Fountain Pen Day Prep, Part II: An Overview of Fountain Pen Inks

November 5, 2025

Many new users find fountain pen inks just as, if not more, confusing than the pens themselves, and with the rapidly expanding ink market things haven’t really gotten much easier to navigate. Following up on Saturday’s initial post on How to Get Started with Fountain Pens, I thought it might be helpful to offer a general discussion/overview of fountain pen inks, as well as my brief thoughts on the different types of inks, refill styles, and what I personally enjoy most and recommend to those just starting out in the hobby.

An assortment of fountain pen ink cartridges — Most pen brands make their own cartridges, but some (Pilot, Platinum, Lamy) use a proprietary format. Always be sure the cartridges you use are compatible with your pen brand.

Cartridges vs. Bottled Ink

You can fill fountain pens from a traditional ink bottle or use cartridges, and with a few limited exceptions, I almost always recommend that new users start out with cartridges. It’s an easy recommendation, not least because most beginner and budget-friendly fountain pens use cartridges and include one with the purchase of the pen. You refill the fountain pen simply by popping out the old/empty cartridge and inserting a new one. When you’re just starting out, this lets you learn how the pen works and focus on the writing itself, and to be honest I still like to use cartridges when I travel because it’s a lower-friction solution to refilling fountain pens. Most basic cartridge inks (blues, blacks, and blue-blacks) perform quite well on most paper types, and when in doubt I will select the blue-black option as it’s usually, but not always, the best-performing “cheap paper ink”.

Colorverse Ink Shading and Sheen - Special Properties — An example of inks that shimmer (the grey ink) and shade (the yellow ink at the bottom). All shown here are from last year’s Colorverse Colorvent advent calendar. Colorverse is an example of a boutique ink brand that focuses on special properties like shimmer, sheen, and shading, as well as saturated standard colors like the dark red shown above.

Standard Inks vs. Inks with “Special Properties”

I’m regularly confronted with readers and customers confused and overwhelmed by (1) the sheer number of inks on the market; and (2) all of the different types of inks available, mainly those with special properties. Between standard inks (solid color), shimmer inks (contains sparkle/glitter), super-sheeners (dries with a multicolor shine/sheen on top), super-shaders (shows varying depths of color), multi-shaders (shows different color tones), pigmented inks (permanent), and more, the universe of fountain pen ink can quickly confound those new to the hobby. My standard advice is that “simple is better” at first, and to slowly add additional inks to your collection once you feel comfortable with how fountain pens generally work - especially cleaning them - because usually the worst that an ink can do to a pen is clog the nib and feed, which a thorough cleaning will fix. Personally, while I have some shading inks that I really love and use often, I tend to stick with standard fountain pen inks that dry quickly and work on a wide range of papers. I typically refer to these as my “workhorse inks”, sort of similar to my “workhorse pens” category.

Taccia Ink in Solid Colors — Taccia inks are an example of a brand that makes excellent low-maintenance ink that doesn’t over-invest in “special properties” like shimmer and sheen. These inks work great in most pens and are a staple of my own rotation.

How Many Ink Colors Does one Need?

Trust me, even if you’re deliberate in selecting inks and only purchase a few bottles per year, if you are in this hobby long enough you will end up with more ink than you can ever use in a lifetime. I spent my first year in the hobby with five or six inks, and probably only three or four that I used regularly. To start out, and to get a sense of what colors you enjoy writing with, pick up a standard blue, a black or blue-black, and one or two brighter colors like red, green, orange, or purple. I found that I really enjoyed writing with different shades of red and green, and those colors are now heavily represented in my personal collection.

Remember that a good writing experience is about the combination of pen, ink, and paper

At the end of the day, you can use any ink you want as long as you have the right pen and paper to pair with it. You’ll learn that some inks are dry, and require a wetter nib, and that some inks are wet, which may require a narrower, drier nib and/or more absorbent or heavily coated paper. An important aspect of enjoying fountain pens - especially if you get deep into the hobby, is learning how these three factors (pen, ink, and paper) interact with each other and how to adjust one to accommodate the others. The customization is the fun part!

