I have Pilot and Platinum pens and they are great but you should mention Nakaya. They make their nibs in house and are really excellent writers and quite attractive.
Recently I learned that Sailor does quite an amount of collaborations with Japanese games and animes to produce limited type fountain pens or rollerball pens based on certain series and characters and I just thought that's super neat (and not safe for my wallet since they are made to be like luxury-level pens instead of budget pens). I usually like preppy for their affordability and I think Sailor has pretty cool pens (still thinking about their tsuru no ongaeshi pen....), but I'm glad that I can learn about more brands besides the commonly known Platinum, Sailor, and Pilot in this video. Thank you, JetPens! (also I'm begging on my knees, please introduce this VO person. He voices the first ever JetPens video I ever watched and I always enjoy whenever he VOs a video and please let him do introduction videos or QnA video like what Stephanie and Antoine had done. It's alright without face reveals too, I just think he's neat.)
THIS THIS THIS! I really like his voice, he's got a very nice and soothing voice that reminds me of a lecturer who's kind and welcoming to all in his classes.
my grandmother was a teacher and i found a Parker 21 shrouded nib pen from the early 1950s in one of her old desks. its pretty much identical to the modern Parker 51 fountain pens. i was able to clean and revive it so that it is full of my favorite color ink right now, hanging in my shirt pocket, and i use it daily. it's the best fountain pen ive ever used. it's an extra fine nib, writes like butter on any crappy paper, doesnt bleed through super thin paper, writes instantly perfectly seemingly no matter how long i let it sit, and despite taking quite a bit of abuse since started carrying it everywhere, still looks brand new. Parker is a classic US brand and while i can't vouch for the quality of the modern parker brand, i can truthfully say that they were masterful at creating fountain pens in the 1950s.
Three quarters of my collection are Japanese fountain Pens! Here are my top five: -Pilot Custom Urushi Vermillion -Sailor 1911 Realo in Burgundy/Gold Trim -Pilot Custom 823 Amber -Platinum Curidas Demonstrator (Im surprised that I like it more than my Pilot Vanishing Point!) -Pilot Custom Heritage Demonstrator You hit the nail on the head regarding in-house nibs. Some grinds are great like Pineider, but you can only do so much with a Jowo!
I purchased the introductory fountain pen collection from JetPens. After trying each pen, I found I liked the writing experience of the Platinum Preppy best. I do think I would like a finer nib, however. I'm really thankful for the introductory collection. It was great to be able to use different pens across time and writing surfaces without pressure to make a rushed decision. Yay, JetPens! Have I mentioned I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE JetPens??
Had a rough start with my Kakuno thinking I broke it and having to adjust my grip as well. Now though it serves like a workhorse and writes as fast as my hand can move. I adore this thing, it makes me want to physically write more than I have in years.
I have four Pilot Kakuno and one Platinum Preppy. My ridiculous number of other fountain pens include Lamy (in many colors) and two Kaweco. I also want a Pilot Vanishing Point, but that will have to wait several months until the repairs on our house are done.
@@Alba_bb personally have the kaweco sport, it writes well for me despite my not having really used a fountain pen before. Would definitely recommend you get one, i found my handwriting got a lot easier to read with one
I am a total Pilot fan. My 823 with its superb filling mechanism is the joy of my collection and also the one I use to write in my technical notebooks. The Metropolitan is my favorite starter pen, and I keep a supply on hand to give to my clients as small gifts. They always enjoy receiving them and inevitably become hooked on fountain pens because of them. That's why I call the Metropolitan a gateway pen.
Pilot has me by the wallet. I have 2 Custom 74s, 3 VPs (1 Decimo, 1 Standard, 1 Standard LE), and a Custom 823, yet I am still eyeing their Custom 912 (FA)... I don't have a problem.
Sailor had mine I own 5 pro gear slims- (1 Demo and 4 Limiteds) and I'm still eyeing THREE XD with a grand total of all 3 wanted pens being a nice chunk of 903 ;0; I fee ya so much!!
Of course you don't have a problem, since -- according to my pen spreadsheet -- I have 16 Pilots (including 2 VPs, 2 Myu 701s, a few Elites, an M90, a Decimo and various others), and obviously I don't have a problem. So we definitely don't have a problem together.
I was scared of fountain pens for so long, but I took the dive and got a platinum preppy and yeah I really love it haha it may not have a luxury design, but I personally like how "office" it looks. I don't think I'll ever be someone who has the patience for fountain pen maintenance, but this I can do xD I also wasn't expecting the lines to be as fine as they are, and it helps a lot since I do actually write in kanji sometimes But one day I'll be able to afford a sailor ;v; one day
I have the Pilot Kakuno in a fine nib which is wonderful for urban sketching and bullet journalling. My other favorites are the Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop series in glorious colours on metal. I especially enjoy writing with the stub nibs that enhance calligraphy.
I love the Pilot Prera’s! So comfortable in your hand, starts right up, rights really well and a pretty pen. I have 4 and want another with the calligraphy nib.
The Pilot Kakuno in a Clear Demonstrator was my first ever high quality japanese pen. I was definitely suprised at how smooth it wrote for such a small nib (i ordered F). It was my most used pen for about a year, and still holds a good candle to my Safari, Sheaffers, and such. An awesome pen for starters!
my first fountain pen. good writing, cute with a smiley. then i got crazy with fountain pens and i bought nearly 30 which majority of it are chinese fountain pens. i only tried 1/3 of it to date as each that i tried writes good.
I got a Pilot Kakuno after watching your video about beginner friendly fountain pens. It was supposed to be a temporary solution for getting into using one again... but it became my everyday pen and I have it always in my bag for at least 5 years 😉
The Pilot 92F is the best piston filled gold nib pen out there, especially given the price. Japanese pen QC is so much better than anything German these days.
@@ecksdog I believe they still sell a VERY similar desk pen that is effectively the same, with a slightly different name, excluding the word CARBON. ~$15, worth a try.
I own a Pilot Prera and a Pilot Vanishing Point. Love them both for different reasons. Love the VP for writing and the Prera for art line work. If I ever get another fountain pen, I might go for another Prera.
