Some good nice pens for ladies?

[Betty]

So far, my fountain pen collection consists mainly of variations Parker 51, Pelikans, and Lamy Safaris. I want to mix up my collection a bit, but I haven't been able to really find some other brand pens I like.

 

What other pens do you think will make a cute/pretty pen for girls to use, but not screaming "I Have a Girly Pen!" Both new and vintage pens are fine.

[jbb]

I adore my gold filled Wahl Ringtop pen. It's 3½" when it's closed. It has one of the best flex nibs I own on a fountain pen.

[eightstrings]

Two come to mind:

 

Montegrappa Micra

 

Pelikan M320 (the orange one), or perhaps M450 green tortoise.

 

It sounds like you have Pelikans, so look closely at the Micra. It is really an impressive pen.

[Katya]

I used to write with a Waterman Lady Charlotte--it's a very attractive pen and, as you mention, feminine without being "girly". It looks quite small but is well-balanced when the cap is posted. It was a pretty reliable writer, as I recall. I still have the pen and would love to use it except I can't find a converter for it.

 

Now I have a Waterman Ici et La, which is also attractive but I find the design to be less...I don't know...timeless, I suppose, than the Lady Charlotte. It's a decent writer, and comfortable for writing for extended periods, but I don't like the fact that it's a cartridge-fill only.

Edited December 28, 2006 by Katya

[Oxonian]

Hi Betty,

 

The choice is huge:-

 

from Parker there are the ringtop Lady's pens from the 30's, through the striped/banded vacs in Deb size and on the the UK duofold Lady range from the late 50's-early 70's including the metal ones. Besides Parker there are a whole host of makers that did ringtops including Wahl, Swan, Watermans to name but a few.

 

De La Rue/Onoto did some beautiful small pens in exotic plastics in the 30's and 40's, some of the later Onotos were done in pastel shades and marketed for ladies.

 

Then there are the smaller Conway Stewarts of the early 50's in colours like gold veined blue, green or even purple marble or striped purple with gold trim.

 

Watermans could be anything from 552Vs in the 20's and 30's, through the Lady Pats and 3Vs of the late 30's, then there are the 512V's in assorted marbles and stripes made in Uk in the early 50's, the Torsade a twisted, fluted pen in chrome from late 60's up to the Ici et La of the recent past.

 

Bayard and several other French brands did some ladies pens that are very elegant but don't scream 'girly pen' as you put it.

 

Montegrappa has already been mentioned, the Micra is one that comes to mind or Pilot's short long pens, the list could go on and on.

 

Happy hunting, Cheers, John

[scribbler]

What sizes are you looking for?

 

I'm a fan of the Pilot (VP) Décimo, which has heft but is slender-girthed for easy gripping, and the click pen functionality rocks.

 

I'm not sure what Pelikans you have, but I like the m150's small size; there's also the Sailor 1911 m, which is also short but writes like a dream (the nib's to die for).

 

I'd post a pic, but I'm at work. LMK if you want a pic of the three for comparison against the Safari.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

A lot of these are very small, so don't tell us you weren't warned!

 

Dillon

[girlieg33k]

I agree that the Waterman Ici et La is attractive and a great writer, but a bit bland on the design. I also have a Waterman Audace and its design is a bit more inspiring.

 

I find that many modern pens are too large and heavy for me, which partly explains my preference for vintage pens (Conway Stewart, Esterbrook, Mabie Todd, Onoto, Sheaffers, and Waterman). My collection of modern pens also reflects my preference for lighter, smaller pens -- for example the Sailor 1911M, Pelikan M150/M200, Pilot Decimo, and so forth.

 

I'd suggest getting a vintage pen (any of the brands mentioned above) from a reputable dealer (writetime.co.uk and vintagepens.com both have good selections) or even eBay. Most of the vintage pens I've acquired on eBay have needed repairs/restoration however.

 

Hope that helps.

[goodguy]

Sheaffer Targa Slim is a great pen for ladies.First the pen is very elegant,fabolous writer with its inlaid nib and small enough to get into most womans hands with ease.

