My Pens

My short journey through pen collecting

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A quest for a better pen

Rediscovering the pleasure of writing

One day, while sorting old stuff in my garage, I stumbled across a box of old pens and pencils from my youth. Most were of the plastic/throwaway variety, but there were also a couple of metal Waterman ballpoints which didn't look bad.

As I rediscovered some of those pens I used to enjoy, I got tired of my current habit of writing with unstylish instruments. This made me look for higher standards in my pen arsenal.

Fountain pen vs. ballpoint pen

Although I can appreciate the smoothness and majestic presence of a fountain pen, I always enjoyed the ease-of-use of the ballpoint: it is always ready, does not need frequent ink refills, leaves no stained hands or pockets, and is less fragile than the more traditional fountain pen. In my youth, teachers insisted on their students using a fountain pen, and I never enjoyed this restriction. Some love the feel of a fountain pen, and I understand how a fine-tuned nib can improve your writing style, but for me, it’s not just worth the effort. The lack of fountain pens in my trade (where we usually write occasional short notes, if any) is probably a testament to this sentiment. In addition, the only objective drawback to the ballpoint pen (the scratchy writing) can be improved over time with better inks and cartridges. Therefore I see no reason not to invest in a decent ballpoint pen!

Finding the best pen(s)

It’s obvious there are different pens for different uses; my primary concern was to find one which is perfect where I would use it the most, namely in the workplace. That would be a pen which:

For the next few paragraphs, I will be on a quest for the best pen for me, by giving marks in each of those categories.

Reviewed pens


Nearly all tested ballpoint pens and lead holders

From left to right:

Some of those pens were already in my drawers, while others were added during this fun little experiment.

Pens reviews

Waterman unidentified aluminum push-top ballpoint pen


Waterman aluminum ballpoint pen

This is one of the pens from my youth which made it to the present day, and still looks good. It is primarily made of brushed aluminum, and has a plastic mechanism; nothing too fancy, it must have been some pen from the supermarket, but it looks so much better than a plastic throwaway pen. It shows the old Waterman logo, along with the words “Waterman - Made in France” engraved on the barrel.

It was easy to source a refill from the local supermarket even after 20 years. The disassembly of this pen is quite unique, by pushing the clip through a hole in the barrel to release the mechanism. Too bad it is made of plastic (you can feel it in operation while you click) and will not last forever. At least the spring doesn’t go out when opening the pen.

As much as I visually enjoy the shape of the pen, it’s a bit too skinny for my fingers, which wouldn’t be as much of a problem if the grip was better. But the inability to fit smoother refills means that I should look for a different pen.


Push-button of the Waterman aluminum ballpoint

Specs

Ballpoint, click action
Waterman proprietary refill
Max dimensions when unused: 13.6 × 1.2 cm
Dimensions in operation × diameter at grip*: 13.6 × 0.6 cm (out of 1.0 cm max body diameter)

Pros

Cons

Writing*ErgonomicsLooksQualityPrice
3/52/53.5/52.5/5N/A

Waterman unidentified aluminum ballpoint pen with cap


Waterman aluminum ballpoint pen

This pen is visibly of the same series as the aforementioned retractable one. I would assume it’s from the early to mid 1990s. It is also an aluminum pen with some plastic parts; it would be very classic looking if it wasn’t for a hole in the side of the barrel, near the bottom, which secures the plastic thread used to screw in the access to the cartridge. For some reason, I needed a DIY spacer to fit an OEM Waterman refill.

I like the general appearance of this pen. Not having a twist or push mechanism means that the designer has more latitude in shaping a pen.

The cap can be posted very nicely too. Posted or not, this pen’s design provides a very good comfort.

It shows the old Waterman logo, along with the words “Waterman - Made in France” engraved on the cap.


