It is time to close your million dollar business deal and you reach into your briefcase and pull out a plastic ballpoint pen. Ugh! You just blew the deal because a true savionaire always carries a fine fountain pen. Writing instruments have been around for centuries. In 1884, insurance broker, Lewis Waterman took the art of writing to a whole new level. Mr. Waterman was tired of having to dip his pen into an inkwell in order to write. Therefore, he created the fountain pen which allowed for continuous ink flow. What makes a fountain pen unique is the reservoir and the nib. The reservoir or ink storage mechanism contains a cartridge or a converter. A cartridge is already filled with ink and is simply placed into the body of the pen. A converter works like a plunger. Simply place the pen over a bottle of fresh ink and the converter will siphon the ink into the pen.
The nib is the pen’s point. Nibs used on fine fountain pens are usually 18 karat gold. A fine point nib is recommended for ladies or anyone who writes tight and small. A medium point nib is recommended for men or anyone who writes fast and large. The nib is so sensitive that you should never lend your pen to others because the nib conforms to your handwriting only. When purchasing fine fountain pens, don’t expect to go to an office supply store and buy a pack for $3. They can cost as little as $300 (the price of my first pen) to over $17,000 (price of my wish list Cartier diamond and gold pen). Remember, style is not what you write but what you use to write it.