Thanks for a great round up of your best pens 2024. Appreciate your no-nonsense approach and broad spectrum of taste that is not limited to high-end brands. Chinese pens remain as the gateway to the hobby for many of us.❤🙏🙌
I bought a Hongdian N11 emerald rombus because of your review of it and it's now my favorite 👌🏽 In that video you said: "I already did my top 10 for 2023 but I'm sure this hongdiang N11 will be a good contender for 2024"....i guess it was too early and you found better ones during the rest of the year. I thought it was going to be in that top. Anyway i appreciate your opinions and enjoy your videos. I'm a soldier from Colombia and fountain pens are not the most popular hobbies here 😅...but i like them much and also your videos. Hope you have a Wonderful year Doug 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽.
Thank you for this profound overview! my fountain pen year 2024: - various Chinese models I bought based on your always exquisite recommendations, plus: - the Stilform Aluminum Rose Moon with Titanium nib automatically keeps me writing - filled with a matching rose gold ink, - the Kaweco Liliput Blue (2024 Collection) is one of numerous cherished vacation memories I obtained in September, - the Platinum #3776 Century Laurel Green Gold is one of the bigger investments I just couldn't resist, AND... - the lovely vintage pens that I have the honour of owning/receiving are of course my absolute favourites!! 💎
I also have a Collier in Fingerpaint Colour, Edison Pen's company replaced the concave section to the Edison Brockton's section and it became my favourite pen ever, it has perfect balance and made me forget every other one I have ever owned (I have not owned a lot, to be fair)
Best pen experiences of the year. Hmm. Earlier this year, I got the Yard-O-Led Viceroy Grand Victorian, so, yes. Amazing. But, the other day, my Admok m400 Schmidt, in a tortoise shell finish arrived. It writes too well to contemplate replacing the nib. O happy chance! Your finds look marvelous. Kudos on the 1990s Pelikan m600! Admok, are you listening? I'd like a Conway Stewart this coming year; but we'll see.
beautiful guitar! way to represent your Flames with a cool hat!! my top pens of 2024 are a Waterman Edson, Delta DV Original Oversize in Riviera Blue with a green ebonite feed, and an Asvine V200.
@@InkquiringMinds I finally found one this year at a price I could live with and a near mint condition. The Boucheron edition is still up there in price when available.
you’ve got a beautiful collection of pens! As someone who only uses vintage, my top pens of the year are: - Sheaffer Sentinel Deluxe (1948) - sage green Sheaffer Statesman Snorkel - Sheaffer Sentinel Tuckaway (1948, bought at my first pen show) - blue Eversharp Skyline - jade green Sheaffer OS Balance (1930)
I use a Jinhao 9016 with a 1.1 Bock number 6 nib swapped in by myself. My favourite vintage find of 2024 is a Waterman CF. Bought for £30. It's beautiful and writes wonderfully.
@ I have an Elite bought in Japan in fine. This pen is exquisite and will always remember me about my wonderful trip to Osaka. But I would loke to add an broader nib beside it
That’s exactly what I wanted for Christmas or 2025! An ivory and burgundy Pilot e95S with a medium nib. I asked my mother if she could buy one and she’s contemplating on whether to get one or not… I’m still dreaming of getting one for myself…
1. Obviously you had a great pen year. Well done. 2. The only pen of note for me was a KoP. Once I got it I wondered what to do with my 49 other pens. Well, now I'm down to 35.
Thanks for the round up of your favorite pens for the year. I always enjoy these videos. I really backed down on my pen purchases this year but my four favorites were Benu Talisman Cats Eye , as a memorial for my girl kitty. The Benu Astrogem Midas Touch because it looked like nothing else in my collection, the Diplomat Viper in blue with the medium nib. And the Goldspot x Pendemic Opus 88 Minty . I'm really happy with it. There are some Opus 88 minis that are tempting so we'll see what 2025 brings. They all write very well though the fine nib in the Talisman has more feedback and reminds me of my Sailor Compass. Unfortunately my current journal has *very* toothy paper so those two pens are not great with it. 😕 Used on Leuchtturm or Rhodia paper it's lovely.
My best experience with fountain pen this year was sharing the hobby with a couple of my best friends and my partner ❤ That and finally managing to swap the nib on a grey/silver Jinhao 80 with a lamy one :D I've been thinking about giving myself a pocket pen for New year's, but not sure about which one to get. Centennials also look great..... And the pens on this list look wonderful as well...... Choice anxiety is real 😅
A nice lineup of pens Doug. I was mildly surprised the A3 showed up on the list. My latest craze in vintage besides the Parkers is a Waterman 42 Safety. Then there are the Gravitas pocket pens, and on the Chinese pen front I got a number of Hero model pens mostly hooded nib models.