Japanese and Italian pens are my firm favorites. Not least because of their superb made-in-house nibs, gold and steel. Sailor remains my #1 favorite among Japan’s Big Three. I have sixteen Sailor pens: six Pro Gears, three KoPs, one 1911L, one PG Slim, one PG Realo, one Pro Color, one 1911 Compass, two Lecoules. I have a dozen Pilot pens: three Capless/VP, a Fermo, a PC 823, 845, PCH 91, 912, a Silvern Tsumugi, a Falcon, two E95s. I own seven Platinum pens: four 3776 Century (two in celluloid), a Procyon, a Prefounte, and a red Nakaya Decapod Twist due to arrive home in December, hopefully. Thanks for the video. Nicely done, too!
I have 5 pilot preppy fountain pens. Each has a different ink - and as an artist and journal writer this style pen suits me to a T, price wise, smooth flow (even over "rough" watercolour paper for out lining) - fantastic pens and and price wise minimizes any anxiety over mislaying or losing pen! Love the other more expensive pens but the Pilot Preppy is a great working pen!
I have Platinum Preppy pens with each of the 3 nibs offered. I couldn't believe how smoothly these inexpensive pens write! I also have a Platinum Riviere, a BelAge, and a vintage Platinum pocket pen, as well as a lone Sailor Procolor 500 Stardust. I'm lusting after a Platinum 3776, maybe in emerald green with a soft fine nib
I have no Japanese fountain pens, but I'm interested in the Preppy or the Sailor for drawing, and I fell in love with the look of the Elabo for writing. What a stunning line! Logging into my Wish List RIGHT NOW!!
I have had the 0.5 and 0.3 size preppy pens for a couple of onths, and today I bought a 0.2 version (EF) My first thought when I inked it up and got it flowing was that it would be excellent for drawing. It's REALLY fine. It's a little scratchy, but you expect that in such a fine nib. And if you don't like it, give it away - for under $6.00 (I'm in Canada) it's not too expensive to give to someone who might like it.
I have a Sailor 1911 with a music nib, a 2nd Sailor (not a 1911) with a steel nib, a Levenger (France), a Platinum Plaisir, and I've just brought a Staedtler Premium Initium with a steel nib
I got my first fountain pen because of you guys. I got the Pilot Kakuno medium tip. I love it!!! I can’t say I have been converted away from my trusty Pentel Energel in a Zebra Sarasa body 😅 but I do enjoy writing with it and I am looking forward to purchasing a converter and ink. Well, technically is not my first. I was given one some time ago, is a very cheap one they found on Wish and I have the feeling they just gave it to me because they forgot to get me something for secret Santa 😅 Is a deli. And that’s all I know about it. It doesn’t say which size is it and it was not given to me in any package except a small gift box from the store. Is not at all my style but is not terrible, is just that is not good either 😅 it has blue ink and there’s so much feedback on some papers, is not terribly nice to use. I must confess that I have it on my replaceable pencase that I carry with me everywhere. The Kaküno stays at home with my beloved frankenpen 😅 because I love them so much.
I'm a beginner with fountain pens, and I currently use Pilot Kakuno and Platinum Preppy Perpanep. I love how my handwriting looks using fountain pens, as if I write really well. LOL. Currently using cartridge inks for my fountain pens, not sure when, if at all, I'll move on to bottled inks. But you never know. I said before I didn't want to use fountain pens, but here we are.
I have probably a dozen Platinum Preppy (mostly clear ones so I can see the ink), a few Platinum Prefounte, a few Pilot Metropolitan, a few Pilot Kakuno, a few Pilot Explorer, and the black and wooden Pilot iro-utsushi dip pens. All amazing pens.
I love this video! Great production and content coverage, as usual! I own several Sailors, Pilots, and Platinums! My favorites are all Sailor pens; I love the feedback and the feel/weight of Sailor pens. As a serial ink-changer (I use ~0.5mL at a time), I enjoy the ease of cartridge fills and tend to stay away from piston or other fill mechanics that are difficult to clean. My two absolutely favorites are the King Of Pen 1911 M in black/gold and the Pro Gear MF in white with pink gold trim. Simply divine! 🤩
A Sailor PG Slim - Purple Cosmos was my first fountain pen that put a hole in my wallet. I now have PGS Supernova and a 1911S Stormy Seas. My wife has a few vintage Sailors as she likes their thinner body and EF nibs for her teeny-tiny handwriting. I also like the feedback of the Sailor pens and can see the collection growing in no time.
Can vouch for Platinum preppy as beginner pens. I have a set I got after getting an aluminum body platinum pen that I adore because I wanted multiple pens for different colors instead of having to toss a mostly-full cartridge if I want to change colors. They work amazing and the colors that come in the package are SUPER vibrant!
I would like to have my first gold nib be a Custom 74 or a 912 by Pilot b/c the Pilot Metropolitan, despite being a "starter" pen, is absolutely my favorite writing experience. I appreciate TWSBI's use of a second cap and screw mechanism. I have had TWSBI pens inked for 1 year+ without hard starts, which is not the same as the metropolitan, but I just cannot beat that writing feeling especially for the price range
@@houghwhite411 the capping is not as good but it definitely lasts more than 2 days for me. For a slip cap pen I think it’s on the better side of capped pens
I have a pilot kakuno, a kaweco classic sport, a noodler’s creeper, a custom 74, a vanishing point, a twsbi eco and a twsbi diamond. I just really love pilot fountain pens cause their designs match my taste and I love fine nibs. I hope I can afford a beautiful maki-e fountain pen one day.
I only have the kakuno 😂 would love a preppy tho and I would definitely start buying from you guys once I move to the UK! My current country is legit halfway across the world from you guys so... :'D
I own several Japanese fountain pens and each one performs a different task for me. I’m still experimenting with fountain pens, as I am a newbie to the fountain pen world. Thanks for sharing this wonderful knowledge about Japanese fountain pens.
I have had several fountain pens in the past, some cheaper and some more expensive, and have always enjoyed them. I recently ordered a set of the Platinum Preppy (7 different colors) after the good recommendations. I can say that they write beautifully, I have the 0.5 size and it is perfect for me, as I like fine line pens. It is not scratchy at all, even on cheap paper (haven’t tried standard US college ruled three punch, but the pen is not scratchy on regular printer paper.) The colors are rich, the ink flows well, and it writes wonderfully on my personal favorite paper, Rhodia.
