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Fountain Pens - Beginning of a Collection [2017 ~ 2018]

Gear Review

Building a Fountain Pen Collection: A Multi-Year Roadmap

*Strategizing, studying, and curating a purposeful selection of writing instruments.*

3
Initial Pens
6
Target Total
~$290
Total Outlay
9
Years Time Span
Section I

Current Inventory

My collection currently consists of three Pilot Metropolitan pens and a variety of inks for daily use.

 

  • →Pilot Metropolitan Classic (Black) — The base of the current collection.
  • →Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop (Turquoise) — Reliable everyday writer.
  • →Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop (Purple) — Used frequently for intensive study sessions.
  • →Iroshizuku Ink (Kon-Peki) — Vibrant blue ink.
  • →Iroshizuku Ink (Murasaki-Shikibu) — Rich purple ink.
Section II

Planned Acquisitions

I have curated a list of desired additions to increase the variety and quality of my rotation over time.

Pens & Accessories
ItemEst. PriceTarget Date
Pilot Custom 74 Black$75Mar 2018
Platinum 3776 Blue$75Aug 2018
Platinum 3776 Red$75Dec 2018
Pen Case (3 Pack)$25Aug 2018
Tip: Tie your luxury purchases to personal milestones, such as passing certification exams, to turn writing instruments into earned rewards.
Section III

Collection Updates

Progress Log
  • →12/31/17 — I’ve delayed my planned purchases, making them contingent on successfully passing my certification exams for Python and R. The Metropolitans are holding up well, requiring frequent reinking due to my studies.
  • →2/4/18 — I purchased the Pilot Custom 74. It is an "okay" pen—certainly an improvement over the Metropolitans—but using it has made me lean further toward the Platinum 3776 for my next acquisition. I expect to favor a two-pen 3776 rotation moving forward. I am also beginning to look ahead to 2019 and 2020 for potential additions from brands like Sailor or Lamy.
  • →1/19/26 — Purchased a Lamy Safari. The total cost was $40 including the Z28 converter and tax (the pen itself was approximately $28 before tax).
A work in progress: evolving the collection one pen at a time.

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