With Black Friday and the festive season fast approaching, we decided it was time to update our guide on the best pens to gift! Our team has put together this complete guide to help you find the perfect gift for Christmas 2021, whoever you’re buying for. What’s a Good Pen for a Gift? Gifting a pen is an excellent idea, but the best pen as a gift really depends on who you’re buying for! We’ve broken our guide into categories so you can find what you’re looking for easily this festive season. Ben Pens as Gifts for Him Montblanc Meisterstuck 146 LeGrand Platinum Trim Fountain Pen We start our l ..read more

They say, ‘The pen is mightier than the sword,’ but who reigns supreme in the pen versus pencil debate? The age-old stationary debate has plagued academics and creatives for centuries, and you’ll struggle to find someone who likes both equally. So, which is better – pen or pencil? With so much conflicting advice, we’ve decided to settle the debate once and for all. In this post, we’ll run through each tool’s pros and cons and what they’re best used for. Which is Better a Pen or Pencil? The pen and pencil have been pitted against each other for many years. However, we believe that each tool has ..read more

Is gifting a pen a good idea? Absolutely! Trying to find the perfect gift can be a daunting task, we put so much thought into our gifts – hoping they will truly resonate with the receiver. And it doesn’t get any more personal than gifting a beautiful pen that can be used every day and allows your loved ones to express their most inner thoughts and emotions. We take a look at the best pens as gifts to help you on your gifting journey. What Does Giving a Pen as a Gift Mean?  For generations, pens have been the go-to gift for academic and personal achievements. When you gift a ..read more

Exam season is stressful and overwhelming. You’ve spent weeks, or even months, revising for your tests, sacrificing nights out and getting little sleep. The final hurdle is simply to take the exam, and you certainly don’t want to fall at the last obstacle. Trusting your exam pen is vital for a successful exam period. When discussing which pens are best for exams you need to consider the colour, functionality and comfort – you don’t want a mid-exam cramp! We’ve rounded up the 11 best pens for exams for you to choose from, so you can rest assured that ink blobs won’t ruin your handwriting.   ..read more

A common question many have when starting in calligraphy is what are the best calligraphy pens for beginners? For more advanced calligraphy writers or those with a bit of previous practice, you may also wonder what the best calligraphy pen is. Calligraphy is a beautiful and intricate method of art that is completely varied dependent on the writer. To create the most attractive looking lettering, you need the correct tools, meaning your standard ballpoint pen might need a bit of an upgrade. In this article, we’ll run you through the best calligraphy pens for starting, as one size doesn’t necess ..read more

Are expensive pens worth it? It’s easy to be cynical about luxury pens and their hefty price tags. Some may think that their only purpose is to look lovely and that a £1 BIC pen does the job just as good. However, when we ask, ‘are luxury pens worth it?’, the answer is much more complex than a simple “yes” or “no”. For some, a luxury pen symbolises the hard work they have achieved during their career, or for others, it represents a graduation they celebrated 20 years ago. A luxury pen can bring about feelings of purpose, authority or nostalgia. For those on the fence about whether expensive pe ..read more

There is a range of professions that rely on using the best mechanical pencils for writing. In design, architecture and engineering, making sure you have a quality pencil that is practical, delivers good, consistent results and is comfortable to use for long periods is essential. Likewise, if you’re a writer or practise calligraphy, you need to make sure once you’ve found the perfect mechanical pencil that it stands the test of time and can provide longevity. However, it’s not always easy to see which pencils will meet all these needs, so we’ve put together a quick list to help you find the be ..read more

Montblanc is a brand with a strong and reliable history. It’s among the top manufacturers of fine writing instruments and customers trust the name. Due to their superior quality and longevity, Montblanc pens are known for having a higher price tag. So, it’s understandable that customers want to seek out a Montblanc pen at the cheapest price. We’ve compiled a list of the ten most affordable Montblanc pens, including the cheapest Montblanc fountain pen on offer. 1. Montblanc PIX Black Ball Pen The Montblanc pen cheapest price comes in the form of this PIX Ball pen. This stripped-back, reliable M ..read more

Despite the ease of typing on a laptop or computer, there’s nothing quite like putting pen to paper. That’s why, for us, the written word wins the handwriting vs typing debate every time. It’s important that the art of handwriting doesn’t go out of fashion, which is why writers must take the time to find the best pen for writing, no matter what form your handwriting takes. The best pen for writing should be comfortable, smooth, sustainable and good-quality. Sourcing the smoothest writing pen will undeniably make your writing experience more enjoyable. To give you a helping hand in finding the ..read more

Here at The Pen Shop, we pride ourselves on the quality and reliability of our Kingsley brand. The process of making a pen for our Kingsley brand takes a great deal of time, thought, and patience. Designing a pen collection that combines high-fashion and classic influences is our focus, and we strive for excellence every time. So, if you’ve ever wondered how to make a pen, we’re here to share our process. How to Make a Pen in 7 Steps Step 1 – Brainstorm Before you go ahead with making a pen, you need to brainstorm and decide on your vision for the pen. Who are you designing a pen for? What are ..read more