Graf Von Faber-Castell Tamitio Review: A Classy Pen With One Big Trade-off

Introduction

The Graf Von Faber-Castell Tamitio is a fountain pen that leans on understated, classy design rather than flashy materials. It features a polished chrome cap and trim paired with a matte lacquered metal barrel, and it sits on the slimmer side of the fountain pen world without crossing into uncomfortable territory.

It is available in a range of colors, including India red, night blue, rose, black, and stone gray, so there is a good chance one of them fits your taste.

Design and Build

The design details are where this pen earns its reputation. The top of the cap is concave and engraved with the brand name, with a plastic circle containing the family coat of arms. The cap flares at the end and transitions into a hinged clip, and the flared tip helps the clip accommodate materials both thick and thin without feeling overly taut.

The barrel is the distinguishing feature of the pen. It is straight, has grooves encircling it, and the matte lacquered metal has a genuinely unique feel: it does not quite feel like plastic or resin, yet it does not feel like metal either. The pen is engraved with handmade in Germany, which speaks to its origin. The chrome surfaces are polished and reflective, so expect to wipe down fingerprints if that kind of thing bothers you.

The Section: Form Over Function

The section is the least favorite part of this design. It is straight, extremely small, and made of slippery polished chrome, which is not the best combination. When the grip wanders too far forward, the pen wants to slide right off, so many users end up gripping partly on the transition from section to barrel.

The equal metal pieces on either side of the barrel look intentional and symmetric, and aesthetically the idea is clear. In practice, though, this feels like a bit of form over function.

Writing Performance

Underneath the cap is a rhodium-plated stainless steel nib, size appropriate for the pen, available in extra fine, fine, medium, and broad. The nib stamping looks classy, and the stainless steel performance is genuinely good, with a distinctive feedback and even a bit of line variation.

Ink flow on the medium nib runs on the generous side, and the feed keeps up very well during fast writing. Reverse writing is a little hit and miss and can feel scratchy. The pen is a cartridge converter model that accepts standard international cartridges, and a converter is included.

Usability and Balance

The pen is plenty long enough to use unposted. The cap does post with a soft snap, and even though it is metal, it does not overly back-weight the pen or throw off the balance. The fluted cap looks good posted too.

One quirk to know about: the cap snaps off with a rather light, soft snap. It is secure, just a unique and somewhat gentle mechanism. Also, given the abundance of metal, eye-dropper conversion would not be advisable.

Buying Advice

Pricing for this pen varies considerably between retailers, so it pays to shop around. It has been seen as low as 176 dollars and as high as 300 dollars at various retailers, with several price points in between. At the low end, the price feels very reasonable for what you get.

If you prefer girthier pens or need a substantial grip, the small chrome section is the main thing to weigh. If you value unique materials, a distinctive barrel feel, and refined German design, the Tamitio is a strong contender.

Conclusion

The Graf Von Faber-Castell Tamitio is a nice pen with a genuinely unique matte lacquered barrel and outstanding nib performance, let down somewhat by its tiny slippery section. Buy it for the design and writing experience, and take the time to compare prices across retailers before committing.