Lamy Joy (Strawberry) Review: A Calligraphy Pen for Expressive Writing

Introduction

The Lamy Joy is essentially a stretched, quill-inspired take on the familiar Lamy Safari, built specifically for calligraphy and expressive handwriting. The Strawberry version is a newer color launched for exactly that purpose. At 18.60 euros plus VAT, roughly 20 euros with VAT included, it is one of the most affordable ways to try broad italic nibs without committing to dip pens. This review covers the design, the 1.5 mm steel nib, how it actually writes, and whether it deserves a place on your desk.

Design and Build

The Joy arrives in a simple, unassuming plastic box with product information printed on it, including Dutch text. The pen itself is long, with a barrel that is flat on two sides and rounded on the other two, deliberately shaped to echo a dip nib holder or quill. Lamy branding sits at the back of the barrel.

Details are thoughtful for the price. The finial carries a plus sign marking it as a fountain pen, other Lamy writing instruments use different symbols. The metal clip closely matches the plastic body color, there is a practical ink window so you can see how much ink remains, and the cap pops off with a satisfying snap. Surprisingly for such a thin barrel, the pen posts securely, which is a nice bonus given how slim the back end looks.

Nib and Filling

The review unit came with a 1.5 mm steel nib, though Lamy also offers 1.1 mm and 1.9 mm Safari-style nibs. All use a plastic feed, and the pen fills via cartridge or converter; this unit shipped with a cartridge installed. The nibs are standard Safari-style steel units, which means spares and alternatives are easy to find and swap.

One practical tip worth keeping: Safari-style nibs can be tricky to pull off by hand. A small piece of Scotch tape on the nib makes removal and swapping far easier.

Writing Performance

This is not a grocery list pen, and it does not pretend to be. The 1.5 mm italic nib produces natural line variation straight from the grind, but the nib must be aligned to the page in a very specific way, and the wide tip forces larger, slower letterforms. Fast writing produces an audible scrape on the paper, and the feed tends to run dry over long sessions, with the ink getting progressively drier as the feed struggles to keep up with the broad nib’s demand.

The Safari-style faceted grip section is the deciding factor for most buyers. It restricts how you hold the pen, which is the point of the design, but some people simply cannot get comfortable with it. Reverse writing is also off the table; the pen dries out immediately and the nib is not ground for it.

Where the Joy shines is exactly what it was made for: calligraphy practice and expressive letters. Real calligraphy is done with dip nibs, but that means re-dipping constantly. The Joy lets you practice continuously without interruption, which makes it a genuinely useful training tool.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The strengths are clear: it is affordable, it posts securely despite the thin barrel, the ink window is practical, and the nib ecosystem makes it easy to experiment with 1.1, 1.5, and 1.9 mm options. The italic nibs are not super crisp, but they are fun for practicing.

The main drawback is the section. It is not for everyone, it is restrictive, and some users dislike it outright. If you already know the Safari-style grip does not work for your hand, the Joy will not change your mind.

Who Should Buy the Lamy Joy

The Joy makes sense for two groups: beginners getting into calligraphy who want an affordable fountain pen to practice with, and letter writers who enjoy broad, expressive strokes and do not need an everyday writer. Anyone hoping for a fast, practical daily pen should look elsewhere.

If you fit the calligraphy or expressive-writing profile, the price makes it an easy, low-risk experiment. And since spare nibs are inexpensive, you can treat the Strawberry body as a base and try different nib widths with the tape trick.

Buying Advice

Buy the Joy if you want a slow, deliberate pen for practice and letters. Skip it if you want speed, crispness, or a conventional grip. At around 20 euros with VAT, the cost of finding out is low.

Conclusion

The Lamy Joy in Strawberry is a fun, affordable calligraphy pen that does its one job well. Its quirks, the finicky grip, the drying feed, the scrape of a broad nib at speed, are inherent to the category rather than flaws of this specific pen. For the right buyer, it is an easy recommendation.