Are Cheap, 'nice Looking' Pens Any Good?

[Romans5.8]

Hey all,

 

So I bought (and am awaiting) a Lamy Al-Star. From what I read, it's a great writer. But it's also butt ugly. At least for my tastes. It doesn't look like a fountain pen (if that makes sense). It looks like any other 'nice' ballpoint pen. But all over amazon are these nice looking pens that have a more 'classic' look and feel to them. Many of them are really cheap too. But are they any good?

 

A couple examples;

 

http://www.amazon.com/JinHao-Stainless-Steel-Gold-Fountain/dp/B0052KLTM6/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1407719744&sr=1-1&keywords=fountain+pen

 

http://www.amazon.com/Hand-turned-Holy-Olive-Fountain-Fittings/dp/B00FXDQHVK/ref=sr_1_2?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1407719785&sr=1-2&keywords=wood+fountain+pen

 

http://www.amazon.com/Jinhao-X450-Dark-Fountain-Medium/dp/B00J0RJKVY/ref=sr_1_5?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1407719814&sr=1-5&keywords=fountain+pen

 

Just curious. I like the looks of those pens more than I do the looks of a lot of the pens recommended around here. But they seem to be no-name brands. Just out of curiosity, are they any good?

 

If I get a lot of use out of my new fountain pen; I'd love to find a nice one that I could display on my desk. My Lamy is about as exciting looking as the highlighter in my desk drawer. (But I didn't buy it for looks).

[Icywolfe]

Pilot Metro.

[perth]

Jinhao pens are actually quite high quality for their prices. They have a following, even amongst "serious" collectors for their value for money. Lamy designs tend to be polarising, whilst Asian pens don't usually have as much drastic features. The Pilot Metropolitan is also a very good pen, which has a more conventional design.

[welch]

First one is a Chinese pen, Jin Hao. A well-known brand but not known for high quality. Yes, the Safari is strange-looking, but Lamy produces a pretty good pen...all models. Off-hand, I'd suggest buying fewer pens but better ones than Jin Hao makes.

[tarheel1]

In the 50.00 range the sailor procolor is a great pen. Stay away from the hand turned olive one. It is just a pen kit someone made. They dont haveverry good nibs and to me are uncomfortable to use. Anything from pilot, platinum, sailor will all be quality for the most part.

[jcp1st]

In the past month, I've acquired a Jinhao and a Duke and have been pleasantly surprised at what good performers they are. They both start easily, have good ink flow and write very nicely. The one thing that might be a drawback for some people - not me - is that they are both rather heavy pens.

 

[bsenn]

Baoer 302. Looks good (sort of Montblanc-ish), feels heavy, writes great. I have mine inked with red for marking drawings and documents, use it everyday and it works great. Even after everyday use it looks good. I paid less than $5 on ebay (I think that included shipping).

 

Brian

[Blue_Moon]

People tend to love the look and feel of Lamys or not. I think the look and feel is super! It makes a positive statement, in my opinion. Sounds like you need a Pilot Metropolitan or a Nemosine Singularity. They both have the more traditional appearance, and they're both inexpensive.

[Romans5.8]

Pilot Metro.

 

That one gets a big fat "meh" in my book too. It has that sleek, modern look. I don't want sleek and modern. I'm not into gaudy / gothic but I do really like wood, warm colors, brass and gold. Etc.

 

 

In the 50.00 range the sailor procolor is a great pen. Stay away from the hand turned olive one. It is just a pen kit someone made. They dont haveverry good nibs and to me are uncomfortable to use. Anything from pilot, platinum, sailor will all be quality for the most part.

Another "meh". I'm not real thrilled with the modern "clean" look. But great info!

People tend to love the look and feel of Lamys or not. I think the look and feel is super! It makes a positive statement, in my opinion. Sounds like you need a Pilot Metropolitan or a Nemosine Singularity. They both have the more traditional appearance, and they're both inexpensive.

I bet the 'feel' is great. But the look is far too modern / sleek / clean for me. Same with the pilot Metro and most of the other ones suggested. Way too bland and sterile. I have far better looking ballpoints (even though they are really crummy writers for ballpoints, but they look good and serve as decoration).

The pilot metro wouldn't be so bad if it was brass/gold instead of silver. But even then, it's not quite what I'm looking for.