I really wanted to like the Asvine V200 - I love the aesthetics, capacity, and nib swap-ability. But the one I got was a dud; wrote fine for a while but then had flow issues (even with the valve open all the way) to the point of constantly dry-starting and not putting down a line without pressure. I exchanged for another one that turned out to have the exact same problem! Here's hoping that Asvine eventually makes a pen with similar aesthetics but better flow / quality control
Omgosh your sign.. so good 🎉geez I haven’t been here in a minute. I love Ranga pens, the Abhimanyu model is my fav. I own several acrylic ones, a gorgeous ebonite, and this year I picked up an aluminum one with the Ranga nib in EF.. it wrote sublimely out of the beautifully packaged box it came in. I’ve got to check out the Viper.🚀🚀🚀 Great vid.
I have a similar story with my vintage Pelikan. I found a listing on ebay, which had very little detail, it was a boxed set including the original ink bottle & the Oelikan as well as an unbranded random fountain pen (still not sure what it is...lol). I made an offer, that i was fairly sure would be declined, but was accepted. Once i received it, the box itself was in fairly poor condition, but I wasn't buying it for the box! The ink bottle was still over half full & the pen was in excellent condition. While looking at the markings on the pen, I found a very cool detail. Both the pen & the bottom of the ink bottle were marked "W. Germany", so these were made pre-Berlin Wall coming down! The nib was a Broad, & I much prefer a Western EF, so I ordered a new nib for it (keeping the original of course!) & now it is one that I reach for all the time. I never could have justified the cost of a new one, but I now have 2 vintage Pelikans (another is the 400nn model, & much older) which are among my favorites!
Interesting compilation and for me it is interesting to see where our tastes meet and where our tastes diverge. Both Edison's are true works of art, but the Elysium is the crowning glory, the color scheme and design are unique. BTW, have a look at the very new Delta Firenze collection, not sure if it's limited to the Casa della Stilografica Shop in Florence, but anyway worth a look, in my book. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and your family
Hands down my #1 this year was a Eureka Asymmetry in green and black ebonite, #2 a Sailor Full Size Pro Gear with lovely 21k F(writes like EF) nib. #1 vintage is probably my most recent - a Sheaffer Tip Tip in like an avocado green...that I opened from the original packaging with touchdown sac and everything in working order, maybe top Chinese pen is Asvine P20 in cracked ice green - have a few of the P20 but love this cracked ice look
That’s a nice list of ten. I’m putting an Edison on my wishlist this year (because of you). “Baby’s bottom aficionado?” There’s something wrong with you; that’s probably why I think you’re the best reviewer.
My favourite pens for the year: Sailor with a Naginata Togi broad nib and a Pelikan M1000 maki-e. Resolutions: to write a lot. Have a joyous 2025 Doug!
I have been waiting for this best of video. I have to get the Asvine J16 but it is sold out 😢. I have been also watching the Diplomat Viper. I do not have any Diplomat fountain pens, so this may be the one to break the ice. I do not have an Edison pen. I will have to look at the Collier. It looks like a wonderful pen.
@@paulmchugh1430 I was surprised to discover the Asvine J16 Titanium is virtually sold out, a lesson for me not to delay too long in buying something I’ve taken a fancy to.
You asked for your subscriber’s 2024 pen acquisitions. I started the year with my two starter pens, a Cross Bailey and a Lamy Al-Star, which I was content with until I spotted a Sailor Limited Edition Hiroshima Comemorative which was shockingly expensive but I couldn’t resist it. Then I discovered Pilot and I bought my second expensive pen, a Pilot Custom 845 Urushi, a truly wonderful pen. Followed by a Pilot Custom 743 and a Pilot Custom 823. I then discovered Esterbrook with a beautiful Estie Honeycomb followed by Funky Lake and Incredible Rock and a pending Sea Glass. After spending so much I turned to cheap pens, and I have a Gravitas Pocket in copper, an Asvine J16 in Titanium, a Lamy Violet Blackberry with an LX nib. Lastly, a Navalur Voyage Vacation Limited Edition (Doorstopper from Atlas Stationers). Phenomenal Year! I am awaiting the arrival from Appelboom of a Sailor Veilio Pearl Orange Limited Production and a Lamy LX Marron. But 2025 will be quite different as I feel I have too many pens, and disappointing to this newcomer to pens, many of my 2024 acquisitions don’t write especially well.
