Getting the right writing style is important. It allows you to express yourself and create written documents exactly to your specifications. One of the most classic writing instruments is a fountain pen.
You can create elegant scripts and lettering that you simply cannot achieve using a different type of writing instrument. After exploring dozens of options and learning more about their features, we have narrowed down our list to help you find the fountain pen for under 200 dollars.
With the right fountain pen, you will get the exact writing style you are seeking for a wide variety of documents.
Best Fountain Pens Under $200:
1. Pilot Vanishing Point Retractable Fountain Pen – Our Top Choice
The Pilot Vanishing Point Retractable Fountain Pen has a metal body and comes in a wide variety of colors. This allows you to choose the color that best fits your personality. The rhodium accents give this pen a very luxurious look.
There are ink cartridges that you use for this pen. This makes it easy to replace the ink when it starts to run out. You will not have to use any liquid ink which can get messy when you are refilling your pen.
The ink color you get is blue, which is ideal for everything from legal documents to letter writing. Its nib is 18 karat gold, ensuring that it is durable and will last for a long time even with frequent use.
Many people talked about the balance of this pen. This makes it easy to hold for long periods. Other people said that since there is no cap, it is easier to maintain the ink. Just retract the nib and it helps to stop the ink from drying out.
This is the gold nib fountain pen for under $200. It allows for easy writing due to its smooth flow. The pen also has a luxurious look, making it a good choice for a gift.
Features
- Retractable nib
- Blue ink
Pros
- The point is extra fine
- You can retract the nib to maintain the ink
- It writes smoothly
Cons
- The ink may start to leak prematurely
2. Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen
The Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen is the modern fountain pen. It is lightweight and has a solid balance, allowing you to use it for just about anything. The point on the pen is fine, allowing you to write lettering of all sizes. This also gives you a lot of flexibility regarding the thickness of your writing.
The writing that you can accomplish with this pen is very clean. The ink does not start and stop, allowing for smooth lines. There are no spaces in the writing that you put down, saving you time because you will not have to trace back over your writing.
Due to the style of this pen, the ink does not smear. This makes it easy to write quickly when necessary without worrying about your work becoming difficult to read. You can also care for this pen easily because it unscrews quickly.
Several people talked about how lightweight and balanced this pen is. This makes it very easy to use for people of all experience levels. Other people mentioned how you just twist it apart. This makes it easy to clean and maintain your fountain pen.
You can use this pen for creating a script or writing basic letters. This ensures that it is versatile, allowing you to use it for just about anything.
Features
- Silver and matte black
- Capped
Pros
- It has an extra fine point
- The ink capacity is high
- You can refill it easily
Cons
- It may become scratchy prematurely
3. Waterman Carene Fountain Pen
The Waterman Carene Fountain Pen was created in France, using a high level of craftsmanship for optimal quality. This pen is perfectly balanced and lightweight, ensuring that you can use your preferred writing style with ease. This pen’s nib will adapt to your writing style as you continue to use it.
The design of this pen has a sophisticated curve. This makes it easy to hold for prolonged periods. It ensures an ergonomic feel so that your hands remain comfortable. Due to this design, it will also glide across a paper with ease.
The nib is 18-karat gold and solid. It will last even with frequent use. You will not have to worry about it cracking or expanding as long as you take care of it properly. The maintenance is quick and easy too.
A lot of commenters said that the pen’s ink flows freely. This allows for smooth writing on multiple paper types. Others talked about the cap. They said that it is secured tightly to prevent leaks and to keep the ink ready to use.
This is one of the high-quality fountain pens that are easy to use. You can also choose between a fine and a medium nib, making it easy to get the exact type of writing that you prefer.
Features
- Capped
- Multiple colors
Pros
- This pen has a perfect balance
- It has a very sleek look
- The pen is easy to hold
Cons
- The nib may become scratchy
- Be ready to pay a bit over 200 dollars, or you can wait till sales and get this one for under two hundred bucks
4. Pelikan M200 Fountain Pen
The Pelikan M200 Fountain Pen has a high ink capacity, allowing you to get more writing out of each ink refill. This ensures that you can get through long documents or art pieces without needing to stop and refill the ink in your pen.
The rings that are part of the pen are made of 24-karat gold. This ensures an elegant look, and it also makes sure that your pen is durable with frequent use. It has a high-quality resin body that will not crack when you are using or cleaning it.
