moderately priced graduation gift suggestions
 

A young man and son of a close friend will be graduating from college. I need help with the purchase of a nice pen (RB, fountain or ball point) in the price range of $100 to $150. Any suggestions on models + where to purchase? Thank you!

If they are not acquainted with fountain pens, you might just start them off with a ballpoint. Give Fountain Pen Hospital a try. Consider a Sailor or Pelikan.

I would buy a rollerball pen, at that price point a Pineider or Faber Castel. Try Atlas Stationers, great family store online or brick and mortar in Chicago.

Here is a nice option:
https://www.atlasstationers.com/prod...nt-pen-coconut

I never tried one, but I know the Pelican M200 is a popular choice for around that price point

I prefer a Rollerball pen to a Fountain Pen. Some great websites out there for pens. Goggle search and then cross reference with Amazon for best price. Make sure delivery dates are within your time frame.

A great rollerball is the Retro 51. Great selection with tons of work related themes and a price point. They do have a large footprint. I recommend fine or extra fine ink.

My favorite daily pen in the Pelikan Souveran K400 Ballpoint Pen. It is a top cap "click" pen and only requires one hand to operate. Most pens today you need to use both hands to pull the cap off or unscrew the cap.
Mine are the Green & Black stripe model, not the green "marbled".

I also bought an additional dual pen set with the same green K400 and the matching R400 rollerball.

MB is always a solid choice, but I'd rather have two Pelikans for the same as one MB baller.

Monteverde is a great choice in this price range. I have a roller ball I really enjoy, especially in meetings when pulling out a MB isn’t ideal.

This is a great pen shop in Houston who carries the brand and many others. https://www.dromgooles.com/collectio...teverde?page=3

I shop in person but I’d imagine they ship as well.

Always loved the classic Cross Century. Looks great in yellow gold plating. You can have them engraved too, which is a nice touch.

I would suggest the Pelikan K200 classic ballpoint. It is similar to the K400 in that it can be operated with one hand by pushing the button on the rear of the pen. It is a very nice pen that is in your price range. You can find these on Amazon and on pen store sites.

I don't understand the advice for a rollerball. Yes, it's marginally less faff than a fountain pen, but you still need to change the cartridges, and the experience is infinitely less special. That's where the difference is: there is probably far less chance that a fountain pen will be tossed aside in favour of a Bic at the first opportunity.

In that price range I'd not hesitate and go for a Sailor 1911 or Pro Gear. Yes, you'll have to buy from a Japanese seller on eBay to keep in budget (there's quite a markup if you buy locally in the US or Europe), but with Sailor's QC, I'd have no qualms at all, and have indeed done it myself numerous times.

They also come in a myriad of colours to scratch that personal itch, and the 21k gold nibs are the best in the business. Thing about Sailors too is that they're also absolutely zero hassle - they don't leak, they don't dry, and they don't hard start. And they are special in a way that no rollerball will ever be.

1911s are torpedo shaped; Pro Gears are flat-top with the Sailor logo on the cap. Otherwise they're the same pen. You simply cannot go wrong.

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100% agree with this, if you’re willing to go fountain pen route. The Sailors may be more of an enthusiast take, but as an enthusiast, this advice is spot on, including on sourcing (though I’d still buy from Atlas Stationers).

I would say a Montblanc Starwalker of some variation. It was my first nice pen and I still adore it after 10 years. It’s a ballpoint but that comes in really handy sometimes. It takes some time to warm up to a fountain pen. Once the fire is lit though……….:rofl:

Edit: I would recommend you stay away from the Montblanc Urban speed. Mine is literally haunted and it won’t go away. Also I had a Montegrappa extra Otto physically draw blood from my hand once trying to pull the nib to correct it. This is a dangerous sport.

Yes! X10 on the Starwalker!

Spend an extra $100 and get a Monte Blanc Pix (ballpoint). Caran d’ache also has some ballpoints in your price range.