Filling Mechanism: Piston Filler

Montegrappa is easily our favorite Italian luxury pen maker. The company is filled with master designers and artisans. Our Montegrappa Nazionale Flex fountain pen is a limited edition. Numbered 48 of 100, it is more than a pretty pen. It has a flexi 14k gold nib! You will write from extra fine to about 1mm wide. There is a little up-front pressure that gives quickly with a little pressure. It isn't a wet noodle, but you need to go gently on it until you learn to feel how it performs. We tested the pen with water, and its piston fills well. The color of the near mint condition pen is called "Indian Rainbow" and the trim is solid sterling silver. Comes with its original box, sealed bottle of blue ink and a pamphlet under the pad. 13.7cm capped.

As if bronze arco celluloid wasn't enough to get you excited, this is the grand poobah Omas Grand Paragon pen. Larger than a standard Paragon, ours measures 14.75cm long. The height of Italian luxury pen making, this is a stunner for any collector. It is tough to see at a glance, but there is some wear on this pen that is quite visible up close. No cracks, deep scratches, brassing or other serious flaws. Just lots of wear from daily use. We found it by luck, as it came in an Omas Milord box with a leather sleeve. This was obviously not a Milord the second we set eyes on it. Click the headline for a close-up. You will write a medium-broad line with its 18k gold nib. There's a little light feedback, too. Its piston still operates smoothly.

One of only 3,000 fountain pens, our gently used Montblanc Gandhi is part of the Great Characters series. As it hasn't its original box and papers, we had it authenticated by Montblanc to guarantee that it is genuine. Numbered 1007 of 3000, this mighty pen pays tribute to India's political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi. The sterling silver ends of the pen represent Gandhi's spinning cotton into thread. The piston filler turns smoothly. You will write a very smooth medium line with the rhodium-plated 18k gold nib. Includes the letter of authentication. Light wear from use. Click the headline for close-ups. 14.2cm capped.

Many people go ga-ga for the stunning Omas Arco designs, but the blue-and-orange "Saffron" design really blows our mind. This is the large Omas Paragon at 14.1cm in length while capped. It is in good working order, with a smooth piston fill. It does have some wear from use but no cracks, brassing or deep scratches. Also included are its original boxes and papers. Beyond the stunning celluloid is a delightfully smooth two-tone 18k gold nib that writes a juicy medium line. This one sports the year 1997 on the section. Click the headline for close-ups.

Blue-pen lovers that we are, we think there is no topping the Pelikan City Series Stockholm pens for looks. It is easily the most attractive of the "cities." Ours is in excellent working worker, showing only minimal wear from use...and some scratches on the piston filler knob and the section grip. We find it rather amusing that it comes in the "Grand Place" city series pen's box. It is the right size and shape box for the Stockholm, just the wrong labels on the box. Click the headline to see close-ups of the pen and nib. Marked "M" for medium, you will find that this two-tone 18k gold nib writes a buttery smooth double broad line. It is a gusher. Located on the top of the cap's black "jewel" is a frosted gold logo of a mama pelican and two chicks. 13.1cm capped.

Celebrating Italy's hosting of the 1990 World Cup soccer tournament, the green of this modern classic luxury pen symbolizes the color of the soccer pitch. There is a checkerboard design to the usual gold-plated cap band. Our preowned luxury pen comes with all of its original boxes and papers. Gently used, it shows only minor wear. Very minor wear. The piston filler seems to work well. You will love the bouncy way it writes a smooth medium line with its 14k gold nib. Click the headline for close-ups. 14.1cm capped.

Krone kicks it up a notch with the Krone Va-Va Voom fountain pen. Curvy with silver-plated trim, it is an attractive addition to your preowned luxury pen collection. Turquoise and amber flecks pop against the milk-chai color of the cap and barrel. It looks as if it were barely ever used. It drips a little after you first fill it, then it holds its ink. After you fill it, we recommend bleeding a couple drops back out and wait for the drips to stop and then wipe it down. It seems to hold ink well after that. Complete with its box and papers. Click the headline for close ups. Its two-tone 18k gold nib writes a smooth medium line. 12.8cm capped.

The invention of wireless communication in 1895 revolutionized the world. Guglielmo Marconi is generally credited with inventing the radio, and in 1995 the Omas Marconi fountain pen celebrated the 100th anniversary of that incredible achievement. Our pre-owned luxury pen is designed with rings symbolizing radio waves, and the pocket clip represents the transmitting key. Fill this pen with the smooth moving piston activated by a blind cap in the tail. The pen was a user that shows a little wear but no cracks or significant scratches. You will write a very smooth medium-fine line with its 18k gold nib. Unfortunately, we do not have the original boxes or papers. 13.7cm capped.