Jinhao Fountain Pen Review

Many people seem to think that fountain pens are just for wealthy, stuck-up executives willing to spend thousands on a fancy brand name, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Jinhao fountain pens are some of the best starter pens on the market thanks to their comfortable asking price and variety on offer.

Their products earn rave reviews and sell well internationally. You can get them easily, either at your local stationery stores or reputable online retailers such as eBay.
We have rounded up some of the best Jinhao fountain pens, highlighting their pros and cons so that you can decide on which pen to purchase.

After seeing what we have to say, we’re sure your journey into the world of fountain pens will be a smooth one.

6 Jinhao Fountain Pens (Our Review)

Jinhao X450

The Jinhao X450 fits in your hand comfortably. One downside is that it’s heavy. However, it’s well balanced which is great for practicing and getting used to the strokes needed.

It has a medium nib with an 18-carat gold-plating printing on it displaying the brand’s emblem in beautiful calligraphy. You should note that a gold-plated nib isn’t the same as a pure gold nib, which is more flexible and more prevalent in expensive, high-end brands.

However, we like that the pen has finger grips for anyone who writes with a pincher style. They help to hold the pen comfortably so your hands don’t cramp after hours of writing.

We also like the inclusion of a free cartridge converter as one of Jinhao’s standout features. When your ink dries out, filling the cartridge is easy.

Even if the ink reservoir doesn’t hold as much as the standard converters that you purchase separately, the fact that they included one, to begin with, adds more value to the pen.

When it comes to writing, this pen isn’t as smooth as a high-budget fountain pen. But for a starter pen, it’s a great place to learn the ropes.
Another issue we have is that the pen has a wet ink flow which can spread over the paper if you’re not fast enough with it. The pen’s cap also isn’t very secure so it tends to rattle around when posted.

Despite its ups and downs, we highly recommend the X450. It comes in a variety of colors and has a very premium design.

Pros

• Affordable
• Classy
• Solid design
• Balanced in the hand
• Converter included

Cons

• Wet linework
• Loose cap
• Heavy

Jinhao X750

The Jinhao X750 is a pen that gives you your money’s worth.

The body of the pen comes in a variety of colors and styles, from matte black to a sparkly finish. All of the X750 pens are made from metal and have a chrome trim on top and bottom ends. This makes the pen durable and classy.

A downside in the design would be the clip on the cap as it’s very stiff and you won’t be able to clip the pen to a shirt.

It has a number 6 sized nib that can be easily replaced by simply pulling out the nib and removing it from the feed.

It also comes with a standard international converter. The issue, however, is that it’s made from plastic and holds less ink than your typical fountain pen converters.

Since the Jinhao X750 is a snap cap-designed pen, it won’t have any threads towards the nib. This makes the pen more comfortable to hold when writing as threads can hurt your fingers.

The X750 shouldn’t perform well for a pen under $10 but it greatly exceeds our expectations. There is a good consistent flow and the nib allows for light and good line variation depending on how much pressure you apply to the paper.

Overall this is a quality pen whose value gives you a really good bang for your buck.

Pros

• Good Price
• Comfortable in hand
• Variety of colors
• Durable

Cons

• Stiff clip on the cap
• Converter holds small amount of ink

Jinhao 159

If you like big and heavy fountain pens then the Jinhao 159 will be right up your alley.

There are 3 available body colors for the Jinhao 159. These colors are a bright orange and yellow and , and a dark matte black.

It’s fitted with a universal stainless steel number 6 nib meaning that you can fit nibs of other brands onto the Jinhao 159 to allow for greater nib variety.

Jinhao labels their two-tone fountain pen nibs with an 18KGP engraving as they have gold plating. The 159 has this engraving but it’s important to note that it isn’t gold plated which might disappoint some people upon discovery.

On a more positive note, the converter in the Jinhao 159 carries a good amount of ink and can be replaced by a standard international cartridge converter too.

When the Jinhao is in the hand, it’s extremely heavy. This is good for those who prefer heavier pens but it won’t be for those who prefer lighter acrylic pens.

This pen writes fairly decently and if you keep your expectations at a reasonable level then you will be pleased with the results. It’s smooth, not too wet, and has good line variation.

The Jinhao 159 makes for a good, heavy beginner fountain pen.

Pros

• Converter holds good amount of ink
• Three different colors to choose from
• Interchangeable nibs
• Good beginner pen

Cons

• Not gold plated as it says
• Very heavy

Jinhao 599

The Jinhao 599 appears different from the rest in terms of design as it has a plastic shell instead of metal. It also comes in a wide range of colors.

An interesting design choice is the cartridge window in the middle of the body. This allows you to see straight into the cartridge converter without having to open up the pen.

