Diplomat Arrow Oxidized Brass Review: A Heavyweight Fountain Pen with a Distressed Soul

Introduction

The Diplomat Arrow is a pen we have spent plenty of time with before, but this version is a whole new finish: oxidized brass. The result is a distressed, aged-metal look that makes the pen feel like a machine part that has been working for decades, and it genuinely suits the Arrow’s design language. This unit was lent for review by Appelboom Pens, where the pen retails around €266.61 excluding VAT.

Who This Product Is For

The Arrow in oxidized brass is for the writer who loves a solid, substantial metal pen. If heavier pens are your thing, this brass build delivers in spades, and the finish adds a vintage character you will not find in the standard steel versions. If you prefer lightweight writers, this is one to pass on, because the brass body changes the whole experience.

Design: Zeppelin Shapes and Fluted Brass

Diplomat based the Arrow’s shape on a Zeppelin, and the silhouette makes the inspiration obvious. The deep fluted design gives the body real texture, and the oxidized brass treatment turns it into something that looks almost like distressed metal, with an appealing aged patina.

Next to a Pilot Metropolitan, it is about the same length but noticeably girthier. The cap carries the Diplomat logo on top and “Germany” lettering on the side, and the tapered cap end gives the pen a sharp, purposeful profile. The pen ships in a metal Diplomat sleeve box with a pen bed, two cartridges, and a booklet.

Writing Performance: The Steel Nib Is the Star

The Arrow uses a cartridge/converter filling system with metal threads, a long gripping section with a small lip, and a number six steel nib available in extra fine, fine, medium, or broad. Diplomat’s steel nibs have long been among the finest steel nibs around, and this one is no exception: smooth, pleasant, with good flow and a fairly wet line.

Line variation is limited to a slightly finer side stroke; this is not a flex nib, though the long thin tines can be gently coaxed for a little variation at your own risk. Reverse writing gets noticeably scratchy, but it works for a few words. One pleasant surprise: despite the looks of the barrel, the cap posts securely, though posting makes the pen downright heavy, so it is best used unposted.

Things to Consider Before Buying

There is a lot to like here: the solid brass construction, the wonderful fluted design, and that distressed finish that looks genuinely cool where the cap meets the barrel. But two trade-offs deserve honest attention.

First, the slip cap rotates when capped. It does not take much effort to spin it, and while some slip caps are looser, this is a small pet peeve that sticks with you once noticed. Second, the price. The steel-nib pen runs about €266.61 excluding VAT, and upgrading to one of Diplomat’s 14k gold nibs costs an additional €170, bringing the total to roughly €376. The gold nibs are genuinely fantastic, but that is a lot of money for an upgrade that costs almost as much as the entire pen.

The saving grace is that Diplomat’s steel nibs are so well ground and comfortable that many buyers will never miss the gold option. Still, for a steel-nib pen, it is fair to call it expensive for what it is, even though the build quality and writing experience partly justify it.

Buying Advice

If you already know you enjoy a heavy, all-metal pen and the distressed brass finish speaks to you, the Arrow in oxidized brass is a beautifully made, very solid writer that will not roll off your desk. Stick with the steel medium or fine and skip the gold upgrade unless gold nibs genuinely matter to you; Diplomat’s steel nibs are pleasant enough that the €170 surcharge is hard to recommend by default. Use it unposted, enjoy the patina, and be prepared for the slightly loose cap.

Conclusion

The Diplomat Arrow in oxidized brass is a distinctive, well-made fountain pen with one of the best steel nibs available and a finish full of character. Its weight, rotating slip cap, and premium steel-nib price are real considerations, but for fans of heavy brass pens, it is an easy pen to recommend.