Just started collecting a couple of months ago. It is really easy to over-buy especially seeing all the pretty cheaper pens. The more expensive pieces from more well-known brands definitely show better quality though. But at the end of the day I believe as long as these pieces make you happy then they are worthwhile acquisitions.
Another fabulous and informative video Samuel! As a writer buying from personal preference I ended up quite organically with a "Type" collection of standard (M600/Classique) size pens in black and chrome. A few mini collections have developed within that line such as my GvFC Guilloche (I don't think I would go for a complete collection but have the Black, Cisele and a Cognac). I think the best advice you gave is not to under-spend and to spend time with your purchases rather than rapid buying. I would love a Nakaya next as I love my Platinum and always wanted to try an Urushi, but think it would be extra special if I got it on my next trip to Japan.
Great video as always! I would suggest an addition to your list: Collecting by use case. You might want to have - 1-2 everyday pens (reliable, not too extravagant, robust), - 1-2 pens for work (elegant, but not too flashy), - 1-2 for on the go and for travelling (maybe even rollerballs), - 1-2 pens for more deep reflection or creative writing (journaling etc. - what ever inspires you the most, maybe the Montblanc Writers Editions or more extravagant Montegrappas with some meaning to you), - 1-2 pens for letters and notes to your loved ones with designs that might be really "out there" as these are very personal for you - a few celebration pieces for important milestones like promotions, business deals or birthdays - Some investment pieces you adore but probably won't use - And one pen for important signatures with a broader nib and maybe on the heavier side since you won't spend a long time writing with it but can feel the gravitas of the signature And just like that you've already built a collection of 10+ pieces, ready for all occasions.
For me these would be: Everyday: Pilot Custom 743, Leman Terre d'Ombre Work: Lamy 2000, Pilot VP On the Go: Opus 88 Mini, Retro 51 Ballpoint* Deep Reflection: Terre d'Ombre (again), Graf von Faber-Castell Black Edition Letters and Notes: idk Probably one of my Everydays Investment Pieces: Namiki Yukari Maki-e, MB The Origin Blue, Sailor KOP Iromiyabi* Signature: Montblanc 149 with Calligraphy Nib*, Gravitas Sentry w/ Titanium Flex Ones with asterisks i don't have yet.
Before watching the video, my comment is this: I think the big mistake people make is they often start out thinking I won't spend more than X amount of money. Then, before they know it, they've bought 20 pens, each under X price, none of which they truly love and none of which have much resale value. Instead, you are better served thinking more about it and buying a higher piece of the start.
This was exactly my thought process. I thought I would be crazy for just jumping right in. But the idea of having pens that I wouldn't want long term didn't appeal or make sense to me.
I agree. I just bought my first pen and I’m not happy with it. I didn’t want to spend to much so I bought a Parker IM achromatic rollerball pen and I now feel I should have saved up for a nicer pen.
Everyone has their own journey. I think it’s wonderful for someone to play in the inexpensive range while they figure out their likes and dislikes. Then they can move into making larger investments with experience as to their preferences.
Collecting has been part of my heritage so I can say a lot about the topic. The buyer should do a lot of soul searching as to why he or she needs the pen or pens and then do research on the brand or brands of interest. When knowing how they came into being who they are, what the aesthetic means, what material they use, then the buyer will chose the pens that resonate and this means a conscious choice. Following this path allows the choice to get embedded in the buyer's psyche and greatly amplify the enjoyment that comes from holding and writing with the pens. My other point is that the buyer should allow the collection grow through time so that each pen is given ample chance to be possessed by the owner. The joy is enormous, many pleasant conversations will ensue.
Samuel, Thanks for this excellent video. I have another type of collecting to suggest. I have decided that my collecting will be an art piece. I did try collecting by Model; Pelikan M800's, today I have 47. Too many for me. I would rather only have the truly exquisite ones. I want everything I buy to be exquisite. Each pen should be of the level that if it was the only one I had, that I would be happy. They will be eclectic, interesting and beautiful. I think it's an aditional category.