Haha, I only have the Pilot Kakuno, not sure I'll get another one either untill I find a better converter. I would like a Sailor eventually. I am currently in love with my Lamy's
Only minor bummer is Sailor Platinum and Pilot all use proprietary ink cartridges, but obviously you can just buy a converter. I have both a Sailor and a Pilot and they are nice pens the steel nib Sailor Compass can be a bit toothy but writes on any paper without bleed through . My Pilot E95S with a gold nib writes smother but does still have some feedback. Both pens are in a fine sized nib.
Platinum makes a cartridge adapter to allow you to put any short standard cartridge in it. I don't know if an international converter would fit into the adapter, and if it does, I don't know if you'd be able to put the barrel of the pen back on because I believe the platinum converter is a bit shorter that the international one - but don't quote me on this!
I have both the Platinum Preppy and the Pilot fountain pen. Incredible quality and at an amazing price too! I’ve had the Platinum Preppy for almost 2 years now and it still works like a charm (I’ve had the Pilot fountain pen for almost 6 years, and it still works flawlessly).
The reason I got into fountain pens is to try and improve my handwriting I started with a Preppy F nib, Pilot Kakunos in 3 nib sizes, and now I ended up with a Custom Heritage 92 that writes like magic. I may have a bias because most of my pens are Japanese ones but I just love them.
@@PratameshMistry in this price range, there is only one pen I could think of. It's the Pilot Metropolitan available in F and M, the reason I suggested such a pen is it's one of my pens the barrel and the cap are made of brass and available in variety of colors. Sure, the converter it comes with is rather small but at this price range, I wouldn't complain. If your local shop does have it in stock, try it out for yourself first before you buy it so you could see if it's for you. I hope I was able to help out with the solution you look for.
I'm really fascinated by the Platinum fountain pens. I already have three different models. Naturally the Preppy and also the artwork pen and two Plaisir ones. I use them mostly for sketching and drawing with the Platinum Carbon Ink as I often paint with watercolours on top of it. However writing with them is fun, too.
I have the first generation of Pilot Preppy fountain pens from Jet Pens and loved it for its low budget; ideal for a then student like me. however, as I was twisting the body of the pen back into place one day (after a refill), it cracked on me. Because of this inconvenience of not having a seal, I no longer use it and am just stuck with it. I've debated on just buying another preppy, but the original pen is basically new, so that was not a solution for me. I am stuck with it, no longer in use, ink is new as well, just waiting until I find another fountain pen that's eye-catching.
I have some nice Japanese pens. From Sailor, I have: KoP, 1911 Large, 1911 standard, Pro Gear "Imperial Black"... from Pilot: Custom 845, 743, 912, 74. black E95s, Maroon E95s. All bought direct from Japan. US retail prices for these pens are insane. My 4 Preras, and 3 Metropolitans, I got here in the US.
I've had a nice silky preppy for a couple months and it's always a pleasure, but got the platinum 3776 one month ago and it's amongst my favorite now ❤️❤️ especially with the ultraflex nib
Japanese fountain pens are my favorite. I just love how smooth my Vanishing Point is. I also love the fact that their ef nibs are so small since my handwriting is on the tiny side.
I have platinum preppy .... bought it online 5 yrs ago. Its a bit latge to grip as my hands are smaller... should be thinner so that students can hold them easily
I honestly have never tried a Japanese fountain pen, but I do have a Pilot Parallel pen (1.5 mm line width). Regardless, I will buy a Platinum Preppy with a fine nib since it's one of the most recommended fountain pens for newbie fountain pen enthusiasts like me. Thanks for the video!😄🤗♥️🇵🇭😍
Pilot Petit 1 was my first and the one that dragged me down into this rabbit hole 😂 It was my edc pen with it's reliable and compact size. Reliable enough to be on my pocket for everyday writing, everywhere 😀
I have several, a couple of Sailors, Pilots, and Platinums. One of the ones I didn't realize was particularly special was the Platinum 75th anniversary pen. 18k gold nib.
This voice ❤️ I love everyone but this voice is the one that kept me watching. Also… I recently purchased a Pilot Kaküno to try the fountain pen life and I’m loving it so far. I don’t think it will convert me away from my beloved Pentel Energel in a Zebra Sarasa Clip body… but I do find myself using them both often. I love to life journal with my Pentel Energel but my book journal will definitely be written on fountain pen. I just need the converter and that super nice green ink I’ve been eyeing for some time 🥰 Also… I don’t post… is not comfy for me 😅
My japanese pens are: Sailor 1911 S 14k and Stainless Steel, Pilot E95, Pilot Custom Heritage 92, Pilot Custom Heritage 823, and Pilot Lucina, as well as a Platinum 3776 I gave to my grandmother
Don't have any Japanese fountain pens. Yet.😁 I'm partial to the pocket pens like the Pilot Elite/E95S, or the Platinum or Sailor ones from the 1960s & 70s. Something similar. 😉
Although like many others I started my journey on a Lamy and even ended up doing some minor collecting of them, the tip of the writing spear belongs to my ever trustful Custom Heritage 92 Broad which simply is buttery smooth. I am also coming around to the Metropolitans, which in EU use international standard converters and cartridges (yay!) and I am slowly thinking of collecting the animal prints and move in to the Preras.... unless I splurge on another CH92 because I can't have enough of these excellent pens and their ridiculous ink capacity - truly, a work of art. P.S. anyone has heard anything about Metropolitans / Preras getting a broad nib? It would be a match made in heaven for us who enjoy more smooth action and write BIG.
I have a lot of Pilot fountain pens, along with some Sailor and Platinum pens. My favorites are the Pilot Justus 95 (F), the Pilot Custom Heritage 912 (14k SFM), Pilot Prera (F) and the Pilot Kakuno (F). I prefer flat top pens, versus the cigar shaped ones, so for Sailor I like the looks of the Pro Gear models over the 1911's.
I have several Pilot Metros, one Custom 74, a whole bunch of Preppies, a couple of Sailor Compasses, and one Sailor 1911S. Didn’t know about the medium italic on the Prera, though… I might have to check that out.