Old Waterman logo on the cap

Specs

Ballpoint pen with cap
Waterman proprietary refill
Max dimensions when unused: 12.9 × 1.2 cm
Dimensions in operation × diameter at grip*: 12.5 (without cap) or 14.9 (cap posted) × 0.8 cm (out of 1.2 cm max body diameter)

Pros

Cons

Writing*ErgonomicsLooksQualityPrice
3/53/53/52.5/5N/A

Waterman unidentified chrome push-top ballpoint pen


Waterman unidentified ballpoint pen with chrome finish and yellow gold trim

With its chromed body and gold trim, this pen makes some impression (if you can manage to keep it clean), and I partly blame it for this renewed pen addiction. It is a push-action retractable pen, where the whole cap is the moving part; it sports the classic Waterman clip with the W logo. The spring is quite strong and gives a good feedback, despite the presence of many plastic parts inside the pen. Once again all springs remain inside the pen, even when taken apart. On the middle ring is engraved “Waterman made in France”.

As usual with polished chrome bodies, the grip is far from ideal, although the pen has very usable dimensions: its diameter feels just right, and so does the length. But this pen is more likely made to look good sitting on a desk, than for writing with half-sweaty hands. Very unfortunately, that beautiful pen is not the ultimate work companion.


Cap and Waterman emblem on the clip

Specs

Ballpoint pen, click action
Waterman proprietary refill
Max dimensions when unused: 13.9 × 1.3 cm
Dimensions in operation × diameter at grip*: 13.8 × 0.7 cm (out of 0.9 cm max body diameter, and 1.0 cap diameter)

Pros

Cons

Writing*ErgonomicsLooksQualityPrice
3/52/54.5/53.5/5N/A

Fisher Bullet Space Pen


Fisher Bullet ballpoint pen

I got this pen a very long time ago, and enjoyed the idea that it could write anywhere. The housing is very shiny and looks nice, if not tough. The size of the pen is quite ergonomic with the cap posted, however I never quite liked how the cap is pushed back in place (secured by a rubber ring); removing and posting the cap doesn’t feel “good” in my opinion. The deeply milled finger grip is good to hold the pen, but somehow I feel it can still move laterally. Anyway, this pen is a nice conversation piece, with its applied golden shuttle emblem on the side (which, unfortunately, cannot really prevent the pen from rolling on a table).


Space Shuttle on the cap of the Fisher Bullet

Specs

Ballpoint pen with cap
Fisher proprietary pressurized refill
Max dimensions when unused: 9.7 × 1.1 cm
Dimensions in operation × diameter at grip*: 9.0 (without cap) or 13.7 (cap posted) × 0.7 cm (out of 0.9 cm max body diameter)

Pros

Cons

Writing*ErgonomicsLooksQualityPrice
2/52/53.5/53.5/54/5

Montblanc Generation ballpoint pen


Montblanc Generation ballpoint in blue lacquer and yellow gold trim finish

The Montblanc Generation is not a bad looking pen. Ours is a dark blue, gold trim model. Once in the hand, the light weight is surprising, as one could expect more heft from a Montblanc pen (granted it’s been a while since I handled a Meisterstück, but I had the impression that this pen would have a more substantial weight). As a consequence, somehow it doesn’t “feel” like a premium pen; however, the finish is very good. The engravings on the middle ring show “Montblanc Generation”, and on the inner side of the clip, one can read the usual “Made in Germany - Pix”. And yes, the pen does have the white star on the cap.

The ballpoint’s tip is exposed by twisting the cap; the mechanism gets the job done, although I prefer the franker feedback of the Parker Sonnet’s twist-action system.

Although light, the pen is well balanced and has a very usable diameter. It is actually nice to write with, as the grip is correct too.

The “Generation” collection is now discontinued, but may be comparable to the current “Cruise” collection. This is a pen which could grow on me, but with a different refill (no matter how much I enjoyed the fact that the color of the cartridge’s tip matches the golden trim of the pen).


