Holiday Gift Guide 2019: The Best Fountain Pens

Looking for a unique gift this holiday season—one that is sure to please and is equally appropriate for a man or a woman? Consider a fountain pen. With the variety of gorgeous writing instruments available, not to mention the broad range of prices, there is something that will suit virtually all tastes and budgets. A reusable fountain pen is also good for the environment. According to the E.P.A., Americans throw away 1.6 billion disposable pens every year, helping to make U.S. the number one trash-producing country in the world.

Here are a few pen suggestions for gift giving this holiday season, from the over-the-top gorgeous to the affordable workhorse, and lots in between. Consider tucking in a package of recycled stationery and maybe some stamps, too, before you start wrapping (with repurposed paper, of course). You may start a whole new trend.

Aurora Black Mamba

Crafted from Italian acrylic with a snakeskin-like guilloche décor, the Aurora Black Mamba comprises just 888 pieces in the edition, and each fountain pen bears its unique limited edition number on its gripping section. The 18-karat nib is available in four sizes. Black leatherette gift box included. Price: $795

David Oscarson Golden Spike

In honor of the 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad, the Golden Spike collection made its debut earlier this year. The limited edition comes in two variations, red or blue, each with a production of 150 pieces (fountain pens and rollerball pens). Price, fountain pen: $5,900

Esterbrook Estie Lilac

The Esterbrook Estie Lilac is a warming reminder that spring will indeed come again after winter’s repose. The highly polished acrylic pen—with either silver-colored or gold-colored trim, fountain pen or rollerball—has a cushion cap and sleek palladium clip. Four nib sizes are available for the cartridge- or converter-filled fountain pen. Price, fountain pen with silver trim: $195

Montblanc Walt Disney

Montblanc’s Great Characters Walt Disney Special Edition fountain pen celebrates Disney’s legacy as a pioneer in the animation and film industries and as the creator of Disneyland. The barrel of the pen is equipped with a “scanimation” that reveals a flickering Mickey Mouse when rotated. There is both a limited edition fountain pen and a special edition pen (shown here) available. Price, special edition fountain pen: $980

Montegrappa Lord of the Rings

Inspired by English writer J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantastical novel, the Lord of the Rings pen collection is a sculptural work of art. It is part of Montegrappa’s acclaimed Cult Series, known for its display of the company’s artisanal craftsmanship. There are just 379 sterling silver pens and twenty solid gold pens in the edition, each offered in a lacquered wooden gift box that includes an ink bottle, pen pouch and polishing cloth. Price, sterling silver fountain pen: $4,750

Pelikan Star Ruby

Each year Pelikan offers a series of writing instruments matching the color of the Edelstein® Ink introduced that year. This year’s Star Ruby ink is perfect for the holidays, and the matching writing instruments in a luscious red are made with a special crystal effect that makes each pen sparkle. The collection comprises a fountain pen with a steel nib and a ballpoint pen; a set that includes a pen and a bottle of ink is also available. Price, fountain pen: $210

Pilot Explorer

Pilot’s Explorer fountain pen is lightweight and balanced, available in six metallic-finished options—gray, blue, pink, red, lime and turquoise—with contrasting matte black accents. The pen is fitted with a steel nib in fine or medium nib sizes, and it comes in its very own gift box with a black ink cartridge included. Price, fountain pen: $29.50

S. T. Dupont Atelier Blue

Each Atelier fountain pen requires over 150 handcrafted operations to ensure writing perfection. The collection, which also includes a rollerball and ballpoint, is crafted from solid brass and natural lacquer, while the trim is gold vermeil. The fountain pen is fitted with a 14-karat gold nib. Price, fountain pen: $995

Visconti Homo Sapiens

The latest edition of Visconti’s popular Homo Sapiens collection is the new Skylight. Made from lava rock, like its predecessors, the pen features solid bronze trim, a safety-lock cap and two “skylight” windows on the pen’s barrel that show the amount of ink available in each of two reservoirs. Price, regular edition fountain pen with 18-karat gold nib: $995