Modern Minimalistic Pens

[rajatbhardwaj]

Hello everyone!

 

This is my first time posting here. I recently got hooked onto fountain pens by getting a Lamy Safari. When I was young and living in India, we had to use FPs for school. But I moved to the US about 16 years ago and stopped using them.

 

In any case, I'm in love with them again.

 

I am using a Safari but feel that it looks too bulky, especially with the cap. I recently picked up a Lamy pur: http://lamyusa.com/lamy_fountain_L47_pur.php

 

I haven't inked it up yet because I'm wondering if any other companies make similar pens. The modern minimal, Bauhaus style or if Lamy is the only one doing those? I've searched on the forums but most pens seem to be very classical in look. Any thoughts?

[airborne18th]

Have you looked at the pilot vanishing point? Pilot is more modern than minimal. The Lamy 2000 is really a great pen as well, since you already are into lamy.

[jar]

Welcome home. Not quite sure what you would consider minimalist but in line with your example there are many, many such pens. Look at Franklin-Christoph; they have several that would be considered minimalist. Also there is the Montegrappa Espressione and Sheaffer Targa.

[Olliwerder]

Lamy's designs are probably the most bauhaus, and the aforenentioned 2000 seems to be the pen that fits the bill for you. Porsche design also makes some pens with a very nice, clean design, and some faber-castells and graf von faber-castells also have minimalist tendencies (i.e. ondoro, intuition). Lamy, though, is still the epitome of minimalist, Bauhaus pen design, and the 2000 is, apart from being an iconic design piece, a great pen and one of the best values out there.

 

-Olli

[bicfan]

Parker '51

Parker Jotter

[enricof]

Pilot M90

[Laura N]

Not to add to the chorus, but I also think the Lamy 2000 is wonderful and fits the bill.

[htom]

Parker Flighters might be what you're looking for. I think the Parker 75 Sterling Silver Grid is a rather minimalist pen, too.

[danahn17]

Pilot M90

I was gonna say the same. One of my favorite designs (I hope to find one one day).

 

http://www.namiki.com/limitedEditions/mu90.php

Edited May 21, 2012 by danahn17

[Oranges and Apples]

<--- M90

 

But it is hard to find at a reasonable price.

Edited May 21, 2012 by Oranges and Apples

[cellmatrix]

Nakayas (cigar or portable models for example) are about as minimalist as you can get as well as just being amazing pens. On the low end muji makes a very minimalist fountain pen.

[BillZ]

Not sure if it fits your idea of minimilist but the Kaweco Sport without the clip is pretty stripped down!

[enricof]

<--- M90

 

But it is hard to find at a reasonable price.

 

Unfortunately you're right, but the OP did not specify a price range.

 

Having both the M90 (I did not pay it too much, fortunately) and (two) L2K, my opinion is the L2K is a great tool (Bauhaus-style, form follows function), but the M90 looks like the quintessence of a modern stylus, more stylized (almost abstract...).

 

Other quintessential pens are the TWSBI Micarta (expecially the clipless version) or some Indian ED "writing sticks".

[nicholasyeo]

The M90 is indeed the Pinnacle of minimalism. Hmm, actually the Kaweco is nice too.

I like the Graf von Faber Castell Intuition as well. Really nice grip area...

[vondauster]

The Parker "51" is a great suggestion, but really if you want simplicity and minimalism, and especially if fine nibs are your thing, I would suggest a Parker 21 (no quotes needed...). These are all Aerometric (simple squeeze) fillers, write well, and available new old stock for $40 or less. I'm carrying one today, by chance.

 

Will

[DrPJM1]

Sheaffer Targas can be addicting...there's a member here with more than a few....

[Uncle Red]

Rajatbhardwaj Welcome.

The tendency right now in pen design is nostalgia so you may want to look at pens from the 60's through the 80's. The Parker Flighters are not a single line of pens but any Parker where the body and cap of the pen are brushed stainless steel, look for a Parker 51, 45 or 75.

[GooseDeluxe]

The Kaweco Liliput is pretty minimal. It is also a very small and thin pen, which might not suit everyone. But the cap does screw onto the back for posting and additional length.

[fourseamer]

I'm not a fan of hooded nibs, and it took a reformation of my writing grip and handwriting in general to fully appreciate it, but I absolutely adore my Lamy 2000 now. It is a fabulous writer with a no nonsense appearance that always feels at home in my rotation.

 

Another outstside contender with a minimalistic appearance is a Pilot/Namiki Falcon. The nib isn't necessarily subdued, but the styling of the rest of the pen is. Also one I reach for with regularity, and I'm not even well-heeled in the ways of flex.

[rajatbhardwaj]

First of all, let me just say, Wow!

 

I'm a member of several other forums (photography, filmmaking, mechanical watches) and none of the other forums are as generous in their response as this one is. Or maybe I just never asked the right questions on the other forums, but I digress.

 

I had never really taken a look at the Lamy 2000 when the lady at the store mentioned it to me, because I just balked at the price and didn't even think to look at what a marvelous design it is.

 

I had also not heard of the Pilot M90 until you guys mentioned it and it is also just amazing. However, I can't see myself dropping $500 (that's how much it seems to be going for on eBay) on one of my first pens, so that one will have to stay out of reach for now.

 

Thanks for all the other suggestions, I learned a lot about a bunch of new to me pens. I think I'll go with the 2000 as I want a daily writer that I can use in every situation and don't want to have a bunch of different pens in my collection (I know, I know, famous last words).

 

I do two questions about the Lamy 2000:

 

1) I've heard that the nib runs thicker than others. Is that compared to other fountain pens or other Lamys? For example, I have the Lamy Safari with the F nib. Would a Lamy 2000 with an F nib write the same, or would it write more like a Safari with an M nib?

 

2) I've read about less than optimal quality control on the Lamy 2000. Since I don't know much about pens just yet, what should I look out for?

 

Thanks again for all your help. It is truly appreciated.