What is the best pen in the world?

Many people who enter our store ask us: “What is the best pen in the world?”
Let me tell you right away: I won’t claim to know which fountain pen is the best, simply because there is no single answer.

People often say that the best brand of fountain pens is Montblanc.
What makes Montblanc pens such a status symbol is their timeless beauty.
Founded in 1908, Montblanc is one of the most famous names in the fountain pen world and one of the historic German companies that has remained active continuously to this day. It is now considered the most successful manufacturer and the undisputed leader in the sale of fountain pens.

A Montblanc pen is more than just an object—it’s a status symbol that lets you become part of a rich history.

So, is Montblanc the best pen brand in the world? Personally, I don’t think so... but as I said earlier, there is no definitive answer to that question.


 

We can’t forget brands like Parker, Waterman, Sheaffer, and Pelikan—names that have made fountain pen history.
The international scene was once dominated by the Parker Duofold, introduced in 1924 and still in production today! There’s even a commemorative version for the brand’s 135th anniversary.

Then we have the iconic green-and-black Pelikan, another cornerstone of fine writing.
And of course, we must mention the pens from the Far East—especially the Japanese brands Pilot and Sailor, which many consider the very best in writing quality.

 

Japan, in particular, has a millennia-old tradition and unrivaled artistic craftsmanship. The art and manual skill of Japanese artisans are rightly celebrated.
In Japan, writing with a fountain pen still carries strong cultural significance. Pilot–Namiki, founded in 1918, is not the oldest but perhaps the most famous Japanese manufacturer of fountain pens.

The company has continuously operated up to the present day, becoming a large multinational group that holds a leading position in the stationery and writing instruments market.

While Pilot is widely known to the general public for its broad range of everyday pens (ballpoints, rollers, and the distinctive Hi-Tecpoint line), it has also played a key role in fountain pen history by introducing the traditional Japanese lacquer decoration known as Maki-e.

Maki-e is a traditional Japanese lacquer painting technique in which the lacquer is sprinkled with gold or silver powder to create exquisite designs—a distinctive hallmark of the finest Pilot–Namiki creations.

 

About Sailor:
Someone who doesn’t use or isn’t interested in fountain pens has probably never heard of the brand Sailor.

Sailor is one of the oldest Japanese manufacturers of fountain pens, and although it isn’t the very oldest, it is certainly the one that has remained in continuous operation for the longest time.
The company was founded in 1911 to produce ammunition for the naval forces but soon became one of Japan’s leading fountain pen manufacturers. It remains on the market today as an independent company.

A long-standing hallmark of Sailor has been the quality of its nibs — still among the best (if not the best) available today. While the company has not been known for groundbreaking innovations and has often followed stylistic trends set by others, it has always produced pens of undeniable quality, often surpassing competitors precisely because of the excellence of its nibs.

 

Among fountain pen manufacturers, Pelikan is probably one of the most historically established companies, as its origins date back to the first half of the 19th century. However, its production of fountain pens is relatively recent, beginning in 1929 with the introduction of the first piston-filling fountain pen.

The Maki-e decorative technique has now become an integral part of Pelikan’s production.

Below are some Pelikan pens decorated using the Maki-e technique:








 

Let’s leave Japan and move to Italy.

Italy, together with Germany and Japan, is one of the world’s major producers of fountain pens.
Among the most renowned brands are Aurora and Montegrappa.

Aurora:
Aurora was founded in Turin in 1919 by Isaia Levi, and it remains on the market today as a manufacturer of fine writing instruments.
Among the many small fountain pen makers that emerged at the beginning of the 20th century, Aurora distinguished itself through the high quality of its production and industrial initiative, becoming a major company capable of rivaling OMAS for the title of Italy’s leading fountain pen manufacturer.

Aurora’s production has always stood out for its exceptional quality.
Its fountain pens have consistently been impeccably crafted and stylistically distinctive, which is why they continue to be among the most admired and sought after by collectors.

Below are a few examples of Aurora pens:

Montegrappa:

Montegrappa competes with Aurora and Tibaldi for the title of the first Italian fountain pen manufacturer. Although it is certainly the oldest of the three, the company actually began as a producer of nibs, while its fountain pen production seems to date back to the early 1920s.

Nevertheless, Montegrappa remains, together with Aurora, one of the longest-standing Italian manufacturers, having been in continuous operation up to the present day. In 2000, the company was acquired by the Richemont Group (the same group that owns Montblanc), only to be bought back by the Aquila family at the end of 2009.

Long recognized as a symbol of elegance, style, and luxury, the Montegrappa fountain pen embodies a world devoted to the pleasure of writing and collecting. Every instrument born of expert Italian craftsmanship is distinguished by unmatched smoothness, flawless finishing, and a refined, unique design.

Since 1912, Montegrappa fountain pens have been small masterpieces—a perfect blend of tradition and innovation. Crafted according to the finest Made in Italy standards, they are made with high-quality materials and transformed into precious objects highly coveted by collectors.

Below are some Montegrappa pens:






 

Below is a list of other Italian brands: Stipula, SCRIBO, Visconti, Tibaldi, Delta, Maiora, and Leonardo Officina Italiana.

Leonardo is the newest among them, yet it carries 45 years of experience in the field of fine writing instruments — a legacy passed down from father to son, from generation to generation.
Today, Leonardo Officina Italiana is managed by Salvatore and Mariafrancesca under the supervision of their father, Ciro Matrone.

Leonardo focuses on emotional and vintage-inspired designs, reviving traditional filling systems, classic materials, and crafting techniques that once defined the artisan’s craft.
Leonardo pens possess a soul — a human warmth that only genuine passion can create.

TIBALDI:

SCRIBO:


DELTA:

In the end, perhaps there really is no such thing as “the best pen in the world.”
Each writing instrument embodies its own character, story, and feeling — and what may represent perfection for one person could be just the starting point for another’s new discoveries.

The true beauty of writing lies here: in the meeting of personal taste, experience, and the emotion of the gesture.
Choosing a pen means recognizing yourself in its balance, its line, and the sound it makes as it moves across the paper.

After all, the best pen is simply the one that makes you want to write again.