Filling Mechanism: Piston Filler

Composer, conductor and pianist Johannes Brahms was one of the great romantics of classical music. This renowned German artist gets his due in this limited edition pen by Montblanc. Part of Montblanc's Donation Pen series, the Montblanc Brahms comes as a complete box set that includes a tuning fork and booklet. Our preowned luxury pen looks like new, and likely was only written with once given the minimal ink on its extra-fine, rhodium-plated 14k gold nib. Click the headline for close-ups. Guaranteed authentic.

Montegrappa is easily our favorite Italian luxury pen maker. The company is filled with master designers and artisans. Our Montegrappa Nazionale Flex fountain pen is a limited edition. Numbered 48 of 100, it is more than a pretty pen. It has a flexi 14k gold nib! You will write from extra fine to about 1mm wide. There is a little up-front pressure that gives quickly with a little pressure. It isn't a wet noodle, but you need to go gently on it until you learn to feel how it performs. We tested the pen with water, and its piston fills well. The color of the near mint condition pen is called "Indian Rainbow" and the trim is solid sterling silver. Comes with its original box, sealed bottle of blue ink and a pamphlet under the pad. 13.7cm capped.

As if bronze arco celluloid wasn't enough to get you excited, this is the grand poobah Omas Grand Paragon pen. Larger than a standard Paragon, ours measures 14.75cm long. The height of Italian luxury pen making, this is a stunner for any collector. It is tough to see at a glance, but there is some wear on this pen that is quite visible up close. No cracks, deep scratches, brassing or other serious flaws. Just lots of wear from daily use. We found it by luck, as it came in an Omas Milord box with a leather sleeve. This was obviously not a Milord the second we set eyes on it. Click the headline for a close-up. You will write a medium-broad line with its 18k gold nib. There's a little light feedback, too. Its piston still operates smoothly.

Many people go ga-ga for the stunning Omas Arco designs, but the blue-and-orange "Saffron" design really blows our mind. This is the large Omas Paragon at 14.1cm in length while capped. It is in good working order, with a smooth piston fill. It does have some wear from use but no cracks, brassing or deep scratches. Also included are its original boxes and papers. Beyond the stunning celluloid is a delightfully smooth two-tone 18k gold nib that writes a juicy medium line. This one sports the year 1997 on the section. Click the headline for close-ups.

Blue-pen lovers that we are, we think there is no topping the Pelikan City Series Stockholm pens for looks. It is easily the most attractive of the "cities." Ours is in excellent working worker, showing only minimal wear from use...and some scratches on the piston filler knob and the section grip. We find it rather amusing that it comes in the "Grand Place" city series pen's box. It is the right size and shape box for the Stockholm, just the wrong labels on the box. Click the headline to see close-ups of the pen and nib. Marked "M" for medium, you will find that this two-tone 18k gold nib writes a buttery smooth double broad line. It is a gusher. Located on the top of the cap's black "jewel" is a frosted gold logo of a mama pelican and two chicks. 13.1cm capped.

Celebrating Italy's hosting of the 1990 World Cup soccer tournament, the green of this modern classic luxury pen symbolizes the color of the soccer pitch. There is a checkerboard design to the usual gold-plated cap band. Our preowned luxury pen comes with all of its original boxes and papers. Gently used, it shows only minor wear. Very minor wear. The piston filler seems to work well. You will love the bouncy way it writes a smooth medium line with its 14k gold nib. Click the headline for close-ups. 14.1cm capped.

Montegrappa Extra 1930 is a confusing name for a pen, as it made many decades after 1930. Nevertheless, it was made with all of the elegance of that decade's luxury design. Montegrappa is easily our favorite Italian pen manufacturer. It uses the most beautiful of celluloids, solid precious metal trim and its nibs are soooo damned smooth. This preowned luxury pen sports a "green marble" design and sterling silver trim. It was gently used and looks like it is in mint condition on a passing glance. Yet, a very close inspection reveals some wear to the celluloid where it rattled around a desk drawer for a little while. However, you really need to look closely to see it. You will write a delightfully smooth medium line with its 18k gold nib. Oddly, we don't see the gold purity stamp on the nib, but these pens all came with 18k gold nibs to the best of our knowledge. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.8cm capped.

How is it Italian craftsmen and women seem to come up with some of the most beautiful pen designs in modern pens? We love the stunning amber celluloid that seems to an ancient essence found in artifacts from Rome and around the Mediterranean. On really close examination you will find little bits of wear and damage, but it is impossible to see at a passing glance. You fill the pen with a piston activated by the little silver disc on the tail. It writes a very smooth medium line for a steel nib. It also includes its box and papers. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.5cm capped.