From literary icons and Hollywood celebrities to members of the British royal family, discerning individuals have a penchant for exquisite pens, appreciating both the practical and stylistic aspects of these writing instruments. Because investing in a quality, luxury pen is such an enjoyable experience for any stationary lover, we’re looking at how to find the perfect pen for your writing, in order for you to make the right choice.

Whether you seek to improve your own writing experience or give a thoughtful gift to a friend, loved one, or colleague, begin by exploring the four fundamental ink styles available for pens: ballpoints, rollerballs, fountain pens, and gel pens.

Choosing the Right Pen for You

The ballpoint pen stands out as the most widely embraced style. Known for its reliability, consistency, widespread availability, and affordability, the ballpoint pen operates through a small rolling ball at the tip, facilitating the release of ink from a tube cartridge.

Rollerballs, exemplified by brands like uni-ball, share similarities with ballpoints but typically utilise water-based ink. This type of ink requires less pressure to create a bold mark on the page while maintaining the ability to write with a fine point.

Fountain pens boast replaceable ink cartridges and feature a nib instead of a traditional point. The split nib releases ink through an inner channel, offering an elegant and iconic writing experience combined with exceptional ease of use.

Gel pens use water-based ink with a high pigment-to-water ratio, allowing for effective application of vibrant colours on dark paper or smooth surfaces.

Fun Fact: While not classified as an ink style, stylus pens designed for touch screen writing represent another essential modern pen variant.

The calligraphy writing pen set is an invaluable resource for gaining insights into the various pen types and determining which one suits your preferences.

Understanding the basics of pen styles is just the beginning; you can further customise your selection by considering factors such as weight, colour, and material. Pens, much like their users, exhibit a diverse and fascinating array of characteristics.

To perfect your pen, consider personalisation.

Customising Pens

Personalisation serves various purposes, whether to express personal taste, create logo pens for business events, or craft the ideal gift. When personalising a gift pen, beyond selecting specifications like colour and design, adding the recipient’s name is a common practice.

While imprinting or pad printing offers cost-effective personalisation, these methods lack precision and may result in a less elegant finish, with the lettering degrading over time.

For a beautiful and enduring personalisation, opt for engraving. Engraved gift pens represent a timeless and appreciated gesture.

Consider premium brands like Cross, Waterman, MontBlanc and Parker for an exceptional personalised pen experience