Cap and snowcap symbol on the Montblanc Generation

Specs

Ballpoint, twist action
Montblanc proprietary refill
Max dimensions when unused: 13.2 × 1.4 cm
Dimensions in operation × diameter at grip*: 13.5 × 0.8 cm (out of 1.0 cm max body diameter and 1.2 cm max cap diameter)

Pros

Cons

Writing*ErgonomicsLooksQualityPrice
2/54/54/54.5/51/5

Parker Insignia set of ballpoint pen and mechanical pencil


Parker Insignia ballpoint in black glossy lacquer and yellow gold trim

This isn’t a very objective statement, but I confess having a generally positive experience with Parker, so when the opportunity to own this set (second hand) came along, I grabbed it right away. I got it for a very decent price, since the Insignia collection is not particularly sought after. Maybe I shouldn’t have, as those pens are both slimmer than my usual comfort zone allows. Those are well-made pens nonetheless. They have a black lacquer body with gold trim, which is a classic combination, if not unusual in my collection. They are classy and discreet. There are some engravings on the middle ring, reading “Parker Insignia France U.I”. Despite their small diameter, they are comfortable to write with, and have a usable grip.

Parker Insignia ballpoint pen

The twist-action mechanism seems the most fragile part of the pen, with some parts being made of plastic, and a cap that has to be removed then pushed back into place to change the refill. I am not saying this is unreliable; but it feels like there are better systems out there. Another problem with twist-action pens is that you never know which way to turn the pen to open or close it, or, is it just me? All that being said, I was generally not too impressed, and kept looking for the perfect ballpoint pen.


Cap and clip of the Insignia

Specs

Ballpoint pen, twist action
Parker G2 standard refill
Max dimensions when unused: 13.3 × 1.1 cm
Dimensions in operation × diameter at grip*: 13.6 × 0.7 cm (out of 0.9 cm max body diameter)

Pros

Cons

Writing*ErgonomicsLooksQualityPrice
3/53/54/53.5/54/5

Parker Insignia mechanical pencil


Parker Insignia lead holder in black glossy lacquer and yellow gold trim

I prefer the mechanical pencil over the ballpoint. Its look is similar, safe for the push-button which actuates the mechanism. It is cleverly engineered as you can retract the whole tip (the lead as well as its metal sleeve), to keep it from punching a hole in your pocket. Like many other mechanical pencils, the Parker comes with a small eraser located under the cap.


Fluted push-button on the Insignia mechanical pencil

Specs

Mechanical pencil, click action
0.5 mm leads (can hold several leads)
Max dimensions when unused: 13.8 × 1.1 cm
Dimensions in operation × diameter at grip*: 14.1 × 0.7 cm (out of 0.9 cm max body diameter)

Pros

Cons

Writing*ErgonomicsLooksQualityPrice
N/A4/54/54/54/5

Fisher Shuttle Space Pen Black Grid


Fisher Shuttle ballpoint pen with black grid pattern

This is my pick for the “tool pen” category. There are several reasons for choosing a Fisher, starting with, of course, its pressurized ink cartridge which can write in any position, on many surfaces, and with little chance of drying in its owner’s lifetime. I already had a Fisher Bullet pen, so I just wanted the same writing abilities but in a more ergonomic package, knowing that you can operate a push-action pen with just one hand.

Upon arrival, I liked the appearance of the pen, although it was lighter and slimmer than expected, but I thought it would write just the same. The push-buttons require very little force to operate, and are actually much quieter than expected. The grid pattern does have a decent grip, and would conceal scratches more easily. The pen itself is perfectly balanced, but the slim barrel may lead to some fatigue while writing a longer amount of text, since the thick ink requires more pressure from your fingers.

The finish of the Fisher is quite satisfactory; it’s an all-metal pen (brass and chrome) which stands out, and at a reasonable price. One can read the engraving “Space pen by Fisher - USA” on the barrel, and “Space” with the Fisher logo on the clip.


