best pen for $400 or less

[memphislawyer]

someone started a topic for best pen for the money, which to me is, what is the best value in a pen. fair topic that generates a lot of thought. but if you wanted to get a pen as a gift to yourself, say a milestone you reached, or you wanted people to notice it when you were in a business setting, what pen that is $400 or less would you get? or if someone asked you for your preference in a gift to you and it was to be the same limitation, what would you want?

 

it may be the look that drives you, or it may be the writer you like the best. you can include in your answer say a $300 pen that you would have the nib modified which brings it to under $400 total

 

sam

[chainwhip]

someone started a topic for best pen for the money, which to me is, what is the best value in a pen. fair topic that generates a lot of thought. but if you wanted to get a pen as a gift to yourself, say a milestone you reached, or you wanted people to notice it when you were in a business setting, what pen that is $400 or less would you get? or if someone asked you for your preference in a gift to you and it was to be the same limitation, what would you want?

 

it may be the look that drives you, or it may be the writer you like the best. you can include in your answer say a $300 pen that you would have the nib modified which brings it to under $400 total

 

sam

My vote goes to the Tibaldi Impero or Iride. Both can be had for well under $400 right now.

[amin]

I don't have a single favorite, but of my pens the first that came to mind when I saw this thread was the Edson. Gorgeous in sapphire blue, never fails to perform, and just feels right in the hand.

[Escribiente]

The two options that will have the "wow factor" are the Omas Arco and the Tibaldi Modello 60 (I love the Iride, but you have to look at it really close, whereas the Modello 60 is an eye-catcher from a distance).

[memphislawyer]

can u tell me more about tibaldis?

 

sam

[DrPJM1]

Sam:

Right now, on ebay, you can get these between $350-400.

Tibaldi Iride

Montblanc Boheme sterling silver 925 silver stripes

Montblanc Special Edition Solti

Waterman Serenite

Aurora Afrika

Pelikan Fountain Pen *1935*

Sheaffer Legacy Heritage Victorian

OMAS AM87 BRIARWOOD GREEN

Aurora Primavera Limited Edition Green

Pelikan M450 Gold/Tortoise

Sailor Naginata

Pelikan M1050 Black/vermeil

PARKER #51 SPECIAL EDIT. BLACK

Montegrappa Symphony turquoise blue

PARKER DUOFOLD BLUE CHECK

WATERMAN EXCEPTION NIGHT &DAY GOLD GT 18K

MONTBLANC 144 MEISTERSTUCK

 

Enjoy!

[petra]

My most enjoyable writing experience from a pen under $400 is currently my Waterman Exception. It's a biggish, heavy and well balanced pen and the stub nib is fabulous. The finish in black lacquer with gold is beautiful.

 

My request for a pen around $400 would be the Waterman Edson in ruby, which is pretty hard to come by these days . There was one of ebay recently, but I just didn't have the money at the time...

 

For a request just over $500, it would have to be the MontBlance Kafka. The reviews are great, I've had good luck with MontBlancs, and it's a great looking pen.

 

For a request around $500-600, I get the new Omas 60th anniversary pen that Fountain Pen Hospital will be selling shortly. I've always wanted an Omas, and that celluloid is a knock-out!

 

Oh -- maybe it's just me, but I'd be very wary of buying a pricey pen on ebay. I'd want to know for sure it's genuine and coming from a reputable dealer who'll be there with after-purchase assistance, if needed...

 

Petra

[KendallJ]

Nakaya urushi. $395

 

That's the one I got to reward myself. Review and pics in the review section.

[Glenn-SC]

I was given $250 to buy myself a FP, so I added another $125 and bought a 1997 Sheaffer LE Balance. It worked well with my Balance collection.

 

A high end Pelikan would have been my next choice.

[Elaine]

I'll put in another plug for the Waterman Saphire Edson. Stunning pen. I'd save up for it if it weren't way too big for my hand. I've seen them advertised for slightly under $400

[Dvenosa]

A vintage Pelikan ( 100 or 400) with a flexy medium nib can be bought for less then half of 400$ and are UNBELIEVABLE pens

 

If I had 400 bucks for a pen I would probably buy a Pelikan 800 and a Montblanc 146(used)!

[Stylo]

Sam, there is no such thing a "$400 best pen." A best pen to write with for you would be one that fits your hand perfectly and whose nib is customized by a nibmeister to your exact writing style. You can probably have such a pen for a lot less than $400. If you are looking at $400 pens, you are buying into unusual styles and stunning finishes, and the only judge for whether they are worth $400 is your own taste. You won't get much help in asking people what they recommend, because they will simply tell you what they like, which you may love or hate. This is also an issue for your following concern: "you wanted people to notice it when you were in a business setting." But notice how? Do you want them to think you have made it financially, that you have a great style, or that you are a fool wasting money on such things? People will have different reactions to the same pen. Some people may find that pen stunning while others may thing it is gaudy and tasteless. There was also another angle discussed by KCat, with some guy flashing in her face a MB and saying this is a $400 (or $500?) pen. Some people might get impressed and even intimidated. Others will look at it as a display of complete lack of taste, manners, and class.

 

Here is my take on you quest: you are still in denial that you have simly become addicted to pens and you are trying to find rational justifications for $400 pens Let me break the news to you, the concept of "best value" and "$400 pens" don't go well together! :roflmho:

 

You are simply splurging on something very personal that you simply like, so make sure you find it yourself, and then come to us to ask for any possible drawbacks that pen may have. A great way of doing that is by browsing the websites of pen retailers such as Joon, Swisher, FPH, Worldlux, etc., as well as pen forums such as FPN. Then you will notice some pens that will speak to you, or even scream at you to fall in love with

[KCkc]

1)..but if you wanted to get a pen as a gift to yourself, say a milestone you reached,

 

2) or you wanted people to notice it when you were in a business setting, what pen that is $400 or less would you get? 