Fountain Pen Day Prep, Part I: How to Get Started with Fountain Pens

November 1, 2025

This coming Friday (November 7) is Fountain Pen Day, which started in 2012 as day to “embrace, promote, and share the use of fountain pens” worldwide! This year I’m more excited about Fountain Pen Day than usual, mainly because the celebration coincides with our one-year anniversary as a brick-and-mortar store, and we just finished expanding to a new showroom/retail space and will hopefully have our back space somewhat cleaned up for “Fountain Pens 101” style demonstrations next weekend. If you’re in the Nashville area, we would love to host you Thursday-Saturday to celebrate Fountain Pen Day weekend!

Where Do I Start with Fountain Pens? What if I Know Absolutely Nothing?

One thing I love about maintaining this website, attending pen shows, and running a physical shop is that it gives me a platform to demystify fountain pens and stationery in general. Many people think that in order to be a fountain pen enthusiast, you need to embrace overly complex filling systems, use only bottled ink, and spend a lot of money. All of those things can be true - and fun - but in truth all you really need is a love for the physical act of writing and a pen that’s good enough to meet your needs, whether that’s a $4 cartridge pen or a $1500 work of art. Here are five things I generally tell people when they ask me how to get started.

Figure Out Why You Want to Write with a Fountain Pen. Do you want to improve your handwriting? Learn calligraphy? Use different inks? Or do you want a more expressive, comfortable way to journal? All of these questions will impact what type of pen you’re looking for, and even determine whether a fountain pen is the right fit for your needs.
Try a Fountain Pen in Person (if You Can). I spent way too much money early on because I didn’t have access to a physical pen shop in my town (Nashville, Tennessee), and I started during a time when pen shows were still heavily vintage-focused. I had to order pens blind off the internet and learn by trial and error, and this experience is really what prompted me to open The Gentleman Stationer as a retail store in Nashville. In the past two days alone, I’ve been able to put fountain pens in the hands of multiple people who had wanted to try them but never had the opportunity, and 2/3 of those customers ended up choosing a pen different from the one they had almost ordered off the internet sight unseen. If you don’t have access to a pen store, pen clubs and traveling to regional pen shows can be excellent opportunities to try things out in person.
Spend $50 or Less. Don’t over-invest in something you are trying for the first time. For $50, you can easily get a pen, ink, and some decent paper, which will allow you to get set up and start learning your preferences. I maintain a “Best Pens” guide which has recommendations across a wide range of price points, including beginner fountain pens. We also regularly update our “Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper” post, which walks through different paper brands and how they handle fountain pen ink. Don’t spend too much money up front, because regardless of how much testing/research you do, you’ll learn at least a few things by trial and error.
Enjoy the Actual Act of Writing. Enjoy using your pens however you want/need to use them, and write with them as much as you can. As you gain more experience, you learn your preferences, and this will guide future purchases. If I had one piece of advice to new users, it would be to tune out forums and influencers that try to tell you what you “should” like, and focus more on what you personally use everyday.
It’s Ok If You Decide that Fountain Pens Aren’t for You. Everyone has different needs for their everyday writing, and there are many circumstances where a fountain pen isn’t the best choice. Even I write much less with my fountain pens these days than I used to. This isn’t because I like them any less - rather, it’s because I’ve grown to appreciate other writing instruments like pencils, rollerballs, fineliners, multi pens, and yes, even ballpoints. (There are some exceptionally good ballpoints out there, especially the Japanese low-viscosity types.) While fountain pens get the most eyeballs on social media, I tend to view Fountain Pen Day as a celebration of handwriting and analog tools in general. We appreciate them all!

Pilot Kakuno Madoromi Fountain Pens — The Pilot Kakuno is an excellent option for those just learning about Fountain Pens. Shown here is the new Madoromi (“Drowsy”) series, which features five new muted pastel colors.

Stay tuned for more announcements regarding Fountain Pen Day events later this week! As I mentioned, we will be open Thursday through Saturday, and on Friday and Saturday we will likely open up the event space for people to gather and test pens, inks, and paper. If you’re curious about fountain pens, it’s a great opportunity to get all your questions answered.

Note that our physical shop has moved. We are now located in Suite 107 on the front of the building, which should make it easier for everyone to find. Our hours are 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and 10am-6pm on Saturdays. Be sure and check the main shop page for up-to-date hours and information on events.

