6 Reasons Why You Need a Fountain Pen

We all have entire collections of ballpoint pens because they are practically thrown at us as promotional gifts; a pencil can almost always be found in a pocket thanks to Ikea, whether you need it or not. But fountain pens? At best, that one specimen we used to learn to write with at school lies forgotten in some drawer.

Yet fountain pens are a very special kind of instrument. They breathe history, look sophisticated, and are a testament to style. Due to the way they function, they are comparatively effortless to write with and are ideally suited for longer texts such as letters. Furthermore, they make a real impression on one’s desk and possess everything required of a status symbol.

As writing experts and lovers of high-quality pens, we could of course list countless reasons why you should buy a premium fountain pen right now. But we don’t want to overdo it – so let’s start with the following 6 reasons.

 

Reason 1: The best writing experience is with a fountain pen

Even in the age of computers, smartphones, and tablets, primary school pupils today still learn to write with a fountain pen. Why is that? Quite simply: because there is no pen better suited to learning the correct posture for a writing instrument – and, with the possible exception of the rollerball, no other pen can be used so effortlessly.

When writing with a fountain pen, the correct angle of the nib is crucial so that it does not scratch or blot when applying ink. At the same time, when we write with a good fountain pen, we do not need to apply pressure as we do with a ballpoint, as the ink flows onto the paper all by itself. This protects the wrist and simultaneously promotes a fluid writing style. For long texts such as letters, the fountain pen is therefore ideal.

Reason 2: Writing with a fountain pen means writing in a historical way

The history of modern writing is simultaneously a history of penmanship. Graphite leads or ballpoints are a rather modern phenomenon in the history of writing, which began thousands of years ago quite simply, yet ingeniously, with quills and inkwells.

Even the ancient Romans knew a type of pen holder that resembled those writing instruments which were further developed much later from the mid-17th century onwards to become what we know today as the fountain pen. In 1656, travellers from Holland officially documented the first fountain pen. Two centuries later, fountain pens saw significantly wider distribution when the Scottish engineer Robert William Thomson presented his “Fountain Pen,” patented two years earlier, at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851.

It was only in the 1960s that ballpoint pens increasingly displaced fountain pens. However, this should not prevent us from reflecting more strongly on the fundamental techniques of writing once again.

Reason 3: Fountain pens are increasingly on trend

Although an ever-increasing proportion of correspondence today takes place digitally and most of the rest is written with ballpoint pens, a clear trend is nevertheless emerging: fountain pens are becoming more popular and are reclaiming market share bit by bit. Just as a counter-trend to the good old vinyl record has emerged in music alongside MP3s and streaming platforms, or as more people are grinding their own coffee beans again in a world full of capsule coffee, writing is also seeing a return to traditional values.

Industry circles speak of a “renaissance of a writing instrument”. According to market researchers, turnover in the fountain pen sector grew by 6 million euros between 2014 and 2017 to 153 million euros and is expected to have increased even further since then. This is less due to the relatively constant sales of fountain pens for students learning to write. Rather, interest in high-quality fountain pens is increasing. Customers are choosing sophisticated fountain pens such as the Hörner Terra made of metal and featuring a quality nib made in Germany.

 

Reason 4: No other pen offers such an immediate – and sophisticated – writing experience

Writing should also be enjoyable. With a fountain pen, writing becomes what it truly is: an immediate experience. With a single movement of the hand, a thought is committed to paper via ink – without complicated technology, elaborately generated energy, or data packets.

Mind you, that’s not entirely true regarding technology, because there is a significant amount of sophistication behind the fountain pen concept. From an ink reservoir (the cartridge), ink flows through a feed to the tip of the nib, from where it is applied to and absorbed by the paper. Depending on the material, properties, and size of the nibs, they are suitable for various applications – not all fountain pens are the same. It is no wonder that many engineers have contributed to the development of good fountain pens over the centuries.

Reason 5: The most expensive pen in the world is a fountain pen

Two dozen Porsche 911s, a chateau in France – or a pen: for 2.4 million euros, one can buy quite a lot. Yes, you read that correctly: even a pen. Specifically, the most expensive pen in the world, which was presented by the manufacturer Montblanc in 2014. It is a fountain pen made of white gold, set with no fewer than 1,500 diamonds, and on which, according to the manufacturer, 800 craftsmen worked for eight years.

The “Monte Celio,” named after one of the seven hills on which Rome was built, thus surpasses everything that has ever existed in the world of pens. In a way, it takes the basic idea of writing to the point of absurdity, as it is based on the use of a simple feather that has fallen from a bird’s plumage. Yet it also expresses how inestimably valuable modern writing, which once began with quills, is for the cultural development of humanity. And it should motivate us to pick up the pen more often and write a heartfelt letter to people we value, rather than just another quick email.

Reason 6: High-quality fountain pens are the ideal gift

In business life, ballpoint pens are a popular gift for customers and partners – and thus, unfortunately, no longer particularly creative, unless it happens to be a high-quality ballpoint pen. On the other hand, those who give a high-quality fountain pen can truly stand out.

Of course, one can also find options in the low-price segment and simply counter the classic promotional ballpoint with a promotional fountain pen. However, we are thinking more of beautiful fountain pens that represent an unusual gift idea for Christmas, a business partner’s birthday, or simply as an accompaniment to the signing of a contract. The Hörner One fountain pen made of carbon combines technology with straightforward elegance and ensures fluid writing with its elegantly decorated nib made in Germany. With its clip, it can be easily attached to a suit, and with its metallic look, it makes an impression both in the hand and on the desk. Such a gift is guaranteed to be appreciated by everyone.

 

In our shop, you can buy high-quality fountain pens online and benefit from premium nibs “Made in Germany“. If you have any questions about our exclusive fountain pens, please feel free to write to us via email or WhatsApp – on working days, we usually respond within a very short time.