Parker fountain pens UK 2025

Best Parker refills online shop: Fountain pen vs. ballpoint vs. rollerball: Which one should you choose? We’re often asked what the differences are between writing with each of these different types of pen, from how they write to the different pen nib types that are available. To help you understand the differences and to make the right choice for you and your writing needs, here’s a brief guide to each style of pen. True fountain pens use bottled inks and generally have a piston-type mechanism that draws the ink through the pen from the nib. Cartridge pens use disposable ink cartridges and cannot use bottled inks. Fountain pens fitted with a converter use both cartridges and bottled inks. Discover extra details on parker quink black ink.

Like traditional ink pens, gel pens consist of a barrel housing the writing mechanism, a cap, and a reservoir that can be refilled with ink. A “follower” of more dense, gelled material – typically transparent – follows the water-based ink at the tip of the ink tube. Ink leakage and reverse flow are key problems the follower helps to solve. The barrels can be made with different designs, with some featuring rubber or plastic finger grips. Nib or pen tip dimensions are between 0.18 and 1.5 millimeters (0.0071 and 0.059 inches).

In a world where technology often takes center stage, the humble pen remains a timeless and cherished tool. Whether it’s a beautifully crafted fountain pen, a sleek rollerball pen, or a colorful gel pen, writing instruments hold a special place in our hearts. They are not just tools for writing; they are symbols of connection, creativity, and appreciation. This blog explores why pens are the ultimate token of appreciation and how they can make the perfect gift for any occasion. In an age dominated by digital communication, receiving a handwritten note or card feels like a breath of fresh air. It demonstrates thoughtfulness and effort that digital messages simply can’t match. A pen serves as the bridge to this personal connection. When you give someone a pen, you are gifting them a tool that encourages them to express their thoughts, feelings, and creativity in their own unique way.

Parker, founded in 1912, is one of the oldest or possibly the oldest fountain pen manufacturers in Italy. Now famous for their extravagantly designed, limited editions, I was more interested in their accessible models, without too many embellishments but with a gold nib and a piston filling mechanism. The Parker model fulfills this. There are just a few adornments, in this case, the characteristic pocket clip with a revolving wheel at the end and a silver coloured cap ring, which has the look of having been hammered by hand. On closer inspection the design around the cap ring looks like lots of little entrances to a road tunnel. I am not sure if this may be a reference to the mountain, close to the Bassano del Grappa factory.

How to write smoothly with a rollerball pen? The key difference between rollerball and ball pen types is that rollerball pens use water-based rather than oil-based inks. Like fountain pens, then, their ink can smudge for a while, before it dries. With two line thicknesses, fine and medium, rollerballs write in a style that’s similar to that of a fountain pen, making them a popular and convenient alternative. All rollerball manufacturers offer either black or blue ink refills. Very few companies offer alternative colours, which is worth considering if you like to write with different coloured inks. We recommend that any ballpoint pen refill that has sustained damage to its writing tip be thrown away. This is because leakages of oil-based ballpoint pen ink happen slowly – but any stains they create can be difficult if not impossible to remove and can cause items to be beyond repair.