Just saying LAMY makes all of their nibs in house, from their gold extra fine to their 1.9 mm stub nib, and they're interchangeable across all pens they manufacture with the exclusion of the 2000 line. If you wanted to you could pop the nib off your $20 ABC and put it onto your $350 Dialog CC and have it working like it just rolled off the assembly line in ten seconds. Plus this means that if worst comes to worst and you fuck up the nib you can pay ≈$12 to replace the nib instead of paying to replace the entire pen. Near as I know no Japanese brands have that sort of functionality Maybe it's just me, but IMO the Germans just do it better.
In my opinion, what German brands do best is the main body construction. They're built to last, and you can feel that when you pick up a German pen. But Japan knows how to do nibs. I've never had any issue with the nibs on my Japanese pens, and they do a thin Extra Fine/Fine right. If I could have a German made pen with a Japanese EF nib it would be a match made in heaven for me.
@@ejboshart0161 That too. I am, to put it politely, one of the clumsiest people ever to survive to adulthood, hence why the interchangable LAMY nibs appealed to me. Short of smashing it with a hammer, letting India ink dry in the feed, or your dog grabbing hold of it and using it as a chew toy a Safari or AL Star is pretty much indestructible. As for the nib size I tend to like them bigger: my go to is my Vista in Broad, and my favorite mechanical pencil is a little number from Morning Glory that uses flat lead and writes like a 1.8mm stub nib.
I have 4 Japanese fountain pens: Sailor pro gear slim Pilot Falcon Platinum century Pilot Metropolitan I am thinking on buying a Pilot Vanishing point, what do you think?, is there a better option?
I tend to favor Urushi or Maki-e/Raden pens. I have a Pro Gear KOP Sakura nagare, two Pro Gear Sakura nagare, Wancher Dream Pen Raden Sun Pillar, and a Dream Pen kindai Maki-e. The sailor pens are spectacular writers, though not everyone may like their nib feedback which reminds me of writing with a pencil. They're also more forgiving with the angles which I hold the pen compared to my MB 149.
I was so looking forward to getting a Pilot Prera last year but then I went to try it in a store. It feels so light in my hands and so didn’t get it. What do people make of that? Love to hear your experience!
@@ichirofakename thanks! I was reflecting further after I posted the comment. I have light-weight pens from other makers. Perhaps I was just surprised because the pen looks like it’s more substantial!
I currently have 2 inexpensive Japanese fountain pens, the Platinum Preppy with a medium nib and the Pilot Petit1 with the fine nib. Both work great and both seal very well so they don't dry out.
What Japanese fountain pens do you own? Let us know in the comments and give this video a like to see more fountain pen content!
Who is the voice?
I have some Platinum Preppy pens, and a Hero Fude nib fountain pen
TWSBI series pens are good choice !
Pilot custom 74
I have Pilot and Platinum pens and they are great but you should mention Nakaya. They make their nibs in house and are really excellent writers and quite attractive.
I think this video just convinced me that I need a Pilot Prera in my life. That italic nib is exceedingly beautiful.
It is a good option, not overly expensive
It's on the Metropolitan too!
Do it! I have 3 of them and they write beautifully. Also, they use the same nib and feed as the Kakuno.
It’s an addictive pen: the nib, the weight, the grip.. you can’t let go of it once you hold it in your hands!
I tried out a Prera recently but I found it small & scratchy. I'd like to try a Custom 74. I have a Sailor Compass 1911 and several Preppys.
Recently I learned that Sailor does quite an amount of collaborations with Japanese games and animes to produce limited type fountain pens or rollerball pens based on certain series and characters and I just thought that's super neat (and not safe for my wallet since they are made to be like luxury-level pens instead of budget pens).
I usually like preppy for their affordability and I think Sailor has pretty cool pens (still thinking about their tsuru no ongaeshi pen....), but I'm glad that I can learn about more brands besides the commonly known Platinum, Sailor, and Pilot in this video. Thank you, JetPens!
(also I'm begging on my knees, please introduce this VO person. He voices the first ever JetPens video I ever watched and I always enjoy whenever he VOs a video and please let him do introduction videos or QnA video like what Stephanie and Antoine had done. It's alright without face reveals too, I just think he's neat.)
THIS THIS THIS! I really like his voice, he's got a very nice and soothing voice that reminds me of a lecturer who's kind and welcoming to all in his classes.
I think it's Josh. He's in more recent videos a lot.
my grandmother was a teacher and i found a Parker 21 shrouded nib pen from the early 1950s in one of her old desks. its pretty much identical to the modern Parker 51 fountain pens. i was able to clean and revive it so that it is full of my favorite color ink right now, hanging in my shirt pocket, and i use it daily.
it's the best fountain pen ive ever used. it's an extra fine nib, writes like butter on any crappy paper, doesnt bleed through super thin paper, writes instantly perfectly seemingly no matter how long i let it sit, and despite taking quite a bit of abuse since started carrying it everywhere, still looks brand new. Parker is a classic US brand and while i can't vouch for the quality of the modern parker brand, i can truthfully say that they were masterful at creating fountain pens in the 1950s.
Three quarters of my collection are Japanese fountain Pens! Here are my top five:
-Pilot Custom Urushi Vermillion
-Sailor 1911 Realo in Burgundy/Gold Trim
-Pilot Custom 823 Amber
-Platinum Curidas Demonstrator (Im surprised that I like it more than my Pilot Vanishing Point!)
-Pilot Custom Heritage Demonstrator
You hit the nail on the head regarding in-house nibs. Some grinds are great like Pineider, but you can only do so much with a Jowo!
I wanted the M Italic nib but would like to avoid transparent body... Would like to go for a budget option.... any recommendations?
I purchased the introductory fountain pen collection from JetPens. After trying each pen, I found I liked the writing experience of the Platinum Preppy best. I do think I would like a finer nib, however. I'm really thankful for the introductory collection. It was great to be able to use different pens across time and writing surfaces without pressure to make a rushed decision. Yay, JetPens! Have I mentioned I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE JetPens??
Had a rough start with my Kakuno thinking I broke it and having to adjust my grip as well. Now though it serves like a workhorse and writes as fast as my hand can move. I adore this thing, it makes me want to physically write more than I have in years.
