Platinum Preppy — Best beginner fountain pen?

The Platinum Preppy fountain pen is frequently recommended to new pen pals around the world. Is it the best beginner fountain pen?

This pen is responsible for getting me into the world of fountain pens. I ordered a blue-black sampler from Jet Pens, this Preppy was included, and it was all over for me. It wasn’t long before I ordered a converter and some inks from Vanness. Then before I knew it, I had ordered more fountain pens as well. You’ve been warned! That said, I still use my Preppy constantly. Let’s take a closer look.

Disclaimer: I purchased all items in this review with my own money from the stores above. At the time of writing, I have no professional or personal relationships with the manufacturer, Jet Pens, or Vanness. All opinions are my own.

The good

• Great nib for such a low priced pen
• Takes cartridges and converters
• “Slip-n-Seal” cap mechanism prevents dry-out
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Affordable!

The less good

• Some people report cap cracking (Mine is still going strong at a year old!)
• Converter costs more than pen
• Lots of branding/lettering on the body

Platinum Preppy — In the hand

The Platinum Preppy is a modest sized pen. It’s a comfortable length in the hand whether it’s posted or not. It does post with a nice friction fit as well. As can be expected for a pen in this price range, it’s an all plastic body and grip section. Generally, the section feels fine, but it can be a bit slippy with sweaty hands. Aside from that, the pen is light and agile. I have no problems writing with it for a long time.

It’s helpful to keep in mind the price when discussing build quality. Think more office supply pen and less fancy fountain pen. However, that’s not entirely bad. For a newbie to the hobby who’s used to using run of the mill pens, it makes for an easy transition. I’ve had mine for about a year now, and it still performs flawlessly. It is worth noting that there are several reports of people cracking caps, though I’ve not encountered that myself.

Writing with the Platinum Preppy

For my writing sample, I’m using a Maruman Mnemosyne A5 notebook, De Atramentis Document Blue-Grey ink, and my Platinum Preppy is equipped with an 03 Fine nib.

Writing with the Platinum Preppy is what really sold me on the fountain pen experience. The nib is smooth, with just a touch of pencil-like feedback. On my Mnemosyne paper, it glides smoothly across the page. The 03 fine is more of a Western style fine nib. Big enough to get some decent shading while still laying down a thin enough line.

In terms of how much ink it lays down, I’d call it a Goldilocks zone pen. It wrote slightly dry with the included blue-black ink cartridge. However, with other inks it’s pretty middle of the road. I find the Platinum Preppy to be quite versatile in this way. With many inks I can write on regular paper without much issue, but it’s still a wet enough writer to offer an enjoyable fountain pen experience on nice paper.

Other Characteristics

One of the coolest things about the Platinum Preppy is that it’s a sub-$10 pen that can be filled using bottled ink. While it’s sort of a bummer that the converter for this pen costs more than the pen, it’s cool that it’s an option. I’ve got the silver one in mine. However, it’s also possible to refill the cartridges with a syringe. On top of that, many people ditch both of those and just “eye dropper” the pen by filling the body with ink and sealing the threads at the section.

Another notable characteristic of Platinum pens is their “Slip-n-Seal” cap technology. It does what it says on the tin. It’s a simple push on cap with a satisfying click. More than that though, it truly does prevent the ink and nib from drying out. I had a period of bad times when I didn’t write much last year. The Preppy was one of only a couple of my pens that picked right up and wrote no problem when I got back to it. It’s been a reliable writing partner for me.

Platinum Preppy — A great choice for anyone

As you can tell, I don’t really have anything bad to say about my Platinum Preppy. It’s been a great little fountain pen for me. About the only criticisms I’ve seen from others is cracked caps. Mine is still in great shape, and I hope it stays that way. I really like mine! I think it’s easy to see why the Preppy has such a big fan group. It’s affordable, versatile, and writes like a champ. What more could you want from a “beginners” fountain pen?