Going for gold

I had been on the lookout for my first gold nib fountain pen for some months. But I never expected that I would end up with a Sailor.

I had mostly been looking at different Pilot models, because I think they make among the best in-house nibs from those I have tried. Except for the Metropolitan medium nib—but that’s for another post.

Earlier this month several U.S. retailers announced the “unprecedented” Sailor sale of up to 40% off some discontinued models. So they got me.

I bought the Sailor 1911 Standard blue with gold trim, medium nib. I don’t generally go for gold hardware but I do like how it plays off this dark blue. But to talk about what really matters: Is the gold nib writing experience really better or different than a steel nib, or is it just in one’s head?

The answer is yes.

There is a noticeable difference in the way the nib touches the page and how the pen glides across the paper. But it’s not all tactile—it’s also a state of mind. We pen geeks know that enjoying a fountain pen is about more than just the way a pen writes or how it physically feels to use it. It’s about the whole intention behind it, which includes the knowledge of the investment you have made in the instrument. It’s about the history of what you’re holding in your hand, its provenance, and the craft behind it. All of that creates what we think of as the writing experience. And this Sailor is a pretty great writing experience!

The nib itself is perfect for what I like. The well-known Sailor feedback is very pleasant on the medium nib, which is not too fine and not too broad. I don’t think I would like anything finer, though. But I am definitely curious what the broader nibs are like.

Gotta start saving up.