In short, the main differences lie in the ink and the tip of the pen, and the way that impacts the writing experience.

With such a wide range of nibs available, the fountain pen is the writing instrument that adapts best to each individual hand. In fact, it actually lends the user´s handwriting its own, highly individual quality and style. LAMY fountain pens come with three different filling systems: 1) the piston-operated fountain pen is filled out of an ink bottle and is self-cleaning; 2) cartridge pens are even easier to still; 3) for the best of both worlds, users can try LAMY converter. When this is inserted in the pen in place of a cartridge, the pen can be filled from an ink bottle, too.

As solid, easy-to-use all-rounders, ballpoint pens are ideal for everyday use. The quality of LAMY ballpoints is evident from the refills used and the top quality, stainless-steel tip with a ball made of hard tungsten. LAMY ballpoint pens are available in stainless steel, aluminium or plastic and in a wide range of modern designs. They are available in the point sizes F, M and B and in the ink colours black, blue, red and green.

A rollerball pen is as easy to use as a ballpoint, but almost as much a pleasure to write with as a fountain pen. LAMY’s range of rollerball pens includes one rollerball with a cap and M 63 refill and one without a cap, which uses a M 66 refill. The rollerball has a tungsten-carbide tip and produces a full line no matter how fast the user writes. It is strong enough to produce carbon copies and is ideal even for those who are left-handed.

LAMY multisystem pens combine several different systems—such as ballpoint, mechanical pencil, marker and touchscreen pen—in a single writing instrument. There is a rotating mechanism for rapid system selection for all models of the LAMY twin pen and LAMY tri pen range. The LAMY 4pen is fitted with a system identification by view system. LAMY’s range includes a large number of such multi-system pens with various system combinations. These writing instruments use the ballpoint refill M 21, 0.5 mm or 0.7 mm pencil leads, the marker refill M 55 in orange and/or touchscreen refill M 70. To replace the refills or reload pencil leads, multi-system pens are simply unscrewed in the middle.

Underneath the removable button, many LAMY mechanical pencil models contain a unique feature—the cleaning needle. Occasionally, graphite particles may get lodged in the pencil mechanism and block access to the nib. You can use the cleaning needle to remove this blockage.

German DIN ISO Standard 12757-2 defines the standards of permanence for the colour paste which can be seen on paper when held against light, for the chemical solutions and for the writing quality of the refill. Refills which are marked with a DIN symbol have high writing quality and the writing is forgery-proofed. The following LAMY ballpoint pen refills are waterproof in all colours and sizes: M 16, M 21 and M 22.

According to German DIN ISO Standard fountain pen inks are not waterproof. However, black and blue-black ink is very permanent and can be read even after decades when stored in a dry and shady place.

In the Middle Ages the ferro-gallic ink was the mostly used ink with quills. The disadvantage of the ferruginous ink was that it aged and dried up in the bottle very quickly and was therefore not suitable for fountain pens. After new dyes appeared on the market which were water soluble and after further developments with synthetically water soluble dyes, ferro-gallic ink became less and less popular. The common inks of today for fountain pens are pure colour inks made of water and dyes.

The average durability of an ink cartridge is 12 months. After 12 months the ink starts to evaporate. The result is that the ink cartridge is only filled half with ink although it is unused.

The mix of different ink colours is not recommended. Due to the different ph-values the colours might precipitate. Please make sure that your fountain pen is thoroughly rinsed with water before filling it with a new ink colour.

There’s a suitable nib grade available for all types of handwriting—straight nibs (narrow or broad), medium rounded nibs, oblique nibs. The choice that feels best for you depends on your hand and writing style. The calligraphy pen, the LAMY joy and LAMY joy AL, comes with a broad nib with a flat writing surface that permits strokes of varying breadth and hence a very expressive hand. Your local retail shop offers you the opportunity to try a fountain pen before buying it. This helps you to find the nib that suits your handwriting most.

All steel nibs can be changed by specialized retailers in authorized LAMY shops. Gold nibs should be changed by the LAMY Repair Centre only. For further details on the LAMY Repair Centre, please visit https://www.lamy.com/en-us/repairs.

Because they are exposed to the air, the nib and ink duct of your fountain pen may dry out and become encrusted, especially if cartridges are used. If a piston-operated filling system or converter is used, this problem is much rarer as the nib and ink duct are automatically flushed clean every time the pen is filled.

Encrusted ink can be removed by filling the converter with water or ink and flushing out the system several times over.

It often helps simply to unscrew the front section and soak it in plain water for several hours. Never add soap or detergent to the water! Always dry it again before replacing it.

Only the royal blue ink can be washed out of most textiles. For other colors, it is best to wash out with washing powder and water as soon as possible. Please do not treat the ink stain with a solvent.

In many cases, yes. The engraving of initials or even a whole name can turn a simple writing instrument into a highly personal accessory. The engraving can be done either by mechanically scoring or milling or by laser. Most such markings are positioned either on the body or on/beside the clip, depending of course on the type of pen and the material it is made of. Various typefaces are possible. For more detailed information on engravings, please ask your dealer.

You can find refills at many LAMY retailers, or purchase them online from LAMY. Visit https://www.lamy.com/en-us/equipment-and-accessories for a wide selection of ink, ink cartridges, and refills for LAMY ballpoint pens, rollerball pens, mechanical pencils, and multisystem pens.