The year has been a steady increase in fountain pen spending frenzy like fountain pen day gave me permission to spend away like it's free money. I glanced at my fountain pen drawers and jotted down what stood out to me as favorites. I've decided that the Asvine V126 is my recommendation for new pen people. I have a bunch filled with the glitteriest of glitter inks. Next I'd say the Admok M800. I got the blue, then had to get the purple with black swirl when I finally found a seller that had it. Mine have Schmidt nibs that write dreamy. Funny thing though, I got Benus with Schmidt nibs in fine that scratch like a cat!🤮 Early in the year I got a Franklin-Christoph 02 collab with Vanness that looks like green Coca-Cola glass. Picked up some Benus on sale, but got one I love in Rose Tea exclusive from Goulet that I happily paid full price for. Got Opus 88 mini & full-size. Wing Sung 699 satisfied my craving for a Pilot Custom 823. And gave a blue one to my sis for xmas, but while we were on vacation last month, along with other inexpensive pen stuff. I got her started in fountain pens this year in April & she went straight to a Facebook group to study up. Pen resurrection Sundays sent me to ebay, winning bids on striped Parker vacumatics & a couple other vintage pens. Then I picked up a couple of discount Leonardos, the Mosaico last week, & Momento Zero that's about to be unboxed. And I kept sending pics of pens I was looking at to my sister. She had to hurry & give me my Xmas gift last week before I bought it myself! A purple Leonardo Furore. She got herself the blue one like Doug's. And so many inks!!! And last week I was training a lady at work & she saw the Conklin in b&w cracked ice I got bc it looked retro, so by yesterday I was showing her a loaded pen case of entry priced pens to try & she placed an order for a few on Amazon! Our work is never done spreading this joy. 😂
Suggestion for amber pen #12? Conklin Symetrik Caramel Sundae. A bit light in color, but luscious nonetheless, and on sale at Pen Boutique; Conklin Symetrik Amber; Conklin Duragraph Amber also on sale, assuming you can find it in stock. Personally, I love the old Pelikans. Grand choice. And Miss Marilyn rocks, trading you the Admoks. Is there mail delivery yet in Canada? Thanks for a terrific list, warts and all, and keep 'em coming.
@@InkquiringMindsI feel I got lucky with my amber Duragraph. It's actually one of my favorite pens to use. The nib is smooth and it's handled every ink I've thrown in it like a champ including the heavy sheening Red Ruby by Ostrich. It did hard start with that ink but I think that is more the ink than the pen. But I have considerably smaller hands than you and I have heard many people got crappy nibs with their pens. Which makes it hard to give another one from that brand a try.
Hi Doug 👋 I have some questions. If you don't .I live in the oldest city in Tennessee. Calling it a city is a stretch. There's NO PLACE TO BUY a fountain pen or paper with in at least 300 miles + of me. No one knows anything about fountain pens unless they used one in school. I have been having to go to EBAY and the well known online stores (Atlas) I've been really disappointed by some of these perchance. I can't afford a thousand dollar holy grail pen. Do you have suggestions where I can get good pens affordable priced? I k own a $ 1000 pen won't work like the $50.00 pen. And paper also. I am tired of getting ripped off!! Thank you!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ .
If you don't mind Amazon, go to the ASVINE store and look for the Asvine P20 piston filler. It is available for around $30 US and comes in 8 different acrylic resins (all are gorgeous, I have Galaxy, Amber, and Purple) and comes in three nib widths Extra-fine, Fine, and Medium. If you are looking for reputable sellers of vintage (restored) pens on eBay, find the seller "tbickiii". He has fantastic, restored, fountain pens every Sunday.
@InkquiringMinds Thank you for your suggestion. I bought an old bladder fill Waterman's Ideal 14k great writer and flex. I bought a pen on a EBAY auction for 5 or $10.00 and I don't know what it is it's black the clip is kinda beat up below the clip it says E pilot below the E on cap. It almost looks like a vanishing nib. I'll look for your email in the description and hopefully you can help me figure out 1)If it's real 2) what is it 3) Is it worth anything?
I have bought a lot of fountain pens this year. Can’t wait to try out the hex pens dna lucent (waiting to finish the ink in my jinhao 80). I bought a rollerball Conklin duragraph from Vanness pens. Simply gorgeous and writes shockingly well. Liked it so much, I bought 3 more. Two will go in my cars where I don’t have to worry about a fountain pen doing fountain pen things. The other two will probably be gifts. My next fp will probably be an Edison.
What beauties! Did you enjoy Joost and the Brown Boys? Where did you get your Pelikan Twist? I've checked three suppliers on this side of the border, but nada!