“Space” embossed on the Fisher Shuttle clip

Specs

Ballpoint, click action
Fisher proprietary pressurized refill
Max dimensions: 13.4 × 1.1 cm
Dimensions in operation × diameter at grip*: 13.3 × 0.7 cm (out of 0.8 cm max body diameter)

Pros

Cons

Writing*ErgonomicsLooksQualityPrice
2/54/54/54.5/53/5

Parker Sonnet ballpoint pens

Plural “pens”, really? Yes, because I’ve liked the first one a lot, and bought another to use at home. In fact I’ve been using and liking the Sonnet fountain pen for a long time too (bought gold-plated and green lacquer ones), primarily because of their carefully designed classic look and great balance, capped or uncapped. The Sonnet ballpoint also has appropriate ergonomics, with a good balance and weight. Sure, the twist-action mechanism is not nearly as fun as a push-action one, but it can be operated with only one hand, and feels sturdy enough, so I can live with that. Most of the inner parts are made of metal (tubes and threads), while some are made of plastic (spacers, apparently). On top of the cap is a black round shape (probably also made of plastic); the fountain pen has a similar circle on the removable cap, to cover the hole which would allow you to breathe if swallowed. It serves no purpose on the ballpoint pen, other than disclosing its family ties.

Specs

Ballpoint, twist action
Parker G2 standard refill
Max dimensions when not in use: 13.4 × 1.3 cm
Dimensions in operation × diameter at grip*: 13.8 × 0.7 cm (out of 1.0 cm max body diameter, and 1.1 cm max cap diameter)

Parker Sonnet ballpoint pen, gray


Parker Sonnet gray ballpoint with gray finish and chrome trim

This gray pen with chrome trim easily flies under the radar, but is not just an ordinary office pen. It is quite satisfying to use: the weight is perfect, and the balance, although it’s a bit to the rear of the pen, is not an issue at all.

I mistakenly thought the body was made of bead-blasted aluminum, but this is actually some kind of paint applied to the metal. We will see how it holds over time, but I would probably have preferred a raw metal body for that reason. Still, I have to admit that the grip is very satisfactory thanks to this coating. That, coupled to the ability to fit my favorite refill (Schmidt EasyFlow 9000), makes for a very pleasant and dependable pen.


Rear of the cap on the Sonnet ballpoint

Pros

Cons

Writing*ErgonomicsLooksQualityPrice
4.5/53.5/54/54/53/5

Parker Sonnet ballpoint pen, silver


Parker Sonnet ballpoint in sterling silver

Along came the opportunity to get the same one but in sterling silver, for what I consider a good price.

It feels noticeably heavier than the gray one, but above all, the luster of the sliver is quite mesmerizing. The body and cap are covered with a satin finish and grid pattern, which feels a bit strange between the fingers. As if the body was smooth, but you can hold it because of the fine cuts. The gray finish admittedly feels better in the hand, but the beauty of the pen makes up for it. Also, you don’t need to hold it too firmly when using an excellent G2-compatible refill.

On the ring between the cap and body is engraved: “Parker Sonnet France”. In addition, the cap holds some hallmarks.

I have to admit that this silver Sonnet is not as good a writer as its gray sibling, but it’s so nice looking with its classic design and precious metal… It is a treat!


Grid pattern and chrome trim on the Sonnet ballpoint

Pros

Cons

Writing*ErgonomicsLooksQualityPrice
4.5/53/54.5/54/51/5

Rotring 600 0.5 mm mechanical pencil, silver


Rotring 600 lead holder in gray finish

As I was looking for a good pencil for crafts or tinkering, the Rotring seemed to be simply the best one around. Indeed, I wouldn’t want to use the slim and delicate Parker Insignia and scratch its lacquer body. Upon arrival, I wasn’t too mad about this Rotring; it seemed a tad too heavy, the balance a little off (to the rear), and the knurled bezel felt weird, maybe too large in diameter.

The über-technical design is not the most elegant ever, but it’s admittedly striking and unique, at least if you turn a blind eye to the blatant copies which exist today (but remember that Rotring stopped selling the 600 to most countries, so who could blame other companies for ensuring supply for this demand). I have no complaints about the quality of the product; it’s a beautiful object with many metal parts; some of the internals are made of plastic, but they are protected so this should not significantly affect the lifespan of the pencil. The click mechanism feels OK, although I don’t like the hole punched on top of the (removable) cap: it doesn’t feel smooth under my thumb, but I realize it must be there to enable breathing if swallowed (haven’t tried yet).

