How to choose a fountain pen according to your style

When it comes to choosing a fountain pen, either for oneself or as a gift, attraction certainly plays its part. Aesthetics play a fundamental role, especially for an object like the fountain pen, with its innate elegance and foregone times feel. Color, shape, inlays. Everything contributes to making one fountain pen more beautiful than another in the eyes of its future owner. But the proverb reminds us, however, the habit does not a nun make: the pen that pleases the eye may not be the most suitable. In fact, it is still an object with a specific purpose: writing. And writing, especially with a fountain pen, is something very personal. There are those who hold the pen firmly and those who have a very delicate grip, those who push on the paper and those who barely touch it. When choosing a fountain pen, therefore, one must also and above all take into account one’s personal writing style.

Tips for choosing the most suitable fountain pen: the secret is in the nib

Let’s start from a simple but essential premise, all the substantial differences between the various stylus models reside in the nib. The nib is the soul of a fountain pen. It is no accident that it is also the element on which the choice of your pen must converge.

That said, the first step in choosing a fountain pen correctly is to consider your writing style. Only then can you really identify the most suitable nib. For example, those who are used to writing in small characters, will certainly find themselves better off with a fine nib, while those who prefer writing in large characters, should choose a wider nib.

Another element to consider is the amount of pressure used when writing. In the case of those who apply greater pressure on the sheet when writing, in fact, rather than focusing on the size of the nib, it is necessary to look at its consistency. Tubular nibs are usually more rigid than traditional ones and could therefore be a better choice for those who write with a heavier stroke.

Another case is that of left-handers, who can find nibs designed specifically for them, with the oblique cut on the left side that allows them to find the right writing angle without straining the wrist and also have greater visibility.

However, with all these considerations we must keep in mind that the nib does not only change the writing style of a stylus pen, but also the way in which it should be used. For example, if one chooses a wide nib because they’re used to writing with large characters, they will also have to take care to keep it in an almost horizontal position when writing, to allow the ink to completely wet the nib and ensure a correct functioning of the pen.

The most common types of nibs

• Extra Fine (EF).
• Fine (F).
• Medium (M).
• Large (B).
• Extra-large (BB).
• Large Oblique (OB), ideal for a thick but at the same time smooth stroke.
• Medium Oblique (OM), with a particular oblique finish that allows the writer to experience a greater sensation of smoothness.
• Left Hand (LH), the stylus suitable for left-handers.