Parker Sonnet - Worth It Or Not?

[BFGBN]

I'm looking to buy a pen for around 50 GBP.

 

I already own a Waterman Hemisphere and I did have a Pilot Metropoliton until I lost it today! (Boohoo).

 

I love the look of the Parker Sonnet, and the performance I've heard is not dissimilar from the Hemisphere. So I was wondering, shall I go for it or go for another parker, or yet again another brand of pen entirely?

 

Basically I need good suggestions of pens for around the 50 GBP mark available to the UK.

 

Any help is much appreciated!

 

Thanks!

[BFGBN]

Or perhaps even a vintage pen off of Ebay?

[ac12]

I have a Sonnet and it has worked just fine, for me.

Also look at the Sheaffer Prelude. I understand that the designer on the Prelude designed the Sonnet, before he went to Sheaffer.

 

For vintage

- Parker 51, aerometric

- Esterbrook, J series, you will need to get the ink sac replaced.

Edited January 13, 2016 by ac12

[Robert Alan]

In my opinion, the Parker Sonnet is the off-spring of the Parker 75 since they are similar in size and design, and they are a well-balanced, comfortable fountain pen. Like the 75, the Sonnet is easily serviceable since the nib and feed unit can be unscrewed from the grip section, and the pens, which have been manufactured in France at the same factory where the last 75 models were produced, are well-made.

 

I own four Sonnets, purchased from authorized Parker dealers, and they have all worked flawlessly. I imagine the less-expensive models with steel nibs would perform as well as those fitted with 18K solid gold nibs. My only issue has been with some of the Parker piston converters because of the vagaries of the manufacturing process (re. tolerance problems) although the latest versions seem to function properly (black end that mates with the feed nipple). However, I actually prefer the old, Parker aerometric squeeze converters since I'm not a fanatic about ink capacity.

 

I have seen fake Sonnets which have been manufactured in China (e.g., crude nib engraving). One must be careful when purchasing a supposed new or used Sonnet on eBay, for example.

 

/Robert

Edited January 13, 2016 by Robert Alan

[Chrissy]

Parker Sonnets can be bought quite cheaply on ebay if you're careful to avoid obvious fake versions of them. I don't think that the fact some have GP nibs makes much difference. They can all be quite good writers.

[erpe]

I have been using Sonnets in different flavors for a few decades and so far, none of them has disappointed me. Having said that, reliability is the trademark of the Sonnet, for the rest it is just another office workhorse without much decoration or style to it. So is the Hemisphere btw, also used a few of those. If you are looking for just a touch more than that, maybe have a look at a Sheaffer 300, a KaWeCo Dia2 or check out the Italix Parsons Essential from Mr. Pen. If you want to stick with Parker, I am also quite happy with the Urban, much cheaper but of equal quality.

[Tom Traubert]

I have a Sonnet GT 'flighter' and it was rubbish until I changed the nib. It had a standard medium nib that was such a hard starter, but I bought a medium stub for it and it works like a dream now. Great wet pen, nice springy nib, superb line variation.

[richardandtracy]

I got my new Sonnet (a 2007 Refresh Stainless CT) for £21 inc post from France in 2010. That was worth it.

 

I don't think I would have felt so happy if it cost £50. Especially as it failed utterly to write on good quality smooth, hard paper when I got it. Parker had ground 'Baby Bottom' syndrome into it to make it write smoothly on poor quality newsprint type paper. I had to grind the nib myself to get it to make any mark whatsoever on good paper.

 

Size wise, I was surprised at how small it was.

 

I have done a couple of comparative reviews which may be useful:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/165102-a-wing-of-flighters/

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/222537-sonnet-comparisons-with-lookalikes/

 

Let's just say, these days I use my Kaigelu 356 as an EDC pen and not the Sonnet. Mostly because it's virtually identical and much cheaper to replace if I damage it.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[pajaro]

I have about 25 Sonnet fountain pens, plus pencils, ballpoints and rollerballs. I have found the Sonnets somewhat uneven in writing qualities. Some are quite good, and some are good after you go through the wetting drill to get them to write and as long as you don't put them down overnight, because the next day you have to go through the wetting drill.

 

I don't think any particular nib material or size is best, but some are finished better than others, and so they write from day to day. If these pens dry out, just refill them. This is a lot of hassle sometimes, but many of the Sonnets are beautiful and have a nice feel. For me it has been a matter of taking the best performing nib and section units and putting them in my favorite Sonnets, or just moving the best nib and section units to the Sonnet I want to use that day. Clearly, if I wanted to spend a fortune sending the nibs that perform more poorly out to nib professionals, this could all be sorted out. That would be costly, though. Maybe I'll mess with them and try to get rid of the baby bottom, since I am retired now.

 

If you want to know, I keep my most favored nib, a first generation two tone fine, in my Terracotta that has a tiny dent in the tip of the barrel. It is a very nice pen.

 

The Kaigelu 356 is a nice pen, and more reliable than a Sonnet, and about ten million times better than a 45, esthetically and as a writer. The one I left alone writes perfectly, and seems to really be a fine (oriental medium). The one I messed with, putting various gold nibs successfully into it, doesn't do as well, because I can't get the original nib back all the way into the section. Well, I shouldn't have messed with it.