@@InkquiringMinds Yes, the value is always more than what you pay. Goldspot puts in nicer/more expensive pens. Esterbrook JR with 5 Esterbrook ink samples in one, coffee brown Lamy Studio with a Rhodia goalbook in another. Pen Boutique puts in less expensive pens [Cross (single & sets), Sheaffer, TWSBI Eco] but more of them, ink cartridges, Esterbrook 20 pen case, and the chance that you may be one of 5 or 6 that gets a premium pen. I'm still waiting on the 2nd one I ordered from Black Friday. Kind of like fountain pen lottery.
I did Pen Chalet mystery box a while back. I tossed everything out except a roller ball or something like a ball point. I sold it for a song and a dance on eBay. Burn me once shame on you. Burn me twice, shame on me.
Yeah, little doubt that you're a bad influence on me (at least from my wife's perspective): The V200, Viper and J16 all joined me this year and rumor has it there's a Magna Carta 650 waiting for me on Christmas morning. These great pens join my long-standing, favorite Pelikan M600 (best of the pod!) and Edison Collier!
Thank you! You are my go to person to decide which fountain pen I want to buy next! Is it worth buying the V200 if you already own a P36? Also, I wonder why the Majohn P139 didnt make the list.....
It is well-built but just didn't make the cut. After I reviewed it, I put it away and never had the desire to write with it again. Just a personal taste thing I guess.
@@InkquiringMinds Thanks for the quick response... I have had the P139 on my wishlist for a while. But I feel they might launch a more reddish one which resembles a Hemmingway. Perhaps I should wait for that. V200 looks good though, but I already have a P36.
Hey, amazing video! I was wondering if you could recommend some Indian fountain pens under ₹1000 that are as good as the Lamy Safari. As you know, the Lamy Safari is an excellent pen for students-it’s durable, writes smoothly, and is perfect for all general writing needs. Since students like me have to write a lot, it’s an ideal choice, but it’s a bit too expensive for my budget here in India. Could you suggest a similar Indian pen with great build quality and smooth writing at a more affordable price?
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for a great round up of your best pens 2024. Appreciate your no-nonsense approach and broad spectrum of taste that is not limited to high-end brands. Chinese pens remain as the gateway to the hobby for many of us.❤🙏🙌
Thanks! I'm glad you liked the video.
Love your vídeos and and comedic inserts, they are so refreshing and fun 😊
Thank you so much, @irenevalbuena6417!
I bought a Hongdian N11 emerald rombus because of your review of it and it's now my favorite 👌🏽
In that video you said: "I already did my top 10 for 2023 but I'm sure this hongdiang N11 will be a good contender for 2024"....i guess it was too early and you found better ones during the rest of the year. I thought it was going to be in that top.
Anyway i appreciate your opinions and enjoy your videos. I'm a soldier from Colombia and fountain pens are not the most popular hobbies here 😅...but i like them much and also your videos. Hope you have a Wonderful year Doug 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽.
Thank you @millomancho. That is much appreciated!
Thank you for this profound overview!
my fountain pen year 2024: - various Chinese models I bought based on your always exquisite recommendations, plus:
- the Stilform Aluminum Rose Moon with Titanium nib automatically keeps me writing - filled with a matching rose gold ink,
- the Kaweco Liliput Blue (2024 Collection) is one of numerous cherished vacation memories I obtained in September,
- the Platinum #3776 Century Laurel Green Gold is one of the bigger investments I just couldn't resist, AND...
- the lovely vintage pens that I have the honour of owning/receiving are of course my absolute favourites!! 💎
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
I also have a Collier in Fingerpaint Colour, Edison Pen's company replaced the concave section to the Edison Brockton's section and it became my favourite pen ever, it has perfect balance and made me forget every other one I have ever owned (I have not owned a lot, to be fair)
Best pen experiences of the year. Hmm. Earlier this year, I got the Yard-O-Led Viceroy Grand Victorian, so, yes. Amazing. But, the other day, my Admok m400 Schmidt, in a tortoise shell finish arrived. It writes too well to contemplate replacing the nib. O happy chance! Your finds look marvelous. Kudos on the 1990s Pelikan m600! Admok, are you listening? I'd like a Conway Stewart this coming year; but we'll see.
Happy new year!
beautiful guitar! way to represent your Flames with a cool hat!! my top pens of 2024 are a Waterman Edson, Delta DV Original Oversize in Riviera Blue with a green ebonite feed, and an Asvine V200.
Wow for the Edson!
@@InkquiringMinds I finally found one this year at a price I could live with and a near mint condition. The Boucheron edition is still up there in price when available.
you’ve got a beautiful collection of pens! As someone who only uses vintage, my top pens of the year are:
- Sheaffer Sentinel Deluxe (1948)
- sage green Sheaffer Statesman Snorkel
- Sheaffer Sentinel Tuckaway (1948, bought at my first pen show)
- blue Eversharp Skyline
- jade green Sheaffer OS Balance (1930)
That’s a great selection of vintage!
