The Best Fountain Pens for Calligraphy for 2023

If you are fond of calligraphy, also known as decorative handwriting, you need the right tools to properly execute your creative ideas. To polish your skills as a calligrapher, the best fountain pen for calligraphy becomes a must-have item. But, for any beginning calligraphers, finding the right fountain pen is not an easy mission.

In this article, we will help you locate the right one by discussing essential features such as the nib’s quality, the ink, the make of the body, and the market price. This way, you will have the right guide to locating the right fountain pen that will help you improve your calligraphy skills.

If you aim to have a top-class calligraphy skill, you certainly need to pick the best one.

Best Calligraphy Fountain Pen Reviews

1. Sheaffer Viewpoint Calligraphy Fountain Pen

These Sheaffer Viewpoint Calligraphy Fountain Pens are superior compared to traditional writing mediums when it comes to calligraphy.

People like this pen because it is the classic stainless steel nib that is low maintenance and very easy to clean. Also, this product can last a while since stainless nibs are quite durable.

More importantly, the pen comes with three types of nibs that match most compress writing styles. You can choose to use rither the fine nib, medium nib or broad nib to create excellent variety in strokes.

Furthermore, the black rubber on the barrel can offer users a soft grip, making long-hour writing more enjoyable! In truth, holding the pen feels natural and comfortable. It doesn’t slip, which lessens your hand fatigue, especially when you need to make a ton of invites for a few hours.

There is a wide window barrel where we can monitor the ink level to refill the cartridge or change the ink color in no time. Additionally, buyers can save extra bucks because it comes with two Shaeffer ink cartridges. This impressive-looking pen motivates us to write more, and the bold pink color besotted most users!

2. KenTaur Calligraphy Fountain Pen

You will be impressed when opening this complete KenTaur Calligraphy Fountain Pen Set featuring required items for your calligraphy leisure pursuit.

The majority of calligraphic artists love the pen’s metallic design! The color and its slim body are exquisite and sophisticated. Hence, it easily suits many writing preferences and styles, especially for professional occasions. Furthermore, the reflective hairline finish can easily stand out among your colorful collections.

For ease in carrying, the set includes seven ink cartridges made from Austria, which is considered first class. The bundle brings five intense colors (black, blue, turquoise, red, green, and purple). Each color shows different shades that look pretty on posters and holiday greeting cards. Best of all, the three premium nibs are easy to write with and a great help to do western calligraphic scripts. You only need to interchange them to achieve the intended artistic strokes.

As a result, these nibs can delight both professionals and beginners in calligraphy with the improved penmanship. You can start using it for personalized cards and gift tags for your kids or create artistic projects using these versatile collections. It also came with a simple set of practice sheets with pretty direct instruction on the classic italic and cursive style. It is indeed a perfect tool for calligraphy aficionados and for beginners to learn the nitty-gritty.

3. Duke Asian Calligraphy Fountain Pen

For people who indulge in fine lettering and ink drawings, this Duke Asian Calligraphy Fountain Pen is among the best available choices. The pen works beautifully on sketches and is a perfect addition to your art materials.

At first glance, what catches your attention must be its sleek look. We can never go wrong with the classic, yet straightforward black covering that goes well on any occasion, from casual to professional events.

Aside from the sleek design, I like the unique subtle curve and the double layer nib, which makes my writing extra smooth on paper. You will face no issues using it on a cheaper or artist’s grade paper. It is great to know that the broad stainless nib is very efficient on a4 papers.

Though some might prefer a cartridge, it is nice to have a plunger-type converter, which is removable for an easy refill. You only need to put it inside the bottle of ink, take it out, clean it, and then draw to your heart’s content. It also came with a pen pouch for safekeeping.

Another promising thing about this calligraphy pen is the considerable stroke variation that it allows writers to accomplish on their sketches. On the purchase of this product, you can instantly find the source of immense creativity. I love how I can play around with different line widths by holding it from different angles.

Best of all, the ink flow is superb! It is fairly consistent, so you will not see any missing or partial strokes.

4. PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen

The next promising choice for your daily writing is the PILOT parallel calligraphy pen set in orange.

There are four types of nibs for you to switch when doing calligraphy. The ones that create thinner lines are 1.5 and 2.4 mm in width. Meanwhile, 3.8 and 6.0 mm pens will be a fantastic means to make thicker lines for your drawing and letterings. Such versatility is included in one package so you can comfortably utilize them to show your creativity.

Furthermore, this pen is pretty lightweight and comfortable enough for us to write. Actually, it reminds me of a dip and ballpoint pen.

Besides, the ink flows smoothly on harder and quality paper so you are recommended to use this pen on such journals. Also, the package includes a black and red cartridge that can flow at the same nib for a stunning layering effect. This is a cool step up and increases the depth of colors on my elaborate bible verse calligraphy.

The pen’s construction is generally plastic except for the metal nib. It is quite long, and the body narrows at the end. You can refill the cartridge using a blunt needle and syringe. Just don’t squeeze the ink cartridge too much, or else the ink will be squirting out. Plus, I love how easy it is to assemble, dismantle, and clean the pen using the pipette and nib cleaner.

5. Speedball 002903 Calligraphy Fountain Pen

The Speedball 002903 Calligraphy Fountain Pen works like a champ, especially for beginners. If you are interested in calligraphy classes online and want to purchase the very first fountain pen, choosing this product makes excellent sense.

In fact, the pen is ideal for writing cards in traditional and modern calligraphy. You can even use them for your side business during Holidays and special events.

I love that this impressive set is reasonably priced. In detail, it includes eight assorted ink cartridges, two blue and two black, and one for each color; red, purple, green, and pink. Furthermore, I love how it glides smoothly on my uncoated Bristol papers. There are no bleed-through nor ink puddles. Only perfection!.

Apart from that, it is fairly easy to hold because of the grooves and overall ergonomic design. Surely enough, just by looking at them, you know that the nibs are clear-cut and precisely-machined.

It’s cool that the rounded tip nibs are available in three width sizes, from 1.1mm, 1.5mm to 1.9mm. These are interchangeable and helped me produce crisp, sharp lines, particularly on the quote pieces that my clients adore.

6. GC Quill Calligraphy Set

As a starter who desires your calligraphy art to be creative and aesthetically excellent, you should try this basic kit from GC Quill.

On receiving the package, you have six fountain pens with different width sizes in total. These nibs produce thin, medium, and bold strokes, which are ideal for calligraphy beginners.

You are going to be impressed at how it works pretty well on the French ruled paper. It is very efficient to make your lettering more readable, that’s progress! The pen’s assembly is mostly plastic, and it is sturdy enough for everyday use. The see-through barrel is a nice touch to check how much ink is left.

Users surely love the feel of this pen on their hands as it is lightweight. I used to stay up all night practicing Japanese Hiragana and Greek letters with the support of this comfortable pen.

Furthermore, this is truly a good steal because it includes 20 ink cartridges with 14 diverse colors to choose from (Black, Red, Deep Blue, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Cyan, Green, Wine Red, Brown, Purple, Pink, Transparent and Fade).

Such an outstanding collection can bring out the best of your creativity in embellishing. These lovely hues made the words more noticeable and extravagant. From simple curves to intricate loops, the beginner-level artists can ace the exercises through these fountain pens.

The converter is an excellent addition to the kit because some brands do not include this. However, since I have a low tolerance for plastic waste, I prefer to use bottled ink for my art materials.

7. Sheaffer Viewpoint Calligraphy Pen

The Sheaffer Viewpoint Calligraphy Pen captures buyers’ attention with its vibrant red color. It quickly became many artists’ all-time favorite pen for calligraphy letterings.

The pen features a fine tip with a width size of 0.8mm. Therefore, it is perfect for average-size handwriting. The sophisticated chrome trim, chic cut-out clip, and sleek finish made this pen aesthetically pleasing to the eyes.

Thanks to the comfortable shaped grip, writing binges is no longer a problem for most users. The ink flow is also a treat because of the consistency, and it runs smoothly on my fountain pen paper.