@@SamuelNaldi Perhaps. As a fine art photographer, I "choose" what part of life I isolate to highlight. My choices are what ends up in my portfolio. It is the same with pens, where one chooses a set of pens matching an internal criteria. The word grail seems to indicate that we all agree. However this is very personal; one man's grail is another man's discarded pen. Some of my favorite pens are not expensive, some are. Finally: It is the expression of the pen designer and manufacturer that expresses excellence that I respond to. It is where the combination reaches the level of art. For me, it might be Collecting by Art, or Collecting by Excellence, Collecting by Personal Response or Collecting by Personal Choice. Or something someone else comes up with....
I am super new not having held a fountain in probably 40 years. For now I am just perusing the WWW and listing down a model from each brand that srikes my fancy --and in varying ranges from 250$ to 4K. So far I have a Sailor, Nahvalur, Pilot, Penalux, Omas, Tacia, Ottohut, Namiki Chinkin, Mont Blancand then one each 5 custom makers: rockster, hanabi glass, rkspens and krusac and Kilk. So it appears 14 pens and around 10 to 12 K total value. THat will probably turn out to be 3 or 4 years of collecting for me and I am sure the models in each brand could change and maybe even some of the brands itself. So the first 2 pens are ordered...the Sailor, and a Nahvalur.
I'm very new to fountain pens. I'm 48 and until I was 18, it was all I used. So I'm returning after many years. I've spent a week watching your videos and have learnt so much. So thanks for all the amazing information and advice. #new subscriber
Very well scripted and made video. Kudos to you Samuel for this. Everything you have said in the video makes complete sense. This video is a must watch for every collector and every person who is wanting to enter this beautiful hobby. Thanks once again @samuelnaldi
I love your channel, Samuel! You have such a great channel and I hope you keep making more videos on the subject of pens. You really have intrigued me and I truly appreciate your candor in your videos and watch daily! Thank you!
I collect by use: there is my small elegant pocket sized humble E95S for my nice handbags; then there's my robust every day every where lamy 2k...I am only getting started. The grail pen for me is the one with which I will write my memoirs....I am also looking for a pen that inspires me to write poetry....letters even...it's too personal to be valuable but if I am good enough at the writing that is where the value of those pens come from. Beautiful writing instruments inspire me in ways that are hard to put into words thank you Naldi....
I seem to have fallen onto classic workhorse pens. Waterman pens are a small part of my collection but by far Parker designs call to me the most. I need a vintage Parker 51 still but I have a gold nibbed Wingsung 601 flighter, Hero 616s black and gold flighter kind of filling the P61, then actual Parkers I got a P45 classic with gold nib and P21 Custom. I got a Parker Duofold classic Centennial "Big Red" and the 18k gold nib on the way and is easily my most expensive pen but luckily caught it on sale for $400.
Collecting has been part of my heritage so I can say a lot about the topic. The buyer should do a lot of soul searching as to why he or she needs the pen or pens and then do research on the brand or brands of interest. When knowing how they came into being who they are, what the aesthetic means, what material they use, then the buyer will chose the pens that resonate and this means a conscious choice. Following this path allows the choice to get embedded in the buyer's psyche and greatly amplify the enjoyment that comes from holding and writing with the pens. My other point is that the buyer should allow the collection grow through time so that each pen is given ample chance to be possessed by the owner. The joy is enormous, many pleasant conversations will ensue.
Samuel what do you think about that should a fountain pen collector have a rollerball in your collection or its unnecessary buying or succumbing to the temptation of expanding the collection !? Kindly explain
Chinkin Dragon Sailor KOP Montblanc 149-W.Germany Pelikan M1000 Montblanc Dumas writer's edition Pilot Custom Urushi vermillion Caran d'Ache Carmin red. what kind of collector am I?
I really enjoyed this video and as a new collector it really made me think about the kind of collector I am. I am a cross between someone who buys for meaning but I also find myself wanting to round out a collection with not only the fountain pen but the roller ball and ball point version in the same color for example.
Amazing, amazing knowledge sharing here Samuel! Loving what you are doing... I'll say I'm more of a writer, than a collector, but i do love collecting bt "TYPE". Cheers!
many good points Samuel! Curating your own collection is key to a fulfilling hobby as well as avoiding wasting money on something that fails to satisfy. For me, the pen has to have a solid gold nib, cultural/historical significance, use of precious materials (NOT precious resin - resin is not a precious material, i.e., there is no intrinsic value other than novelty, IOW, precious metals, jewels, can be sold on their own based on their intrinsic value - you cannot chip away precious resin and sell it on its own in the open market) and come with special packaging/literature that add to the specialness of the pen - think of Montegrappa's Luxor and Dragon series, Montblanc Patron/Writers/Special Characters/Artisan series, the "older" Omas limited editions with the phenomenal cases/literature that came with the original pens, etc. and perhaps most of all, chuck everything I said and do what you love doing!
