Last week, I looked at the Nahvalur “Original Plus,” the updated vacuum-filler version of the Nahvalur “Original” fountain pen, and this week I’ll turn my attention to what is fast becoming Nahvalur’s “flagship”: the Nautilus fountain pen. Originally released under the Narwhal branding - with some current models still featuring the “Narwhal” engraving and logo on both the nib and cap band - the Nautilus has been around for a few years but recently has gained traction following a series of special editions and pen show exclusives in unique ebonites. The two pens I’m looking at in this post include a pen show exclusive that I received in Atlanta (the blue striated limited edition, numbered 205/400) and the “Stylophora Berry” release that I picked up in D.C. at the Nahvalur table.
Two different ebonites: striated blue (left) and “Stylophora Berry” (right).
Design and Build Quality
The Nautilus has received quite a bit of attention since its release due to its distinctive looks, which are plainly inspired by its namesake, the famed submarine from Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. (RIP best Disney ride ever.) Nautical motifs predominate, including a torpedo/submarine shape, an engraved “waves” pattern on the cap band, and three “porthole” ink windows, which I consider more of a design flourish than anything else. The “portholes” can sometimes struggle to let in enough light to offer great visibility on the ink supply, but it’s still a cool visual touch nonetheless.
The porthole ink window and engraved cap band (still showing Narwhal branding, as this pen was released prior to the rebrand).
By far, my favorite aspect of the Nautilus fountain pen is Nahvalur’s use of premium ebonite in striking striated patterns. Why do I enjoy ebonite as a material for fountain pens? For starters, it feels solid in the hand - lightweight yet sturdy, with a warmth that acrylics and resins sometimes lack. You get a lot of visually interesting variation in the material that exudes some of the vintage vibe you get from celluloid or cellulose acetate without the price premium that those materials command.
Writing Experience
Given its shape, the Nautilus obviously doesn’t post. Nonetheless, this is a well-balanced pen that’s incredibly comfortable to write with, even for extended periods of time. Like the Original Plus, the nib on the Nautilus is smooth and requires very little pressure to write. The dark blue Nautilus pictured here initially featured a round double-broad (BB) nib with a lot of tipping - not usually my cup of tea - and while it wrote well out of the box, I chose to have it ground to a “Mini-Naginata”-style nib by C.Y. of Tokyo Station Pens. It’s of course now an excellent writer. My Stylophora Berry Nautilus (the purple pen) has a standard Nahvalur fine nib, and while it definitely writes on the broader side for a “fine”, the consistently wet line makes for a pleasant writing experience.
The engraving on the nib is the same as on the Original Plus, though both of these Nautilus pens have rose gold nibs and trim. As a general observation, Nahvalur fountain pens tend to feature a fair bit of tipping, making them excellent platforms for nib customization (especially in the “B” and “BB” nib widths).
Since it’s a piston filler, the Nautilus holds a lot of ink, making it a writer’s workhorse. I’ve had one of these pens in rotation at any given time since late Spring, and I’ve especially enjoyed using them in my journals for longer sessions at night and early in the morning. Larger, unique pens like the Nautilus tend to be a bit too “conversation-piece-y” for my office environment, but I have taken them to work with me, and there’s absolutely no reason why you couldn’t rely on this pen as your daily driver. I will note that for whatever reason, I’ve found that ebonite pens don’t necessarily travel well in that they tend to burp ink in response to air pressure and temperature changes more than other types of pens. If you’re looking for a pen to take on an airplane, go with the Original Plus, which features a shutoff valve.
Writing samples for the Nahvalur Nautilus standard fine nib (top) in Wearingeul Metamorphosis, and custom-ground BB nib (bottom) in Anderillium Colossal Squid Dark. The Anderillium “Cephalopod” ink series seems like a great match conceptually for these pens. Writing sample is on Life Noble Note paper in grid layout.
Takeaways and Where to Buy
One reason why I love the Nautilus is that there’s nothing quite like it currently on the market. If I had to choose a “peer” pen, I would compare it to something like the Opus 88 Jazz or Omar (with a slight price increase to account for the piston and the premium ebonite), and the standard Leonardo Momento Zero with a steel nib. I would avoid calling any of these pens direct “competitors,” because they are extremely different aesthetically, and Nahvalur pens definitely have their own unique visuals and writing feel.
You can really see the unique pattern in the ebonite on the sections of both pens.
As Nahvalur has grown as a company and expanded its retail presence, the Nautilus lineup has likewise expanded and can now be found at most Nahvalur retailers. The T.G.S. Curated Shop currently stocks the Nahvalur Nautilus in the aubergine “Stylophora Berry” ebonite pictured here, priced at $160. There will be more versions joining in the near future. As I’ve mentioned before, one of the major things I look for when deciding to bring new items (and especially pens) into the shop is value, and after six months of regular use, the Nautilus continues to impress at this price point. Any time a company releases a unique-looking ebonite piston filler under $200, they have my attention, and I look forward to seeing what Nahvalur has in store for this particular model in the future.
A size comparison, showing two Nahvalur Nautilus fountain pens with, from left, the Nahvalur Original Plus in Gold Ocellatus, a TWSBI 580, and a Schon DSGN full-size.
Disclaimer: The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of select Nahvalur Fountain Pens, including the Nahvalur Original Plus and Nautilus “Stylophora Berry” pictured here. While I acquired the Stylophora Berry with my own funds, I did receive the blue “Pelagia Noctiluca” for review purposes, free of charge. This post does not contain third-party affiliate links.