Lamy 2000 Makrolon Fountain Pen Review @Lamy

Thanks to Lamy Canada for sending this Makrolon fountain pen for a review!

ABOUT

Body material: Makrolon (black fibreglass) + brushed stainless steel
Trim: Aluminum
Cap: Snap-on
Posts: Yes, friction
Nib material: 14 kt gold, rhodium-plated
Filling system: Piston-filler
Length (capped): 138.80 mm/5.46"
Length (uncapped): 124.19 mm/4.88"
Length (posted): 152.96 mm/6.02"
Length (section): 22.93 mm/0.90"
Diameter (barrel):  9.23 - 13.23 mm/0.36" - 0.52"
Diameter (section): 6.30 - 10.80 mm/0.24" - 0.42"
Weight (all): 27 g
Weight (cap): 9 g
Weight (body): 18 g
Price: $226.00 CAD
Where to buy: Wonder Pens

PACKAGING

The Lamy is presented in a simple grey cardboard box with a brushed metal Lamy plaque on top. The pen was placed in an (unnecessary...) plastic sleeve and it was sitting on a felt bed. Very simple and basic and I like that Lamy does not waste packaging. It's not excessively large. Most of it is recyclable as well!

APPEARANCE

The Lamy 2000 is Lamy's flagship model. The Makrolon is probably more recognizable than the stainless steel. The body is round with blunt, flat ends. The cap snaps on with tiny little nubs that stick out of the barrel, which the cap clicks through. The finial is smooth and polished. The clip is attached through a cut out in the cap. It is a sharp, blunt, blocky clip engraved with "Germany" on the bottom and "LAMY" on the side. The clip is brushed metal, which matches the brushed section. There is a silver colored plug at the end of the barrel as well.

The piston-turning knob is well-placed and is flush with the barrel. I can barely even see the seam. The Makrolon has a small ink window. It's not particularly easy to see - you cannot really tell what the exact color of your ink is but you can see if you have any!

The cap and barrel are a matte, brushed black fiberglass. I think it looks quite cool with the brushed stainless steel trim. I like the look of the pen overall, though I usually favour bright colors. I never used to like this model and I never understood what the appeal was and then suddenly I wanted one! Maybe just curiosity but it has a lot going for it.

NIB & PERFORMANCE

The 14kt rhodium-plated gold nib is the hooded type, which was one of the things I did not like about the pen. Although the model appeals to me more now than it used to, I still don't care for the hooded nib. It has a single slit and most of the nib is concealed so there isn't much to it. I have the broad nib and it appears to be quite stubby. Lamy tests all their pens before they leave the factory so I flushed the washable blue ink residue out first.

The nib is well-adjusted and well-tuned. Drying times are average - 20 seconds or so - with medium ink flow. The nib is firm, but it does offer a bit of bounce with little pressure. It is definitely not a soft gold nib, though. It did not skip or hard start, nor did it dry out easily. Due to the stubby shape, I found the sweet spot to be where the nib surface aligns parallel with the page - no rotating the pen and a little difficult for fast writing (or maybe inattentive writing).

If you are looking for a nice, round, easy-to-use nib, the Lamy 2000 broad is not a good option. Stick to the fine or medium! If you are looking for a firmer gold nib with a stubby writing experience, the broad is great. The writing experience is interesting and while I'm not crazy about hooded nibs, this one performs well.

The piston-filling mechanism is smooth and operates easily. The pen can be disassembled for maintainance but it's not very simple to do (like a Pelikan, for example) so do so at your own risk and be careful.

IN HAND

The clip is nice and springy - easy to operate one-handed. It is not particularly snug but the pen is not all that heavy either. It is easy to slide on and off papers, pockets, and pouches without damage.

The seam from the section to the barrel is quite smooth and comfortable to the touch. I do not find the section slippery, despite its tapered shape and metal finish.

Unposted, the pen is not all that heavy and it is weighted towards the front. The cap posts snugly, securely, and deeply by friction. Posting the cap shifts the balance towards the middle, which feels comfortable. I like the feeling and weight more than the stainless steel version of the Lamy 2000.

Makrolon itself feels quite pleasant in hand - slightly textured. I like it.

PROS & CONS

OVERALL

Oddly enough, I used to prefer the stainless steel version for its weight and appearance. I like how it looks but the Makrolon is now easy for me to use extensively. The stubby broad nib is pleasant and well-tuned but not ideal for (my) fast writing. I know a lot of people love the 2000 and I realize the design is timeless since its launch, but I'm not totally in love with it. It's interesting and neat but I still prefer my Safari with a gold nib.



I was sent this item for the purposes of this review. I was not compensated monetarily for my review. Everything you've read here is my own opinion. There are no affiliate links in this post.