Impressive roundup. Happy Christmas!
Happy holidays!
I use a Jinhao 9016 with a 1.1 Bock number 6 nib swapped in by myself.
My favourite vintage find of 2024 is a Waterman CF. Bought for £30. It's beautiful and writes wonderfully.
Thanks for sharing!
My resolution for 2025: I want to buy me an E95S in Champagne with the broadest nib available
It is a very nice pen!
@ I have an Elite bought in Japan in fine. This pen is exquisite and will always remember me about my wonderful trip to Osaka. But I would loke to add an broader nib beside it
That’s exactly what I wanted for Christmas or 2025! An ivory and burgundy Pilot e95S with a medium nib. I asked my mother if she could buy one and she’s contemplating on whether to get one or not… I’m still dreaming of getting one for myself…
@@harisivakumar207 unfortunately they do not offer them in western medium / japanese broad. I would love to get it
A gorgeous pen, but be aware it is a dainty little thing.
Doug lovely mix of modern / affordable pens. Thanks for the list.
Glad you liked it!
1. Obviously you had a great pen year. Well done.
2. The only pen of note for me was a KoP. Once I got it I wondered what to do with my 49 other pens. Well, now I'm down to 35.
The KoP replaces many. Perhaps not a pocket pen though. 😉
@@InkquiringMinds Pocket pens are cool, but I lost interest in them when I realised I had never carried one in my pocket, ever.
That Leonardo Supernova is a beautiful pen.
It is!
That's an impressive list and so many galaxy resin pens. It's amazing..
Thanks, it was a lot of fun!
I recommend the KUNA version of Monteverde medium tip
My favorite Diplomat fountain pen is the Nexus in a steel nib... simply excellent
I’ve never tried one!
@ have Jost send you one, it’s really great
Thanks for the round up of your favorite pens for the year. I always enjoy these videos.
I really backed down on my pen purchases this year but my four favorites were Benu Talisman Cats Eye , as a memorial for my girl kitty. The Benu Astrogem Midas Touch because it looked like nothing else in my collection, the Diplomat Viper in blue with the medium nib. And the Goldspot x Pendemic Opus 88 Minty . I'm really happy with it. There are some Opus 88 minis that are tempting so we'll see what 2025 brings.
They all write very well though the fine nib in the Talisman has more feedback and reminds me of my Sailor Compass.
Unfortunately my current journal has *very* toothy paper so those two pens are not great with it. 😕 Used on Leuchtturm or Rhodia paper it's lovely.
It’s always fun to see what people are enjoying!
My best experience with fountain pen this year was sharing the hobby with a couple of my best friends and my partner ❤
That and finally managing to swap the nib on a grey/silver Jinhao 80 with a lamy one :D
I've been thinking about giving myself a pocket pen for New year's, but not sure about which one to get. Centennials also look great..... And the pens on this list look wonderful as well......
Choice anxiety is real 😅
Sharing the hobby is the best!
Great video! I'm really loving my Wing Sung 630 with a M nib--what others would you recommend?
There are 10 others in this video!
@@InkquiringMinds Thank you--I meant with a similar writing experience to the 630, but I think the Admok M800 will be my next purchase.
A nice lineup of pens Doug. I was mildly surprised the A3 showed up on the list. My latest craze in vintage besides the Parkers is a Waterman 42 Safety. Then there are the Gravitas pocket pens, and on the Chinese pen front I got a number of Hero model pens mostly hooded nib models.
The A3 is a solid pick.
Each year I look forward to the Best and Worst of the year videos. Thank you for a lovely set of pens.
Thank you so much, @fossilimprint2954!
I really wanted to like the Asvine V200 - I love the aesthetics, capacity, and nib swap-ability. But the one I got was a dud; wrote fine for a while but then had flow issues (even with the valve open all the way) to the point of constantly dry-starting and not putting down a line without pressure. I exchanged for another one that turned out to have the exact same problem!
Here's hoping that Asvine eventually makes a pen with similar aesthetics but better flow / quality control
Hopefully, they’ll get it figured out!
Omgosh your sign.. so good 🎉geez I haven’t been here in a minute.
I love Ranga pens, the Abhimanyu model is my fav. I own several acrylic ones, a gorgeous ebonite, and this year I picked up an aluminum one with the Ranga nib in EF.. it wrote sublimely out of the beautifully packaged box it came in.
I’ve got to check out the Viper.🚀🚀🚀 Great vid.
It’s awesome to see that you’ve found a pen you love so much!
