Piguet Taurus Fountain Pen Review: A Revived Swiss Name with Distinct Looks

Introduction

Piguet is a name with history. The brand existed until 1959 and has recently been revived, and the Taurus is one of the products of that revival. It arrives as a cartridge-converter fountain pen with a steel nib, a resin body, and a distinctly distinguished aesthetic that leans heavily on the brand’s Swiss heritage.

This is not a budget pen. At $218 USD (around 200 Swiss francs), the Taurus asks a serious question: does what you get justify what you pay? The honest answer is nuanced. It is a solid, good-looking pen that writes well, but it also has a few quirks worth knowing before you commit.

First Impressions and Design

The Taurus arrives in a charming vintage-style presentation box, accompanied by an ink cartridge and a fairly thick cardstock card with an international warranty, which is a genuinely nice touch. The branding says “Geneve, Swiss,” and the whole package has a thoughtful, old-world feel.

The sample reviewed here is the Taurus in Ocean Blue, a rich deep blue that photographs and lives beautifully. Other colors are available, but this one is a strong pick. The pen is quite girthy, decidedly not small, and relatively heavy thanks to the amount of metal used in its construction. Next to a Pilot Metropolitan, it clearly reads as the larger pen.

Build and Details

The cap finial carries an engraving of a gentleman on horseback carrying a sword, a nod to the famous Swiss mercenaries of history. It is a classy detail in a matte gold tone that suits the pen well. The clip has two ball ends and is very well adjusted: not too tight, not too loose.

The barrel is resin with an end cap that looks like a blind cap but is not. The pen is marked Piguet, Geneve, and Swiss on its surfaces. The grip section is comfortable and tapers down before flaring out, though there is a noticeable step down to the nib. The nib itself is a number six steel medium with a large logo and “Since 1959” laser engraving, fed by a plastic feed and a converter of the style commonly seen on many Chinese fountain pens.

How the Piguet Taurus Writes

The writing experience is one of the pen’s genuine strengths. The nib is nicely adjusted and offers what could be called the right amount of feedback: not glossy smooth, but not overly feedbacky either. It lets you know you are writing with a fountain pen, which is arguably what a nib should do.

It is not a super dry writer, and it keeps up well even with fast writing. Being a round nib with no flex claims, aggressive flexing is not recommended, though careful pressure can produce slight line variation. Reverse writing turns the medium nib into what reads as a nice fine point that stays smooth and works well, though the ink felt slightly drier near the end of longer reverse strokes. For a couple of words or quick math equations, it is perfectly serviceable.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The Taurus has quirks. The cap does not post: it looks like it should, but the fit is so loose that the cap would rattle and likely fall off during use. If posting matters to you, that is a real limitation.

The step down from the section to the nib is noticeable. The section is big enough to use comfortably without really thinking about it, but hand size and grip style vary, so it is worth keeping in mind. Finally, the cartridge situation is worth noting: the pen is described as taking a standard international cartridge, but the cartridge included is not one, resembling instead what is commonly found in many Chinese pens.

Buying Advice

At $218 USD, the Taurus is expensive for a steel-nib cartridge-converter pen, and it is hard to call it a bargain relative to what you get. That said, if you are willing to spend that amount, you receive a solid pen that looks distinguished and writes comfortably. The attention to detail, the girthy and reassuring heft, and the elegant matte gold trim make it genuinely appealing for a business setting where something refined is called for.

If you value the design, the heritage story, and the writing feel more than spec-per-dollar value, the Taurus rewards that outlook. If price-to-spec is your priority, other options will challenge it.

Conclusion

The revived Piguet brand has produced a pen with real personality in the Taurus: distinguished looks, thoughtful details, a comfortable and well-tuned steel medium nib, and satisfying heft. Its weaknesses, the non-posting cap, the section step, the cartridge confusion, and the premium price, are worth weighing honestly. For buyers who appreciate design choices and writing feel over pure value, it is an interesting brand to watch.