I so much wanted to love this pencil, but will have to learn to do so. Again, that may only be me, but I’m not 100% sold on its writing comfort — maybe it’s the non-tapering grip? I would have to live with that, since it’s pretty much industry standard. Still, this pencil has all the features I need, and is here to stay.


Lead grade indicator of the Rotring 600

Specs

Push-action mechanical pencil
0.5 mm leads (can hold several leads)
Max dimensions when unused: 14.1 × 1.1 cm
Dimensions in operation × diameter at grip*: 14.3 × 0.8 cm (out of 0.8 cm max body diameter)

Pros

Cons

Writing*ErgonomicsLooksQualityPrice
N/A3.5/54/54.5/52.5/5

Bic Cristal ballpoint pen with cap

My test would not be exhaustive without the ubiquitous Bic pen. This famous French device has been around for as long as I can remember, and nearly every store has those in stock. They are a full-plastic, disposable type pen, which comes with a cap (one that is very easy to lose). Thanks to its hexagonal shape, it will not roll on a desk even without its cap.

They are light and write quite well, not unlike the regular (non-QuinkFlow) Parker refill, so they need some pressure to write a consistent line. They feel too cheap to fulfill my quest, but are a great workhorse to rate other pens against.

Specs

Ballpoint pen with cap
Disposable (integrated cartridge)
Max dimensions when unused:14.5 × 0.7 cm (without cap) or 14.9 × 1.3 cm (capped)
Dimensions in operation × diameter at grip*: 14.5 (without cap) or 16.6 (cap posted) × 0.7 cm (out of 0.7 cm max body diameter)

Pros

Cons

Writing*ErgonomicsLooksQualityPrice
3/53/51/51/55/5

Rotring Rapid Pro 2.0 mm lead holder, silver


Rotring Rapid Pro lead holder in gray finish

With all those pens, I was still in need of a 2 mm lead holder, as the 0.5 mm mechanical pencils were not 100% suited to my occasional tinkering activities. Again, I did a lot of research and ended up choosing another Rotring, but this time from a different and more modern series. To be frank, I was expecting a watered-down version of a Rotring 600, but to my surprise, this was love at first sight. The pen looked as good as its 600 sibling, but it felt incredibly right in the hand. The finely cut grip is more effective, the slightly curved hexagonal shape is a bit more comfortable, and the pen feels more balanced (as in, has less weight to the rear) although it’s noticeably shorter than the 600. The chrome inserts are a little tacky, but I can live with that.

Now, opening the pen reveals a huge amount of plastic parts. Plastic red ring and thread. Plastic parts pressing against plastic parts. But the amazing ergonomics makes up for this choice of materials.

The pen uses a click-action mechanism, which advances the lead step by step; it can conveniently be operated single-handed. Like the 600, one can press the button and retract the lead for secure transport. The metal push-button also contains a lead sharpener, and is fitted to a plastic tube. All that’s missing is a lead grade indicator (like the 600 or its competitor, the Staedtler 925). The Rotring 600 holds less plastic components and may outlive it (or maybe not, since the thin metal tip doesn’t retract), but still I love the grip and weight of the Rapid Pro.


Grip section of the Rotring Rapid Pro

Specs

Push-action mechanical pencil
2.0 mm lead (can hold 1 lead)
Max dimensions when unused: 14.5 × 1.1 cm
Dimensions in operation × diameter at grip*: 15.0 × 0.9 cm (out of 0.9 cm max body diameter)

Pros

Cons

Writing*ErgonomicsLooksQualityPrice
N/A5/54/54/52.5/5

Breitling promotional pen with cap


Breitling gray and chrome ballpoint pen

This Breitling-branded ballpoint pen is out to make an impression. Its matte fluted body with chrome inserts are very elegant, and it comes in a small signed holder in genuine leather.