Oh, I mix in my collection, I have a section no thrills Japanese pens like Sailor Ebonite KoP, Pilots 823s and VPs. I really enjoy sterling silver trim, regardless of brand, I will switch things up from all kinds of brands, if it has sterling silver and cool celluloid I am in. I recommend starters to get into limited edition Pelikans. Once they are sold out their prices go up by a third, especially if the material is exciting like tortoise black or the Pelikan M815.
Great video as always! I completely agree about having a theme to collect pens. I also like to collect pen by meaning. There are two other ones I would add: 1) Brand only - so for example being strictly a montblanc collector or strictly a montegrappa collector etc. I know a collector like this 2) One pen per brand - this is a minimalist approach and hard to achieve, but only choosing one pen for each brand. You REALLY have to put a lot of thought into each piece. Of course, rules are meant to be broken ;)
I would also add, and these following would be maybe adds to the « collection by type » 1) The collection of fountain pens coming with a determined filling system : for example, I find the cartridge/converter system far too common and very boring even if very useful/practical. So I like the vacuum filling system in general. You find it as you know on the Visconti Opera Masters, on the Pilot Custom 823, and so on… 2) The collection of fountain pens coming with a certain mechanism system : I’m a big big fan of the retractible nib systems. The legendary one is of course the Pilot Capless, existing since 1964, famous pen of which there are countless versions both in the modern and the vintage eras… There are also luxury copies of the Capless made by Namiki with the beautiful Capless Nandine chosen among many of them. Then, the Lamy Dialog 3 and the Lamy CC. The Visconti Pininfarina nanotech titanium and nanotech carbone. The STIPULA Leonardo Da Vinci CAPLESS. The more recent and affordable Platinum Curidas. And I’m very sure there are others ! Sayonara-tchuss
day 4 of asking: can u show your personal pen collection ? i think 100 day in a row would be too long. would you be willing to go down to 20 to 50 days
Don’t go the route of watch “collectors”. If you consider “value” important at all, you will value things based on their price - thus you will not appreciate it at all. You will just buy another moron without any individuality or creativity. After all pens are instruments of creativity. As with watches I collect pens by feature (or complications). For example having all the nib grinds common at least once in my collection is important to me (try to get the whole demonstration box of Sailor into your hand once, Applebooms in Chicago or Itoya in Tokyo have them available for walk in customers). Capping mechanisms or grip characteristics of the nib is another factor. How well the nib and the feed reacts to certain viscosities and features of ink and so forth. If you stop caring about value and start to care about the actual pen, your pens will become real individuals in your hand.
![Cody Johnson - I'm Gonna Love You (with Carrie Underwood) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yy9PuYMU29g/mqdefault.jpg)
What type of Pen Collector are you? Is there anything you would add? Looking forward to read from you! 🙏🏼🙌🏼
Just started collecting a couple of months ago. It is really easy to over-buy especially seeing all the pretty cheaper pens. The more expensive pieces from more well-known brands definitely show better quality though. But at the end of the day I believe as long as these pieces make you happy then they are worthwhile acquisitions.
@@moonmoon7750👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
MontBlanc Egyptomania in the fountain pen version has long been on my radar!
Another fabulous and informative video Samuel! As a writer buying from personal preference I ended up quite organically with a "Type" collection of standard (M600/Classique) size pens in black and chrome. A few mini collections have developed within that line such as my GvFC Guilloche (I don't think I would go for a complete collection but have the Black, Cisele and a Cognac). I think the best advice you gave is not to under-spend and to spend time with your purchases rather than rapid buying. I would love a Nakaya next as I love my Platinum and always wanted to try an Urushi, but think it would be extra special if I got it on my next trip to Japan.
Hi Samuel - I have been very much enjoying your videos - I have a question What are your thoughts on Wancher Pens?
