Guide to Faber Castell Writing Instruments

This week, we're exploring the German-made Faber-Castell brand of fine writing instruments, including some of their most enjoyed designs in the Ambition, Basic Metal, E-Motion and Loom.

Since 1761, Faber-Castell has been committed to developing and perfecting pens and pencils for writing and drawing. Their aim is provide a quality writing instrument that uses innovative technology, outstanding design and unique combinations of materials - especially wood. 

Each of the pen models we are going to discuss here are presented in an elegant gift box that has a graphic of a suspension bridge (not sure exactly which one) that wraps around the front of the packaging. A tan colored tag allows you to pull out the drawer of the box to reveal the pen inside. Each writing instrument is safely packaged in a clear plastic pouch and is accompanied by an instruction manual.

The first impression upon opening each of these pens is the weight and feel in-hand. Each pen has a base of metal instead of resin or plastic, which provides the substantial feeling of weight and quality.

Ambition

This range exemplifies Faber-Castell's aim, which is to incorporate unique materials with a fresh writing experience. Precious resin, coconut wood, pear wood and stainless steel are all materials you will find in this collection. Their take on a resin pen is also unconventional. Instead of a polished resin, Faber opts to give it a brushed or patterned finish in their OpArt set of bold resin colors.

The pen design is simple and functional. The cylindrical barrel meets flush with the polished silver cap top. The company logo is engraved into the gleaming, mirror surface, providing a subtle imprint of the brand. On the rollerball and the fountain pen, the snap cap pulls off the front end and snaps securely to the back for writing while posted. The section before the tip is quite small and narrow, a design consequence of having a cap that meets flush with the body of the pen. It may be difficult for some who like to grip their pens close to the tip while writing, but it is believed that this pen is meant to be held further back on the barrel material to provide the full tactile experience of the pen's material.

The Ambition is regularly available as a twist-action ballpoint pen, 0.7mm mechanical pencil, rollerball pen (with cap) and fountain pen (with cap). The fountain pens are fitted with a stainless steel nib in extra-fine, fine, medium or broad point. They include one international size ink cartridge to start and can fit an international standard converter (not included). The nibs are firm and write slightly on the drier side. The ballpoint utilizes the widely accessible Parker-style type ballpoint cartridge while the rollerball adapts to an international size ceramic rollerball refill. Prices range from $60 - $170 depending on the mode & finish.

Basic

Beautiful to look at and comfortable to hold, the Basic line of Faber-Castell is built with the hard-working professional in mind. Convenience, affordability and ease of use are more important priorities with the design of these writing instruments. The Metal Basic pens play with contrasts of shiny versus matte finishes of metal, staying within the modern silver & black look.

As with the Ambition, the Basic also infuses exotic materials like leather and carbon fiber into their designs to create a unique writing experience.

The range of Faber-Castell Basic pens we offer are available in 3 writing modes: click-action ballpoint, rollerball and fountain pen. The snap caps on the roller and fountain do post on the back end. Since the cap is rather large and the posting section on the back end is small, the pen posts to a rather lengthy 7 5/8 inches. The cartridge / converter fountain pen (converter sold separately) is fitted with a stainless steel nib in sizes extra-fine, fine, medium and broad. Prices range from $30 to $45, depending on the mode and finish.

E-motion

Chunky, almost cigar-shaped, e-motion pens and pencils sit comfortably in the hand. The design combines outstanding writing comfort with sophisticated aesthetics. The materials were carefully selected: matte or high-gloss metal in combination with pear wood in dark brown, brown or black. The precious resin barrels feature crocodile pattern, parquet and rhombus textures.

The weight and size are the heaviest and most generous of the four collections we are featuring here. The tapered shape is pleasing to the eye as well as the feeling of writing with one. There are a few additional touches to this design that distinguish it from the other collections. The spring loaded clip allows you to easily attach your pen to a shirt pocket by pressing the top of the clip.

Most of the e-motion material combinations are available as twist-action 0.7mm mechanical pencils, twist-action ballpoint pens, rollerball pens and fountain pens. The cap on the rollerball and fountain pen is rather large, but it posts deeply on the back end of the pen, keeping the size relatively compact and balanced with the cap posted. The cartridge/converter fountain pen (converter included) is fitted with a stainless steel nib in extra-fine, fine, medium or broad. The price ranges from $60 to $175 depending on the mode and finish.

Loom

Featuring a grip section with fine rings and a subtly curved form, LOOM pens and pencils are varied and fascinating. And when it comes to writing, LOOM exhibits effortless elegance. Faber-Castell juxtaposes bold, colorful anodized metal against satin finished chrome and a polished clip. The "Piano" finishes have a glossy lacquer finish to the top, matched with a polished chrome metal body. The brand imprint is seen engraved into the cap and the emblem sits atop the finial.

The pleasing, gentle curve of the grip, along with the matte finish and the concentric rings make this pen a pleasure to hold. The range of colors and styles will keep you coming back for a second or third pen, which you certainly could do since this is an affordable model to collect. 

The Loom is available in 3 writing modes: twist-action ballpoint, rollerball and fountain pen. The snap caps on the roller and fountain post deeply and securely on the back-end of the pen, making it ideal for posted writing. The cartridge / converter fountain pen (converter sold separately) is fitted with a stainless steel nib in sizes extra-fine, fine, medium and broad. Prices range from $28 to $45, depending on the mode and finish.

We hope that you enjoyed this tour of Faber-Castell writing instruments. If this article helped (or didn't help) you make a decision on these pens, please let us know by leaving a comment below.