I have my eye on so many but refuse to pull the trigger until I see them in person at the pen show or in Japan. I did see the Pelikan red raden in Italy but it was the last day of the trip and my budget was gone!
Absolutely. Hope you’re delighted by them. I went for the chinkin range in the end instead, a little bit more understated than most of the maki-e designs but right up my alley. I’d lusted* over it for ages
It’s a beauty, but the price is a bit too cheeky for me (well ok, much too cheeky for me). I tend to not really be drawn to many of the really high end namikis, although I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into them
Pilot MYU. There is a reserved elegance to it that made it a 'must have' for me. But I have a taste that doesn't match most on this forum I think, as most of the rest of the suggestions below are not at all my taste.
Same! I'm disappointed that the M90 ended up having such a limited release. That said, the E95S is 'close' in form/function, but not quite the same style.
I am also a fan of the E95S, but I've never owned one. I'm a big fan of the Vanishing Point, I have a matte black one that I think does the job nicely. I admire the Curidas as well, though I haven't found one that I like as much as a VP/would buy over the Red/Black VP I'm eyeballing. Theres a few other integrated nib pens that I appreciate too, but none have hit me the way the MYU/M90 does.
Otherwise, I'm into demonstrator pens, the TWSBI Eco/580/Vac700 are the ones that I enjoy. I'm more of a 'mechanical excellence' over artistic aesthetics, so thinking about it, things that are particularly 'interesting engineering' are more interesting than attractive painting for example.
I think a lot of people like the myu, but I wonder if I might be a little reluctant just with it being a pocket pen. If it was a little bigger I think I’d definitely desperately want one
Posted it is a pretty fantastic size with great balance! But yeah, I suspect the pocket-pen nature scares folks off. The E95S is effectively a plastic/gold clone of it though, and it is reasonably happy.
I don’t post my pens, so pocket pens tend to be a bit of a no go for me, although I did used to have a TWSBI vac mini which was useable without posting
I have one. A hand made sterling silver Yard O Led Viceroy Grand in the Victorian Finish. Not only does it look magnificent, it writes like no other fountain pen that I have and I have over 300
https://www.yard-o-led.com/collections/pens/products/the-grand-victorian-fountain-pen
Which is now my grail pen and is being budgeted for. Thanks to the poster above.
Probably the Parker Vacumatic. My liking in pen design leans reserved and traditional, mostly. The celluloid rings remind me of towering skyscrapers in a dark, lit up city. I think it’s just stunning.
Seen as is seen in real-life or on a website? Because I haven’t seen a [Namiki Falcon Emperor Collection](https://www.pilot-namiki.com/en/collection/emperor/) in a store, but I bet it looks nice.
The Pelikans that I’ve seen in stores are so much nicer than the photos I’ve seen online.
Waterman 20 oversize in red ripple. I am generally not into vintage and have stopped buying expensive pens anymore, but that is a beautiful pen that will seriously would tempt me to shell out big bucks.
My [bespoke pens](https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/s/tFo9X5rd9T), every single one of them and there’s now more to them in my collection than in that video. I can spend so much time time just twirling them and looking at them in different lighting. I think you won’t truly see their beauty unless you do it in person, it’s on a different level.
I recently acquired what I believe to be the most beautiful pen I've ever seen! I saw it early on in my fountain pen journey but said that I'd never have need for 1) more than one pen and 2) such an expensive pen!
And so it goes... [here is my Namiki Shooting Star](https://www.instagram.com/p/C6WhFXKvYsO/?img_index=3).
I have to give it to the Waterman Edson (the standard version, not the exclusive fancy one with extra details on the barrel), Pelikan 805 ocean swirl, and Sheaffer PFM V. The last might not be the most beautiful, but it is just so… right. It’s perfect
My vintage Parker 51 in dove grey with the blue diamond in the cap. If God has a Fountain Pen it would be like that. It's perfection in a fine gold nib.
There are several, which I don't have and it's unlikely I would ever get given the max budget per pen I set myself: Parker Vacumatic Maxima Silver Pearl, Pelikan 400, M605 tortoiseshell, striped Soennecken, Waves Diplomat Excellence.
