Tips For Buying a Fountain Pen Nib

Fountain pens are greater than the sum of their parts; however, the parts do matter, and will not only affect the look of a pen but also how it performs. One of the most important parts of a fountain pen is the nib, and you might want to change the nib on your pen either for aesthetic reasons or because your current nib is no longer suitable.

When you buy fountain pens, such as Cross fountain pens, you’ll get a nib supplied. If your pen cost less than£100 pounds then it will probably have a stainless steel nib. This is by no means a bad material to use for nibs, stainless steel is very durable and flexible.

A stainless steel nib will last for many years and is arguably more durable than some other more expensive models. A popular more expensive material commonly used for fountain pen nibs is solid gold. Solid gold is not necessarily better performing than stainless steel, however it can be considered more aesthetic.

There will be a performance difference between a stainless steel nib and a solid gold nib. Notably, solid gold is softer and so will give you more flex as you write. This can be advantageous if you’re worried about writing fatigue.

Another option, e.g. when you’re replacing a nib for Cross fountain pens UK, is a two-tone nib. These are typically solid gold but with metal plating. They are usually chosen because of their aesthetic benefits and can look very attractive.