Pelikan M205 Amethyst Fountain Pen Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

The Pelikan M205 is one of the highly regarded "entry level" fountain pens out there, and one of the best options for an affordable piston-filler pen. Sure, there's TWSBI, but what if you want something in a solid barrel, or with other color options? Pelikan has you covered.

If you remember, I wrote about the new Pelikan Edelstein ink for 2015 last week — Amethyst. Well, Pelikan also created a special version of their popular M205 with the same color for 2015. That's right — a semi-translucent amethyst barrel. It's gorgeous, but it's also my first experience with a Pelikan pen. The Amethyst Pelikan M205 is a pretty pen, but how does it write?

Like I mentioned, the M205 is a piston-filler fountain pen that comes with a steel nib. Pelikan, a German fountain pen and ink company, are known for their beautiful line of fountain pens and inks that many people collect or wish to try. There's always plenty of Pelikans at the pen shows I've attended, so I'm surprised I'm only just getting around to trying one out. First impressions? It's a fantastic pen.

Aesthetics

The Amethyst M205 is an amethyst demonstrator. Yeah, you can see the innards of the pen, but the amethyst resin is fairly dark, so you mostly notice the color of the pen instead of the insides. To me, it has to be translucent to give the proper effect. Remember, the color is taken from the gem, which is also translucent. In my opinion, it looks great.

The pen is smaller than I expected. It's much smaller than a TWSBI or Lamy Safari. It's even smaller than a Pilot Metropolitan. The closest sized pen I own is the Edison Pearlette. It's nearly identical in size, which is fairly small. I'd say it's also similar in size to a Pilot Prera.

The Pelikan logo sits atop the cap of the pen and is hard to miss. Personally, I like the logo, so I really appreciate the emblem on top. It's classy — black and white — so I think it goes well with the pen. Then, the clip is another favorite feature of mine. It's strong and works well, but I think it's a great-looking clip. It has a nice swoop at the business end, and it's always really easy to clip the pen to a case, pocket, bag, etc.

The cap screws on and has a good quality feel. The pen can post, but I tend to use it unposted. The piston mechanism also feels really great.

The furniture/accents on this pen are silver, not gold.

The nib is fairly plain compared to other nibs. There's not much on it besides the Pelikan logo and nib size indicator. It's a long and skinny nib, which matches the pen's overall aesthetic.

Overall, I think it's a very handsome pen.

Writing

So, how does it write? It's mediocre. With my copy of the pen, it was a little scratchy at first. Some minor adjustments mostly cleared up the issue, but it's still not perfectly smooth. It's an EF nib, but it's still possible to achieve a glassy feel even in a nib of this size.

If you've owned a few pens in your day, you know that nib issues are fairly standard ground with most pens in this price range. Still, it's disheartening to spend $140 on a pen that doesn't write perfectly since that's the primary function.

Still, with the slight scratch, it writes well. There's never been a flow issue, it does fairly well after being unused for a day or two, and it feels great in the hand.

Overall

The Amethyst Pelikan M205 is a beautiful pen. It's a great size for a small pen, and it has some really nice features. If the color really grabs you, you'll love this pen. If the color isn't your thing, I think you could find something more enjoyable in the same price range. For example, for about $20 or $30 more, you could buy a Lamy 2000 or a Pilot Vanishing Point — both with gold nibs. The Pelikan has a steel nib, but it also features a design that is unique to Pelikan. So, if it calls to you, go for it! It's a timeless design that will never get old.

(Goldspot Pens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

The Pen Addict Podcast: Episode 177 - The Pen Type Brad

We all have that one pen that fits us, our style, our personality, and our handwriting more than other pens. I talk about one of mine in this episode, plus discuss Bic's efforts to save handwriting, my thoughts on Nixon Field Notes, and a short discussion on pencil sharpeners.

Show Notes & Download Links

This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:

lynda.com: An easy and affordable way to help individuals and organizations learn. Free 10-day trial.

Fracture: Photos printed in vivid color directly on glass. Use code 'PENADDICT' to get 15% off.

First Look: Pen Type-B from CW&T

It's a good time to be a Kickstarter pen fan, isn't it?

This weeks First Look comes from my old friends Che-Wei and Taylor, better known as design group CW&T. Possibly even better known as the team who brought you the Pen Type-A. They were kind enough to get one of the early builds of the Pen Type-B into my hands for review, and for that I am very thankful.

Many of you have heard of the Pen Type-A, and for those who haven't, you have quite a bit of catching up to do! The Pen Type-A was the first Kickstarter pen to break through to the mainstream, and with that came money, exposure, failure, theft, and more. It was quite the story during the production and fulfillment process. The Kickstarter updates and comments section are worth reading if you have several hours to spare. NOTCOTdid a good job of rounding up the details if you are looking for the shorter version.

With the learning experience of all learning experiences behind them, Che-Wei and Taylor set out to improve on the Pen Type-A. Not just improve actually. They believe in the Pen Type-B so much they are calling their shot: This is the last pen they will ever design.

At it's core, the Pen Type-B is the barrel of the Pen Type-A with a new exterior sleeve to make the pen portable, which the Pen Type-A wasn't. The sleeve isn't just an afterthought either. It is solid brass, machined to such a tight tolerance that it creates a piston-like effect when pulling the barrel out and sliding it back in. Again, just like the Pen Type-A did.

The brass sleeve is something special. It is stunning to look at and hold, and the addition of a single flat side on the sleeve serves as the perfect roll-stopper. It is HEAVY though. When I opened the package and grabbed it for the first time I let out a "whoa", then did the whole balance in my palm lift it up and down thing. I got used to it the more I carried it around, but if you are planning on carrying it in your pocket you will want a tight one, like found in jeans to prevent the pen (like a phone) from bouncing around too much. You also probably aren't going to write with the sleeve posted either. It's doable, but the balance is a little off. I don't post it to write with personally.

The fatal flaw with the Pen Type-B, as many will point out, is the use of the Pilot Hi-Tec-C refill. Both universally loved for its crisp, clean lines, and loathed for its tendency to fail, it is a divisive refill. And rightfully so. I'm on the side of the fence that puts up with it because when it works it is impossible to beat the output. So far, no issues with my refill in the Pen Type-B, and I wonder if the tight tolerances will even help keep the tip from drying out? Only time will tell. And if you like the design but hate the refill, CW&T lists other compatible refills that will work with the addition of a spacer.

I'm a backer of this pen on Kickstarter, and now that I have had the chance to sample one, I am an ecstatic backer. This is one of those pens that will cause some reshuffling of the deck, if you will. I can only carry so many pens at a time, and one of them is going to be relegated to the desk when my Pen Type-B arrives.

My thanks to CW&T for sending me one of their few pre-production samples for review.