Currently Inked January 2023: Four Fountain Pens Worth Writing With

Introduction

A new year means a fresh ink rotation, and the January lineup is a strong one: two Sailors, a distinctive white Delrin pen from Gravitas, and the ever-dependable Lamy 2000. Each pen is paired with an ink chosen to suit its nib and character, all written on smooth 68 gsm Tomoe River paper. Here is how each combination performs and who each pen makes sense for.

Sailor 1911 Large

The Sailor 1911 Large is a carryover from the previous month, and it earns its place. It is filled with Sailor’s now-discontinued Gentian (Eponard) ink, a super saturated dark green with a bronzy red sheen that still reads as a serious, almost businessy color. The pen runs a 21k gold ruthenium-plated Japanese medium nib, and it is a genuinely wet writer. Combined with the already wet Gentian ink, it practically gushes, so expect generous flow and long dry times.

The pairing works because both nib and ink lean wet: lines are rich, lubricated, and consistent. If you can still find a bottle of the old Sailor shop ink, it is worth grabbing, since these 50 ml squat bottles have been discontinued for good. The pen itself remains a joy, with a nib that feels plush and effortless on the page.

Gravitas Century White Delrin

Ordered on Fountain Pen Day and arriving just before the end of December, the Gravitas Century White Delrin is the standout newcomer of the month. Delrin is a remarkably durable plastic, and the white finish gives the pen a clean wintry look. The balance and weight feel excellent in the hand, and there is nothing about the section or the fit that invites complaint.

This one carries a steel extra fine nib ground to a JoWo spec, filled with Akkerman Delph Blauw. That ink is an interesting one: unsaturated, yet somehow bright enough to pop off the page. It shades nicely in wetter or broader nibs, and even in this extra fine it keeps enough presence. The nib and feed combo writes smoothly and surprisingly wet for such a fine point, which makes this one of the most satisfying extra fine experiences in the rotation.

Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black

The Pro Gear Imperial Black is the first pen purchase of the new year, bought directly from Japan at well over half off the US retail price. It is a fully blacked-out, matte-finished pen with Sailor’s new branding, including the updated logo on the cap and the new nib marking that replaces the old 1911 engraving. Comparing the two nibs side by side, the older 1911 marking arguably still looks better, but the new treatment is clean and modern.

Inside is a 21k gold fine nib filled with Sailor’s basic black ink. The nib is spectacular: for anyone who prefers fine and extra fine points, it sits right up there with the best Japanese nibs in terms of preference. The black ink is very wet and makes this fine nib glide, producing a dark, reliable line that never dries to a washed-out grey.

As a practical everyday note, the current bottles of Sailor black are more usable than the old squat shop bottles, but the ink itself is the same reliable, cost-effective choice. If you need one everyday black that behaves in any pen, this is an easy recommendation.

Lamy 2000

The Lamy 2000 closes out the rotation, and it is hard to overstate how good this pen is. It is filled with KWZ Grapefruit, a reddish orange ink bought as a 4 ml sample. The pen runs a 14k gold platinum-coated medium nib, and it is the smoothest nib in the collection: glassy, buttery, and a genuine gusher. There is even a hint of a stub-like or architect feel to the line, though it remains a medium point.

The KWZ Grapefruit is a very readable, saturated reddish orange with minimal shading and no sheen, essentially a flat wet color, and it suits the Lamy’s generous flow perfectly. The pen drinks roughly a milliliter of ink to fill, so samples go fast, but the combination is a pleasure to use.

If you do not own a Lamy 2000 and can afford one, it is simply a pen worth buying. It is a strong candidate for a perfect everyday fountain pen, and it is easy to see why a second one in extra fine is already under consideration.

Buying Advice

These four pens cover different needs: the Sailor 1911 Large for a plush wet medium, the Gravitas Century for a striking durable extra fine, the Pro Gear Imperial Black for a refined fine nib with new branding, and the Lamy 2000 for the smoothest all-around daily writer. Pair them with wet, well-behaved inks and good paper, and each combo delivers.

Conclusion

January’s rotation balances classic Japanese nibs, modern materials, and a legendary piston-filler. Any one of these pens would make a confident purchase, and the ink pairings show how much a well-matched nib and ink combo can elevate the everyday writing experience.