The clip found on this pen is sturdy and flexible. It will work well if you choose to clip the 599 onto your shirt pocket.

The Jinhao 599 has a number 6 sized nib that is made from stainless steel. It also has a Jinhao branded converter that holds a reasonable amount of ink.

The pen has 2 grooves for your index finger and thumb, but it lacks a third indentation making for an uncomfortable feeling when writing. Another issue when writing, the body of the pen becomes loose and it can’t be tightened.

The good news is that the pen allows for posting and is very light. The pen puts down a nice amount of ink onto the paper and allows for a good upside-down flow.

It has its issues in terms of comfort in the hand, but some of the unique features like the cartridge window make this an interesting fountain pen.

Pros

• Sturdy and flexible clip
• Cartridge window
• Very light
• Good amount of ink output

Cons

• Only has 2 grooves
• Falls apart when writing for too long

Jinhao 992

The Jinhao 992 goes for a clean, clear plastic aesthetic allowing you to see the inner components of the pen itself. You are also able to see the ink feed towards the top of the nib as that section is also plastic.

Since the body has an outer plastic shell, the pen is prone to cracking and scratch marks will be very visible.

The 992 has a nib collar that allows for easy replacement of the nib by simply unscrewing it. This pen also has an unscrewable cap that fits onto the back of the pen when writing and allows for good posting.

The weight of the pen also isn’t too heavy and fits comfortably in the hand, and despite having threads, they are smooth and don’t hurt your fingers when writing.

This is a simple fountain pen that writes without having too many issues. There is a good amount of ink output and it flows smoothly.

The only minor complaint is the inability to write upside down, but other than that, this is a solid fountain pen from Jinhao.

If you want a fountain pen at an inexpensive price that does the job, the Jinhao 992 will be perfect.

Pros

• Clear plastic design
• Inclusion of nib collar
• Good weight to it
• Ink output isn’t too wet

Cons

• Prone to cracking
• Can’t write upside down

Jinhao 999

The Jinhao 999 is themed after a traditional Chinese dragon with a bright red soul stone in the center. Ours was a bright blue but it’s also available in red and grey.

The body is embossed with Chinese characters and has twisting dragon figures coiling around it. As undeniably cool as it looks, it makes the pen extremely heavy and difficult to hold.

This is a well-constructed pen whose back cap posts tightly, so shaking the pen won’t cause the cap to fall off.

Jinhao included a piston converter which saves you from having to fork out for a third-party supplier. You also get the peace of mind that it was designed for this pen in particular, so there won’t be any compatibility issues.

When putting pen to paper, there’s a good amount of line variation. It isn’t as wet as the X450 and it writes well. The biggest drawback is definitely how heavy it is and cumbersome it feels in your hand, which can be a dealbreaker if you’re planning on using it.

If you’re going to write a lot, using this pen will lead to your hand cramping or a feeling of discomfort due to its scaly design. A bad grip section could easily ruin your whole writing experience. In reality, it’s more of something to be looked at than used regularly.

The pen could serve as a good display item or an addition to a collection, but we wouldn’t recommend purchasing this as a starter fountain pen.

Pros

• Stylish
• Variety of colors
• Good collector’s item

Cons

• Heavy
• Cumbersome
• Not meant for regular use

Jinhao Fountain Pen Overview

What is Jinhao?

Jinhao is a Chinese company that provides affordable and stylish pens.

Their products earn rave reviews and sell well internationally. You can find them easily at most stationary stores and online. 

Design

The design of these pens draws inspiration from some of the most popular pens on the market.

Some models, like the No products found., are targeted towards those who want something more dramatic Other pens, like the Jinhao x750 or x450, come in the standard cigar shape and a variety of colors.

All Jinhao pens come with the standard number 6 sized stainless steel nibs. This means finding a replacement won’t be a chore, since you can find these in pretty much any local stationery store.

Sadly, they don’t come in attractive packaging. This takes away from the feeling of luxury and prestige you hope for in a fountain pen.

Price

Jinhao markets itself as the best starting point for beginners who are looking to dip their toes into fountain pens.

They range anywhere from $6 to $10 for the standard designs and up to $30 for the themed ones.

Conclusion

Jinhao’s products are great for anyone just starting. The inclusion of free converters along with its huge roster of pens makes it a good way to start your fountain pen collection.

Whether you’re an author or visual artist, we recommend the X450 or X750 if you want good quality and affordable pens. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns so get out your notepad and start writing.

If collector’s items are what you seek, then the Jinhao 999 will be sure to leave whoever sees it in awe.
It isn’t as good as your higher budget fountain pens that cost a fortune, but it does the job. If you’re looking for the perfect place to start, the pens in this roundup will be for you.

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