Great video as always!
I would suggest an addition to your list: Collecting by use case. You might want to have
- 1-2 everyday pens (reliable, not too extravagant, robust),
- 1-2 pens for work (elegant, but not too flashy),
- 1-2 for on the go and for travelling (maybe even rollerballs),
- 1-2 pens for more deep reflection or creative writing (journaling etc. - what ever inspires you the most, maybe the Montblanc Writers Editions or more extravagant Montegrappas with some meaning to you),
- 1-2 pens for letters and notes to your loved ones with designs that might be really "out there" as these are very personal for you
- a few celebration pieces for important milestones like promotions, business deals or birthdays
- Some investment pieces you adore but probably won't use
- And one pen for important signatures with a broader nib and maybe on the heavier side since you won't spend a long time writing with it but can feel the gravitas of the signature
And just like that you've already built a collection of 10+ pieces, ready for all occasions.
Thanks so much for this addition. Very interesting and enriching for everyone.
For me these would be:
Everyday: Pilot Custom 743, Leman Terre d'Ombre
Work: Lamy 2000, Pilot VP
On the Go: Opus 88 Mini, Retro 51 Ballpoint*
Deep Reflection: Terre d'Ombre (again), Graf von Faber-Castell Black Edition
Letters and Notes: idk Probably one of my Everydays
Investment Pieces: Namiki Yukari Maki-e, MB The Origin Blue, Sailor KOP Iromiyabi*
Signature: Montblanc 149 with Calligraphy Nib*, Gravitas Sentry w/ Titanium Flex
Ones with asterisks i don't have yet.
Before watching the video, my comment is this: I think the big mistake people make is they often start out thinking I won't spend more than X amount of money. Then, before they know it, they've bought 20 pens, each under X price, none of which they truly love and none of which have much resale value. Instead, you are better served thinking more about it and buying a higher piece of the start.
I LOVE THIS!
This was exactly my thought process. I thought I would be crazy for just jumping right in. But the idea of having pens that I wouldn't want long term didn't appeal or make sense to me.
After watching: this ended being basically the first thing you said! Great minds think alike.
I agree. I just bought my first pen and I’m not happy with it. I didn’t want to spend to much so I bought a Parker IM achromatic rollerball pen and I now feel I should have saved up for a nicer pen.
Everyone has their own journey. I think it’s wonderful for someone to play in the inexpensive range while they figure out their likes and dislikes. Then they can move into making larger investments with experience as to their preferences.
Collecting has been part of my heritage so I can say a lot about the topic. The buyer should do a lot of soul searching as to why he or she needs the pen or pens and then do research on the brand or brands of interest. When knowing how they came into being who they are, what the aesthetic means, what material they use, then the buyer will chose the pens that resonate and this means a conscious choice. Following this path allows the choice to get embedded in the buyer's psyche and greatly amplify the enjoyment that comes from holding and writing with the pens.
My other point is that the buyer should allow the collection grow through time so that each pen is given ample chance to be possessed by the owner. The joy is enormous, many pleasant conversations will ensue.
❤️❤️❤️
I would tell you my collecting strategy, but then I'd have people competing for my grails 😂
😂😂😂😂
Samuel, Thanks for this excellent video. I have another type of collecting to suggest. I have decided that my collecting will be an art piece. I did try collecting by Model; Pelikan M800's, today I have 47. Too many for me. I would rather only have the truly exquisite ones. I want everything I buy to be exquisite. Each pen should be of the level that if it was the only one I had, that I would be happy. They will be eclectic, interesting and beautiful. I think it's an aditional category.
Interesting Lenny. That would kind of be: Collect by Holy Grail. What you think about that?
@@SamuelNaldi Perhaps. As a fine art photographer, I "choose" what part of life I isolate to highlight. My choices are what ends up in my portfolio. It is the same with pens, where one chooses a set of pens matching an internal criteria. The word grail seems to indicate that we all agree. However this is very personal; one man's grail is another man's discarded pen. Some of my favorite pens are not expensive, some are. Finally: It is the expression of the pen designer and manufacturer that expresses excellence that I respond to. It is where the combination reaches the level of art. For me, it might be Collecting by Art, or Collecting by Excellence, Collecting by Personal Response or Collecting by Personal Choice. Or something someone else comes up with....
