The Nonessentialists’ Writing Instruments, Part 1
Why the LAMY 2000, or Why Fountain Pen?
In this day and age, when digital writing has become so prominent, you may ask: why do I want a fountain pen? Different fountain pen enthusiasts may have different ideas in mind. For me, it is the experience a fountain pen brings: the process of filling the pen with ink, cleaning the nib, preparing the proper paper for the pen, and watching the ink flow smoothly from the nib on to the paper. Additionally, the infinite combinations of paper, ink, and pen each will bring different experiences for your writing sessions. Though I don’t have beautiful handwriting nor am I a proficient writer, fountain pen enables the ritualization of the writing process, giving such basic process infinite possibilities, making a mundane process an enjoyable experience. Here I introduce the LAMY 2000 review, your in-depth look into one of the best options for venturing into the world of fountain pens.
The LAMY 2000 Fountain Pen
I possess a sizable fountain pen collection, owning the representing model from many of the most renowned German and Japanese makers including Pelikan, Mont Blanc, Lamy, Sailor, and Pilot. If I were to only own one, my choice would be the LAMY 2000 in its signature material & color combination: stainless steel with black Makrolon. And for many others, if the budget allows, this would be the first and only fountain pen you own. Though the pen itself isn’t the most expensive nor most unique of LAMY’s line up, the LAMY 2000 is a modern classic and a true flagship of LAMY’s line up with its signature use of material, timeless design, and extreme usability.
LAMY 2000 Fountain Pen’s Design-Defining Material
In its capped form, the LAMY 2000 is possibly one of the most unassuming writing instruments created. It consists of two pieces of pure black Makrolon with a uniquely designed angular stainless-steel pen clip. Stealthy is how I would describe it.
The Makrolon material is different from what you see on a vast majority of fountain pen shells, which are primarily constructed of smooth resin or some type of metal. Makrolon was the first trademarked polycarbonate material, a material that plays an extremely significant role in modern material science. From water bottles, lenses to the cockpit canopy of the F-22 fighter, you find the material everywhere.
Comparing to glossy resins commonly found on fountain pens, Makronlon does attract grease or dust, so they remain clean looking and retain a dry handfeel for much longer. The material also has very subtle hairline strips all over it, giving depth for the pen’s look while making it pristine-looking even after years of use. Comparing to metals, the Makrolon is more resistant to dents, much lighter, and doesn’t have the cold touch associated with metals that makes the pen suboptimal for colder environments.
Perfected by Stainless-Steel
Uncapped, the LAMY 2000 further reveals its beauty. The stainless-steel front end adds a hint of elegancy to the stealthiness. With similar hairline strips texture as the Makrolon, the stainless-steel blends with the Makrolon perfectly. The stainless-steel also adds a bit of heft to the front end of the pen, lending the writer just a bit of extra downforce to make writing that much easier. Because the use of stainless-steel ends right at where the pen should be properly held, using the pen in cold doesn’t pose any comfort concern.
The LAMY 2000’s nib is made of solid 14k gold, its softness provides superior writing experience unachievable by steel nibs on common pens. To protect the nib’s beauty, a thin layer of rhodium plating is applied to each nib. The plating completes the pen’s aesthetic while providing a strong protective layer for the precious gold underneath.
A Uniquely Timeless Design for Contemporary Usability
With its minimalist industrial design, it is hard to believe the LAMY 2000 was released in 1966. You notice something is different as soon as you try to uncap the pen. The mechanism within the cap and the small metal clips on the front end of the pen creates a satisfying damping effect. Which makes the motion of capping and uncapping the pen therapeutic and unique to the LAMY 2000.
Uncapped, the pen looks almost monolithic, with no obvious seam anywhere on the pen. The allowance at each joint is so tight, that the stainless-steel and the Makrolon feel perfectly melted together. And at first glance, you may even ask yourself: how in the world do I fill this pen?
The magic or not-so-magic lies at the finial of the pen’s barrel. It’s magical that the filling mechanism doesn’t create breaks to the silhouette of the pen, unlike classic fountain pens. It’s not so magical that the underlying piston-filling mechanism has been the tried-and-true option for pen makers for over a hundred years. But still, the LAMY 2000’s piston-filling mechanism is the smoothest I’ve seen on any fountain pen, period.
A Nib Designed for Modern Writing
The nib on the LAMY 2000 is also something to behold. The 14k gold nib may not seem superior to the 18k+ nibs on higher-end options, it’s optimized for contemporary writing styles. Modern-day handwriting has evolved to be much more efficient and minimalistic comparing to the more stylistic 19th-century counterparts. While the flexible, completely exposed nibs on classic fountain pens provide an endless possibility for variations in handwriting, they are not optimal for efficiency sakes for its lack of control. The LAMY 2000 negates the efficiency issue by employing a hooded nib, adding the much-needed stability for modern-day handwriting. Though for someone looking to venture into the calligraphy world, the lack of flexibility in the nib isn’t optimal
LAMY 2000 Purchasing Recommendations
The LAMY 2000 fountain pen comes in two material combinations: the base black Makrolon + Stainless-steel version, and the brush stainless-steel version.
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Though the stainless-steel version is quite a pen, I would not recommend it over the base version for general writing. For one, the stainless-steel version is more than twice as heavy at 54g versus 25g of the Makrolon version. The additional weight may add additional stress to your writing hand as well as reduce the control over handwriting. Additionally, the stainless-steel version sacrifices the beautiful and functional ink window on the pen. As a result, it’s impossible to check on the ink level. Finally, there is a price difference. At 280$, the stainless-steel version is 80$ more expensive than the base version.
The nib size is another thing to take into consideration. For regular English writings, I recommend either a fine or medium nib. Chose fine if this is your first fountain pen, as medium nibs may not be so forgiving on regular papers. Chose extra-fine only if you have extra-small handwriting.
Finishing Thoughts
I highly recommend the LAMY 2000 if the budget allows and if you wish to have something extra to spice up your writing experience. It’s just a perfect balance of form and function. Even after trying various pens priced higher than the LAMY 2000, it remains the most used pen for me.
Next in this series, we will introduce another modern classic fountain pen that I consider the only true competitor to the LAMY 2000. Stay tuned!
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