I bought a pilot metropolitan extra fine for my first one and really enjoy writing with it
I have four Pilot Kakuno and one Platinum Preppy. My ridiculous number of other fountain pens include Lamy (in many colors) and two Kaweco. I also want a Pilot Vanishing Point, but that will have to wait several months until the repairs on our house are done.
Hi, which one would you recommend for a beginner ? :)
@@Alba_bb personally have the kaweco sport, it writes well for me despite my not having really used a fountain pen before. Would definitely recommend you get one, i found my handwriting got a lot easier to read with one
I am a total Pilot fan. My 823 with its superb filling mechanism is the joy of my collection and also the one I use to write in my technical notebooks. The Metropolitan is my favorite starter pen, and I keep a supply on hand to give to my clients as small gifts. They always enjoy receiving them and inevitably become hooked on fountain pens because of them. That's why I call the Metropolitan a gateway pen.
I wanted the M Italic nib but would like to avoid transparent body... Would like to go for a budget option.... any recommendations?
Hello Gentlemen, For a starter would you recommend a pilot metropolitan with medium nib OR a german medium nib from Jowo or schmidt ?
Pilot has me by the wallet. I have 2 Custom 74s, 3 VPs (1 Decimo, 1 Standard, 1 Standard LE), and a Custom 823, yet I am still eyeing their Custom 912 (FA)...
I don't have a problem.
Sailor had mine I own 5 pro gear slims- (1 Demo and 4 Limiteds) and I'm still eyeing THREE XD with a grand total of all 3 wanted pens being a nice chunk of 903 ;0; I fee ya so much!!
Of course you don't have a problem, since -- according to my pen spreadsheet -- I have 16 Pilots (including 2 VPs, 2 Myu 701s, a few Elites, an M90, a Decimo and various others), and obviously I don't have a problem. So we definitely don't have a problem together.
I know how it feels
I was scared of fountain pens for so long, but I took the dive and got a platinum preppy
and yeah I really love it haha it may not have a luxury design, but I personally like how "office" it looks.
I don't think I'll ever be someone who has the patience for fountain pen maintenance, but this I can do xD
I also wasn't expecting the lines to be as fine as they are, and it helps a lot since I do actually write in kanji sometimes
But one day I'll be able to afford a sailor ;v; one day
I capped my sailor for a month and it still writes when I uncap it
That's crazy
I have the Pilot Kakuno in a fine nib which is wonderful for urban sketching and bullet journalling. My other favorites are the Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop series in glorious colours on metal. I especially enjoy writing with the stub nibs that enhance calligraphy.
I wanted the M Italic nib but would like to avoid transparent body... Would like to go for a budget option.... any recommendations?
I love the Pilot Prera’s! So comfortable in your hand, starts right up, rights really well and a pretty pen.
I have 4 and want another with the calligraphy nib.
The Pilot Kakuno in a Clear Demonstrator was my first ever high quality japanese pen. I was definitely suprised at how smooth it wrote for such a small nib (i ordered F). It was my most used pen for about a year, and still holds a good candle to my Safari, Sheaffers, and such. An awesome pen for starters!
my first fountain pen. good writing, cute with a smiley. then i got crazy with fountain pens and i bought nearly 30 which majority of it are chinese fountain pens. i only tried 1/3 of it to date as each that i tried writes good.
An awesome pen for anyone**
My favourite is the transparent. Love looking at the ink quantity going down while writing.
I got a Pilot Kakuno after watching your video about beginner friendly fountain pens. It was supposed to be a temporary solution for getting into using one again... but it became my everyday pen and I have it always in my bag for at least 5 years 😉
Got my first Kakuno and immediately ordered four more. Just love them.
The Pilot 92F is the best piston filled gold nib pen out there, especially given the price.
Japanese pen QC is so much better than anything German these days.
I love Japanese fountain pens so much! 😭 They’re my favorite! Those super fine nibs! That excellent quality control! 💖
A Platinum Preppy EF and Carbon Black cartridges make an awesome sketch pen. You can immediately watercolor over.
I like the Platinum Carbon Desk Pen also with Carbon Black cartridges for drawing.
@@ichirofakename me too but I think it was discontinued at some point. Maybe it’s back.
@@ecksdog I believe they still sell a VERY similar desk pen that is effectively the same, with a slightly different name, excluding the word CARBON. ~$15, worth a try.
I have Pilot Prera and Custom 823. Both are my favourites.
I got the pilot vanishing point in matte black from Jetpens after two years of contemplating. It completely changed my journaling game😳
Mine is a Platinum 3776 Century in Chenonceau white with a Soft Fine nib that gives good flex and excellent line variation. I love it!
I own a Pilot Prera and a Pilot Vanishing Point. Love them both for different reasons. Love the VP for writing and the Prera for art line work. If I ever get another fountain pen, I might go for another Prera.
Japanese and Italian pens are my firm favorites. Not least because of their superb made-in-house nibs, gold and steel.
Sailor remains my #1 favorite among Japan’s Big Three.
I have sixteen Sailor pens: six Pro Gears, three KoPs, one 1911L, one PG Slim, one PG Realo, one Pro Color, one 1911 Compass, two Lecoules.
I have a dozen Pilot pens: three Capless/VP, a Fermo, a PC 823, 845, PCH 91, 912, a Silvern Tsumugi, a Falcon, two E95s.
I own seven Platinum pens: four 3776 Century (two in celluloid), a Procyon, a Prefounte, and a red Nakaya Decapod Twist due to arrive home in December, hopefully.
Thanks for the video. Nicely done, too!
Is it worth buying sailor pmma resin fountains in comparison to ebonite?which is less brittle and long lasting material for fountains?
I have 5 pilot preppy fountain pens. Each has a different ink - and as an artist and journal writer this style pen suits me to a T, price wise, smooth flow (even over "rough" watercolour paper for out lining) - fantastic pens and and price wise minimizes any anxiety over mislaying or losing pen! Love the other more expensive pens but the Pilot Preppy is a great working pen!