Excited to buy a Supernova. The affiliate code is not working for me-do you have a code?
Use FRIEND at Appelboom
Gracias por el vídeo y Feliz Navidad
Thank you!
I have a similar story with my vintage Pelikan. I found a listing on ebay, which had very little detail, it was a boxed set including the original ink bottle & the Oelikan as well as an unbranded random fountain pen (still not sure what it is...lol). I made an offer, that i was fairly sure would be declined, but was accepted. Once i received it, the box itself was in fairly poor condition, but I wasn't buying it for the box! The ink bottle was still over half full & the pen was in excellent condition. While looking at the markings on the pen, I found a very cool detail. Both the pen & the bottom of the ink bottle were marked "W. Germany", so these were made pre-Berlin Wall coming down! The nib was a Broad, & I much prefer a Western EF, so I ordered a new nib for it (keeping the original of course!) & now it is one that I reach for all the time. I never could have justified the cost of a new one, but I now have 2 vintage Pelikans (another is the 400nn model, & much older) which are among my favorites!
That is an amazing find!
Interesting compilation and for me it is interesting to see where our tastes meet and where our tastes diverge. Both Edison's are true works of art, but the Elysium is the crowning glory, the color scheme and design are unique. BTW, have a look at the very new Delta Firenze collection, not sure if it's limited to the Casa della Stilografica Shop in Florence, but anyway worth a look, in my book. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and your family
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and Merry Christmas.
Hands down my #1 this year was a Eureka Asymmetry in green and black ebonite, #2 a Sailor Full Size Pro Gear with lovely 21k F(writes like EF) nib. #1 vintage is probably my most recent - a Sheaffer Tip Tip in like an avocado green...that I opened from the original packaging with touchdown sac and everything in working order, maybe top Chinese pen is Asvine P20 in cracked ice green - have a few of the P20 but love this cracked ice look
Wow, you had a great year!
That’s a nice list of ten. I’m putting an Edison on my wishlist this year (because of you). “Baby’s bottom aficionado?” There’s something wrong with you; that’s probably why I think you’re the best reviewer.
Thank you for the laugh!
My favourite pens for the year: Sailor with a Naginata Togi broad nib and a Pelikan M1000 maki-e. Resolutions: to write a lot.
Have a joyous 2025 Doug!
Thank you, @gihanzohdy3284!
I have been waiting for this best of video. I have to get the Asvine J16 but it is sold out 😢. I have been also watching the Diplomat Viper. I do not have any Diplomat fountain pens, so this may be the one to break the ice. I do not have an Edison pen. I will have to look at the Collier. It looks like a wonderful pen.
The Collier is definitely worth checking out!
@@paulmchugh1430 I was surprised to discover the Asvine J16 Titanium is virtually sold out, a lesson for me not to delay too long in buying something I’ve taken a fancy to.
The Viper is a nice pen. I just ran mine out of ink but it's going to go back into rotation sooner than later. Lol
Is the Admok pretty good with its original nib or do I need to change it?
Apologies, I couldn't understand it in the video.
It depends on your retailer. The M800 seems to come with a variety; Bock, Schmidt, or Admok.
@InkquiringMinds and which is the best among these that I should get?
@@waqarhaider2226 The Bock on my M800 Galaxy is awesome. The Schmidt not so much. If you can find one, get the Bock.
You asked for your subscriber’s 2024 pen acquisitions. I started the year with my two starter pens, a Cross Bailey and a Lamy Al-Star, which I was content with until I spotted a Sailor Limited Edition Hiroshima Comemorative which was shockingly expensive but I couldn’t resist it. Then I discovered Pilot and I bought my second expensive pen, a Pilot Custom 845 Urushi, a truly wonderful pen. Followed by a Pilot Custom 743 and a Pilot Custom 823. I then discovered Esterbrook with a beautiful Estie Honeycomb followed by Funky Lake and Incredible Rock and a pending Sea Glass. After spending so much I turned to cheap pens, and I have a Gravitas Pocket in copper, an Asvine J16 in Titanium, a Lamy Violet Blackberry with an LX nib. Lastly, a Navalur Voyage Vacation Limited Edition (Doorstopper from Atlas Stationers). Phenomenal Year! I am awaiting the arrival from Appelboom of a Sailor Veilio Pearl Orange Limited Production and a Lamy LX Marron. But 2025 will be quite different as I feel I have too many pens, and disappointing to this newcomer to pens, many of my 2024 acquisitions don’t write especially well.
Congrats on those wonderful Pilots!
The year has been a steady increase in fountain pen spending frenzy like fountain pen day gave me permission to spend away like it's free money.