@Samuel do you realize you have female subscribers?😮😊
Hello, i realize that very well yes. What exactly isn’t female friendly on my channel? ☺️
I am super new not having held a fountain in probably 40 years. For now I am just perusing the WWW and listing down a model from each brand that srikes my fancy --and in varying ranges from 250$ to 4K. So far I have a Sailor, Nahvalur, Pilot, Penalux, Omas, Tacia, Ottohut, Namiki Chinkin, Mont Blancand then one each 5 custom makers: rockster, hanabi glass, rkspens and krusac and Kilk. So it appears 14 pens and around 10 to 12 K total value. THat will probably turn out to be 3 or 4 years of collecting for me and I am sure the models in each brand could change and maybe even some of the brands itself. So the first 2 pens are ordered...the Sailor, and a Nahvalur.
This advice was a game changer for me and my collections!!!
❤️❤️❤️
I'm very new to fountain pens. I'm 48 and until I was 18, it was all I used. So I'm returning after many years.
I've spent a week watching your videos and have learnt so much. So thanks for all the amazing information and advice.
#new subscriber
What a great master class on pen collecting❤
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Different types material...... Pen
Interesting point too!
Very well scripted and made video. Kudos to you Samuel for this. Everything you have said in the video makes complete sense. This video is a must watch for every collector and every person who is wanting to enter this beautiful hobby. Thanks once again @samuelnaldi
I am so glad to read this Kunal. Thank you so much!
Like pictures and paintings buy what strikes your fancy and you can afford without concern for future values
I love your channel, Samuel! You have such a great channel and I hope you keep making more videos on the subject of pens. You really have intrigued me and I truly appreciate your candor in your videos and watch daily! Thank you!
I collect by use: there is my small elegant pocket sized humble E95S for my nice handbags; then there's my robust every day every where lamy 2k...I am only getting started. The grail pen for me is the one with which I will write my memoirs....I am also looking for a pen that inspires me to write poetry....letters even...it's too personal to be valuable but if I am good enough at the writing that is where the value of those pens come from. Beautiful writing instruments inspire me in ways that are hard to put into words thank you Naldi....
I seem to have fallen onto classic workhorse pens. Waterman pens are a small part of my collection but by far Parker designs call to me the most. I need a vintage Parker 51 still but I have a gold nibbed Wingsung 601 flighter, Hero 616s black and gold flighter kind of filling the P61, then actual Parkers I got a P45 classic with gold nib and P21 Custom. I got a Parker Duofold classic Centennial "Big Red" and the 18k gold nib on the way and is easily my most expensive pen but luckily caught it on sale for $400.
Collecting has been part of my heritage so I can say a lot about the topic. The buyer should do a lot of soul searching as to why he or she needs the pen or pens and then do research on the brand or brands of interest. When knowing how they came into being who they are, what the aesthetic means, what material they use, then the buyer will chose the pens that resonate and this means a conscious choice. Following this path allows the choice to get embedded in the buyer's psyche and greatly amplify the enjoyment that comes from holding and writing with the pens.
My other point is that the buyer should allow the collection grow through time so that each pen is given ample chance to be possessed by the owner. The joy is enormous, many pleasant conversations will ensue.
🙏🏼❤️
🫡🫡❤️❤️
❤️❤️❤️
Samuel what do you think about that should a fountain pen collector have a rollerball in your collection or its unnecessary buying or succumbing to the temptation of expanding the collection !? Kindly explain
Chinkin Dragon Sailor KOP
Montblanc 149-W.Germany
Pelikan M1000
Montblanc Dumas writer's edition
Pilot Custom Urushi vermillion
Caran d'Ache Carmin red.
what kind of collector am I?
I really enjoyed this video and as a new collector it really made me think about the kind of collector I am. I am a cross between someone who buys for meaning but I also find myself wanting to round out a collection with not only the fountain pen but the roller ball and ball point version in the same color for example.
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing this with us. ❤️
Thats what collection consists of F.P. R.B. and B.P.
Amazing, amazing knowledge sharing here Samuel! Loving what you are doing... I'll say I'm more of a writer, than a collector, but i do love collecting bt "TYPE". Cheers!