Joe's Currently Inked with Writing Samples

Fall Refresh: My Pre-Fountain Pen Day Currently Inked Lineup

October 29, 2025

With Fountain Pen Day rapidly approaching and several of my currently inked pens running dry (or just feeling a bit stale), I figured it was time for a refresh! I plan to do a fair bit of writing during the late fall/winter, since this is the time of year that (1) I tend to need more down time due to all of the holiday season craziness; and (2) I have a lot more projects that I’m currently working on, many of which will be announced in the coming weeks and months. The general theme of this set is “good comfortable writers” that I can use for extended sessions without having to take a break. I really like this current set of pens and inks, even if I inadvertently ended up with multiple burgundies and dark reds. (I guess that’s not really too much of a surprise given my preferences.)

Lamy 2000 Black Makrolon (Matthew Chen Kodachi). It’s been far too long since I’ve had a Lamy 2000 inked up, and since I’ve had customers in-store asking to try the pen I figured I would break out not one but two. (I dropped a hint in last week’s post on long-form writing.) This particular pen was ground by Matthew into a medium Kodachi nib several years back, and it’s a reliable writer with just a touch of line variation to keep things interesting. The ink I chose is Sailor x Tinterías Cilantro, one of my favorite mid-toned greens.
Lamy 2000 Black Makrolon (Fine Nib). I’ve always enjoyed the standard Lamy 2000 fine and extra-fine nibs because the tipping has a subtle architect shape to it that fits my handwriting style. For this one I used some of my last remaining bottle of Montblanc Alfred Hitchcock Limited Edition Ink. No I won’t sell it.
Pilot Custom 74 in Lavender Fog (Soft Medium Nib). Pilot’s most recent U.S. exclusive release comes with some of my favorite nibs: the “Soft” series. No, these aren’t flex nibs - they just add a subtle softness to your handwriting with a bit of additional spring. Pilot’s Fine-Medium nib is a great width for my handwriting, and I now own two. The ink in this one is Pilot Iroshizuku Syun-Gyo. (Note: I know these pens are sold out pretty much everywhere now but I understand that’s a temporary supply constraint and more will be coming.)
TWSBI ECO in Carrara + Onyx (Medium). I’ve been saying that I would pick up one of the Serpentine ECO fountain pens, but the Carrara + Onyx version drew me in first. I paired this one with a favorite classic red ink: vintage Montblanc Bordeaux, of which I have a lifetime supply.
Diplomat Viper Fountain Pen in Blue (F/M Nib). Diplomat’s hooded-nib fountain pen has been inked nonstop, and this one is filled with yet another burgundy ink, but one which I can’t identify as I forgot to write it down when I last inked the pen. (I think it might be Teranishi Classy Burgundy). The thing I love best about the Diplomat is the single available nib size: a fine-medium. You might be noticing a trend here.
Red Dragon Pen Co. Custom Eyedropper (Franklin-Christoph Medium S.I.G.). This year I’ve been trying to keep at least one pen inked from my relatively extensive collection of custom/bespoke pens, and this eyedropper from Red Dragon Pen Co. is a favorite that pairs dark blue cellulose acetate with a transparent smoke cap and a sculpted black section. The ink is Akkerman No. 7 Koninginne Nach-blauw (“Queen’s Night Blue”).

Joe's Currently Inked Pens — From left: Red Dragon Pen Co. Eyedropper; Diplomat Viper in Blue; TWSBI Carrara + Onxy; Pilot Custom 74 Lavender Fog; and 2 Lamy 2000s.

If you come by the shop I always have my currently inked pens on me (in addition to the regular shop testers) so that you can ask questions and try them out. We’re open this week normal hours (1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm Saturday.

Joe's Pair of Lamy 2000 Fountain Pens — Yes, I have two Lamy 2000s inked up at once.

My Favorite Fountain Pens for Longer Writing Sessions

October 25, 2025

I frequently get this question, and it’s one that I feel is important because it touches on one of the key reasons that so many of us get into fountain pens in the first place: They offer a much more comfortable writing experience over longer sessions, whether that means an extended journaling session, drafting a novel, or pulling together a longer professional document like a report or a legal brief. Personally, I think better when I’m working by hand offline, and over the years I’ve explored pretty much all the analog writing techniques out there. A fountain pen and a good writing pad remains my favorite.

Custom 74 and Lamy 2000 Nib Shot — Both of these grips are extremely comfortable for me to use.