I glanced at my fountain pen drawers and jotted down what stood out to me as favorites. I've decided that the Asvine V126 is my recommendation for new pen people. I have a bunch filled with the glitteriest of glitter inks. Next I'd say the Admok M800. I got the blue, then had to get the purple with black swirl when I finally found a seller that had it. Mine have Schmidt nibs that write dreamy. Funny thing though, I got Benus with Schmidt nibs in fine that scratch like a cat!🤮
Early in the year I got a Franklin-Christoph 02 collab with Vanness that looks like green Coca-Cola glass. Picked up some Benus on sale, but got one I love in Rose Tea exclusive from Goulet that I happily paid full price for. Got Opus 88 mini & full-size. Wing Sung 699 satisfied my craving for a Pilot Custom 823. And gave a blue one to my sis for xmas, but while we were on vacation last month, along with other inexpensive pen stuff. I got her started in fountain pens this year in April & she went straight to a Facebook group to study up.
Pen resurrection Sundays sent me to ebay, winning bids on striped Parker vacumatics & a couple other vintage pens. Then I picked up a couple of discount Leonardos, the Mosaico last week, & Momento Zero that's about to be unboxed. And I kept sending pics of pens I was looking at to my sister. She had to hurry & give me my Xmas gift last week before I bought it myself! A purple Leonardo Furore. She got herself the blue one like Doug's.
And so many inks!!! And last week I was training a lady at work & she saw the Conklin in b&w cracked ice I got bc it looked retro, so by yesterday I was showing her a loaded pen case of entry priced pens to try & she placed an order for a few on Amazon! Our work is never done spreading this joy. 😂
Sounds like a great year for pens! I love hearing about the pens you’ve been loving and how you’ve been spreading the fountain pen joy.
Suggestion for amber pen #12? Conklin Symetrik Caramel Sundae. A bit light in color, but luscious nonetheless, and on sale at Pen Boutique; Conklin Symetrik Amber; Conklin Duragraph Amber also on sale, assuming you can find it in stock. Personally, I love the old Pelikans. Grand choice. And Miss Marilyn rocks, trading you the Admoks. Is there mail delivery yet in Canada? Thanks for a terrific list, warts and all, and keep 'em coming.
Canada Post might be back to work early next week. As to the Conklin, I'm not sure I would spend money on one again.
@@InkquiringMindsI feel I got lucky with my amber Duragraph. It's actually one of my favorite pens to use. The nib is smooth and it's handled every ink I've thrown in it like a champ including the heavy sheening Red Ruby by Ostrich. It did hard start with that ink but I think that is more the ink than the pen.
But I have considerably smaller hands than you and I have heard many people got crappy nibs with their pens. Which makes it hard to give another one from that brand a try.
Hi Doug 👋 I have some questions. If you don't .I live in the oldest city in Tennessee. Calling it a city is a stretch. There's NO PLACE TO BUY a fountain pen or paper with in at least 300 miles + of me. No one knows anything about fountain pens unless they used one in school. I have been having to go to EBAY and the well known online stores (Atlas) I've been really disappointed by some of these perchance. I can't afford a thousand dollar holy grail pen. Do you have suggestions where I can get good pens affordable priced? I k own a $ 1000 pen won't work like the $50.00 pen. And paper also. I am tired of getting ripped off!! Thank you!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
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If you don't mind Amazon, go to the ASVINE store and look for the Asvine P20 piston filler. It is available for around $30 US and comes in 8 different acrylic resins (all are gorgeous, I have Galaxy, Amber, and Purple) and comes in three nib widths Extra-fine, Fine, and Medium. If you are looking for reputable sellers of vintage (restored) pens on eBay, find the seller "tbickiii". He has fantastic, restored, fountain pens every Sunday.
@InkquiringMinds Thank you for your suggestion. I bought an old bladder fill Waterman's Ideal 14k great writer and flex. I bought a pen on a EBAY auction for 5 or $10.00 and I don't know what it is it's black the clip is kinda beat up below the clip it says E pilot below the E on cap. It almost looks like a vanishing nib. I'll look for your email in the description and hopefully you can help me figure out 1)If it's real 2) what is it 3) Is it worth anything?
I have bought a lot of fountain pens this year. Can’t wait to try out the hex pens dna lucent (waiting to finish the ink in my jinhao 80). I bought a rollerball Conklin duragraph from Vanness pens. Simply gorgeous and writes shockingly well. Liked it so much, I bought 3 more. Two will go in my cars where I don’t have to worry about a fountain pen doing fountain pen things. The other two will probably be gifts.
My next fp will probably be an Edison.
thanks for sharing!
What beauties! Did you enjoy Joost and the Brown Boys? Where did you get your Pelikan Twist? I've checked three suppliers on this side of the border, but nada!