I love the "Classic JetPens" feels of this video
I have Platinum Preppy pens with each of the 3 nibs offered. I couldn't believe how smoothly these inexpensive pens write! I also have a Platinum Riviere, a BelAge, and a vintage Platinum pocket pen, as well as a lone Sailor Procolor 500 Stardust. I'm lusting after a Platinum 3776, maybe in emerald green with a soft fine nib
'Lusting after' haha great choice of words
I wanted the M Italic nib but would like to avoid transparent body... Would like to go for a budget option.... any recommendations?
I have no Japanese fountain pens, but I'm interested in the Preppy or the Sailor for drawing, and I fell in love with the look of the Elabo for writing. What a stunning line! Logging into my Wish List RIGHT NOW!!
I have had the 0.5 and 0.3 size preppy pens for a couple of onths, and today I bought a 0.2 version (EF) My first thought when I inked it up and got it flowing was that it would be excellent for drawing. It's REALLY fine. It's a little scratchy, but you expect that in such a fine nib. And if you don't like it, give it away - for under $6.00 (I'm in Canada) it's not too expensive to give to someone who might like it.
I wanted the M Italic nib but would like to avoid transparent body... Would like to go for a budget option.... any recommendations?
I have a Sailor 1911 with a music nib, a 2nd Sailor (not a 1911) with a steel nib, a Levenger (France), a Platinum Plaisir, and I've just brought a Staedtler Premium Initium with a steel nib
Thank you for choosing much better music for this video than the last several! Much better.
And all Japan s pens are also usually light weight ,middle size and cap Post able which is very suitable for long periods writing.
Love all these pens. Who’s the narrator? I love his voice.
The Preppy is just wonderful. I have all the colors in all the nib sizes, and at $2.50 apiece, I can give them away.
“Never ask what makes Japanese fountain pens so special, instead ask “what makes MY writing so special” ~confusious, maybe
Deja vu
I got my first fountain pen because of you guys. I got the Pilot Kakuno medium tip. I love it!!! I can’t say I have been converted away from my trusty Pentel Energel in a Zebra Sarasa body 😅 but I do enjoy writing with it and I am looking forward to purchasing a converter and ink.
Well, technically is not my first. I was given one some time ago, is a very cheap one they found on Wish and I have the feeling they just gave it to me because they forgot to get me something for secret Santa 😅
Is a deli. And that’s all I know about it. It doesn’t say which size is it and it was not given to me in any package except a small gift box from the store. Is not at all my style but is not terrible, is just that is not good either 😅 it has blue ink and there’s so much feedback on some papers, is not terribly nice to use. I must confess that I have it on my replaceable pencase that I carry with me everywhere.
The Kaküno stays at home with my beloved frankenpen 😅 because I love them so much.
I'm a beginner with fountain pens, and I currently use Pilot Kakuno and Platinum Preppy Perpanep. I love how my handwriting looks using fountain pens, as if I write really well. LOL. Currently using cartridge inks for my fountain pens, not sure when, if at all, I'll move on to bottled inks. But you never know. I said before I didn't want to use fountain pens, but here we are.
Iv been using the pilot custom 74 and it feels great to write with. I mean fountain pens are supposed to be smooth but this is something else
I have probably a dozen Platinum Preppy (mostly clear ones so I can see the ink), a few Platinum Prefounte, a few Pilot Metropolitan, a few Pilot Kakuno, a few Pilot Explorer, and the black and wooden Pilot iro-utsushi dip pens. All amazing pens.
Thank you very much for making this video! I am a great fan of Pilot fens and use them everyday. All the best!
Pilot Kakuno. Writes so smoothly like a surfer riding the wave.
I like the pilot silvern and the platinum 3776. I’m looking for the latter with a music nib.
Yes, the Platinum 3776 Century is an awesome pen - not sure why it missed the recs. Mine has a fabulous 14K EF nib.
I love this video! Great production and content coverage, as usual!
I own several Sailors, Pilots, and Platinums! My favorites are all Sailor pens; I love the feedback and the feel/weight of Sailor pens. As a serial ink-changer (I use ~0.5mL at a time), I enjoy the ease of cartridge fills and tend to stay away from piston or other fill mechanics that are difficult to clean. My two absolutely favorites are the King Of Pen 1911 M in black/gold and the Pro Gear MF in white with pink gold trim. Simply divine! 🤩
A Sailor PG Slim - Purple Cosmos was my first fountain pen that put a hole in my wallet. I now have PGS Supernova and a 1911S Stormy Seas. My wife has a few vintage Sailors as she likes their thinner body and EF nibs for her teeny-tiny handwriting. I also like the feedback of the Sailor pens and can see the collection growing in no time.
Can vouch for Platinum preppy as beginner pens. I have a set I got after getting an aluminum body platinum pen that I adore because I wanted multiple pens for different colors instead of having to toss a mostly-full cartridge if I want to change colors. They work amazing and the colors that come in the package are SUPER vibrant!
I've only really used dip pens but now that I've seen the amazingness of fountain pens I've ordered me one
I would like to have my first gold nib be a Custom 74 or a 912 by Pilot b/c the Pilot Metropolitan, despite being a "starter" pen, is absolutely my favorite writing experience. I appreciate TWSBI's use of a second cap and screw mechanism. I have had TWSBI pens inked for 1 year+ without hard starts, which is not the same as the metropolitan, but I just cannot beat that writing feeling especially for the price range
Metropolitan dries when capped for 2 days, the capping is not as good as TWSBI
@@houghwhite411 the capping is not as good but it definitely lasts more than 2 days for me. For a slip cap pen I think it’s on the better side of capped pens
I wanted the M Italic nib but would like to avoid transparent body... Would like to go for a budget option.... any recommendations?
I have a pilot kakuno, a kaweco classic sport, a noodler’s creeper, a custom 74, a vanishing point, a twsbi eco and a twsbi diamond. I just really love pilot fountain pens cause their designs match my taste and I love fine nibs. I hope I can afford a beautiful maki-e fountain pen one day.
Pilot 823, 912 Music, sailor with "Architect nib" , some Platinum 3776's and a Nakaya Dorsal Fin 2 here.. yep, only Japanese pens in my collection
I only have the kakuno 😂 would love a preppy tho and I would definitely start buying from you guys once I move to the UK! My current country is legit halfway across the world from you guys so... :'D
I own several Japanese fountain pens and each one performs a different task for me. I’m still experimenting with fountain pens, as I am a newbie to the fountain pen world. Thanks for sharing this wonderful knowledge about Japanese fountain pens.