You can choose between green marble or black, making it easy to find the body color that best fits your personality. The caps seal tightly to protect your ink.
Some people talked about how this pen is ideal for people with arthritis. They could hold the pen with ease and without discomfort. Several others said that it is perfect for daily use. You can use it for things like jotting down notes to creating works of art.
This is the fountain pen under $160 because it writes smoothly, and is easy to maintain. It also has excellent balance, allowing you to use your preferred writing style.
Features
- Piston-filling mechanism
- High-quality resin
Pros
- It has a very fancy look
- The black ink is dark
- You can hold it easily
Cons
- You may need to use more pressure compared to similar pens
5. Parker Sonnet Fountain Pen
The Parker Sonnet Fountain Pen features a black lacquer barrel that has a sleek look. Since it comes in a gift box, you can use it for yourself or give it to someone as a gift.
There are multiple colors, allowing you to choose the one that best fits your personality. The gold trim is 18 karat gold, allowing for additional elegance regarding the look of the pen.
You can choose between fine and medium nibs. This makes it easy to get the exact type of writing that you are looking for. The cap remains on tight so that the ink will not dry out prematurely when you are not using your pen.
Many people say that this pen writes very smoothly. You can use it on several paper types without an issue. Other people discussed how easy it is to maintain. You only need to perform minimal maintenance to keep it in excellent condition.
This is the fountain pen for a gift because it comes with everything you need to use it. It also has an elegant look, making it perfect for people who are otherwise hard to shop for.
Features
- Multiple colors
- Fine or medium nib
Pros
- It has a luxurious look
- This pen feels good in your hand
- The ink is high-quality
Cons
- The nib may dry more often than similar fountain pens
6. Platinum Century Fountain Pen
The Platinum Century Fountain Pen has a slip-and-seal mechanism. This helps to ensure that you continue to get smooth and pure writing even if you do not use this pen for a year or longer.
Use this pen for everything from taking notes to creating scripts for documents and artwork. Since there are several nib options, you can choose the one that you find the easiest to work with. The nibs range from medium to broad. There is also a soft fine option.
The nib is 14-karat gold for optimal quality. You can use it frequently without having to worry about it wearing out or experiencing damage.
Many users talked about how comfortable this pen is. They said that you can use it for long periods without hand cramps. Other people talked about versatility. You can create lines of varying widths with ease.
This is the mid-priced fountain pen. It is a good choice for people who are new to using fountain pens, as well as those with extensive experience.
Features
- Multiple nib types
- Three color options
Pros
- You can achieve great line variation
- Choose between several nibs
- The grip is comfortable
Cons
- The soft nib can be too fine for certain uses
7. Sailor Standard Fountain Pen
The Sailor Standard Fountain Pen has a sleek look. You can hold it easily, as it is very lightweight and has a good level of balance. This makes it easy to write in different thicknesses and letter sizes without a problem.
The medium point makes this pen versatile. The nib is 14-karat gold. Due to this material, it will last for a long time. It also ensures that your writing will be smooth on a variety of paper types.
The black ink that comes with the pen has a pure look. This means that it is dark and does not have empty spots when you are writing.
Several people mentioned that this pen is ideal for all hand sizes. This is due to it being very balanced and lightweight. Other people said that it has a high ink capacity. This allows you to get more done per ink refill.
This is one of the most reliable fountain pens due to its smooth writing. You also get a lot of time out of each ink refill so that you can tackle big documents without needing to stop to refill.
Features
- Gold and black
- Medium point
Pros
- The writing is very smooth
- This pen is lightweight
- You can maintain it easily
Cons
- It does not come with a converter
8. Sheaffer Taranis Fountain Pen
The Sheaffer Taranis Fountain Pen features a modern look due to its chrome-plated trim. Due to its size, you can hold it easily, even if your hands are relatively small. Use this pen whether you are new to using fountain pens or you are experienced.
This fountain pen makes it easy to go back and forth between modern and classic scripts and lettering. You have some control over the thickness of your work, making it easy to get the exact size that you desire.
You get a black and blue ink cartridge with this fountain pen. They are easy to swap out, letting you go back and forth between the colors with ease. There is also a piston converter that comes with it.
Many people talked about how the ink does not skip when you are writing. This allows you to get a clean line even with prolonged writing. Others remarked about how you can maintain this pen easily. It requires minimal maintenance to ensure that it keeps writing.
As the fountain pen for under $200, this pen comes with some ink cartridges. This makes it easy to go back and forth between different ink colors, depending on what you are working on.
