My first decent pen was a rollerball from Caran d’Ache.
It’s heavy, robust and is amazing to write with. The same as a ballpoint though, it’s really just the 5 buck refill doing the writing, the rest is the dressing around it. Of course hand feel and balance etc. all play a huge role. Not to mention overall aesthetics.
I recently added a Platinum Izumo fountain pen which has almost completely displaced the C-d’A, which has become my travel pen or when I need a second colour in my notebook/ signing documents in black ink. The rollerball cartridge is also wetter to write with quickly, helping a fast signature.
The Izumo is made of ebonite not metal, so it’s much lighter, but the material feel in the hand is really quite exquisite. The abundance of ink options too is a whole nother future journey as well to enjoy.
When I add my next pen, it will be a another fountain pen.
