At some point in your fountain pen journey, you’ll surely encounter the joys of using a gold-nibbed pen. Compared to standard steel nibs, gold is softer and can act as a sort of shock absorber when writing. The result is a smoother and slightly springier writing experience that many writers enjoy and look for.
These pens are typically made with more precious materials along with the golden nib. But not everybody may want to splurge a large amount of money on a gold-nibbed pen. Fortunately, there are some gold-nibbed fountain pens out there that are high-quality and give you a wonderful writing experience without costing a fortune.
Here are some of the best gold-nibbed fountain pens for under $200.
Pilot Falcon
The Pilot Falcon is one of the many fountain pen favorites to come from Japan. This sleek pen has a hooded nib that contours to your writing angle and style. What you get is not just the soft, bouncy feel that comes with a gold nib but some flex as well. This fountain pen comes in several nib sizes, including extra fine, fine, medium, and broad. The Pilot Falcon is available at $180.
LAMY 2000
Most writers know that LAMY is one of the most popular fountain pen brands from Europe. It has produced one of the best golden-nibbed fountain pens on the market: the LAMY 2000. If you are looking for a fountain pen with a modern and classic yet minimalist design, then this is an excellent option. The 14k gold nib is as smooth as they come, and the light fiberglass polycarbonate material makes it light and easy to write with. This costs just a little bit over our budget at $209, but it’s worth spending the extra few bucks for a great quality pen.
Sailor 1911 Standard
Sailor is known for their exceptional nibs, and the 1911 Standard upholds this standard. The rest of the pen is high-quality, from its shape and weight to its overall balance. There is a unique feeling of feedback that writers get from using Sailor pens that is often likened to how a pencil feels, all while retaining the smoothness of the writing experience. You can get this golden-nibbed fountain pen at $152 in fine, medium, or broad nib sizes.
Platinum 3776 Century
Named after the height of Mt. Fuji, Platinum’s 3776 Century fountain pen comes with an exceptional 14k gold nib. If you’re looking for a golden-nibbed fountain pen that can create crisp, smooth lines, then this is a great option. When choosing the right nib size for your needs, bear in mind that Japanese nibs run just about one size smaller than European nibs. Similar to Sailor, you will also experience some feedback when writing with these pens. Platinum 3776 Century can be purchased for $208 and comes in many nib sizes, including ultra extra fine, extra fine, fine, soft fine, medium, broad, and double broad.
Pilot Vanishing Point Decimo
Vanishing point pens allow writers to protect the nib by retracting it into the body through a trapdoor. When exposed for writing, the nib is extremely small, so it may take some time to get used to if you’re accustomed to seeing most of the nib when you write. The Vanishing Point Decimo from Pilot has an 18k gold nib that writes smoothly and lays down a nice, clean line. It also has a bit of give (note: not flex!) that makes for somewhat softer writing. Get this pen for only $144.
Whether you’re a newbie to golden-nibbed pens or are simply looking for a more budget-friendly option to add to your growing fountain pen collection, this selection is a great place to start.
Happy writing!
Written by EndlessPens Blogger Ramona Kabigting
