Best Fountain Pen Under 200 (Top Options Reviewed)
Fountain pens can be expensive pieces of equipment, with some costing more than 500 pounds. When you get to that price range, expect big-name brand pens made from the highest quality materials.
But what if we told you that you could get a new fountain pen of outstanding quality for less than 200 pounds?
Join us as we break down the best fountain pen under 200 pounds, giving the pros and cons of some of our favourite fountain pens.
Why Do People Love Fountain Pens?
When it comes to pens, one contender stands out from the rest: fountain pens. Gel pens, ballpoint pens, rollerballs; no other type of pen can stand its own against the popularity of fountain pens.
But why is this the case?
Fountain pens are aesthetically pleasing, from the nib down to the body of the pen itself. They transform your writing experience and can improve your handwriting.
They are also comfortable to hold, eliminating the issue of hand fatigue that a plastic pocket pen or similar might cause.
Another reason why people love fountain pens so much is their lifespan and overall quality.
How Long Do Fountain Pens Last?
While you might be replacing the ink inside your fountain pen after a month or two, the pen itself can last you years. This is primarily due to the materials the fountain pen is made from.
The body of the fountain pen will last you for as long as you keep it in good condition and store it properly. In other words, avoid dropping it, sitting on it, or leaving it under unsafe conditions.
However, the fountain pen’s components don’t last as long as the fountain pen itself. Failing to do tasks like cleaning the pen’s ink storage can cause the ink to explode once the lid opens.
This also leads to the fountain pen becoming clogged, causing the nib to dry out.
If you keep your fountain pens in a safe location, your first pen could also be your only fountain pen for years to come.
Best Fountain Pen Under 200 Pounds
Parker Sonnet Fountain Pen
- Matte black lacquer cap and barrel accented by gold-finished clip and trim
- Fountain pen design with stainless steel tip
- Hand assembled and checked for flawless quality
- Available in a range of beautiful designs and finishes
- Packaged in a PARKER premium gift box
Design
If you want a quality fountain pen under 200 pounds, the Parker Sonnet is one of the best fountain pens you can get.
The box comes packaged with the fountain pen and instructions on assembly and disassembly.
You can also unclip the front section of the box, and in it, you will find a Parker ink cartridge. The box is also made from solid plastic, ensuring that the fountain pen remains safe at all times.
The colours of the fountain pen range from a sleek silver finish to a matte black design, all of which have some form of gold plating on the clip.
Each pen has a Parker engraving on it as well as the date of manufacture.
The Parker Sonnet fountain pen is equipped with a gold nib from Parker. You can also find some engravings in this section.
These gold nibs are 18k and are on the side of being the more premium nibs.
Inside these Parker Sonnet Fountain Pens is a Parker converter that you can fill with a bottled ink of your choice.
The actual size of the Parker Sonnet may be disappointing for some as it’s not a very large pen. It lacks in girth as well as length.
Writing
Using the included Parker Sonnet Fountain Pen nib is a pleasant experience. It’s a fine nib that gives little to no feedback when posted or unposted.
The fountain pen is easy to hold and control when writing at faster speeds and has a comfortable feel overall.
The wetness can be described as a good and rich flow of ink, offering good line variation.
This pen offers a smooth writing experience and is one of, if not the best, gold nib fountain pens under 200 pounds. Get the full Parker Sonnet fountain pen review in our guide.
Pros
- Easy to control
- Comfortable to hold
- The rich flow of ink
- Packaged in a sleek box
Cons
- The size of the pen is too small
Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen
Design
The Lamy 2000 fountain pen comes in a relatively simple box. But, inside is one of the higher-quality fountain pens under 200 pounds.
Design-wise, this fountain pen hasn’t changed much since 1960, and to this day, it still looks visually appealing.
It comes in various colours, and chances are you will see the matte black variation being one of the more common ones.
The pen body is made of polycarbonate and has brushed stainless steel accents along it.
The metal clip on this fountain pen is easy to pull, making your shirt pocket a convenient location to store the pen.
Lamy 2000 uses a piston filling system instead of an ink converter. You will need to take your bottled ink, twist the body of the pen, and fill up the piston.
This also means the fountain pen has an ink window, indicating how much ink remains in the piston filler.
The nib is made from 14k gold, and if you plan to use the one that comes bundled with the pen, expect a small, extra fine nib.
This fountain pen is pleasant to hold, both posted and unposted, without being heavy in the hand.
Writing
When putting fountain pen ink onto paper, the Lamy 2000 is as smooth as it gets, especially with the Lamy nib.
The feed keeps up well with any writing style and speed. Apply pressure onto the nib, and we can see good line variation and colouring.
It’s a very wet pet compared to some of the other fountain pens on our list, which can be a pro or a con depending on the writer.