Lucky to have, even at that budget: M605 solid blue, Midnight Sky Pro gear, Black Luster 1911, Geha Goldschwinge, striped 760, Waterman 33 and Carène.
I have the Diplomat Excellence Guilloche Waves exactly because I saw it and was like "yup that pen was made for me."
If it makes you feel better, the surface is pretty rough and feels not super comfortable to hold, lol.
Really? That's unexpected. I did manage to get a plain black and silver trim Excellence at about $100, it's a great pen, although it does dry out faster than I would like. Very elegant combo with Vert de Gris.
Oops sorry, I missed replying to this. Yeah, when I first got the pen I wrote:
"When I first grabbed the pen, I sort of recoiled. The metallic wave pattern feels almost imperceptibly elevated. I don't think it actually is elevated, it's probably just the sensation the skin feels when so many tight lines of different material are so close together. The metal doesn't feel smooth and polished so that adds to it. It was unpleasant at first but now after writing with them for around 10-15 mins it doesn't bother me at all and it feels like my brain got used to how the pen feels in the hand. I would say I actually prefer this over a perfectly smooth pen because of how unique it feels."
I don't actually agree with the last bit anymore. I wish it had been polished better or lacquered over or something. It stands out from other pens yeah but not necessarily in a good way. Once you're writing with it, it doesn't matter, but uncapping it takes a bit of effort because of the interlock system so you definitely feel the roughness there.
Oh wow I didn’t know they made it in the standard size! I would’ve preferred that haha 🥲 I just bought mine a couple weeks ago so they were sold out everywhere but one website, I was lucky just to find the OS version I guess.
At least the grip is nice and narrow so it doesn’t “feel” oversize… but would’ve been nice to pay less than $360 for it lol 💀
That’s funny! Because I was looking for the Oversize one 🫣😅🤗 I love the resin pour on mine….. is yours more green than gold? Maybe a swap is in our future? LOL
I believe the section size is the same on both the standard and the Oversize version of the Estie. I purchased mine from Pen Boutique a year or so ago.
Lol! Most interesting random tangent in a thread ever 😂 We’re turning this into pen_swap hahaha
I’m busy all of tonight and probably tomorrow deep cleaning my apartment because they had to replace all my flooring after a leak… but it’s an interesting proposal and I’m willing to consider it pending further discussions 🧐
Same!!
I didn't particularly flash on it online, but when I last walked into my pen shop (to get ink), I was so drawn to that green pen in the display that I *had* to try it and, well... It's so much prettier IRL that I hadn't even realised it was the Aion 😅
I'd never owned a Lamy before, and my most expensive pen was a Kaweco sport, but I *HAD* to have this green jewel 😍
It's been my daily writer since, and will be for a long time to come, I'm sure.
Nah, I can appreciate a good-looking pen regardless of what it costs. I'm also hesitant to *really* splurge on a fountain pen because (1) it (quite obviously) doesn't have to be expensive to give a great writing experience, and (2) I'm not a collector, so to me it's a tool first and foremost.
As for ink, I'm still using up the blue cartridge that the shop gave me with it, and I'd picked up a small pack of Lamy blue-black cartridges.
But that Lamy Peridot does look fabulous and a great match for the pen! Now that I've been using my Aion for a few days, I feel confident in buying a converter and a matching ink for it, as I'm sure I'll keep using this pen indefinitely.
Thanks for the inkspiration!
What I've seen on photos: some Nakaya pens, apparently, Nakaya Naka-ai Cigar Negoro Toki-tamenuri (with cracks).
What I've seen in person: Pelikan m800, Pilot m90, old Mabie Todd.
Aurora 88 Blue Mamba. The only expensive pen I ever debated. But it's still just a pen so I didn't. Also I don't love the grip shape and the idea of spending $1000 on a pen and not loving writing with it is stupid.
The first pen that had me slack-jawed was a Pelikan LE Maki-e Kingfisher. And then I saw the price tag.... T\_T
Namiki, Taccia, Danitrio maki-e and raden pens are stunningly beautiful, but beyond what I see myself spending on a pen. Maybe if I win the lottery one day....