What Factors Are Important for Comfortable Long-Form Writing?

If I’m preparing for a longer working session, I’ll consider three main factors when choosing a fountain pen: comfort, ink capacity, and the nib. In terms of comfort, I’m mainly talking about grip and balance. I have to be able to hold the pen easily for a long period of time, which means a comfortably grippy section and a pen barrel that doesn’t feel too weighted towards the front or the back of my hand. In terms of ink capacity, the pen doesn’t necessarily need to hold a ton of ink, but if I’m going away on a writing retreat or work trip I often will choose a piston filler just so I don’t have to worry about refilling (though a Pilot cartridge will last me a VERY long time). Finally, I’ll typically opt for a smooth medium nib, which gives me the least fussy writing experience and lets me “get lost” in whatever project I’m working on.

Lamy 2000 and Custom 74 Fountain Pens — The Lamy 2000 (top) next to the Pilot Custom 74.

My Top Three Fountain Pens for Long Writing Sessions in My Personal Collection

Lamy 2000. Long-time readers of the blog won’t be surprised by my top choice. I tell anyone who will listen that if I had to get rid of all my fountain pens and keep just one, I would probably keep a Lamy 2000 (though depending on the rules I might try to keep multiple Lamy 2000s in different nib sizes). For whatever reason, this pen fits my hand perfectly. I love the lightweight Makrolon (brushed fiberglass composite) construction, which when posted has near perfect balance. And Lamy’s 14k medium nibs are among the best out there, in my opinion.
Pilot Custom 74. A close second to the Lamy 2000, Pilot’s Custom 74 is my cartridge-converter fountain pen of choice. I actually use refilled Pilot cartridges more often than Pilot converters, given how much ink they hold. The Custom 74 is another one of those pens that seems to mold itself to my grip, to where I can write with this pen for hours with very little hand fatigue.
Leonardo Momento Zero. The Momento Zero has a similar shape to the Lamy 2000, perhaps slightly larger, and if you prefer an even larger pen you can always opt for the Momento Zero Grande. Personally, the standard size fits my hand better than the Grande. Leonardo mainly uses JoWo nibs, which are reliable, if unspectacular, writers. As I mentioned above, sometimes when you want to get lost in a project, choosing a somewhat boring nib over a temperamental needlepoint or an exotic grind lets you focus more on the project itself than the tool you’re using.

Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen In-Hand

What About Budget-Friendly Choices?

The three pens I’ve chosen above are big purchases, and those looking to experiment with fountain pens for the first time probably don’t want to splurge on a $200+ gold-nib fountain pen that they don’t necessarily know if they’ll like. Two pens that I’ve used in the past for travel writing (in places I didn’t necessarily want to take an expensive pen) are the ubiquitous TWSBI ECO and the even more inexpensive Pilot Kakuno (complete with smiley-face nib). Despite garnering reputations as “beginner” fountain pens, these are excellent low-cost writing instruments. I consider both well-balanced with reliable nibs.

Conclusions and Further Reading

There’s no real one-size-fits all analysis here. I can offer my recommendations, as I frequently do at shows and in the shop, but choosing a fountain pen that you can write with for long periods of time takes a lot of research and personal experimentation to determine what meets your needs and preferences. One resource you may find helpful is the “Workhorse Pens” series of articles that I’ve written over the years. Do you have a favorite pen for longer writing sessions? Tell us about it in the comments below!

I try to periodically answer questions from readers and customers that frequently appear in my inbox, social media DMs, and customer questions. You’re always welcome to stop by our store and talk to me in person, and I maintain a FAQ (Ask TGS) section on the site. If you enjoy our content, we are supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

State of The Gentleman Stationer: One Year As a (Brick-and-Mortar) Shop Owner, Plus Upcoming Events!

September 24, 2025

The other day a customer asked how long we had been open, and it hit me that a YEAR had passed since the physical T.G.S. Shop opened its doors on Kenilwood Drive in Nashville. So how has it gone? Despite an “eventful” 12 months, I have zero regrets about making the decision to start a brick-and-mortar shop and grow The Gentleman Stationer further. It’s not only helped me to fulfill a lifelong goal of operating and running my own business, but has given me the opportunity to create a space in my hometown that I’ve always wanted to exist: a local shop exclusively focused on high-end stationery for actual writing. I figured today I should take a bit to reflect on all I’ve learned over the past year, and also share some exciting new developments and news on upcoming events!

