Filling Mechanism: Cartridge/Converter

Artistry such as that of this Namiki Impressions Emerald fountain pen cannot be captured in a photo. You must handle this pen for yourself to get lost in the pools of emerald light captured in the cap and barrel of this exquisite pre-owned pen. Such depth and dimension. Hints of sapphire blue radiate in the light, as you turn the pen slowly to enjoy its sparkling essence. Oh, yeah. You can even write with it, too! The pen only shows the lightest of wear from use. It comes with a box and converter. You also may use Namiki or Pilot cartridges on it. You will write a firm medium line with its 14k gold nib. The rigidity provides gentle feedback. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.5cm capped.

Keep it simple. Sometimes that is the best advice. Who needs an expensive luxury pen when a smooth-writing basic Sheaffer Agio will do? Elegant with black and golden trim, you can still impress at work and enjoy the fountain pen experience anywhere you go. Our preowned pen comes with a smooth golden alloy nib. It is marked "M" for medium, but we find it writes closer to a fine line. It fills with Sheaffer cartridges and converters, but it comes with neither. Slender and 13cm capped.

Attaining a space-age look, the Cross Verve looks like it is going 100mph while standing still. We like its metallic blue, too. Click the headline for close-ups. There's a little wear on this preowned pen but nothing serious. We get a kick out of its spring-loaded clip that doesn't look like a clip until you pinch the top of it. Clearly, there was a little influence from 1940s and '50s nib designs for its nib. It writes a nice fine line, even though it is marked "M" for medium. Included is an original Cross converter. It also uses Cross cartridges. 14.6cm capped.

Remember when everyone was soooo worked up about the year 2000? The late 1990s were loaded with all kinds of items to commemorate the new millennium. It was kinda fun and exciting. Italian penmaker Delta got in on the act with the Delta Y2K. Its frosted silver and "champagne" gold cap and barrel were undoubtedly signifying the party of a lifetime. Unfortunately, this pen didn't hold up as well as we'd have hoped. Heavily worn and pitted from use and time, it is still a functional reminder of those heady days. You'll write a slightly scratchy extra-fine line with its two-tone steel nib. Click the headline for close-ups. 14cm capped.

Who says pens need to be serious all the time. Some can be serious fun! Take our Hechter Travel Pen for example. It is like writing with an entire safari in Africa. As far as quality goes, it is just a basic fountain pen with a steel nib. It comes with a converter, too. The clip seems to have heavy brassing, and the pen has some wear. There is a little crack in the lip of the cap. Do NOT post the cap on the tail. You will write a fine line with a little feedback. 14cm capped.

Italian pen manufacturer Visconti began making tributes to the great painters of Europe. This is a Visconti Rembrandt in an ivory color. One of the neat innovations with this pen is a magnetic cap closure. Fill it with the included Schmidt standard international converter. You also can use like cartridges. Barely used, this pen only has light wear. Click the headline for close-ups. You'll write a wet medium line with its steel nib. There's a bit of feedback but nothing too bad. 14cm capped.

Let's face it, sometimes we just buy the pen for the nib. Our Parker Sonnet is a hearty and loyal daily writer, but it has a ton of deep scratches and is even missing some of its finish on the tail of the pen. Click the headline for close-ups. Its brass-barrel construction makes it far more durable than other preowned luxury pens. The real treasure of this pen is its bouncy, fine-point 18k gold nib. It doesn't qualify as a true semi-flex nib, but it does have some nice bounce to it. Also included is a Parker converter. This pen also takes Parker cartridges. 13.3cm capped.

Harkening back to 1920s black hard rubber with "chasing" designs, this Waterman LeMan Opera fountain pen is a stunningly handsome modern luxury pen. The cap and barrel are in nearly perfect condition. The gold-plated trim has just a little schmutz and wear on the tail end. Click the headline for close-ups. Its two-tone 18k gold nib writes a nice fine-medium line. It is a soft nib that responds to light pressure, but this is not a conventional semi-flex nib. The thin 18k gold is easily sprung. The pen includes a box and papers. 14.4cm capped.