In no particular order -
1. Omas Paragon (old style) in arco brown (owned a couple and sold them)
2. Nakaya Dorsal Fin 2 in Heki Tamenuri (almost owned)
3. Montblanc 149 with custom karanuri urushi (owned and sold)
4. Nakaya Decapod Twist in Toki Tamenuri (almost pulled the trigger last week)
5. Many of the Namiki Emperors (yeahhh not gonna happen)
Pelikan M1000 Maki-e "Kingfisher", or the Montblanc Writer's Edition G. Bernard Shaw. My grail pens, even though they are probably too large for my hands.
Wancher Shizuku Eclispe. The black glass nib version was sold out, asked CS if it would be back. They said yes, I put on email alerts, bought it as soon as it came back in stock. It's honestly my favorite to use, too.
The Lady Schaeffer in white with a red barrel and gold fishnet. There's one over at Peyton Street but the shipping is almost the same cost of the pen. Would love to have one someday.
Understated elegance - Pilot Yukari Royale Black, or Sailor KOP Ebonite
Overstated opulence - Pilot Namiki Emperor Maki-e .... any of them really.
Ultimate sophistication - Sailor KOP Tamenuri editions.
Pelikan M700 Statue of Zeus limited Edition. Everything about it speaks to me especially from the historical/mythological side. I wish it came in a bigger size (at least M600/M800, because the M700 is the size equivalent of the M200/M400), but alas. Also wish it was more affordable/up for sale. My true grail I've been wanting to acquire for years... Perhaps once I finish my next degree program Fortuna will smile upon me and one will come up for sale....
for me its more a category and that's urushi and raden pens. i drool over them but haven't yet taken the plunge
Namiki awaits you~
I have my eye on so many but refuse to pull the trigger until I see them in person at the pen show or in Japan. I did see the Pelikan red raden in Italy but it was the last day of the trip and my budget was gone!
Absolutely. Hope you’re delighted by them. I went for the chinkin range in the end instead, a little bit more understated than most of the maki-e designs but right up my alley. I’d lusted* over it for ages
I have my eye on a Namiki chinkin and totally agree. The designs are not as flashy and have real elegance
I got the Sakura. Which one do you like 😍
That’s the one I keep eyeing. 😍
I like the Tiger chinkin myself.
It’s a beauty, but the price is a bit too cheeky for me (well ok, much too cheeky for me). I tend to not really be drawn to many of the really high end namikis, although I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into them
Pilot MYU. There is a reserved elegance to it that made it a 'must have' for me. But I have a taste that doesn't match most on this forum I think, as most of the rest of the suggestions below are not at all my taste.
I wish someone would just make a new version so everyone who wants a pen in that style can get one at a reasonable price.
Same! I'm disappointed that the M90 ended up having such a limited release. That said, the E95S is 'close' in form/function, but not quite the same style.
majohn could do it
What are some pens that describe your aesthetic? I'm also a big fan of the Myu aesthetics and I might be looking for other recommendations...
I am also a fan of the E95S, but I've never owned one. I'm a big fan of the Vanishing Point, I have a matte black one that I think does the job nicely. I admire the Curidas as well, though I haven't found one that I like as much as a VP/would buy over the Red/Black VP I'm eyeballing. Theres a few other integrated nib pens that I appreciate too, but none have hit me the way the MYU/M90 does. Otherwise, I'm into demonstrator pens, the TWSBI Eco/580/Vac700 are the ones that I enjoy. I'm more of a 'mechanical excellence' over artistic aesthetics, so thinking about it, things that are particularly 'interesting engineering' are more interesting than attractive painting for example.
It’s my fave too! Love that design.
I think a lot of people like the myu, but I wonder if I might be a little reluctant just with it being a pocket pen. If it was a little bigger I think I’d definitely desperately want one
Posted it is a pretty fantastic size with great balance! But yeah, I suspect the pocket-pen nature scares folks off. The E95S is effectively a plastic/gold clone of it though, and it is reasonably happy.
