There is so much oddness in this world, especially when it comes to the most ordinary things. In particular, lots of people don’t understand why tiny things are so overpriced. Speaking of the stationery stuff, customers often ask, Why are fountain pens so expensive? Indeed, there may be no obvious reasons, but I can explain them. So let’s figure it out and then have a look at the great examples of expensive fountain pens.
Some Reasons for Such Price of Fountain Pens
For some reason, most people think that fountain pens are unreasonably expensive. In fact, it makes sense since there doesn’t seem to be much difference between a ballpoint pen and a fountain pen. They both are made of plastic and have a few metal details.
On the other hand, the price is pretty warranted since the production and performance of a fountain pen are complex aspects and factors that greatly influence its price. Let’s take a look at each reason in detail.
Features of Production and Materials Used
At first glance, the nib of a fountain pen may seem slightly different from the regular one. However, the functional feature is hidden behind the tiny dissimilarity. In particular, adjusting the pressure on the nib of a fountain pen changes the width of a stroke. Meanwhile, a ballpoint pen is limited in the variety of stroke width by the size of a ball at its point.
Another thing that increases the cost of an ink pen is the material of the nib. In fact, it can be stainless steel, but usually, it’s made of precious metal, e.g., gold, platinum, etc. Such a solution allows the fountain pen to glide across the paper more smoothly than the regular writing instrument. Besides, the nib can be decorated with patterns covered with precious metal as well.
The body is another factor to consider when choosing an ink supplying instrument. Of course, the plain one-color plastic body will not cost an arm and a leg, but the one performed in different colors, especially covered with various patterns, will! In addition, the longer the body is, the higher the price will be. And don’t forget about the material: plastic is usually cheaper than aluminum, but sometimes, the reverse can be true.
Finally, the inner part – the filling mechanism – is quite sophisticated, so it is indeed a costly part of a fountain writing media. Meanwhile, a regular pen doesn’t have it at all!
On a separate note, the place of production also matters. For instance, the Japanese and German writing tools are considered high-quality, and their prices are pretty high. Besides, the fact that the ink-filled instrument has a unique design or belongs to a limited collection may also affect its value.
The Quality of Writing
As said earlier, the fountain writing tools glide over the paper surface much more easily and smoothly, so any user will be delighted with the writing experience. Besides, such items are equipped with the feature of adjusting the stroke width, which makes the handwriting more beautiful.
Another thing is a filling mechanism of the pen that supplies ink to the nib consistently. And as it was with the width adjustments, the amount of ink can also be modified.
Fountain Pen As a Symbol of High Status
Owners of fountain pens are usually considered high-status people. That is why these writing tools have more value than regular ones. Thus, this luxurious pen is indeed a good gift idea. Moreover, such a present is suitable for any user. Furthermore, the writing media from well-known brands, for example, from Waterman or Montblanc, will be much more appreciated.
List of Expensive Fountain Pens That You Can Buy on Amazon
Perhaps you’ve been persuaded to purchase a fountain pen. And now you might be considering which one to choose. For this purpose, I’ve prepared a list of some of these luxurious ink-filled tools that will help you define the necessary features in your future pen or probably find an ideal item for you.
| Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|
| Montblanc William Shakespeare | Black resin cap White resin body Guilloche pattern Band with the images of Shakespeare’s plays 18k gold nib Limited-edition piece (The total number of pens is 8,700) |
| Pelikan Premium M800 | Black and green body Gold-plated elements Patterned nib Pelikan logo on the top of the cap Three-year warranty |
| Parker Duofold Limited Edition | Limited edition Blue GT item with golden lines on the body Gold-plated brass cap 2-carat lapis lazuli embedded in a cap 18k gold etched compass image on the nib |
| J.S. Staedtler Princeps | Mars head logo on the top of the cap Metal elements are palladium-plated and highly polished Screw-down cap Body with precious European walnut wood insertions |
| Montegrappa Extra Argento | Whole body is made of polished 100% sterling silver Rhodium-plated 18k gold nib Guilloche engraving on the body and cap Honeycomb pattern on the nib |
| Montblanc Patron Marquise de Pompadour | Limited edition 18k gold nib Meissen porcelain cap |
| Ancora Demonstrator Limited Edition | Acrylic resin body 18k gold nib Limited edition – only 88 hand-made pieces |
Summing Up
What do you call a universal idea of a gift? Would you consider a fountain pen a universal gift that can be given to anybody regardless of age and social status after you’ve learned so many facts about such an item? Hopefully, I’ve covered all the aspects of price formation for these common tools so that you will never doubt whether they are worth the extra cost.
References
- Fountain Pen – https://en.wikipedia.org/
- Why Are Fountain Pens Relatively Expensive? – https://www.quora.com/