Parker IM Fountain Pen Review
If you’ve been looking for a special gift for the author or pen-fanatic in your life, you need to check out our Parker IM fountain pen review.
Fountain pens are a difficult buy. There’s a lot that needs to be considered before you can commit to a product and know that you’ve made the right decision. So, we’re here to try and make that job a little easier for you.
In this review, we discuss the fountain pen in terms of its appearance, how comfortable it is, and how good the medium nib is when writing. Of course, you can’t just take our word for it, so we also took a look at some customer reviews to see what the general population had to say about this fine pen.
Parker IM Fountain Pen (Our Review)
- Smart, polished and established designs meet a modern, tapered silhouette
- Matte black lacquer finish complemented with black trims and the signature PARKER arrow clip
- Durable stainless steel nib delivers a writing experience that’s both reliable and personal
- A comfortable and ergonomic shape is paired with superior PARKER craftsmanship to evoke the brand’s rich heritage
- Perfect for students and professionals
General Overall
This fountain pen is part of the IM Premium brand, which is one of Parker’s longest-running and most highly-renowned ranges of fountain pens.
In terms of appearance, it has a brushed metal finish, with the signature Parker arrow clip, giving it a sleek and modern look. The arrow clip is quite sharp, so be mindful that it doesn’t nip your clothing when you fasten it to your shirt.
Because the clip is slightly weighted at the end of the nib, it feels well-balanced when the cap is posted. This helps not only keep all the various pieces of the pen together while you use it, but it also helps to distribute the weight evenly in your hand. Long gone are the cramps in your fingers after hours of writing.
Choosing a Parker IM also gives you the freedom of choice with a variety of options. IM fountain pens are available in an assortment of colors, including the classic gold finish and brushed chrome barrel, to name a few.
This gives you access to decades of classic Parker fountain pen style in a pen filled with modern conveniences.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Modern filling mechanisms
- Lightweight build
Cons
- Small ink reservoir
- Loose cap while posted
Detailed Analysis
This model has Parker’s classic edge – the combination of vintage and new finishes. The pen weighs just under 1 ounce in total, and the body is made from varnished brass. In terms of the pens that Parker has on offer, the IM is one of the lighter ones, ideal for people with small hands and fast strokes.
Chrome accents are scattered over the build in a way that really highlights the pen’s features, including the top and bottom of the cap and around the clip band.
But brushed chrome is prone to scuffing and it shows wear easily. Fortunately, the cap has a plastic liner to prevent scratching. This keeps the Parker IM looking as new as the day you took it out of the box for years, if not decades.
Nestled beneath the cap is a golden nib section that immediately draws the eye. The sudden shock of vibrant color really helps the pen pop. Everybody in the room is sure to take notice any time you whip this out and start writing.
The medium nib is a Parker stainless steel fine nib. It seems to be smaller and more rounded than other models.
Parker IM Grip
The pen is light, sturdy, and pleasantly balanced thanks to the ingenious design of the feed and cap. Parker specifically designed the shape to ensure optimal comfort with the perfect writing angle. What’s more, thanks to the flexible nib, it can be worked to suit any handwriting style.
So whether you’re a confident writer with sharp strokes, or you have more of a meandering hand with a pinch grip, after a couple of hours of playing with it, this pen will shape to your needs.
The grip section of the pen is black plastic, which somewhat brings down the overall tone of the pen. For what you’re paying, the plastic elements can make the pen look a little cheap and less like a luxury piece of writing equipment
Ink Reservoir
The Parker IM fountain pen uses either an ink cartridge or a converter. While this is nice and convenient in terms of how easy it is to restock and refill, the range of ink colors from Parker is limited. This puts a limit on what you can do with this pen, reducing it to more or less regular, everyday use.
It is important to note that the cartridge converter isn’t included in the pen package, so you would need to purchase a Parker converter separately if you want to use bottled ink in your pen. We would have rather this came included with the purchase since bottled ink is many calligraphers’ preferred method of refilling their pens.
Also, the process of cleaning your pen is more difficult without the use of a converter.
Writing
The pen writes relatively well. The ink flows out consistently and evenly which is key in preventing smudging and feathering or forcing you to go back over lines and ruin what could have been tidy work.
It’s a bit tough to get the ink to flow through the medium nibs initially before the pen has been used a lot and the feed is fully open. If this happens to you, give the pen a gentle shake or flush the pen shaft with cool water. There may be some debris or dirt in the feed from the manufacturing process which is blocking the ink from running freely.
Nib
In terms of the pen nib, it does seem to be slightly scratchy at times when writing. It may be due to this model having a smaller and more concave nib design.
Like most other Parker fountain pens, the Parker IM has customizable nibs so you can get the one that’s right for you. If medium nibs aren’t your thing, consider swapping it out for gold extra-fine to show what you’re really capable of.
Parker IM Fountain Pen Customer Feedback
Out of an astounding 4629 reviews, the Parker IM fountain pen has an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Positive Reviews
78% of customers gave 5 stars.
The general feedback was that the pen starts writing immediately, even when the pen hasn’t been used for over a week, which is a huge advantage. Like us, most customers felt satisfied with the fact that the pen nib doesn’t skip and that the ink distribution is smooth and perfect when writing.
Many customers say that the grip and the overall feel of the pen are super comfortable which allowed them to write for hours on end. This pen has a solid construction, and good weight distribution.
Overall, most customers were happy with their purchase and felt that the Parker IM was excellent value for money.
Negative Reviews
5% of customers gave a 1-star rating.
A small number of customers felt that the Parker IM, particularly the new iterations, were lacking in the quality of some of the older models and generations.
Some customers noted that the pen’s weight is lighter, which gives it a cheap feel. They feel that the brand has compromised on quality by using less expensive materials during the manufacturing process which has run on negative effects for the customer.
A few reports say that the new nib design isn’t as smooth as previous models, which has made their writing scratchy and made the pen skip.
Conclusion
In terms of comfort, price, and overall finish, this pen delivers on all accounts. The customer reviews speak volumes to the fact that the majority of customers are satisfied with their Parker IM fountain pen purchase.
If you’re in the market for something cheaper, the Lamy Safari fountain pen or the Faber Castell are both quality pens that you can get for a little less, though they don’t offer the same levels of comfort and prestige.
Depending on your budget, if you are wanting something more premium or higher-end, the Lamy 2000 would also be a great pen choice.
Parker IM Fountain Pen FAQs
Is the Parker IM fountain pen good for beginners?
The Parker IM fountain pen isn’t a great idea for your first pen or as a pen for beginners.
It’s more expensive than some other brands and can be a little tricky to write with if you’re not accustomed to the feeling of a fountain pen nib. Plus, the soft, gold-plated nib could bend and crack under a less experienced hand.
How do you unblock a Parker IM fountain pen?
To unblock a Parker fountain pen, simply place the pen nib and gripping section in cool water and allow it to soak for up to 24 hours.
Remove the cap and flush it out with fresh water to get rid of any excess ink. (Parker’s ink is soluble in water).
Dry all the parts with a lint-free cloth or a paper towel before use.
What is the guarantee on the Parker IM fountain pen?
There is a 2-year warranty service period that Parker provides as part of its dedication to quality. So if your pen stops working at any point in that time, you can rest easy knowing you’re covered.
How should I store my Parker IM Fountain Pen when not in use?
Ensure to store your pens in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or extreme hot or cold temperatures.
Clean or ensure that your pen is unclogged before storage so that it can begin writing immediately.
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