Nine Bespoke Pens Fruit Slice Fountain Pen: A Handmade Pen Full of Charm

Introduction

Some pens are made for spreadsheets and meeting notes. This one is made to make you smile. The fruit slice fountain pen from Nine Bespoke Pens, a small workshop run by Chris in the UK, is a one-of-a-kind handmade piece that turns a writing instrument into something closer to a small sculpture. It belongs to a fellow stationery enthusiast who lent it out for a closer look, and even secondhand enthusiasm was enough to make an impression.

A Blank Unlike Anything Else

The pen is built around a truly unique blank: translucent resin packed full of tiny fruit slices, matched to a mandarin and kumquat orange fruitiness that runs through the whole body. At roughly six inches, it is a fairly large pen, and the material is notoriously difficult to work with, which makes the finished result all the more impressive.

Chris flipped the inlays as a design touch: the cap finial shows the fruit slices framed in orange, while the back end inverts the arrangement with orange surrounding the fruit. The contrasting highlights give the pen a deliberate, finished look rather than a random casting.

The Extras: Fidget Stone and Atomizer

The pen does not arrive alone. The package included a small translucent fidget stone, essentially a worry cube you can pet and admire, which was charming enough on its own to steal the show before the pen was even unwrapped.

The second surprise was more mysterious: a larger capped object that initially looked like part of the pen, until the cap came off to reveal a matching atomizer. Both extras share the same fruit-slice blank, turning the whole set into a coordinated collection rather than a single purchase.

Writing Experience and Nib

The pen uses a simple standard international cartridge converter filling system, which keeps things easy to maintain. The example shown here has been fitted with a 21-carat Sailor zoom nib ground to an architect grind, a combination that produces crisp, expressive lines and pairs beautifully with a warm orange ink.

It is worth remembering that the nib is swappable, so the writing feel ultimately depends on what you mount on it. What the pen itself guarantees is the fit and finish around the nib, and in that respect it delivers.

Comfort and Section Design

For a pen this playful, comfort matters more than you might expect, and this one holds up well in the hand. The section is described as delightful, with only one caveat: there is a slight step where the fruit slice layer meets the section. In practice it is not sharp and it sits far enough back on the barrel that it never interferes with a natural grip.

The overall balance makes it easy to write with for longer sessions, which is exactly what you want from a pen this size. It is the rare statement piece that does not punish you for actually using it.

Who Should Buy One

Because these are bespoke, one-off creations, this is not a pen you buy off a shelf. If the fruit slice aesthetic appeals to you, the route is to reach out to Chris at Nine Bespoke Pens directly and discuss what he can make. Expect a handmade piece with quirks and character rather than factory consistency, and be prepared to wait for a commission.

Buying Advice

Consider this pen if you want a handmade fountain pen with genuine personality and do not mind a large, eye-catching body. Pair it with a nib you already love, since the cartridge converter system accepts upgrades easily. The matching atomizer and fidget stone are delightful bonuses when offered, but the pen itself is the reason to get in touch.

Conclusion

The Nine Bespoke Pens fruit slice fountain pen is exactly what bespoke pen making does best: a unique blank, careful finishing touches, and a finished object that is genuinely fun to own. It is comfortable to write with, easy to fill, and almost impossible to put down without smiling. For stationery lovers who want something no one else has, this is a maker worth watching.