TGS Shop Unboxing Photos — And to think this is where we were a year ago!

Five Things I’ve Learned from Running a Brick-and-Mortar Stationery Store

Your Local Pen Community Is Important. While it may seem as though all hobbies - even analog ones - are moving online these days, I can’t imagine doing this without my regular customers and pen club members who continue to show up every weekend like clockwork. Their patronage and enthusiasm not only supports the shop directly, but directly contributes to growing our local community as a whole. Having regulars hanging out and talking in the store spreads the word about things like pen club, pen shows, new products, and events, which not only translates to return business but a growing local pen community. Middle Tennessee Fountain Pen Club meetings and annual events such as the upcoming Pelikan Hub seemingly draw more attendees every year!
My Online Presence Is Equally Critical. Even for local businesses focused on local customers, having an online presence is crucial because even those who want to shop local use the internet to find their local stationery store. And while there will always be a few things I wish I had done differently, growing the retail business online before attempting a brick-and-mortar store is not one of them. Everyone advised me that it would take 6 months to a year for customers to really start to “find you,” and while the physical shop more than funds itself now, having the online business provided a safety net that helped me sleep at night during those first months.
Steady Growth Is Better Than “Going Viral.” I’ve intentionally focused on steady growth of the business at a pace that I find both sustainable and enjoyable to run. Yes, I could invest heavily in cultivating a presence on every social media network, attending multiple pen shows and out-of-town events per month while others ran the shop in my absence, and bringing in every trendy new pen or ink line that comes my way, but that’s not the kind of business I want to run. I enjoy being in the shop personally, and my business model is focused on heavy curation and offering those products that I understand and can recommend coherently. We’re expanding, but at a pace I’m comfortable with.
I Actually Enjoy Running Events. More on this below, but I really enjoy organizing and hosting gatherings. Every Saturday in the shop feels like a pen show! I’d like to expand the T.G.S. in-store experience to include things like brand takeovers, trunk shows, classes and workshops, and even analog-themed community events like pen club meetups, game nights, and/or book clubs. We are adding additional space and reorganizing our current location to make it easier for us to play host, so look for additional details and announcements in the coming month as we are getting closer to making this a reality.
I Need 36 Hours in the Day. For anyone who has ever worked for themselves, this is self-explanatory. Even at a “sustainable” pace, there’s always something else to do, and for me it poses somewhat of a risk to my mental health and stamina because when I’m really enjoying a project I want to work on it all the time. Finding more of a balance - and a true day off - is going to be a focus for the year ahead.

For our initial event - and hopefully to kick off our new shop location - Shawn and Lisa are coming to visit! They’ve both been invaluable friends and colleagues over the past year, and I’m looking forward to hosting!

A Special Announcement for Next Month: Lisa Vanness and Shawn Newton In-Store October 17-October 19!

So what’s next? Now that the growth phase has slowed down a bit, as mentioned I want to start holding some in-store special events. First up is a weekend takeover featuring my friends Lisa Vanness of Vanness Pens and Shawn Newton of Newton Pens, who will be in-store the weekend of October 17 through October 19 so save the date if you plan to be in Nashville! Lisa will be bringing exclusive inks and other uncommon items from Japan (among other things), and Shawn will of course have his Newton Pens lineup. Please stay tuned for exact details, including possible special/expanded hours.

Want to Hear More Stationery Talk and Behind-the-Scenes Stories? We’re Launching a Podcast!

Those of you in the T.G.S. Patreon likely already know about this, since you’ve had access to the first two “pre-episodes,” but Lisa Vanness and I are launching a podcast that will be released 1-2 times per month, focused not just on the retail side of stationery but on more in-depth discussion of the stationery we personally enjoy and how we use it. For now, the episodes are Patreon-exclusive but look for a public release sometime during the fourth quarter of 2025.

A special huge thank-you to all of you who have supported the Gentleman Stationer going back to 2014, and who have made all this possible, especially our Patreon Supporters who believe in us enough to provide monthly support via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Support goes beyond the monetary contribution - simply knowing that there is a dedicated group of people who believe in you and show up every month makes this worthwhile.