I got my Twist on Amazon. The Brown Brothers were fun!
Beautiful J200.
Thank you, @mareekw12!
I would have thought the MaJohn P139 would have made the list. I think it is a wonderful writer.
It just didn’t make the cut.
You clearly love your "amber is a cat" and galaxy blue resins which of the manufacturers do you think have access to the best stock?
PenBBS definitely.
Thank you
You're welcome
Gorgeous fountain pens
Forgot to mention my latest guilty pleasure is mystery boxes. I've done a couple from Goldspot & a couple from Pen Boutique. So fun.
Do you feel you get your money’s worth?
@@InkquiringMinds Yes, the value is always more than what you pay. Goldspot puts in nicer/more expensive pens. Esterbrook JR with 5 Esterbrook ink samples in one, coffee brown Lamy Studio with a Rhodia goalbook in another.
Pen Boutique puts in less expensive pens [Cross (single & sets), Sheaffer, TWSBI Eco] but more of them, ink cartridges, Esterbrook 20 pen case, and the chance that you may be one of 5 or 6 that gets a premium pen. I'm still waiting on the 2nd one I ordered from Black Friday.
Kind of like fountain pen lottery.
I did Pen Chalet mystery box a while back. I tossed everything out except a roller ball or something like a ball point. I sold it for a song and a dance on eBay. Burn me once shame on you. Burn me twice, shame on me.
@@user-br3sl9go3b Good to know! Thanks.
Aurora 88😊
Yeah, little doubt that you're a bad influence on me (at least from my wife's perspective): The V200, Viper and J16 all joined me this year and rumor has it there's a Magna Carta 650 waiting for me on Christmas morning. These great pens join my long-standing, favorite Pelikan M600 (best of the pod!) and Edison Collier!
That is awesome!
What is the reason for the strong preference of reviewers fot Waterman Serenety Blue ink?
I use it in vintage pens or any pens that have latex sacs or diaphragms as it is one of the more gentle inks on latex.
From what I understand it's better with vintage pens and it's very consistent in habit so using it removes one variable in doing a review.
Too bad that Pen BBS is in a quiet phase & nothing for your list / consideration for this year.
And Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays to you Doug,
I have no seen anything new from them in a long time.
Excellent video! Only that a M800, even if from the 1997, doesn't sounds like Vintage to me.
28 years old! Hard to believe!
Makes me feel old. Does that count? 😂
Thank you! You are my go to person to decide which fountain pen I want to buy next!
Is it worth buying the V200 if you already own a P36? Also, I wonder why the Majohn P139 didnt make the list.....
It is well-built but just didn't make the cut. After I reviewed it, I put it away and never had the desire to write with it again. Just a personal taste thing I guess.
@@InkquiringMinds Thanks for the quick response... I have had the P139 on my wishlist for a while. But I feel they might launch a more reddish one which resembles a Hemmingway. Perhaps I should wait for that.
V200 looks good though, but I already have a P36.
Hey, amazing video! I was wondering if you could recommend some Indian fountain pens under ₹1000 that are as good as the Lamy Safari. As you know, the Lamy Safari is an excellent pen for students-it’s durable, writes smoothly, and is perfect for all general writing needs. Since students like me have to write a lot, it’s an ideal choice, but it’s a bit too expensive for my budget here in India. Could you suggest a similar Indian pen with great build quality and smooth writing at a more affordable price?
Check out all of the models of Ranga.
Bought a used Sheaffer Targa with inlaid steel nib. I can stop collecting now.
I KNEW YOU HAD GOOD TASTE. I TOO LOVE THE AMBER PRENS, ESPECIALLY THE SAME LEONARDO IS USING. SO, SHME ON YOU FOR TEMPTING ME AGAIN. :)
It's like looking in a mirror!
Doug , do you actually have an amber cat and is it’s name Amber?
LOL. No. The PenBBS shop keeper, Beini Zheng, has a cat named “Amber”. The company etches paw prints on the nibs.
If a Pelikan costs
A thousand bucks
Then why can’t I have two?
A green and a blue
It’s too much bread
It’s true
Never too much Bread.
$500 is cheap for a fountain pen. There are fountain pens out there that retail for tens of thousands of dollars
Looking forward to your worst of 2024 list!
January 4, 2025!
“These are my experiences, not yours.”
The fact that you had to make that disclaimer makes me shudder at the emotional health of the average netizen.
People tend to get upset when THEIR favourites are not included.
Wow another guitar collecting pen collecting person…
🎸✒️
Yay! ✍🎸
There is a Moonman M800 in Amber is a Cat... Just saying...
I had one.