Otherwise, the Lamy 2000 will typically rank among people’s favourite fountain pens, giving you quality for under 200 pounds.
Pros
- Variety of designs to choose from
- Stretchy metal clip
- Ink window to keep track of ink
- Good size and weight
Cons
- Very wet
Pilot Falcon Fountain Pen
- PILOT FALCON: The Falcon is a classic fountain pen that features a metal barrel, rhodium accents, & a uniquely responsive 14K gold nib for a truly personalized writing experience. Elegant gift box included.
- YIELDS TO YOU: This flexible nib fountain pen is great for calligraphy, drawing, sketching & more. Available in extra fine, fine, medium, or broad point. Comes with ink cartridge & Pilot CON-50 converter.
- PILOT FINE WRITING COLLECTION: Our innovative, exceptionally crafted fountain pens & elevated gel & ball point pens make great gifts for holidays, birthdays, graduation, Father's Day, Mother's Day & more!
- TRUSTED QUALITY: We've been making pens for over 100 years. Whether you're taking notes, stocking up on school or office supplies, or writing in a bullet journal, Pilot has the perfect pen for you!
- POWER TO THE PEN: Pilot makes exceptional writing instruments to suit all your needs. We have fountain, ballpoint, retractable, erasable & gel ink pens, whiteboard markers & more for every writing style.
Design
As far as high-quality fountain pens go, the Pilot Falcon is a Japanese pen that many writers adore. This quality pen comes packaged in a fancy box with a velvet lining. Included in the package is a compatible ink cartridge.
The body of the pen is made of metal, so the fountain pen will be heavier than the typical ballpoint pens you have in the office.
There are various colour options for the pen’s body, and every Pilot Falcon has a Pilot engraving on the cap. Each has a spring-loaded clip ensuring that it won’t snap off easily, as well as a screw-on cap.
The extra fine nib is shaped to represent the bill of a falcon and contains no combs along the nib. This is yet another 14k gold nib, ensuring that you are getting the best in terms of quality.
The amount of stored ink compared to other pens on this list is unmatched, and the cartridge will keep you writing for a long time.
Writing
The pen is known to require the holder to exert some pressure when writing to get the best performance.
However, the Pilot Falcon feels good in the hand, having some weight to it because it is metal. It has the perfect weight to allow for comfortable posting.
When writing, the Falcon has a very nice flow with almost no skips present. The wetness of the pen is in that sweet spot of being not too wet and not too dry.
Since the nib is extra fine, it also allows you to lay down more ink at an angle. This is perfect for artistic purposes when more colour and ink are needed. As long as you apply pressure, line variation will be excellent.
Pros
- Easy to post
- Spring loaded clip
- Good line variation
Cons
- Extra force is required to get the best results
Pelikan M205 Fountain Pen
- Nib material: polished stainless steel
- Barrel material: high-grade resin
- Clip features: metal, silver
- Transparent ink window
- Nib size: F
Design
The Pelikan M205 has various editions or colourways, each with its unique packaging.
For example, the Pelikan M205 Frosty Aquamarine has blue accents on a white box containing a blue Pelikan M205.
Included with the fountain pen is a Pelikan ink bottle containing liquid ink for the M205.
The clip is designed to represent the bill of a pelican, and you can find the Pelikan logo at the top of the cap.
Along the body of the pen are the brand’s engravings and where the pen was manufactured.
The Pelikan M205 uses a piston filling mechanism and boasts an excellent steel nib. The nibs are interchangeable if you wish to use your gold nibs instead.
This steel nib has the Pelikan logo on it, and in terms of nib sizes, it’s a fine nib.
This fountain pen doesn’t have a dedicated ink window, as the entire pen is transparent. This allows you to see how much ink is available for usage in the same way an ink window would.
Writing
The pen is a comfortable size; not too big or too small, and fits comfortably in the hand.
However, writers with larger hands might find the pen uncomfortable due to the threads on the nib. The more your hand covers the nib, the more exposed your fingers are to the threads.
The pen’s fine steel nib is relatively smooth, showing little to no feedback.
It’s not a very wet pen, but that’s to be expected with the fine steel nibs. However, it does offer good line variation, showing some spring between each line.
Pros
- Variety of unique designs
- Quality nib size and nib material
- The piston filling mechanism holds a lot of ink
Cons
- Threads may cause discomfort
Final Thoughts
Whether you plan on taking notes or drawing wide vertical strokes in a work of art, these fountain pens exude quality and offer the pen holder something unique.
Deciding which of these fountain pens to purchase depends on your personal preference. But, with the help of our list, you should be able to pinpoint the best fountain pen under 200 pounds to suit your needs.
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