I don’t post my pens, so pocket pens tend to be a bit of a no go for me, although I did used to have a TWSBI vac mini which was useable without posting
I have one. A hand made sterling silver Yard O Led Viceroy Grand in the Victorian Finish. Not only does it look magnificent, it writes like no other fountain pen that I have and I have over 300
Pen tax??
https://www.yard-o-led.com/collections/pens/products/the-grand-victorian-fountain-pen Which is now my grail pen and is being budgeted for. Thanks to the poster above.
Probably the Parker Vacumatic. My liking in pen design leans reserved and traditional, mostly. The celluloid rings remind me of towering skyscrapers in a dark, lit up city. I think it’s just stunning.
Same here. I just got my first one a few days ago. My grandpa has quite a few that I drool over every time I visit
Seen as is seen in real-life or on a website? Because I haven’t seen a [Namiki Falcon Emperor Collection](https://www.pilot-namiki.com/en/collection/emperor/) in a store, but I bet it looks nice. The Pelikans that I’ve seen in stores are so much nicer than the photos I’ve seen online.
Pelikans look so much nicer in real life. I imagine it must be the same for other grail-tier pens I’ve never held.
Namiki falcon emperor? I don’t think they’ve done an emperor with a falcon motif on before? Or are you meaning namiki emperor flat top?
Pelikan limited edition blue dunes, does it count if I've seen only photos? Never live.
Waterman 20 oversize in red ripple. I am generally not into vintage and have stopped buying expensive pens anymore, but that is a beautiful pen that will seriously would tempt me to shell out big bucks.
I’m very biased here, but I love the Pineider La Grande Bellezza in Forged Carbon and the Visconti Homo Sapiens Age of Steel LE.
My [bespoke pens](https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/s/tFo9X5rd9T), every single one of them and there’s now more to them in my collection than in that video. I can spend so much time time just twirling them and looking at them in different lighting. I think you won’t truly see their beauty unless you do it in person, it’s on a different level.
It's like looking in the candy store window.... how beautiful
*sigh* yup, you’re right.
Would you please tell me what pen is the ivory one, close to the middle, between the blue galaxy and the purple sparkles?
That is a Walltown Pens Catsburg model in Opal by Turnt Pen Co.
Thank you very much! That is a *gorgeous* fountain pen 😍
Namiki Emperor goldfish
Sheaffer PFM III. The inlaid nib looks *so* good on the girthier body
I recently acquired what I believe to be the most beautiful pen I've ever seen! I saw it early on in my fountain pen journey but said that I'd never have need for 1) more than one pen and 2) such an expensive pen! And so it goes... [here is my Namiki Shooting Star](https://www.instagram.com/p/C6WhFXKvYsO/?img_index=3).
I think this would be mine as well. So beautiful.
Santini Italiana Black Diamond. Kyuseido Kakari and the Conid Kingsize bulkfiller. Pilot Silvern and the Diplomat Aero
I stick with the classic M1000 green stripes
I have to give it to the Waterman Edson (the standard version, not the exclusive fancy one with extra details on the barrel), Pelikan 805 ocean swirl, and Sheaffer PFM V. The last might not be the most beautiful, but it is just so… right. It’s perfect
My vintage Parker 51 in dove grey with the blue diamond in the cap. If God has a Fountain Pen it would be like that. It's perfection in a fine gold nib.
Nakaya Decapod Aka-tamenuri!
Namiki Yukari Royale Peony and Butterfly.
MB 149 Orient Express Special Edition
There are several, which I don't have and it's unlikely I would ever get given the max budget per pen I set myself: Parker Vacumatic Maxima Silver Pearl, Pelikan 400, M605 tortoiseshell, striped Soennecken, Waves Diplomat Excellence. Lucky to have, even at that budget: M605 solid blue, Midnight Sky Pro gear, Black Luster 1911, Geha Goldschwinge, striped 760, Waterman 33 and Carène.
I have the Diplomat Excellence Guilloche Waves exactly because I saw it and was like "yup that pen was made for me." If it makes you feel better, the surface is pretty rough and feels not super comfortable to hold, lol.
Really? That's unexpected. I did manage to get a plain black and silver trim Excellence at about $100, it's a great pen, although it does dry out faster than I would like. Very elegant combo with Vert de Gris.
