How I Found the Perfect Pen for Our Office (and Why It Ended Up Being a Lamy)

The Day the CEO Asked for a Pen

It started with a simple request: "Can you get me a fountain pen that feels nice? Not one of those disposable ones." That was last March. I'm the office administrator for a mid-sized tech company—about 150 people, managing around $80,000 in annual office supply orders across a dozen vendors. I've handled everything from printer toner to ergonomic chairs. But fountain pens? That was new.

I figured, how hard could it be? I'd just pick a dozen pens from a catalog, let the team test them, and order more of the winner. Simple, right?

Spoiler: It wasn't simple. But I did learn a ton—and ended up with a brand I'd never seriously considered before: Lamy.

The First Mistake: Going Cheap

Like anyone who manages a budget, my first instinct was to find a good deal. I found a set of "premium" fountain pens from an online retailer for about $12 each—looked sleek, came in a gift box, great reviews. Ordered 10 for the executive team. Saved roughly $40 compared to the mid-range options I'd seen.

Three weeks later, three of them had stopped writing. Two more leaked in desk drawers. One senior VP sent me an email with a photo of blue ink all over his shirt cuff. The "budget vendor" choice looked smart until the quality showed up. Reprinting shirts cost more than the original "expensive" quote. Net loss? About $180 in dry cleaning, replacement orders, and my credibility. (I still cringe thinking about that email.)

That's when I learned the first rule of office supply purchasing: the upfront price is rarely the final cost.

Real Research: What Actually Matters in a Fountain Pen

After that fiasco, I started from scratch. I spent hours reading reviews, talking to a couple of stationery suppliers, and even visiting a specialty pen store downtown. Here's what I discovered about what makes a good office fountain pen:

• Nib quality matters more than brand name. A smooth, consistent nib is what makes writing effortless. Cheap pens often have scratchy nibs or inconsistent ink flow.
• Ink system matters. Cartridges are convenient for most people, but some prefer bottled ink for variety. A pen that can use both is ideal.
• Grip and weight. Some people hate heavy pens; others find light pens feel cheap. It's subjective, so you need options.
• Reliability. A pen that dries out after a week of not being used is useless in an office where people pick them up sporadically.

During this research, I kept seeing Lamy come up—specifically the Lamy Safari and Lamy AL-Star models. They're German-made, reasonably priced, and have a cult following for a reason. But I was skeptical: could a $30–40 pen really be that good?

The Decision: Gut vs. Data

The numbers said I could get a set of Chinese-made pens for half the cost. The specs looked similar: stainless steel nib, piston converter, stylish design. My gut said the Lamy was worth the premium. Every spreadsheet analysis pointed to the cheaper option. But something felt off about the consistency of reviews for the budget brand. I kept asking myself: Is saving $200 really worth potentially dealing with more ink-stained shirts and unhappy executives?

I went with my gut. I ordered a mixed set of Lamy Safaris and AL-Stars in different nib sizes: fine, medium, and broad. I also grabbed a few bottles of Lamy ink—including the popular Petrol and Dark Lilac shades, because why not add some personality?

When the box arrived, I set up a little test station in the break room. I put out sticky notes with each pen and a notepad. I asked people to write a sentence and tell me what they thought. (Pro tip: sticky notes are your best friend for any office product trial—they're cheap, visible, and easy to collect feedback on.)

What I Learned from the Feedback

After a week of testing, the results were clear:

• Medium nibs were the favorite: smooth, wet writing that felt substantial.
• Fine nibs suited the engineers and data analysts who needed precise lines for charts and notes.
• Broad nibs were loved by a few creative types who like to write letters or journal entries.
• Nobody had any issues with leaking, drying, or scratches (unlike the cheap batch).

The Lamy pens also looked professional without being flashy. The iconic clip and the triangular grip were polarizing—some people loved the ergonomics, others found it weird. But overall, satisfaction was high.

One of the VPs even asked if he could get a pink Lamy pen for his daughter who was learning cursive. That's when I realized: Lamy isn't just a functional tool—it's something people get excited about.

How to Start a Journal Entry (Yes, This Matters for Offices)

During the test period, I noticed something unexpected: several people started using their Lamy pens for personal journaling. One engineer told me he'd always wanted to keep a daily journal but never found a pen that made writing feel good. The Lamy medium nib did the trick.

If you're new to journaling, here's what I've learned from our office experiment:

1. Pick a pen that you enjoy holding. Fountain pens force you to slow down, which is actually a good thing for reflective writing.
2. Start with just three sentences. Don't pressure yourself to write a full page. A sticky note can be a journal entry—it's the habit that counts.
3. Use an interesting ink color. Lamy has over a dozen standard colors plus limited editions. A beautiful blue-black or a subtle green makes the act of writing more pleasurable.
4. Don't worry about format or grammar. It's your journal. Misspellings are fine. Cross-outs are fine.

I also learned that some people prefer a decimal to fraction calculator for converting measurements when choosing nib sizes. Lamy nibs are marked in metric (e.g., 0.5mm for fine, 0.7mm for medium). Those used to imperial fractions appreciated a quick conversion: 0.5mm ≈ 1/50 inch. (Tiny, but handy.)

The Final Order and the Numbers Behind It

Based on the feedback, I placed a bulk order: 30 Lamy Safaris in assorted colors and nib sizes, plus a dozen bottles of ink and plenty of cartridges. Total cost was around $1,200. Compared to the cheap alternative ($600), it was double the upfront cost. But considering we'd likely get years of reliable use with no replacement orders, the total cost of ownership was actually lower.

Price breakdown (publicly available as of April 2025):

• Lamy Safari fountain pen: $32–38 depending on color
• Lamy AL-Star (aluminum body): $45–52
• Lamy ink bottle (50ml): $12–16
• Lamy cartridge pack (5): $6–8

I also made sure to check the nib sizes carefully. Lamy offers EF, F, M, B, and even left-handed nibs. For our office, F and M covered 90% of preferences.

What I'd Tell Other Admins

If you're responsible for sourcing office pens—or any product where quality and user satisfaction matter—here's my takeaway:

• Don't start with the lowest price. Start with what your users actually need. The cheapest option often costs more in the long run.
• Always do a trial. A small sample order lets you avoid a big mistake. Use sticky notes to collect feedback—simple, visible, effective.
• Trust your gut when data is incomplete. I almost went with the cheaper brand because it looked good on paper. But my experience with the previous batch taught me that reliability is worth paying for.
• Transparency builds trust. I showed my CFO the full cost breakdown, including the expected lifespan and minimal replacement needs. She appreciated that I wasn't trying to hide the premium.

In the end, the CEO got his nice pen. The engineer started journaling. The VP's daughter got her pink Lamy. And I got a reputation for making smart, user-first decisions—even when the spreadsheet said otherwise.

Sometimes the right choice isn't the cheapest. It's the one you can explain clearly, with confidence.