New to the list: Leonardo Momento Zero
A lot has changed in the fountain pen market over the past several years, especially in the $100-$200 price range. New companies have made headway, and established companies have priced themselves out of the top end of the bracket. That means I am more than overdue for an update to the Top 5 Fountain Pens $100-$200 list.
But let’s keep the pen at the top the same, and that’s the Platinum 3776.
Now, recall what this list is designed to be - a list of pens I would recommend, not necessarily my personal favorites. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that this category didn’t contain a huge amount of overlap, though.
It took me a while to fall in love with the 3776. I had several Pilot’s and several Sailor’s before buying my first. What took me so long? I thought the barrel weight was a little light, especially considering the price.
I was told repeatedly I was missing out, and I’m happy to report that I regret waiting so long to acquire my first, of eventually many.
Platinum 3776 Chartres Blue
Now, it’s not all perfect with the 3776. For starters, not everyone will like the finer Japanese nib sizing, and not everyone will like the feedback from the nib. It has more tactile feedback, compared to Pilot or Pelikan, for example.
Secondly, they are close to joining Sailor - and other brands - in pricing themselves out of this range. When I was shopping for my first one you could find them close to $100 (or less) in certain locations. When I was looking for a second one to have the nib modified - and when I put them at the top of this list - they were in the $140-$160 price range. Today, they are around $190, and with the way things are going in this market, we will see it off this list in a year or two.
Even at this current price point, I think it is the best fountain pen between $100-$200 going. The nib makes a difference, and not just because it’s 14k.
Let’s lay out the remainder of the Top 5, and then discuss:
- Leonardo Momento Zero/Furore
- Diplomat Aero
- Esterbrook Estie
- Lamy 2000
Formerly second on this list, the Lamy 2000 drops to number five due to continued questions about nib feel and performance. Not everyone likes the out of the box experience, and even the finest sizes leave wider than expected lines. It makes the list because even though it, too, has seen a large price increase, it still provides good value with its 14k nib and piston filling mechanism - a combination that no other pen on this list offers. And yes, it is one of the greatest pen designs ever.
Lamy 2000
Where the big change in this list happens is in the 2 through 4 spots. These three pens denote change in the marketplace, as all of them come from smaller makers who have all taken classic fountain pen shapes and modernized them with fantastic materials and high quality manufacturing. In short, the are fun, and represent this current market well.
I’m lumping the Leonardo Momento Zero/Furore, Diplomat Aero, and Esterbrook Estie together in this discussion because you could rank them in any order you wish and I wouldn’t argue. They are all slightly different in their own way, but provide good value and a great experience.
Diplomat Aero
Out of the three, the Aero is the outlier due to its metal-barrel construction, versus the acrylics of the other two. It’s certainly heavier, so if that it what you are looking for from your next pen, then I would point you towards it.
The Leonardo and Esterbrook are similar is design and materials, but I find the former a bit more refined than the latter. There is something about the fit and finish of Leonardo pens that set them apart, hence their placement on the list. Regardless, both acrylic pens offer a wide range of styles and options to fit your tastes.
Esterbrook Estie
All three of these pens can be readily found in the $150-$190 range, depending on style.
That last statement exposes an issue with this list update: None of the pens are under $150. We used to have great pens in the low-$100’s, including some currently on this list, but no longer. I’d like to include some pens on the lower end of the spectrum, but where are they?
Maybe the Pelikan M205 - formerly on this list - if I try to force it ahead of one of the pens above? I don’t think it ranks as well as the others. The Pilot Custom 74 is probably number six on this list, but it, too, is getting up there in price.
What $100-$150 fountain pens would you rank above any of the five that I listed above?
This is the effect of the current market more than anything, and I need to re-think the price range breakdowns I currently use. I assume it won’t be long before the $80 pens I love today cross the $100 threshold, but they are completely different than what you see in the $150-$200 range. It’s time I begin to integrate that adjustment into my Top 5 lists.