Features
- Silver and forest green
- Comes with a piston converter
Pros
- This pen is good for beginners and experienced users
- The cartridges are easy to change
- Its ink flows well
Cons
- The cap is a little wobbly
9. TWSBI Diamond 580 Fountain Pen
The TWSBI Diamond 580 Fountain Pen is the right size for people with multiple hand sizes. This means that whether you are an adult who is experienced with fountain pens, or your child wants to learn how to use them, this pen is an ideal choice.
Due to the design of the pen, you can care for it easily. It comes apart and goes back together within minutes. Because of this, you can easily keep it clean and swap out the inks depending on the color and type that you want to use at a specific time.
With this pen, you can easily achieve medium to large-sized script and lettering. This allows you to write letters, create documents, or use this pen for artwork purposes. The ink-filling system makes it easy to refill without the risk of spilling and wasting any ink.
Several people talked about how easy it is to handle. As soon as you get it, you can start using it without a learning curve. Other people talked about how it looks. You get the classic writing style, but it looks very modern.
This pen is a good size, making it easy to hold onto when you are writing for long periods. It is among the quality fountain pens that have a more modern and sleek look.
Features
- Piston ink-filling system
- Transparent and silver in color
Pros
- It is easy to clean
- The pen writes smoothly
- Durable materials
Cons
- The flow may slow at times
10. Sheaffer 330 Fountain Pen
The Sheaffer 330 Fountain Pen is styled like those from the 1970s. This gives it a classic look and feel. The overall size and shape of the pen make it easy to hold so that you have good control over it when you are writing.
It features a cartridge filling system. This makes it easy to maintain a good level of ink at all times. You will also find it easy to clean and maintain. The nib is short and fine. It has a short diamond inlay. This allows you to easily maneuver the pen across a variety of paper types.
When you are writing, the ink comes out evenly, according to several reviewers. This ensures that there are no empty spots in your work. Other people said that it is ideal for beginners. You can easily learn how to properly use a fountain pen with it.
This is one of the $200 fountain pen options. It has smooth writing and a high-quality look that makes it perfect for a variety of writing styles.
Features
- Burgundy color
- Plastic body
Pros
- This pen feels good in your hand
- It writes evenly
- You can hold it easily even with small hands
Cons
- The ink may smudge sometimes
How to Maintain Your New Fountain Pen
To maintain your fountain pen, you have to ensure proper usage, cleaning, and storage. When you treat your pen right, you will have it for years to come.
Proper Fountain Pen Usage
One of the biggest elements of maintaining your pens is associated with how you use them. When you practice the right usage techniques, your pen will last for years. The following are tips for proper fountain pen usage:
- Never press hard when using your pen because this can cause nib damage
- Always use fresh ink. Once your ink is about a year old, replace it
- Before adding fresh ink to your pen, stir it to remove any sediment or lumps
- Never allow ink to dry out inside your pen as this can result in permanent damage
- To avoid fading, keep the ink out of direct sunlight
- Do not use your pen on paper that has been treated with chemicals
- Wet the point with room temperature water if the flow slows down
Cleaning Your Fountain Pen
There are a few key steps to use to ensure the proper cleaning of your fountain pen:
- Remove the barrel from the nib by unscrewing it
- Fill the nib with water and empty it several times to remove ink residue
- Soak the nib overnight in clean water if your pen has an ink converter or cartridge
- Use a paper towel to gently dry the nib before putting it back onto the pen
Ideally, you want to clean your pen about once a month if you use it regularly. Never use alcohol or hot water. It is best to use distilled water at room temperature to clean all elements of your pen. You should also clean it when you change the color of the ink so that residue does not pollute the new color that you are using.
How to Store a Fountain Pen
If you use your pen often, you can keep ink in it. Make sure that it is always in a vertical position so that the ink does not clog the feed or settle.
If you do not use your pen for a while, empty the ink and wash your pen thoroughly. Store it vertically in a safe place where it will not get knocked over.
Conclusion
It is easy to see why fountain pens are such popular writing instruments. Now that you know more about the ones available on the market, you can narrow down your list to those that best meet your needs.
Make sure to take note of how to best maintain your fountain pen so that you have it for years to come. This ensures that you can create the scripts and lettering that you desire. The next step is to buy the fountain pen for under $200 for your needs. Before you know it, you will be creating a variety of documents with a personalized and classic touch.
