Are you looking for the best fountain pens to give a fellow pen junkie, or are you on the lookout for the next limited edition pen to add to your collection? No matter what you’re in the mood for, a custom fountain pen just might meet your needs.
The art of making fountain pens has been around for generations. However, a custom agency for fountain pens combines these basic tenants with unique elements of their own to manufacture truly stunning writing accessories and tools.
True, you can get an amazing writing experience with your regular Cross Bailey fountain pen or a Dryden Designs cartridge converter pen.
However, nothing quite completes the experience of owning a personalized journal like having custom-bodied fountain pens to match.
However, in the past century, the circle of customer fountain pen makers and custom fountain pen artisans has grown considerably. And with this, the number of bespoke fountain pen pieces you can get has increased significantly as well.
If you don’t want to take your chances in this space and want to get nothing short of the best, here is a compilation of custom pen sets you can get that will serve you well!
The Best Custom Fountain Pens
1. PRINT SUPREMACY Refillable Ink Bamboo Fountain Pen With Case
We’re kicking off our list with the best custom fountain pen you can get in 2022.
To start with, you’re sure to love this PRINT SUPREMACY product as it comes with a custom laser engraving option. Because of this, you get considerable latitude when it comes to how you want the overall outlook of this writing pen to be.
Consequently, you can style everything from the basic barrel of this bamboo pen to its cap however you like!
But as you know, when it comes to fountain pens, looks are only half the deal. Functionality and efficiency are just as important, if not more so.
In terms of this pen’s performance on paper, you get an amazing writing experience, regardless of the type of paper you’re using it on.
Some reasons why it’s so great include the fact that it’s extremely well-balanced and offers an ergonomic grip. In addition to this, it features no-spill capabilities, effectively ensuring that your precious ink never goes to waste.
You can also take the time to check out those expensive ink swatches you’ve been eyeing. With this pen’s smooth ink flow features, you’ll enjoy every moment of writing!
Finally, this classic fountain pen comes as a boxed gift set. The matching pen case it comes with can be presented as a gift – no need for any wrapping paper!
The perfect blend of exclusivity and affordability, these custom pens show you a completely different side of fountain pens.
Pros
- It’s budget-friendly.
- It’s super easy to use, making it perfect for fountain pen aficionados and beginners alike.
- It has a simple and elegant design.
- It comes with its own gift box.
- It doesn’t require cartridges, as you can refill straight from the ink bottle.
- It’s well-weighted and offers a good balance.
Cons
- It’s ink-selective.
- The pen can’t be used straight out of the box.
2. PILOT Vanishing Point Matte Basic Barrel Fountain Pen – Blue Ink
If you’re looking to buy a custom pen, why not go all out?
After all, the entire point of going for a custom writing instrument is so that you have a writing tool that’s not only stylish but unique.
Even without going through the elaborate effort of engraving and personalizing this fountain pen, it’s distinctive enough as it is.
Setting aside the fact that it has an all-black barrel and frame that any agency for fountain pen engraving will have a field day working on, it also carries a retractable tip!
Fountain pens with retractable tips are an almost exclusive product of PILOT (they even have a patent for it). Some might think that this feature was implemented to hide a faulty nib.
They would be wrong.
This pen is one of the brand’s 18kt gold nib units and is one of the most flexible fountain pen nibs you’ll find out there today!
What’s more, not only are the nibs made of 18k gold alloys (bright gold) but you also get an ink cartridge and a converter with your purchase! The bespoke fountain pen also comes with a beautifully designed gift box to seal the deal.
We’ll be the first to admit that this beauty doesn’t come cheap. However, we’d also be lying if we said it wasn’t worth every penny.
Pros
- It’s weighty and well balanced.
- It doesn’t give hard starts or abrupt stops.
- It comes with useful writing accessories like an ink converter and an ink cartridge.
- It’s easily presentable, thanks to its elegantly designed gift box.
- It lends itself easily to full customization.
- It has a retractable feature that further adds to its design aesthetics and exclusivity.
Cons
- It may be a bit cost-prohibitive.
- It scratches very easily.
- The end-piece of the nib comes off after a while.
3. PILOT Vanishing Point Black Carbonesque Barrel
You had to know that another Vanishing Point pen would make our list.
We offer no apologies – these pens are simply just that great!
However, many pen enthusiasts have pointed out the striking resemblance between these types of fountain pens and the “capless” design predominant in Japan at the moment. Some pen aficionados even go as far as stating that the former is an inferior replica of the latter.
We’re quick to disagree. This is because the innovative luxury of the Vanishing Point – from its flexible fountain pen nibs to its stainless steel barrel – makes it sufficiently distinctive in our opinion.
These pens also easily rival many custom blanks as they not only provide ample latitude for you to redesign them but they also offer a surface that’s readily accepting of these customizations.
Much like any good custom ballpoint pen, these custom pens will make a truly fine addition to your collection.
Beyond visuals, you also get a pen with peerless mechanics that’ll never quit on you in the middle of writing or give you any issues when you have to quickly refill.