[Dewdrop]

Hi. My understanding is that the Sonnet is equivalent to the Waterman Expert, a better pen than the Hemisphere. I bought my Sonnet in the UK from theonlinepencompany.com which has good prices, a full choice of nibs (including italic), and a quick turnaround. Steel nib pens start at £50-60, gold at £99.

Good value £50 alternatives, IMO, include TWSBI or mid-range Lamy.

In the UK, good general sites for new pens include Cult Pens, the Writing Desk and Pure Pens (sister to Niche Pens, the Pelikan specialists).

[pajaro]

A good equivalent for a Sonnet steel fine nib pen would be the Kaigelu 356. Three or four dollars shipped for the Kaigelu. It's a good pen, and it improves with further acquaintance.

 

It's hard to say that a Sonnet is equivalent to a pen that only comes with a steel nib, like the Waterman, because you can get Sonnets with 18K nibs, which are sooooooooooorta better than the steel in some ways.

 

My recommendation is to buy a Sonnet used on ebay. You will have less invested in case you don't like it. Many of the Sonnets have beautiful finishes that are much nicer in the hand than in pictures. It's a crapshoot.

[VivienR]

Have seven Sonnet, I like all of them, more will come. Well there are some dry up issue, but if you use them daily than will be no problem. Here where I live winter can be quiet cold -20 C and summer can be hot 40-42 C. My daily carry Sonnet is working fine all of these conditions, yes, I need to use them regularly, to the flow remain consistent, because after few days they can be a hard starter. Still after two years of use, its still works amazingly, and look like the day one I brought. Work well with all of my inks, which I can't tell about my Duofold, which seems to be quite selective about inks I use (having consistent flow issue with one of my favorite ink: Diamine Imperial Purple).

Based on my experience with them, still would recommend them.

[pajaro]

Have seven Sonnet, I like all of them, more will come. Well there are some dry up issue, but if you use them daily than will be no problem. Here where I live winter can be quiet cold -20 C and summer can be hot 40-42 C. My daily carry Sonnet is working fine all of these conditions, yes, I need to use them regularly, to the flow remain consistent, because after few days they can be a hard starter. Still after two years of use, its still works amazingly, and look like the day one I brought. Work well with all of my inks, which I can't tell about my Duofold, which seems to be quite selective about inks I use (having consistent flow issue with one of my favorite ink: Diamine Imperial Purple).

Based on my experience with them, still would recommend them.

 

Just so. I still love the Sonnets I have even if they sometimes dry up. I know about it and expect it if the pen isn't used and I know what to do about it. I bought all or most used from ebay, and the prices were as low as about $20 US and about as high as $90. Most were at the lower end of that range. I love the various lacquer finishes. In some of the earlier finishes, especially Firedance and Moonbeam, you can find variations in the color and intensity of the lacquer that are fascinating.

[dadbar]

I recently bought a Sonnet rollerball in Red Lacquer which is my new favorite non-fountain pen. I've gotten many complements from my office colleagues about it. I may eventually get the fountain pen stablemate for it.

[Tritanx]

I bought a Parker Sonnet Flighter CT (NOS 1994) a few days ago. It really is a fun pen and although I am new to fountain pens, it is the best one I own. It is a nice size, on the smaller side with a thinner section that I find more comfortable than something like a Preppy's section, which has a larger diameter. Mine has the stainless nib and it is remarkably springy, not flexy but not stiff like a Metro. Overall, a very nice pen.

[FrankB]

I have several Sonnets with both gold nibs and steel nibs. I honestly do not know what other pens the Sonnet model might be equivalent to. In my geriatric mind the Sonnet is pretty much unique unto itself (with some design features similar to the Parker 75). In my hand this model is smallish, with a small nib. But I still find the Sonnet to be quite comfortable and pleasant to write with. If Parker still has Sonnet stub nibs available, they are really nice and a great deal of fun to write with.

 

I had one Sonnet that had a really bad steel nib that scratched and refused to write well. I was able to replace that nib and the pen has been working fine for a couple of decades. I have had no issues with any other Sonnets. For me, the steel nibs have performed as well as the gold ones. Still, if I were to buy a Sonnet with the intent on having only one, I would seek out a gold nib. That is an entirely subjective comment on my part.

 

I recommend the Sonnet highly. Good luck!

[pajaro]

If you are going to go for one good gold nib for a Sonnet, I would recommend a first generation two tone nib. I have found them to be quite decent.

[cambookpro]

I've owned two Sonnets and loved them both. Both were medium nibs but extremely wet, it does feel like I'm laying down a river of ink sometimes! Very smooth and comfortable to use though.

[shea2812]

Recently I acquired NOS 2003 Sonnet Stainless GT, steel M nib. Like the feel of it in the hand. Took a week for the nib to settle and write well. I had a chance to compare it side by side with current Sonnet (ss GT), 2003 Sonnet has better finis than current. Current one has sort of brushed finish while the 2003 has this sort of sandblasted finis on body. The gold plating on the clip is glossier on the newer one though. The 'river of ink' coming out of the tip is quite apt, I like that and now using GVFC black in it.

So far I have no issue with drying but I am in the tropics, not sure how it behaves in drier climes though.