What makes the difference in price?

[shaverjoe]

I am relatively new to FPs. I have a couple of Lamy Safaris, an Al-Star, a TWSBI 540, and a Cross Century II (my first FP). I enjoy using each one of them, but I do not use them each frequently. I am a physician by trade and as all medical records are becoming electronic (a very good thing for patient safety in my opinion), I usually use my FPs at work only to make private notes about patients. I use them at home for notes, lists, etc. Because of this, I am finding it hard to justify spending more money on a more expensive pen- which led me to write this thread and ask the following question-

What PRIMARILY influences the difference in price? I understand most of the pens I have listed are inexpensive, and while different pens may be made from different materials or offer different ink capacities and/or actual mechanisms on how to refill the pen, what makes the difference? Is it the actual way the pen writes? The material of the nib? A combination of all of these (I am guessing this is it).

I am considering a Pilot VP or one of the LE Edison group buy pens as my first higher end FP and I am just curious if the cost can be justified by someone in my particular position who does not use the pen that frequently? I know this is a question only I can truly answer as "value" is highly subjective, but I would love to hear some other thoughts.

Thanks for your time and your reply.

 

[mmack66]

Materials, craftsmanship, name.

 

[syngent]

The Nib itself will have quite a bit to do with it, materials, time spent smoothing it out, the tips everything about it can make a great pen or a cheap one no matter what type of body its attached to,

Then there is the filling system and what is used, then pens body materials as well, packaging will add to a cost, and of course the fit and finish. a good pen can save you money here as it wont quite be perfect, and i do mean perfect, where a great pen will have everything JUST so, which usually means more money

And the pens I love the most, are my more expensive ones, some vintage some new, and the way they write, is heads and tails about my cheaper ones. They are smoother, the ink always flows the exact second the nib hits the page, they never fail me. A smooth NIB is like nothing else, i think once you have had one you would understand, whether or not at that point you would think it worth the money, well thats a different matter lol