I have had several fountain pens in the past, some cheaper and some more expensive, and have always enjoyed them. I recently ordered a set of the Platinum Preppy (7 different colors) after the good recommendations. I can say that they write beautifully, I have the 0.5 size and it is perfect for me, as I like fine line pens. It is not scratchy at all, even on cheap paper (haven’t tried standard US college ruled three punch, but the pen is not scratchy on regular printer paper.) The colors are rich, the ink flows well, and it writes wonderfully on my personal favorite paper, Rhodia.
I have pilot explorer fountain pen. Writes very smoothly. So smoothly that it gives me the feel of a roller ball pen.
Haha, I only have the Pilot Kakuno, not sure I'll get another one either untill I find a better converter. I would like a Sailor eventually.
I am currently in love with my Lamy's
Only minor bummer is Sailor Platinum and Pilot all use proprietary ink cartridges, but obviously you can just buy a converter.
I have both a Sailor and a Pilot and they are nice pens the steel nib Sailor Compass can be a bit toothy but writes on any paper without bleed through
. My Pilot E95S with a gold nib writes smother but does still have some feedback. Both pens are in a fine sized nib.
Platinum makes a cartridge adapter to allow you to put any short standard cartridge in it. I don't know if an international converter would fit into the adapter, and if it does, I don't know if you'd be able to put the barrel of the pen back on because I believe the platinum converter is a bit shorter that the international one - but don't quote me on this!
I wanted the M Italic nib but would like to avoid transparent body... Would like to go for a budget option.... any recommendations?
I have 3 Sailor PGS and they're my absolute faves. One day I hope to own a Sailor Realo. One day.
I’ve only got a Pilot Varsity at the moment, but I’ll vouch for that little workhorse until the day I die. Best $2.50 I’ve ever spent!
Exploring the Platinum Preppy, lovely pen
I'm still new to my fountain pen adventure, I have two Sailor fudes, a Pilot Metro and a Pilot Kakuno in my Japanese pens.
I have both the Platinum Preppy and the Pilot fountain pen. Incredible quality and at an amazing price too! I’ve had the Platinum Preppy for almost 2 years now and it still works like a charm (I’ve had the Pilot fountain pen for almost 6 years, and it still works flawlessly).
The reason I got into fountain pens is to try and improve my handwriting I started with a Preppy F nib, Pilot Kakunos in 3 nib sizes, and now I ended up with a Custom Heritage 92 that writes like magic. I may have a bias because most of my pens are Japanese ones but I just love them.
I wanted the M Italic nib but would like to avoid transparent body... Would like to go for a budget option.... any recommendations?
@@PratameshMistry first off, what kind of budget are we talking about here?
@Mark Around $25/- added bonus would be to look good in a suit.
@@PratameshMistry in this price range, there is only one pen I could think of. It's the Pilot Metropolitan available in F and M, the reason I suggested such a pen is it's one of my pens the barrel and the cap are made of brass and available in variety of colors. Sure, the converter it comes with is rather small but at this price range, I wouldn't complain.
If your local shop does have it in stock, try it out for yourself first before you buy it so you could see if it's for you. I hope I was able to help out with the solution you look for.
My favorite is a Sailor Fude nib pen, great for my sketching with watercolours.
I'm really fascinated by the Platinum fountain pens. I already have three different models. Naturally the Preppy and also the artwork pen and two Plaisir ones. I use them mostly for sketching and drawing with the Platinum Carbon Ink as I often paint with watercolours on top of it. However writing with them is fun, too.
I have the first generation of Pilot Preppy fountain pens from Jet Pens and loved it for its low budget; ideal for a then student like me.
however, as I was twisting the body of the pen back into place one day (after a refill), it cracked on me. Because of this inconvenience of not having a seal, I no longer use it and am just stuck with it.
I've debated on just buying another preppy, but the original pen is basically new, so that was not a solution for me.
I am stuck with it, no longer in use, ink is new as well, just waiting until I find another fountain pen that's eye-catching.
I have some nice Japanese pens. From Sailor, I have: KoP, 1911 Large, 1911 standard, Pro Gear "Imperial Black"... from Pilot: Custom 845, 743, 912, 74. black E95s, Maroon E95s. All bought direct from Japan. US retail prices for these pens are insane. My 4 Preras, and 3 Metropolitans, I got here in the US.
My 1st fountain pen is Pilot Kakuno. It is so fine that i am addict in writing nowday.
I become curious because of Hiroshima g7 summit, sailor fountain pen is one of the gift
I've had a nice silky preppy for a couple months and it's always a pleasure, but got the platinum 3776 one month ago and it's amongst my favorite now ❤️❤️ especially with the ultraflex nib
Japanese fountain pens are my favorite. I just love how smooth my Vanishing Point is. I also love the fact that their ef nibs are so small since my handwriting is on the tiny side.
I have platinum preppy .... bought it online 5 yrs ago. Its a bit latge to grip as my hands are smaller... should be thinner so that students can hold them easily
I honestly have never tried a Japanese fountain pen, but I do have a Pilot Parallel pen (1.5 mm line width). Regardless, I will buy a Platinum Preppy with a fine nib since it's one of the most recommended fountain pens for newbie fountain pen enthusiasts like me. Thanks for the video!😄🤗♥️🇵🇭😍
Wow! Those are beautiful pens! What an instructive video! Thank you!👍😊
I've recently bought Yozakura Special Sailor Pro Gear for my girlfriend and they did amazing job on that pen. Eyewateringly expensive but worth it.
Lucky girl.
Pilot Petit 1 was my first and the one that dragged me down into this rabbit hole 😂
It was my edc pen with it's reliable and compact size. Reliable enough to be on my pocket for everyday writing, everywhere 😀
I wanted the M Italic nib but would like to avoid transparent body... Would like to go for a budget option.... any recommendations?
I have several, a couple of Sailors, Pilots, and Platinums. One of the ones I didn't realize was particularly special was the Platinum 75th anniversary pen. 18k gold nib.
ive got a few preppies, a decimo, a few VPs, which makes me very much a pilot person. I do have a traveler brass pen, which i also love
An alternative to Platinum's UEF nib is the PO ("Posting") nib on a Pilot Custom 912 (my favorite pen for the last couple of years).
