Fountain Pen Info

Blog

  • Faber-Castell Ambition 3D Croco Fountain Pen

    So this is the story of how all signs point to this being a pen I would NOT enjoy, yet it has turned out to be one of my favorites. Let me explain.

    Faber-Castell is a big company that makes lots of stationery items including fountain pens. Generally I had the impression that their pens would be pretty good quality, but I have always been hesitant to pick any of the models up.

    Let’s just say I was negatively influenced. Having used fountain pens for years, I thought generally I didn’t like metal pens that much. I thought small grip sections or thin pens would also be an issue. So most of the Faber-Castell fountain pens would fall into those categories, given the styles and materials they choose to use in their fountain pens.

    But as with most things in life, you really just don’t know until you have it in hand and use it yourself. That is why it’s so nice to be able to try a pen before committing… if you have a trusted stationery store or pen club meetups where you can try out different pen models in person – that would be ideal!

    But back to this lovely Faber-Castell Ambition fountain pen. Despite it having a non-grip section, because the tiny little metal section above the nib is probably not meant to be gripped unless you always hug your nibs. If you consider how you use regular pencils and ballpoint pens… you realize that all your life you have probably been using pretty slim pens to write with… so why would it be so different with a fountain pen. I suppose ultimately, I have found that I actually change my grip depending on the pen I’m using.

    So this particular colorway of the ambition is called 3d croco – because the brown textured pattern is actually 3d printed resin. And it is pleasant to hold, I actually like the texture and warmth of the material itself.

    The rest of the pen is chrome-plated polished metal. And the nib is actually the same nib used on multiple models of Faber-Castell fountain pens. So essentially you are more so paying for the different materials of different models – case in point I also have the Faber-Castel emotion pearwood, which has a high price point for the wood material.

    I know some folks will still swear against using thin pens or metal pens, but I have found myself very much enjoying this Faber-Castell ambition. And the model comes in a variety of colors and material types to suit every person’s tastes. It’s definitely a pen to check out because the nibs are very reliable and I find them to be much more bouncy than other steel nibs out there on the market.

    Those are my thoughts.

    If you would like to support this blog, check out my amazon affiliate link to purchase the Faber-Castell Ambition…

  • Jinhao 59 Pocket Fountain Pen

    A surprisingly familar fountain pen has been added to the Jinhao lineup – the new jinhao 59 pocket fountain pen – available in a variety of colorways and combinations.

    As per usual, I could not resist picking up this pen from Aliexpress as they are super affordable and seemingly an exact replica of the famous Pilot e95s fountain pen.

    Of course, the Jinhao is actually an inset nib, not a true inlaid nib, plus it is a steel nib, not a 14k gold nib as on the Pilot pens and many of the long short pocket pens of that era by Pilot, Sailor and Platinum.

    There is no doubt that the gold nibs give you a very different feel and we all have our personal preferences in regards to what is worth our money. I still love my Pilot e95s and these new Jinhaos have not replaced my Pilot.

    But they are affordable steel nibbed pocket pens – for less than 10 USD for a pocket fountain pen – sounds pretty nice for supplying all corners of your house, office, car and carry-ons.

    I actually might have jumped the gun on this one, because I picked up two in different colorways, however, Jinhao has since been releasing new color combinations. I would have opted for that beautiful sparkly brown color honestly!

    Well, I already have two Jinhao 59s, so I doubt I will add more to my collection just because it’s more than I need.

    The EF and F options that I purchased both work well. Smooth nib albeit hard as a nail – like many Jinhao nibs. No issues with leaking but I have heard others complain they received a dud that leaks. When it comes to these plastic pens, the issue of cracking is always a concern. But I suppose I get what you pay for.

    Perhaps these can be everyday workhorse, throw around pens – that at some point might break or crack on you. But for the price, that’s what you would expect.

    Why buy the Jinhao 59? It’s an affordable way to try out a long-short pen of this style, to see if it’s your jam. It’s also super affordable to buy multiples to keep in various locations of your work or home, where you wouldn’t leave your more expensive pens ever!

    Does it replace the Pilot e95s? Not a chance. The gold nib on my Pilot e95s is divine and the writing experience is completely different. Especially if you are doing any kind of long form writing.

    But if you just need some for quick notes and the ability to carry it around, throw it around, even lose it sometimes… the Jinhao 59 would do the job. And you can replace it pretty easily.

    Those are my thoughts.

    If you would like to support this blog, check out my affiliate links to purchase the Jinhao 59 on Aliexpress below:

    Jinhao 59 Fountain Pen option 1

    More colors Jinhao 59 Fountain Pen option 2

    Coffee Jinhao 59 Fountain Pen option 3