In reality, you don’t have to be a fountain pen junkie to appreciate everything this elegant writing instrument brings to bear.
Pros
- It has a very classy design.
- It offers a very smooth writing experience.
- It doesn’t have any leakage problems.
- It’s easy to refill.
- It features the trademark PILOT vanishing point feature, which makes it an even more classic fountain pen.
Cons
- It has a relatively small converter capacity, and the piston fillers could be better made.
- It’s expensive.
- In some cases, the retraction mechanism of the pen can trigger a small ink spill.
4. Monaggio Writing and Calligraphy Fancy Pen
Say you want to use your electronic gift card to make a fountain pen purchase you’re happy with, but you don’t know what to get.
The Monaggio could step in and easily save the day!
One thing to note about this particular fountain pen is that its nib already comes with engravings. So, if you were intending to do custom nib designs of your own, you might want to take a moment to review your options.
Besides that, the entire length of this fountain pen is prime real estate for you to brand as you see fit!
When it comes to the writing experience it offers, you’ll be quite pleased as this pen creates bold lines that aren’t scratchy or incomplete. Also, because the nib enjoys a consistent flow of ink, appending your signature or updating your journal will always be a smooth exercise.
The German-made nib does an excellent job of helping you bring out the beauty of your writing.
Of course, should you opt for this product, you get more than just the pen as it comes with various accessories like a sturdy storage case as well as an ink cartridge converter.
So, you can either get this pen for yourself as a treat or give it to that special someone celebrating a milestone!
Pros
- It’s relatively affordable.
- The nib of the fountain pen is especially well made and provides an excellent writing experience.
- It comes with various helpful accessories.
- Its design ergonomics have been perfected to ensure that all 4.8 ounces of the pen feel just right for both left and right-handed users.
- It’s made of durable, eco-friendly materials.
Cons
- The ink cartridge size is very small so you’ll have to refill more often.
- It doesn’t come with an instruction manual or guide.
5. ZenZoi White Fountain Pen Set
For those who’re partial to German-made fine nib points, this is one fountain pen we’re sure you’ll like. The fine-metal design of the pen is unique and striking, traits more commonly found in Kilk Fine writing instruments.
The build of the pen significantly contributes to the weighty yet perfectly balanced feel of the pen in hand.
When it comes to writing delivery, the performance that its high-end German Schmidt nib finial puts out is something that’s a rare sight in writing instruments within its price range.
Fully customized, this is a pen that you don’t need knowledge of writing utensils to fully appreciate. A perfect gift for people of every gender, this pen set gives you even more as it comes with various added items like two ink refills and a tastefully decorated gift box.
What’s more, even though it uses standard international cartridges, there’s zero ink spillage with the pen. And for the price it’s currently going for, we consider it a steal!
Pro
- It offers full value for money.
- It’s an aesthetically pleasing tool.
- It’s easily customizable.
- It comes with a special, fine German Schmidt nib.
- It comes with a beautiful gift box and two ink refills.
Cons
- It may be a bit pricey for many users.
- Its feedback can get high sometimes.
Why Get a Custom Fountain Pen?
Many people don’t use pens these days and the few that do aren’t too particular about what kind they use. Because of this, getting a custom fountain pen might seem a bit excessive.
So, what are the perks of owning one?
1. You Get to Own an Exclusive Pen
Engraving your fountain pen with beautiful materials and sentiments effectively makes it one of a kind. So, even if you aren’t a big fan of writing, owning something so rare might encourage you to take up the activity.
2. It’s a Great Source of Pride
This fact remains true both for the giver and the receiver of custom fountain pens. Keep in mind that whether you make a custom pen with cast material from scratch or you get a pen you like from a popular brand and customize it, you make the writing instrument even more beautiful.
Thanks to this, your pen becomes something you’re happy to showcase as it gives you a great sense of pride and joy to own.
3. It Can Be a Great Hobby
If you’re looking for creative ways to pass time, custom pen blanks can offer you a great avenue for entertainment. If you’re someone who gets very serious with how they want their custom model pen to look, designing it can be a great outlet for your creativity.
FAQs
1. Is Getting a High-Quality Custom Pen Expensive?
In most cases, no.
Unless you want something really out there, they’re often more affordable than what you’d find on any $100-$200 fountain pen list.
2. How Long Does It Take to Customize a Pen?
Usually, a turnaround time of 2-3 weeks is all it takes for most custom pen makers to have your order delivered.
A few even use a shorter period of time to create writing tools that will easily rival most limited edition pens.
3. Do Custom Fountain Pens Really Affect the Writing Experience?
Yes, they do.
Getting a custom pen is different from picking a pen off the shelf as these are more personalized and especially speak to you. This sentiment subtly flows into how you write and the pleasure you get from the exercise.
Conclusion
Getting a custom fountain pen can be a big step. So, it’s okay to take things slow and carefully review your options. We hope you found our reviews helpful in identifying what you want.
If you’d like a little more help getting your perfect custom pen, you can speak to a member of our team here.