Another handy feature is the little window barrel, which allows me to check the ink supply and color any time of the day. The extra ink cartridges in blue and black hues are a great addition to the kit. You can complete various styles of letterings using this pen, tweaked ink splashes, minimal drawings, and so on. You are going to wish you tried this pen earlier!

8. Asvine Brushed Black Forest Fude Pen

The Asvine Brushed Black Forest Fude Pen is a reliable fountain pen to improve your skills and unlock your calligraphy potential.

For your information, this product has a very sleek design, which gives an impression of an expensive fountain pen. Besides, it promises comfortable usage for extended periods, so we can rest assured of no hand fatigue. In truth, the pen doesn’t slip even if your palms are sweaty.

Another impressive feature of this product is its bent nib. It is the kind of tip that works best in executing different strokes. With this, you give your calligraphy a lot of character. It can even give the impression of a professional calligrapher making your letterings.

Also, you can rely on this product for long-term utilization. Since it is made of durable material, the pen can remain well-functioned and beautiful for as long as desired.

9. LAMY Joy Calligraphy Set

One of the things that I like about LAMY Joy is the ergonomic design. The body provides a steady grip for quick and breezy writings.

It is essential for most users that they feel comfortable whenever they do calligraphy for hours on end. If that is the case for you, taking this pen will benefit a lot.

Besides, the manufacturer surely put much effort into creating the superior-quality nib of this pen. In detail, it is made stainless steel, meaning it will last a long time as long as you take care of it.

More importantly, the pen glides across the surface of the paper without damaging it in the process. Users are ensured of smooth and thin letterings and embellishing due to the different nib sizes available.

If you are a fan of sleek and professional packaging, this set will be your favorite. The unique metal case that comes with the collection of three nibs and black and blue ink cartridges promises easy carrying. Furthermore, the body of this penis is made in shiny black color and red clip. Those colors will never go out of style.

10. Wordsworth & Black Fountain Pen

Sometimes, flaunting your calligraphy skills means flaunting your fountain pen set as well. With Wordsworth & Black Fountain Pen Set, not only will you be able to take pride in your calligraphy skills, but also the fountain pen that you are using.

This particular calligraphy fountain pen set is one of my favorites so far. Made from silver chrome, I can honestly say that its elegance is truly unparalleled. Since it is a durable product, it won’t break easily even if you accidentally drop it.

This fountain pen is also easy to use. Any beginner will have a great time using it without hassle. Of course, it can write well on the surface of various paper types.

Besides, left-handed calligraphers will enjoy using this product. This is because of the well-balanced design and the texture of the silver chrome material. With this pen, lefties won’t struggle to search for their suitable fountain pen any more!

What to Look for When Buying Fountain Pen for Calligraphy

To create an impressive calligraphy, you will need an equally remarkable fountain pen. However, buying a fountain calligraphy pen can present a little challenge, especially if you have no idea how to choose one in the first place.

Here are some of the things you need to consider when buying a fountain pen for calligraphy:

• Nib quality. How sturdy is the nib of your chosen fountain pen? A flimsy nib will easily bend when you are making your calligraphy project. When buying fountain pens, you need to pay serious attention to nibs because this will determine the quality of your calligraphy.
• There are three common materials used in making nibs: stainless steel, iridium tip, and solid gold. The stainless steel is hard and cheap to replace. This type is also suitable for children. The iridium tip is used in making higher quality fountain pens. This one is more expensive compared to stainless steel nibs. The solid gold is the most expensive nib of all. This model offers the best luxury and is used only by calligraphers of the highest skill level.
• Nib width. There are four primary classifications of nib width: extra-fine, fine, medium, and broad. The extra-fine nib is also perfect for doing very thin lines, Japanese/Chinese/Korean characters, and other fine details in drawings. The fine nibs, on the other hand, are perfect for handwriting and drawings. Medium nib width is more suitable for handwriting while the broad nibs are ideal for large handwriting.
• Replacement nibs. There are two kinds of replacement nibs that you can avail: the whole front end, and the nib only. The whole end might be a little expensive, but it provides a quick and easy replacement process. The nib only replaces one of the grip shells, but it is cheaper.
• Barrel width. The barrel width dictates the grip and the ink reservoir capacity. As a general rule, the thicker the fountain pen, the more expensive it gets.
• Clip. Having a decent clip on your fountain pen means you can clip it on your shirt and bring it anywhere and use it as soon as an idea hits you. If you want to execute your ideas as soon as possible, you should consider buying a fountain pen with a clip.
• Cap. Having a cap in your fountain pen can help you prolong the life of its nib. While some expensive fountain pens have their storage, your fountain pen is also good as a beginner has a cap. This way, you can extend the life of your fountain pen as you improve your calligraphy skills.