Thank you so much and so glad to know it is valuable content! ❤️
many good points Samuel! Curating your own collection is key to a fulfilling hobby as well as avoiding wasting money on something that fails to satisfy. For me, the pen has to have a solid gold nib, cultural/historical significance, use of precious materials (NOT precious resin - resin is not a precious material, i.e., there is no intrinsic value other than novelty, IOW, precious metals, jewels, can be sold on their own based on their intrinsic value - you cannot chip away precious resin and sell it on its own in the open market) and come with special packaging/literature that add to the specialness of the pen - think of Montegrappa's Luxor and Dragon series, Montblanc Patron/Writers/Special Characters/Artisan series, the "older" Omas limited editions with the phenomenal cases/literature that came with the original pens, etc. and perhaps most of all, chuck everything I said and do what you love doing!
Thanks for sharing this! 🙏🏼
Oh, I mix in my collection, I have a section no thrills Japanese pens like Sailor Ebonite KoP, Pilots 823s and VPs. I really enjoy sterling silver trim, regardless of brand, I will switch things up from all kinds of brands, if it has sterling silver and cool celluloid I am in. I recommend starters to get into limited edition Pelikans. Once they are sold out their prices go up by a third, especially if the material is exciting like tortoise black or the Pelikan M815.
Thanks for sharing! 🙏🏼
Great video as always! I completely agree about having a theme to collect pens. I also like to collect pen by meaning.
There are two other ones I would add:
1) Brand only - so for example being strictly a montblanc collector or strictly a montegrappa collector etc. I know a collector like this
2) One pen per brand - this is a minimalist approach and hard to achieve, but only choosing one pen for each brand. You REALLY have to put a lot of thought into each piece. Of course, rules are meant to be broken ;)
Very cool points. Thanks for sharing these!
Need an update on inks for beginners!
That Mohammad, is a video that i surely won’t be doing 😃🙏🏼
I would also add, and these following would be maybe adds to the « collection by type »
1) The collection of fountain pens coming with a determined filling system :
for example, I find the cartridge/converter system far too common and very boring even if very useful/practical. So I like the vacuum filling system in general. You find it as you know on the Visconti Opera Masters, on the Pilot Custom 823, and so on…
2) The collection of fountain pens coming with a certain mechanism system :
I’m a big big fan of the retractible nib systems. The legendary one is of course the Pilot Capless, existing since 1964, famous pen of which there are countless versions both in the modern and the vintage eras… There are also luxury copies of the Capless made by Namiki with the beautiful Capless Nandine chosen among many of them. Then, the Lamy Dialog 3 and the Lamy CC. The Visconti Pininfarina nanotech titanium and nanotech carbone. The STIPULA Leonardo Da Vinci CAPLESS. The more recent and affordable Platinum Curidas.
And I’m very sure there are others !
Sayonara-tchuss
Very cool! 🙏🏼
Super super cool 😎
Pretty much the best video i have seen on pen collecting. Wonderful work and very inspiring!
Thank you very much Fabian!
Excellent suggestions. Thank you. Definitely gives you something to think about.
I’m really glad! 🙏🏼
I really love how you dress very stylish every video!! Cud u make a video on your style?!!
Thank you so much 🙏🏼❤️
day 4 of asking:
can u show your personal pen collection ?
i think 100 day in a row would be too long.
would you be willing to go down to 20 to 50 days
Let me think about it. With 50 days we could make it happen.
thanks a lot
Great video! Curious, do you own Style of Zug?
Of course i do 😃
Great video! Keep up the good work ❤
Thank you so much!
Don’t go the route of watch “collectors”. If you consider “value” important at all, you will value things based on their price - thus you will not appreciate it at all. You will just buy another moron without any individuality or creativity. After all pens are instruments of creativity.
As with watches I collect pens by feature (or complications). For example having all the nib grinds common at least once in my collection is important to me (try to get the whole demonstration box of Sailor into your hand once, Applebooms in Chicago or Itoya in Tokyo have them available for walk in customers). Capping mechanisms or grip characteristics of the nib is another factor. How well the nib and the feed reacts to certain viscosities and features of ink and so forth. If you stop caring about value and start to care about the actual pen, your pens will become real individuals in your hand.
Thanks for sharing your opinion.