Did you get a fountain pen for Christmas? Was it from a fountain pen enthusiast trying to get you into the hobby? Because we know a guy…
There’s something very satisfying about writing with a fountain pen, but they can be expensive. A Montblanc pen will typically set you back at least $200+, if not $1k+.
But there are several companies, largely in China, that produce knockoff versions of pricier models, per The Wall Street Journal, despite the ire of the pen makers they’re accused of copying.
- Jinhao, a company that’s received several favorable reviews, offers pens starting at ~$9.
- Majohn Wancai pens start as low as $5.
What’s so great about fountain pens?
They use a metal nib and refillable liquid ink, whereas the more common ballpoint pen uses a rolling ball and an oil-based ink. Fountain pens, thus, require less pressure to use and allow for a smoother, easier writing experience that many find more enjoyable.
They’re also customizable, with many different sizes and kinds of nibs, not to mention refillable inks. Some enthusiasts boast vast — and expensive — collections.
These enthusiasts…
… have mixed feelings about the knockoffs. While some find them repugnant, others note that they’ve provided an entry point for new enthusiasts and collectors. A Reddit group for enthusiasts has doubled to ~369k users over the past five years.
Artist and enthusiast Irv Tepper, who boasts a collection of 200+ pens, told WSJ he actually prefers the cheaper Chinese-made pens for everyday use and to gift to people he hopes to introduce to his hobby.
Are there similar trends?
As our lives have become increasingly digitized, there’s been a rising interest in physical media (vinyl records, cassette tapes, board games, etc.) to hobbies that involve using your hands or getting outdoors.
There’s also been a growing demand for stationery, a global market that’s grown since the pandemic, when people took up journaling and calligraphy as hobbies, per Forbes. Consumers shop for high-quality, beautifully-designed cards, notebooks, planners, and other paper items, so it makes sense they’d want the pens to match.
And if a $12 pen feels just as lovely as a $200 splurge, well… who can blame them?
