and effortless lines. The nib's curve can add suppleness to your writing as well. Apart from fountain pens, Waterman offers rollerball and ballpoint writing tools to fit any of your needs. The brand also sells specialised pens plated with 23k gold.
This durable writing instrument produces smooth lines with minimal scratching. The glossy body has a 23k gold trim and clip for added elegance. The pen also comes in a dark blue Waterman gift box, perfect for celebrating milestone events. Because it is lightweight and produces pigmented, smooth lines, customers enjoy using this pen for writing. But there were a few reviewers who said that the ink flow is too weak. Others also said it produces thicker lines than other fountain pens.
If you're looking for the best fountain pen under $50, we recommend the Parker Jotter Originals Fountain Pen. On Amazon US, it has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from over 2,000 reviews.
The Parker Jotter Originals Fountain Pen features a medium nib and a scratch-free plastic body. The nib is made of stainless steel, ensuring durability and smoothness of writing. All Jotter Originals pens are also refillable with the brand's Quinkflow for cleaner and smoother handwriting. Parker is one of the world's most popular brands of writing instruments. It was established in 1888 and has since grown to offer quality pens made with complex, individual parts designed to last.
This product is a great, affordable option for both beginners and fountain pen aficionados. It features a durable, medium nib that produces fine lines minus the skipping. The body, while made of plastic, is sturdy and feels substantial. Customers loved the iconic Parker design and fun colours. Several others said that the cartridge is easy to change as well. However, some reviews mentioned that it's not compatible with standard cartridges, which makes finding refills a bit difficult. The pen also has a slippery grip.
Montblanc's Black Resin StarWalker Doue 118871 Fountain Pen is our pick for the best high-end fountain pen. It has a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon US.
Inspired by space exploration, this Montblanc Black Resin StarWalker fountain pen comes with a platinum-coated cap and a black precious resin barrel. It is hand-crafted with a rhodium-coated au 585/14k gold nib. The pen features a blue translucent dome beneath the brand's emblem, symbolising the earth above the lunar horizon. The StarWalker line also offers different nibs: fine, extra-fine, medium and broad.
This Montblanc pen features an elegant, conservative design with a twist. At over $700, it is quite expensive, but customers said that the brand's quality and reliability are well worth it. However, reviews suggested buying a more affordable option if you're a beginner. The StarWalker Doue 118871 Fountain Pen has a smooth nib that produces fine, crisp lines with no skipping at all. The body is lightweight and comfortable to grip, which makes writing a joy. But one customer said the pen breaks easily, adding that they wished it was sturdier, especially for the price.
For writing, we recommend the Scribe Sword Fountain Pen. It has a 4.6 out of 5 stars rating on Amazon US.
The Scribe Sword Fountain Pen is an affordable, beginner-friendly pen for writing. It has a brushed stainless-steel body with polished accents and a pressed and stitched case. The pen also has a medium nib made of stainless steel, ensuring quality and smoothness when writing. The cap is airtight to make sure your ink doesn't dry out when not in use.
For less than $45, you'll get a great writing pen with superb craftsmanship and performance. Lots of customers praised the product's quality, adding that it is comparable, if not better, to higher-end fountain pens in the market. It creates crisp, consistent lines with good ink flow. The airtight cap is also useful to make sure the ink stays fresh every time. However, the body is too sleek to grip comfortably. One critic also said the nib often leaks and soils the body, but this seems to be an isolated incident.
With a 4.7 out of 5 stars rating on Amazon US, the Lamy Safari Fountain Pen is our choice for the best fountain pen when it comes to drawing.
Designed by Wolfgang Fabian, the Lamy Safari Fountain Pen is made from sturdy ABS plastic with a matte finish. It has a front section with an ergonomic grip and a self-spring clip. The Safari line also offers a variety of nibs, ranging from extra-fine to broad. You can also get this fountain pen in a wide range of colours.
The Lamy Safari Fountain Pen is great for both writing and drawing. It produces smooth lines with little to no skipping. It also has a non-slip grip, which is vital if you plan to use it for long periods. Customers added that it works great for drawing details and line work. The pen has a plastic body that several customers found flimsy. It is also more expensive than other fountain pens for drawing, but people seem to enjoy its versatility and varied options.
If you're a beginner, we recommend Pilot's Metropolitan Fountain Pen as the best one to start with. It has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon US.
The Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen is one of the most popular fountain pens recommended for beginners. It has a metal body and smooth steel nib. It also comes with a single ink cartridge and a squeeze converter. The Metropolitan line has various nib options, such as fine, medium italic and medium. Pilot is a Japanese company that offers writing instruments and stationery at affordable prices. Apart from fountain pens, the brand has gel pens, ballpoint pens and mechanical ones as well.
The Pilot Metropolitan Collection offers a wide range of fountain pens designed for everyday use. Customers liked its comfortable grip and sleek design. The pen also produces fine, consistent lines. One reviewer added that the fine nib option is perfect for detailed work. It is lightweight but doesn't feel flimsy. However, there were complaints about its poor ink flow. Others also found it too scratchy for their liking.
Methodology
19 Brands considered
64 Products compared
7 Best products chosen
We compared fountain pens from over 15 brands and more than 60 products.
We then assessed hundreds of customer reviews and ratings on Amazon.
The products on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not selected based on commercial relationships.
We considered the following fountain pen brands:
Cross
Dryden
Faber-Castell
Hero
Jinhao X450
Kaweco
Lamy
Montblanc
Monverde
Muji
Noodler’s Ink
Parker
Pelikan
Pilot
Sailor
Scribe
Sheaffer
Waterman
Wordsworth & Black
For this list, we carefully picked products with the highest customer ratings on Amazon. We ended up with a total of 64 fountain pens for comparison.
We then researched each product and its features. We also considered ratings and customer reviews on Amazon (as of April 2021). We came up with what we believe are the seven best fountain pens available in Australia right now.
We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. However, Finder may receive compensation when you click some links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners and why you can trust our guides.
Ericka Pingol is a writer for Finder specialising in best guides. Using tested methodology, Ericka has been helping Australians choose the right product across hundreds of categories since 2020. Ericka has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of the East, Manila. As well as being passionate about helping people save money when shopping for their latest purchases, Ericka has a background in writing about property investment, personal finance and health. When not writing best guides, you can find her lost in the pages of a good book or experimenting with watercolour painting.
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