Last year, Herbin, one of the oldest ink manufacturers in the world, announced that it would launch a set of high-end fountain pens under the new moniker “Jacques Herbin.” When the designs were revealed, it’s safe to say that people were … underwhelmed. I’ve yet to read a review of these pens, and I’ve not seen them sold at retail in the U.S. Our sponsor Appelboom, which is located in the Netherlands, kindly agreed to lend me one of the dark blue “Sloop” fountain pens with brushed steel trim. My conclusions? The Jacques Herbin Sloop would make a nice everyday writer, similar to some of the more basic models by Waterman or Montegrappa. The problem here, as is common with companies trying to break into the fountain pen market at the “luxury” level, is the high price point.
I truly enjoyed several aspects of the Jacques Herbin Sloop. While I didn’t subject this pen to the true rigors of my daily carry, since I received this pen on loan, I spent enough time with it to offer some general observations.
A comfortable section, with the threads placed high so as not to interfere with your grip. Perfect for longer writing sessions!
Pros:
Overall Design. The Sloop features a classic, understated, vintage-style design (which you would expect from Herbin). I would characterize this pen as a streamlined flat-top, accented by brushed metal trim on the cap band, clip, and two finials. The acrylic section is on the longer side, and despite the fact that the pen has metal threads, they sit high up and shouldn’t interfere with most people’s grip.
Brushed Metal Trim. More companies should offer brushed metal trim. It adds interesting detail to an otherwise basic acrylic design. I could have done without the “Jacques Herbin Paris 1670” engraving around the cap finial, since something about it looks slightly “off” when set against the brushed metal. It may be that Herbin simply tried to include too much text in a small area, and the brushed metal leaves the edges looking fuzzy.
Well-tuned Bock Nib. The stainless steel Bock nib on the Sloop was a good one: well-tuned and moderately wet. I also liked the fact that Herbin went with a custom engraving and didn’t offer just a stock nib. If a company plans to ask for more than $200 for the pen, customized nibs are really the only option.
The Bock nib on this Jacques Herbin Sloop wrote extremely well.
Cons:
Price. The single biggest issue with this pen is the price point Herbin has chosen to pursue. The Sloop is currently priced at around $240, placing this pen at a more expensive price point than brands such as Franklin-Christoph, Leonardo Officina Italiana, and introductory level Montegrappas like the Elmo and Fortuna.
Insubstantial Feel in the Hand. The material feels thin, and different from the resin or acrylic used by Montblanc, Franklin-Christoph, or even PenBBS. That’s not to say the pen is poorly made or fragile - I’m sure it will hold up fine - it just doesn’t feel as you would expect from a pen at this price point.
Postability. Since the Sloop is a relatively slender pen, I found myself wanting to post it, but the cap doesn’t post deeply enough for a comfortable writing experience. The feel of this pen is very much like the Karas Kustoms Decograph: as noted above, I enjoy the vintage-style design, and the section is quite comfortable, but like the Decograph, it’s a bit long and awkward posted.
While I like the brushed trim on this fountain pen, I’m not sure that this particular engraving design/technique works….
Takeaways and Where to Buy
It’s always interesting to see companies branch out from their traditional product lines in an effort to expand their brand’s reach. Previously, Herbin has confined it’s pen offerings to lower-cost dip pens, inexpensive fountain pens, and refillable rollerballs. While my overall impression of Herbin’s first foray into the high-end pen market is generally positive, and I certainly like the look they are going for, I think Herbin will have a hard time being successful unless they move these pens into the $150-200 price range. While nice, the overall design isn’t particularly distinctive or inspired enough to warrant charging more than, say, a Montegrappa Fortuna - a pen that is already pushing the upper limits of what consumers would be willing to pay for a cartridge-converter fountain pen with a stainless steel nib.
The pen featured in this review was generously loaned to me by Appelboom, a sponsor of this blog. The Jacques Herbin Sloop is currently priced at $240 US (subject to change along with the exchange rate), and comes available in Black, Amber, and Taupe, in addition to the Dark Blue model pictured here. Appelboom carries the full range of Jacques Herbin fountain pens, Herbin inks, and dozens of other brands.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Should you elect to purchase a pen from Appelboom, I will receive a small commission which I use to keep this blog running. Many thanks to Appelboom and all my readers for your support!