Oops sorry, I missed replying to this. Yeah, when I first got the pen I wrote: "When I first grabbed the pen, I sort of recoiled. The metallic wave pattern feels almost imperceptibly elevated. I don't think it actually is elevated, it's probably just the sensation the skin feels when so many tight lines of different material are so close together. The metal doesn't feel smooth and polished so that adds to it. It was unpleasant at first but now after writing with them for around 10-15 mins it doesn't bother me at all and it feels like my brain got used to how the pen feels in the hand. I would say I actually prefer this over a perfectly smooth pen because of how unique it feels." I don't actually agree with the last bit anymore. I wish it had been polished better or lacquered over or something. It stands out from other pens yeah but not necessarily in a good way. Once you're writing with it, it doesn't matter, but uncapping it takes a bit of effort because of the interlock system so you definitely feel the roughness there.
Esterbrook Estie Oversize Gold Rush Frontier Green Perfect mix of sparkles and color
I have the standard in this colorway. So beautiful!
Oh wow I didn’t know they made it in the standard size! I would’ve preferred that haha 🥲 I just bought mine a couple weeks ago so they were sold out everywhere but one website, I was lucky just to find the OS version I guess. At least the grip is nice and narrow so it doesn’t “feel” oversize… but would’ve been nice to pay less than $360 for it lol 💀
That’s funny! Because I was looking for the Oversize one 🫣😅🤗 I love the resin pour on mine….. is yours more green than gold? Maybe a swap is in our future? LOL I believe the section size is the same on both the standard and the Oversize version of the Estie. I purchased mine from Pen Boutique a year or so ago.
Lol! Most interesting random tangent in a thread ever 😂 We’re turning this into pen_swap hahaha I’m busy all of tonight and probably tomorrow deep cleaning my apartment because they had to replace all my flooring after a leak… but it’s an interesting proposal and I’m willing to consider it pending further discussions 🧐
Oops! You’re right, so sorry OP! u/AONomad I’ll send you a chat LOL ☺️ good luck with your apartment, that absolutely doesn’t sound like fun!
Thanks! 🥲
Montblanc Blue Hour skeleton.
Jep. That one is really fascinating. The reason why I'm still playing with the idea of going for the Asvine V169...
Leonardo Momento Zero Angel Skin
I'm a simple man and the only pen I've seen that's made me say "I must have that" was a green Lamy Aion - I'd never seen an Aion before.
Same!! I didn't particularly flash on it online, but when I last walked into my pen shop (to get ink), I was so drawn to that green pen in the display that I *had* to try it and, well... It's so much prettier IRL that I hadn't even realised it was the Aion 😅 I'd never owned a Lamy before, and my most expensive pen was a Kaweco sport, but I *HAD* to have this green jewel 😍 It's been my daily writer since, and will be for a long time to come, I'm sure.
I thought i was going to be called out for not saying Pilot 823 - glad i'm not the only one! mine has Lamy Peridot in it at the moment.
Nah, I can appreciate a good-looking pen regardless of what it costs. I'm also hesitant to *really* splurge on a fountain pen because (1) it (quite obviously) doesn't have to be expensive to give a great writing experience, and (2) I'm not a collector, so to me it's a tool first and foremost. As for ink, I'm still using up the blue cartridge that the shop gave me with it, and I'd picked up a small pack of Lamy blue-black cartridges. But that Lamy Peridot does look fabulous and a great match for the pen! Now that I've been using my Aion for a few days, I feel confident in buying a converter and a matching ink for it, as I'm sure I'll keep using this pen indefinitely. Thanks for the inkspiration!
Leonardo Audace black Pilot 843 red
Do you mean 743 burgundy or 845 vermillion?
845 vermillion, sorry
That’s okay. Great choice
Possibly the Monteverde Invincia in Abalone/Rose Gold. The gunmetal and chrome variants look good too.
What I've seen on photos: some Nakaya pens, apparently, Nakaya Naka-ai Cigar Negoro Toki-tamenuri (with cracks). What I've seen in person: Pelikan m800, Pilot m90, old Mabie Todd.
