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Montegrappa elmo 01 black fountain pen UK 2025: The Montegrappa “Monte Grappa” fountain pen might not be perfect, but mine holds a special place in my heart. Montegrappa’s distinctive nib imprint and the “tunnel entrances” Monte Grappa cap ring. I first purchased one of these, in the pretty lilac colour with 14k gold medium nib, from Harrods in November 2019. It was an impulse buy, for which my conscience later suffered and I took it back a few days later. The story was told in my brief encounter post, for those who like fountain pen love stories. At home, I filled it with Diamine Conway Stewart Tavy, my go-to blue black, which immediately became its forever ink. A feature of the pen is the clicky piston filler which sounds and feels like winding a mechanical watch. You cannot see how much ink the pen is holding but can measure it by slowly ejecting the ink again and counting the drops. I am not sure whether purists call this a piston or a captive converter filler. I recall watching a short video from Montegrappa, proudly showing the patented new filling mechanism on its own, and explaining the various different materials that it comprised, (as related in my brief encounter post) but unfortunately I can no longer locate the video. Read additional information on https://www.penshop.co.uk/product/montegrappa-black-mini-ball-pen-refill.

Buying a pen to use every day? Want something special to commemorate a birthday or anniversary? Hoping to find the next luxury pen to add to your collection? This guide brings together the collective experience and knowledge of the people behind The Pen Shop and introduces you to our different styles of writing instruments. With such a vast array of choice and different types of pens at different price points, it can be hard to choose a pen as a gift. This guide will help you make a decision – and find a pen they’ll treasure. From starter handwriting pens to exclusive limited edition releases – explore and enjoy our range of writing instruments using this pen buying guide.

Consider gifting a high-quality pen alongside a handwritten note. This gesture elevates the gift, showing that you not only value the recipient but also the art of writing itself. It’s a simple yet profound way to convey your appreciation, whether it’s for a colleague’s hard work, a friend’s support, or a loved one’s kindness. Pens are versatile gifts suitable for various occasions. Whether it’s a birthday, graduation, wedding, or a simple “thank you,” a pen can fit the bill. Here are some occasions where a pen makes an excellent gift: Graduation Ceremonies – Graduations are monumental milestones in one’s life. A pen symbolizes the knowledge gained and the journeys yet to come. Gifting a pen to a graduate encourages them to write their future, set goals, and document their experiences. A personalized pen engraved with their name or graduation date adds an extra layer of sentimentality.

Like traditional ink pens, gel pens consist of a barrel housing the writing mechanism, a cap, and a reservoir that can be refilled with ink. A “follower” of more dense, gelled material – typically transparent – follows the water-based ink at the tip of the ink tube. Ink leakage and reverse flow are key problems the follower helps to solve. The barrels can be made with different designs, with some featuring rubber or plastic finger grips. Nib or pen tip dimensions are between 0.18 and 1.5 millimeters (0.0071 and 0.059 inches).

How to write smoothly with a rollerball pen? The key difference between rollerball and ball pen types is that rollerball pens use water-based rather than oil-based inks. Like fountain pens, then, their ink can smudge for a while, before it dries. With two line thicknesses, fine and medium, rollerballs write in a style that’s similar to that of a fountain pen, making them a popular and convenient alternative. All rollerball manufacturers offer either black or blue ink refills. Very few companies offer alternative colours, which is worth considering if you like to write with different coloured inks. We recommend that any ballpoint pen refill that has sustained damage to its writing tip be thrown away. This is because leakages of oil-based ballpoint pen ink happen slowly – but any stains they create can be difficult if not impossible to remove and can cause items to be beyond repair.