All of these features should be considered thoroughly before you decide to purchase a fountain pen for calligraphy. Ignoring just one feature can affect your growth as an artist and hobbyist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most trusted fountain calligraphy pen brands?

Calligraphy is an art that requires a fountain pen of the best caliber. With this, even beginners need to have a good quality fountain pen to improve their skills.

When buying fountain pens for calligraphy, you need to look for the most trusted brands. This is to ensure not only the quality but also the best writing experience.

Here are some of the most trusted brands of calligraphy with fountain pens in the market today: Pilot, Tombow, Sheaffer Viewpoint, Scribe Sword, Itoya, Parker, LAMY, Wordsworth & Black, Asvine, and so on.

Yet, these are just some of the most trusted brands of fountain pen for calligraphy. When shopping for one, you should always bear in mind that not all fountain pen brands offer the same level of convenience, writing quality, and elegance in design. For this reason, you need to trust your taste.

How do you use fountain calligraphy pens?

Using a calligraphy pen can be scary, especially if you have no idea how to use it. But once you get the hang of it, you will know that it is super fun to use.

There are two basic ways of using calligraphy pens. These are:

• Regular writing way. The ink is supplied by the ink chamber, which comes out by way of gravity.
• Dipping. This technique is usually used by intermediate to advanced level calligraphers. The nib of the calligraphy dip pens are quickly dipped on an ink bottle, and the ink is spread on the paper.

These techniques are quite easy if you practice it regularly. After spending some time using these techniques, your calligraphy skills will become on par with professionals!

Where should I buy calligraphy pens?

You can purchase top-quality fountain pens for calligraphy at your favorite art supply store. If you can’t find your preferred fountain pen brand, you can always visit supermarkets like Lowes, Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and more.

However, there are instances where shopping online is more convenient than visiting a physical store. Amazon.com is one of the great websites where you will find your preferred brand of the calligraphy fountain pen. You can choose your brand by comparing it with other brands using customer reviews and ratings. You can also take a look at the technical specifications to determine which ones will fit your needs.

How should I care for and clean my calligraphy pen?

Using a fountain pen for calligraphy for the first time can be a little intimidating, especially when it’s time to take care of it. However, maintenance should not be seen as a tiresome task. You should see it as a way of prolonging your precious pen’s life, which can help you bring your calligraphy skills to the next level.

Here is how you should care and clean your fountain pen:

• After using the pen, gently clean the nib by swishing it in a cup of water.
• Once the standing ink is removed from the nib, wipe it off on a dry cloth by pinching your forefinger and thumb. This is to remove the excess water that may cause the nib to rust.
• Once the nib is dry, you can either resume writing or store the pen away for another calligraphy practice session.

Conclusion

If you want to learn calligraphy, choosing the best fountain pen for calligraphy is your first job. After all, it will be your only tool as you go along with your journey on this beautiful decorative handwriting art.

As there are many fountain pen brands in the market, you need to arm yourself with useful information to help you choose the right one for you. Hopefully, this review will help you determine which brands can provide you the right fountain pen to boost your skills with calligraphy to the highest level possible.

Robert S. Brown

I am a former art teacher, so it is evident to me the importance of art in educating the new generation. We also want to help parents who plan to teach their children and desire the best tools and tips for them.