[lewertowski]

WATERMAN AUDACE:

 

http://i9.ebayimg.com/03/i/08/4e/a2/4c_1_sbl.JPG

 

http://i3.ebayimg.com/01/i/06/08/b3/80_1_sbl.JPG

 

http://i16.ebayimg.com/03/i/05/de/6d/1a_1_sbl.JPG

 

 

WATERMAN ICI ET LA

 

 

http://i10.ebayimg.com/04/i/06/9a/6b/16_1_sbl.JPG

 

http://i22.ebayimg.com/03/i/06/98/1c/09_1_sbl.JPG

 

 

WATERMAN EXCEPTION SLIM:

 

http://i22.ebayimg.com/01/i/07/43/d0/39_1_sbl.JPG

 

http://i19.ebayimg.com/02/i/07/3d/dd/9d_1_sbl.JPG

 

http://i10.ebayimg.com/04/i/04/da/13/80_1_sbl.JPG

[Mary P]

I'm a fan of vintage pens. I have a number of vintage Sheaffer Balance pens. I think the Carmine and Roseglow are especially nice. My Roseglow is the junior size and fits just perfectly in the pen loop of my Daytimer which is tapestry and burgundy leather. To keep everything well coordinated, I use a burgundy ink in the Roseglow pen. Because it tends to be a very wet writer and because Daytimer paper isn't the best, I use MB bordeaux in that pen. The color continues my color theme and the ink stands out nicely from the page. I can almost read my appointments without grabbing the reading glasses

 

I also have a slim Marine Green Balance which is usually filled with Noodlers Hunter Green. Yes the ink creeps a bit and the gold nib looks green but it still writes as it should. The ink looks great flowing from the pen and Hunter Green is one of the easiest green to flush from a pen if/when you want to change shades.

 

I am not a Skripsert collector but I do have one that is almost costume jewelry as well as a pen. It has a white brushed metal finish and an eternity band of "diamonds and emeralds" where the cap joins the base. I bought this pen on an ebay auction as a birthday present to myself several years ago. It has a smooth triumph nib.

 

When I was about 10 this pen was part of a Sheaffer Christmas display and I so wanted to receive it for Christmas. I was delighted to see it on ebay 40+ years later. I consider it funky jewelry that writes well.

Edited December 28, 2006 by Mary P

[Tricia]

I have six or seven Lamy Safaris and Al-Stars (same design, different materials) and love them, but my all time favorite is my gorgeous blue Bexley Sheherazade from Richard Binder. It's visually stunning (imo) and a dream to write with.

 

(I'll see if I can post a pic.)

[Betty]

I have six or seven Lamy Safaris and Al-Stars (same design, different materials) and love them, but my all time favorite is my gorgeous blue Bexley Sheherazade from Richard Binder. It's visually stunning (imo) and a dream to write with.

 

(I'll see if I can post a pic.)

Oh, the Bexley seems like a nice brand to try. I never tried any Bexley's yet.

 

Also, I like some Conway Stewart in Nebula or Sepia Blue or Azure design, but their prices are sure something to really dream about only.

 

 

I like more uni-sex pens, but in a way that it doesn't look like a masculine pen. I don't like those pens made specifically for women.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

You could try the Aurora Torino Ice. I really like mine. www.pens.it It is a different colour than the pictures. It's supposed to be a light sky-blue colour with dark blue flecks. The metal parts are mirror-like.

 

It's M200 sized and weighs about the same. It comes with a nice tin (You can keep the pen in there when you are not using, and it looks pretty), converter, and a cartridge of blue ink.

 

Dillon

Edited December 29, 2006 by Dillo

[djuna]

hmm, those audace pics have me intrigued. Anyone know how heavy they are? Is the nib steel? How fine is the fine?

[Green Maned Lion]

How about the teal and silver Rotring Core?

[Taki]

How about Pilot Legance? It's my current avatar, and I posted a review a few months ago. Very nice resin material for a Japanese pen, and nib is very smooth. I got mine from Ujuku.

Edited December 29, 2006 by Taki

[georges zaslavsky]

Here are my choices for a lady's pen:

-Montblanc 146

-Montblanc Chopin

-Parker Sonnet

-Parker Duofold

-Waterman Carene

-Waterman Serenite

Good luck whatever you decide

 

regards

 

georges

[futhark]

English post-war Parker Slimfold Duofold pens are small, elegant, and excellent writers. They are also readily available at reasonable prices from UK online pen sellers.

Regards, gerry