Thanks for the info, all! You answered my question, that those aren't necessarily all that great (but for the price the Jinhao might be decent). I'm not really shopping; I'm sure I'll get a lot of use out of the Lamy. But I would love a much more decorative, nicer looking pen. One that'll look great in my office. With some combination of wood, gold or brass, dark, neutral or warm colors, etc. Like the three I referenced.

I really liked the one Jinhao model for a few reasons;

1) an ornate brass/gold squared clip. Instead of a smooth, plain clip that's silver.

2) A variety of red's, dark blues, browns, black (even the white looked nice) all with those ornate golden metals.

3) Two tone nibs are sharp!

Maybe I'll get the Jinhao and put it on my desk as decoration and then just use the Lamy out of my drawer

Edited August 11, 2014 by Romans5.8

[Joe in Seattle]

In my experience Jin Hao are competently made, with well executed designs and I've never had one fail to write well. I've had a couple different Dragon Jin Haos for fun.

[Icywolfe]

There are gold colored metros.

[Runnin_Ute]

You can get a Parker 45 Flighter with a 14k nib for relatively inexpensively. (I paid $15.50 + shipping on ebay for mine) Stainless steel cap and body, most have gold plated arrow clip and some even have the 14k nib. I'm into it less than a brand new Lamy Safari would be. Roughly half of a Al Star once you pay the $5 for the converter. It isn't the big super heavy pen like a Jinhao 159 (similar to a Mont Blanc 149) or something. The 45 Flighter is even a great writer. As is the regular 45. (metal cap, plastic body)

I had the Jinhao 159- mine didn't write particularly well and it was much to heavy for my tastes. (~50 grams) and to fat. Not comfortable.

[Keyless Works]

I like the Parker 45 idea much better than the Jinhao....though I have never had a Jinhao (might have to try one out of curiosity).

[Aurko]

If you're not going for that sleek modern look but want the traditional fountain pen shape maybe consider a Pilot 78G? Also maybe consider a Sailor Reglus? I can't say that I enjoy the aesthetic you're going for very much, because I find a lot of the pens you've linked to be a bit on the gaudy side, but that may just be me.

 

Another pen company you may want to consider is Duke; Peyton street pens has some custom ground Cursive Italic nibs for around 40 dollars, and only 20 dollars for the pen unmodified. Not a bad price if you ask me.

[erpe]

It has that sleek, modern look. I don't want sleek and modern. I'm not into gaudy / gothic but I do really like wood, warm colors, brass and gold. Etc.

 

Kaigelu 316 maybe?

[fpenluver]

For display get a shaffer ferrari fountain pen. It has wow factor and it writes well.

[phonelady61]

I have several jin haos and in my opinion still good pens and I don't have to shell out 200 a pen . I m not made of money and live on a limited budget and those pens fit the bill but yet again I also have added a boer and a have a waterman phileas in my collection .

[eduardp]

+1 for Pilot 78G. Amazing pen, as for the Safari I got it and always hated.

[amk]

Jinhaos have their lovers. I've found them pretty reliable pens but the plating and lacquer on some of them rubs off after a while.

 

By the way, there are some nice Lamys just a step up from the Safari if it turns out that you like the Safari writing experience. They're not that well known, and unlike the Safari they're intended for the user who prefers metallic greys and blacks to bright zingy plastic. Understated, rather than butt ugly.

 

I have the Lamy Pur, about twice the price of the Safari but sometimes available on sale, a very nice pen, similar to the Linea. The Lamy Logo is only a tad more expensive than the Safari. These are all tubular pens, and I believe (though I am not certain) use the same swappable nibs as the Safari. You can take a look at the different pens at Cult Pens. (I think Goulet pens carries the Logo.)

[Sasha Royale]

My wife thinks the LAMY Safari is "stereotypically" German. It is excellent in function, quality, practicality, and strength.

She didn't believe that the Pelikan Souverans were German because the aesthetics are so pleasing. (Feel free to

make generalizations about Irish women.)

 

Seems you prefer the more traditional designs of fountain pens. "inexpensive" is not the same as "cheap". Among

budget-priced pens, there are some good performers. The deficiency may lie in consistency / quality control I have

several Chinese-made selections that perform very well. Pre-ink flushing of new pens is recommended.

 

"Good looking" is subjective. How do you want your pen to look ? Which pens do you have in mind ?