Very detailed info with recommendations.
I'm planning to , for now I'm focus on German fountain pens ( Lamy ) , I'm planning to get a kaweco sport
This voice ❤️
I love everyone but this voice is the one that kept me watching.
Also… I recently purchased a Pilot Kaküno to try the fountain pen life and I’m loving it so far. I don’t think it will convert me away from my beloved Pentel Energel in a Zebra Sarasa Clip body… but I do find myself using them both often. I love to life journal with my Pentel Energel but my book journal will definitely be written on fountain pen. I just need the converter and that super nice green ink I’ve been eyeing for some time 🥰
Also… I don’t post… is not comfy for me 😅
Pentel Energel in a Zebra Sarasa body is genius!
My japanese pens are: Sailor 1911 S 14k and Stainless Steel, Pilot E95, Pilot Custom Heritage 92, Pilot Custom Heritage 823, and Pilot Lucina, as well as a Platinum 3776 I gave to my grandmother
I love the red one, so beautiful.
Don't have any Japanese fountain pens. Yet.😁 I'm partial to the pocket pens like the Pilot Elite/E95S, or the Platinum or Sailor ones from the 1960s & 70s. Something similar. 😉
Pilot Penmanship, Metropolitan, Prera & Elabo.
Although like many others I started my journey on a Lamy and even ended up doing some minor collecting of them, the tip of the writing spear belongs to my ever trustful Custom Heritage 92 Broad which simply is buttery smooth. I am also coming around to the Metropolitans, which in EU use international standard converters and cartridges (yay!) and I am slowly thinking of collecting the animal prints and move in to the Preras.... unless I splurge on another CH92 because I can't have enough of these excellent pens and their ridiculous ink capacity - truly, a work of art.
P.S. anyone has heard anything about Metropolitans / Preras getting a broad nib? It would be a match made in heaven for us who enjoy more smooth action and write BIG.
*i have a Jinhao x450 fountain Pen that works brilliantly and produces beautiful results..very happy with it*
I have a lot of Pilot fountain pens, along with some Sailor and Platinum pens.
My favorites are the Pilot Justus 95 (F), the Pilot Custom Heritage 912 (14k SFM), Pilot Prera (F) and the Pilot Kakuno (F).
I prefer flat top pens, versus the cigar shaped ones, so for Sailor I like the looks of the Pro Gear models over the 1911's.
Twsbi 580 is currently my luxury go to. But my daily carry is Ellington.
I have several Pilot Metros, one Custom 74, a whole bunch of Preppies, a couple of Sailor Compasses, and one Sailor 1911S. Didn’t know about the medium italic on the Prera, though… I might have to check that out.
Big fan of Japanese fountain pens!!! Have Pilot, Platinum and Sailor.. but absolutely love Pilot nibs, the Falcon being my personal grail pen.
Pilot Falcon nibs are amazing. The medium is perfect!
Just saying LAMY makes all of their nibs in house, from their gold extra fine to their 1.9 mm stub nib, and they're interchangeable across all pens they manufacture with the exclusion of the 2000 line. If you wanted to you could pop the nib off your $20 ABC and put it onto your $350 Dialog CC and have it working like it just rolled off the assembly line in ten seconds. Plus this means that if worst comes to worst and you fuck up the nib you can pay ≈$12 to replace the nib instead of paying to replace the entire pen. Near as I know no Japanese brands have that sort of functionality Maybe it's just me, but IMO the Germans just do it better.
In my opinion, what German brands do best is the main body construction. They're built to last, and you can feel that when you pick up a German pen. But Japan knows how to do nibs. I've never had any issue with the nibs on my Japanese pens, and they do a thin Extra Fine/Fine right. If I could have a German made pen with a Japanese EF nib it would be a match made in heaven for me.
@@ejboshart0161 That too. I am, to put it politely, one of the clumsiest people ever to survive to adulthood, hence why the interchangable LAMY nibs appealed to me. Short of smashing it with a hammer, letting India ink dry in the feed, or your dog grabbing hold of it and using it as a chew toy a Safari or AL Star is pretty much indestructible. As for the nib size I tend to like them bigger: my go to is my Vista in Broad, and my favorite mechanical pencil is a little number from Morning Glory that uses flat lead and writes like a 1.8mm stub nib.
Ayyy they mentioned my first pen the platinum procyon :D
I have 4 Japanese fountain pens:
Sailor pro gear slim
Pilot Falcon
Platinum century
Pilot Metropolitan
I am thinking on buying a Pilot Vanishing point, what do you think?, is there a better option?
I have a Pilot Decimo with a M nib.
My grail pen is a Pilot VP Raden pen.
I dip my toes into Japanese fountain pens by buying a platinum preppy and I love it with it’s fine tip
They should standardize on the part of the nib that interfaces with the pen so you can swap them around and don’t have to worry if it’ll fit.
I tend to favor Urushi or Maki-e/Raden pens. I have a Pro Gear KOP Sakura nagare, two Pro Gear Sakura nagare, Wancher Dream Pen Raden Sun Pillar, and a Dream Pen kindai Maki-e. The sailor pens are spectacular writers, though not everyone may like their nib feedback which reminds me of writing with a pencil. They're also more forgiving with the angles which I hold the pen compared to my MB 149.
I was so looking forward to getting a Pilot Prera last year but then I went to try it in a store. It feels so light in my hands and so didn’t get it. What do people make of that? Love to hear your experience!
Go for a metal pen if you prefer some heft. A Pilot Metropolitan, to stay Japanese, or venture further, like a Jinhao x750 or a Lamy AL-Star.
@@ichirofakename thanks! I was reflecting further after I posted the comment. I have light-weight pens from other makers. Perhaps I was just surprised because the pen looks like it’s more substantial!
I have a Sailor 1911 compass. It’s very reliable. Never skips a line, it’s great! I have to have it post tho. Feels too short not post
I currently have 2 inexpensive Japanese fountain pens, the Platinum Preppy with a medium nib and the Pilot Petit1 with the fine nib. Both work great and both seal very well so they don't dry out.