 

 

3) or if someone asked you for your preference in a gift to you and it was to be the same limitation, what would you want?

1) Got some milestone pens as gifts or gift to myself :

A) Elementry School graduation : Parker 45 FP & BP Flighter set from parents

High School graduation : Parker 75 Cisele FP & BP from parents

 

---All of the above were lost due to my carelessness and taking things for granted. They have been re-acquired and not for Sale. Don't care for 144 and Opera enough to get them too.-----

 

C) College graduation : MB144 Burgundy from friends, Waterman Opera with my own $$ (finally old enough to save up for a pen)

 

 

D) Recent age milestone : MB Boheme Blue Stone fixed nib FP & BP set gift to myself

E) Celebrate recent successful purging : MB149 Rossi so far...

 

2) I do not like Bic-users to notice/comment on my pens, sorry for being snobbish.

So I usually take the black ones to work and mostly a Pelikan M200 XF semi-flex nib to meetings, mostly low key pens and savor the nicers one in the privacy of my own cubicle where I do most of the writing anyways.

 

3) Pen Gifts (but need to find the rich friend first):

M1000 with Mottishaw XF/XFlex or OMAS 360 Blue Black w/Mottishaw stub (very nice & comfortable pen IMHO)

 

4) Learned from Andreas that there are 3 Yes to determine if a pen is for me :

A) I like its looks ?

I like how it writes ?

C) Does it feel (tactile not psychological) good when I hold it (different from how it writes) ?

 

Hope this helps.

Edited March 20, 2006 by KCkc

[Blorgy]

My favourites are my Pelikan M1000 pens. When I choose a pen, I do not wonder if my pens will impress those around me. My choices were heavily influenced by reading posts in groups such as FPN.

[jthole]

Lamy Accent Brilliant; black lacquer with the wooden grip and a 14K nib. Great looks, sleek design, very good balance and a really nice writer.

[memphislawyer]

stylo: i am taking your advice to heart. and i have been able to talk on the phone with James P. he has been a big help. I love the look of the wall street, and yes, i have held it in my hands and i could tell it was heavy. Though i prefer piston fillers, that LE is even heavier than the one I held and is $400. As much as i would like it, i think I will have to take a flyer.

 

I have seen some awesome pens on pentrace, an omas 360 and an omas paragon, each in colors i could love and around $250. I could get a visconti van gogh later. there is also a beautiful churchill that chris has on the green board

 

one will call out to me and i will pull the trigger.

 

sam

[Guest Denis Richard]

For me, the Waterman Serenite of course. Others curse it as the pen that will not fit their hand.

 

At that price point, unless you get a lemon, performance will be good. It's all a matter of what makes your heart beat faster and your hands sweat.

[ccvinylman]

Sam, there is no such thing a "$400 best pen." A best pen to write with for you would be one that fits your hand perfectly and whose nib is customized by a nibmeister to your exact writing style. You can probably have such a pen for a lot less than $400. If you are looking at $400 pens, you are buying into unusual styles and stunning finishes, and the only judge for whether they are worth $400 is your own taste. You won't get much help in asking people what they recommend, because they will simply tell you what they like, which you may love or hate. This is also an issue for your following concern: "you wanted people to notice it when you were in a business setting." But notice how? Do you want them to think you have made it financially, that you have a great style, or that you are a fool wasting money on such things? People will have different reactions to the same pen. Some people may find that pen stunning while others may thing it is gaudy and tasteless. There was also another angle discussed by KCat, with some guy flashing in her face a MB and saying this is a $400 (or $500?) pen. Some people might get impressed and even intimidated. Others will look at it as a display of complete lack of taste, manners, and class.

 

Here is my take on you quest: you are still in denial that you have simly become addicted to pens and you are trying to find rational justifications for $400 pens Let me break the news to you, the concept of "best value" and "$400 pens" don't go well together! :roflmho:

 

You are simply splurging on something very personal that you simply like, so make sure you find it yourself, and then come to us to ask for any possible drawbacks that pen may have. A great way of doing that is by browsing the websites of pen retailers such as Joon, Swisher, FPH, Worldlux, etc., as well as pen forums such as FPN. Then you will notice some pens that will speak to you, or even scream at you to fall in love with

 

Hi, Polisson:

 

Would you kindly expand/expatiate on your paragraph that begins with "Here is my take on your quest . . .."? If "best value" and "$400 pens" don't go together (they're mutually exclusive concepts), why?

 

It seems you are saying that a best-value pen is both one you enjoy writing with and one you can acquire for a price you deem to be fair or attractive or affordable or impressive or whatever. It's all a matter of perspective, yes? A billionaire, for example, may consider a ten-thousand-dollar pen both a best value and attractively priced. His purpose in buying it may be to frame it and put it on the wall in his corner office. A modestly endowed person, on the other hand, enjoys USING a fountain pen, not putting it on display or in a cashmere-lined, rare-wood box. Both of the pen lovers enjoy pens, but for different reasons and purposes. What they have in common is that they USE pens.

 

I'm probably rambling on unnecessarily, but please tell me if I'm paraphrasing you somewhat accurately or not. Thanks!

 

Don

Edited January 13, 2013 by ccvinylman

[Jeremiah]

Another vote for Pelikan. I prefer the M800.

[CountryDoc]

My "go to" pen in that price range is a Pelikan M800!

 

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af213/DiverDoc/m8002d_zps3272bb89.jpg