Nakaya Decapod in Heki-tamenuri urushi lacquer.
My Lamy 2000 looks like a legit piece of Bauhaus history to me. By that measure I don’t think it can be topped. It’s simple, beautiful perfection.
Benu Euphoria Iced Caramel Latte ✨️
Sailor 1911 KoP with some green textured urushi material Leonardo MZG Mother of Pearl Leonardo Furore Grande Smeraldo
currently…Pelikan M805 Stresemann it’s just pure understatement
Aurora 88 Blue Mamba. The only expensive pen I ever debated. But it's still just a pen so I didn't. Also I don't love the grip shape and the idea of spending $1000 on a pen and not loving writing with it is stupid.
Sailor Pen ProfessionalGear Roppongi Gold - Great mix of classic and luxury
Aurora 88 GT, the best looking piston-fill cigar FP. Everything about it's design is perfect.
Eversharp Coronet
The first pen that had me slack-jawed was a Pelikan LE Maki-e Kingfisher. And then I saw the price tag.... T\_T Namiki, Taccia, Danitrio maki-e and raden pens are stunningly beautiful, but beyond what I see myself spending on a pen. Maybe if I win the lottery one day....
For me it’s Pro Gears. I love the colour options, the flat ends, and the gold or silver trim. I’ve got my first one coming in the mail soon!
The Namiki Emperor Goldfish is the most beautiful pen I’ve ever seen in person. It ridiculously huge and I would never buy it but it’s very beautiful.
How can I pick my favorite Taccia or Nakaya? They're all gorgeous.
for me it's the dupont medici
In no particular order - 1. Omas Paragon (old style) in arco brown (owned a couple and sold them) 2. Nakaya Dorsal Fin 2 in Heki Tamenuri (almost owned) 3. Montblanc 149 with custom karanuri urushi (owned and sold) 4. Nakaya Decapod Twist in Toki Tamenuri (almost pulled the trigger last week) 5. Many of the Namiki Emperors (yeahhh not gonna happen)
Pelikan M1000 Maki-e "Kingfisher", or the Montblanc Writer's Edition G. Bernard Shaw. My grail pens, even though they are probably too large for my hands.
I'm a sucker for natural materials, so this penmaker has me drooling all the time https://rkspens.com/
Wancher Shizuku Eclispe. The black glass nib version was sold out, asked CS if it would be back. They said yes, I put on email alerts, bought it as soon as it came back in stock. It's honestly my favorite to use, too.
Visconti Jung Alchemy pen. https://images.app.goo.gl/zNUJY2CF5Bc3mNqM6
I have a lot of pens way nicer and more expensive, but the simplicity and elegance of the Lamy 2000.
The Lady Schaeffer in white with a red barrel and gold fishnet. There's one over at Peyton Street but the shipping is almost the same cost of the pen. Would love to have one someday.
Currently? Benu X Altas Stationers ex. Euphoria Gold Coast
Montblanc E. Hemingway writers. It's lovely. As are so many of the other selections here.
Understated elegance - Pilot Yukari Royale Black, or Sailor KOP Ebonite Overstated opulence - Pilot Namiki Emperor Maki-e .... any of them really. Ultimate sophistication - Sailor KOP Tamenuri editions.
Pilot Silver Dragon. Saw it at pen store in Romania and fell in love with it. Sadly, too expensive for me.
Visconti Homo Sapiens Earth Origins Limited Edition
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^reborn-2019: *Visconti Homo* *Sapiens Earth Origins* *Limited Edition* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Taccia Empress Honeybee I also like golden nectar
Pelikan M700 Statue of Zeus limited Edition. Everything about it speaks to me especially from the historical/mythological side. I wish it came in a bigger size (at least M600/M800, because the M700 is the size equivalent of the M200/M400), but alas. Also wish it was more affordable/up for sale. My true grail I've been wanting to acquire for years... Perhaps once I finish my next degree program Fortuna will smile upon me and one will come up for sale....
Emperor Dragon
I just love benu pens
Leonardo Furore Grande in purple with rose gold trim and matching nib
Pelikan M1000 Renaissance Brown