The pen is just as heavy as it looks, and feels very sturdy in the hand.

The cap is unscrewed in one full turn, and reveals the beautiful grip section, which is knurled and chromed. Maybe the knurling pattern isn’t sharp enough, because I found it wasn’t easy to handle that much of a pen. Fortunately, it comes with a Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 refill, which facilitates the writing even in the absence of a firm grip.

The cap doesn’t snap properly to the barrel, and keeps coming off… That is not so much of a concern because the pen is already very heavy without the cap, and you don’t want to write with it posted (however nice the pen is with its cap posted). But then, there is a risk that the body can roll on the table, and hit the floor.

Summing it up, that is a beautiful pen with lots of presence (which is reminiscent of my larger Breitling watches, like the B-1). But it falls short in the ergonomics department, mostly because of its inflated size and weight. It is a collector’s item, and will stay so, at home.


Cap and grip of the Breitling ballpoint pen

Specs

Ballpoint pen with cap
Parker standard refill (with spacer); other refills may fit.
Max dimensions: 13.3 × 2.0 (capped)
Dimensions in operation × diameter at grip*: 12.5 (without cap) or 15.7 (cap posted) × 1.0 cm (out of 1.5 cm max body diameter)

Pros

Cons

Writing*ErgonomicsLooksQualityPrice
4/52/55/54/52/5

Ballpoint pen refills

Disclaimer

It is probable that the more you use a refill, the better it writes. I admit not reaching a very high level of commitment when writing this report, and did not test those refills for many weeks in a row while writing a lot. But still, this report is relevant as to how I actually use my pens, more than to what performance they could deliver in an ideal world.

Waterman refill

Those refills are quite good, and super easy to source (here in France). Writing with them feels exactly as it did when I used them 20 years ago: they have an expected drag, but are good writers.

Parker and Parker QuinkFlow refills

Actually, I could test 2 types of Parker refills: one seems to be the original ballpoint refill, while the other is the QuinkFlow. The regular one writes very similarly to the Waterman refill, although I would tend to like the latter more. The QuinkFlow is a better writer, it definitely has an edge over the older refill type, although it’s still not comparable to the smoothness of the Schmidt EasyFlow. (I haven’t tried the Parker gel yet.)

The Parker “G2” format is now an industry standard (ISO 12757-2) and produced by several manufacturers, and we can see that the competition has bred better products. This is a big plus in my opinion, as your Parker pen will be able to write a long time, and always with an up-to-date refill technology.

Fisher refill

The Fisher company is famous for its space-certified cartridges which can also write (anywhere) on Earth. And it does it quite well: the tip doesn’t dry easily, and the lines are dark with virtually no skipping. The only drawback is the drag, which is more noticeable than a regular non-pressurized ballpoint refill. It’s still very usable for occasional use, but I wouldn’t want to write a 2-page essay with it (or maybe I would, but with a very comfortable pen).

Montblanc refill

I haven’t been impressed with this refill (and am not surprised that Montblanc sells many rollerballs). It has a lot of drag, and the contrast is average; it was not a pleasure to write with. As there does not seem to be any higher-quality alternative to the original Montblanc refill, this would unfortunately steer me away from the brand altogether.

Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 refill

That Schmidt is my absolute favorite refill. It comes in the popular “Parker G2” format. This cartridge glides on paper; it writes almost as smoothly as a rollerball, and has none of its weaknesses. The ink has a great contrast, and is applied on paper instantly even if not used for weeks.

To conclude

By the end of this article, I had found some near perfect pens for me to use at work and at home.
Those are:

At work:

At home:

Sorry for the limited extend of my research, as I have been very focused on ballpoint pens, and have not tested or reviewed the many models I do not care about.


Notes

*Writing:
general ease of writing with the pen, using the best available refill (if applicable).
*At grip:
measured 2 cm from the (extended) writing tip.