PILOT "CUSTOM 823 - Plunger Type/Transparent Brown (nib : Fine)

Since I first got into fountain pens several years ago, the Pilot Custom 823 has always been on my radar. I have seen countless videos and blog posts calling it a “grail” pen and comparing it to pens like the Pelikan M1000 or even Montblanc models. While those comparisons may be a bit exaggerated, I can confidently say this pen lives up to its reputation in its own right. The Custom 823 is an absolute pleasure to write with, hold, and even just look at. The transparent brown body is beautiful and refined, and the overall build feels thoughtful and well balanced. The medium nib is smooth and consistent, laying down a generous, controlled line of ink that makes long writing sessions effortless. Despite being a vacuum filler with a large ink capacity, this is the pen I end up refilling the most, simply because I cannot stop using it. This may sound overly enthusiastic, but if you have been in the fountain pen hobby for a while and have the budget for it, I genuinely think this pen is worth experiencing. It is a standout piece that feels special every time you pick it up.

The Pilot Custom 823 with the No.15 Medium nib is an outstanding fountain pen. It’s a smooth, wet writer with wet ink flow (especially when paired with wetter inks), and the large ink capacity means you don’t have to refill often. The pen has a decent grip for medium hands and is easy to fill. The 14k Medium nib is a bit broader than your steel Japanese medium nibs, and writes almost like a Japanese broad. At the current Amazon Japan import prices, its well worth the money . One thing you have to be wary about is opening the valve if you want wetter writing, or are writing for longer sessions, as this will make the ink flow easier. The only real con is maintenance, and when you want to switch inks or completely dry it out for it too rest, however this is such a good pen and practical pen I don't think it'll leave your rotation.

The Pilot Custom line's design is kind of ho-hum...mostly cigar shape bodies, hardly any exciting colors, almost all of them similarly sized...but appearance alone shouldn't be the primary reason to look at the Custom line. Most Pilot fountain pens are cartridge/converter pens, from the bottom to the top of the price range. If you want something with a piston filling mechanism, Pilot has only one pen: the Pilot Custom Heritage 92...and, on the other hand, you want a pen with a vacuum filling system, there is also only one: the Pilot Custom 823. Q: What's the advantage of a vacuum filling system? A: Greater ink capacity; Custom 823 vac filler (2.55ml) versus the Custom Heritage 92 piston filler (1.28ml) or all of the other pens' cartridge/converter capacity (1.03/1.23ml). If you tend to stick to one brand's ink color for a long time, like Pilot Blue or Pilot Black, and write for longer sessions at a time, the Custom 823 is the ideal choice. Q: What other reasons are there for calling this a GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) pen? A: The nib! It's a Pilot #15 nib (roughly equivalent to a JoWo #6), 14kt gold, in yellow gold color, available in F, M, B, and Signature sizes. No specialty nibs, no calligraphy nibs, no flex nibs. But for longer writing sessions, the smoothness of this nib is phenomenal, even in size F! The signature nib is similar to a Broad stub nib; vertical strokes are broad, horizontal strokes are Medium, all of them are buttery smooth. Q: What color of Custom 823 pen can I get? A: The Custom 823 is a "Demonstrator" pen, which means you can see through the walls of the pen, somewhat. The available colors are Amber, and Smoke, which allow you to see the ink level better than an ink window...but you won't really be able to see the ink color. There is also a non-colored clear demonstrator (new to the US since 2024) which allows you to see all of the pen's internal plumbing, and lets you enjoy your ink in living color. Q: What if I want more nib options? A: #1 alternative is the Pilot Custom 743, which is similar to the Custom 823, available in black or green with gold trim, has 14 different #15 nibs to choose from. #2 alternative is the Custom Heritage 912. Almost identical to the Custom 743, available in black with silver colored trim, but with flat instead of rounded ends ("Heritage" means it'll have flat ends, AND a sword-shaped clip), available with 15 different #10 (between JoWo #5 and #6) nib options. Both pens are (Pilot proprietary) cartridge/converter pens. Q: What if I want a bigger pen and/or spend more money? A: Pilot's got you covered. #1 The Pilot Custom 845 Urushi; has flat ends, but a ball clip, so it's not a Heritage. Beautiful red or black Urushi lacquered pen made from Ebonite, with gold trim and a gold and rhodium colored #15 nib...about three times as expensive as the Custom 823. #2 The Pilot Custom Urushi; has flat ends, but a ball clip, so it's not a Heritage. Beautiful red or black Urushi lacquered pen made from Ebonite, with gold trim and a gold and rhodium colored massive #30 nib...about five times as expensive. Both pens use the same cartridge/converter sizes as their much more affordable siblings. Both pens will impress with their artisanal beauty and hand-painted lacquer, but will write about the same as the Custom 823, have fewer nib options, and will run out of ink more than twice as quickly. Okay, those two-toned nibs look nicer, and the #30 nib may write with a little more bounce, but not by much. And if I had $1,500 to spare, I might have to buy one just to prove I'm right...LOL.

I'm glad I purchased this fountain pen. It writes smoothly and looks stunning.

This pen has the classic look and feel of a nice quality fountain pen. I chose a medium nib to suit my personal writing style. The nib is not particularly smooth and writing feels a little "scratchy" but that is my only complaint. The vacuum-filling system works fabulously and dispenses ink smoothly with little maintenance. I didn't need the fancy gift box and this product was well worth the money for the longevity that I anticipate getting out of it.

Super lekkere vulpen, met grote capaciteit inkt.

If you are a interested in fountain pens this is one of the Holy grail pens - I love mine its amazing - i sometimes find myself trying to invent excuses to write with this - its that good .

An absolute must have for pen lovers !

I did a huge amount of research before I bought this fountain pen. The reviews were not wrong. Having used a fountain pen all my life (the last one lasted 27 years), I really wanted something that would not only last but provide a great writing experience. This fountain pen is fantastic. Wrote beautifully from the very first time I used it. It's incredibly smooth and starts first time every time even when the cap has not been replaced. Whatever you do, don't hesitate, buy this pen immediately, you will not regret it. I would love to buy another one just to fill it with a different colour ink. This pen is so good that it's not worth spending more money on more expensive options. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. I bought the medium nib, which was slightly finer than my previous pen (a Waterman) with a medium nib. Medium is fine enough not to be too fine and broad enough not to be too broad (that's why it's medium)! I can recommend this pen without hesitation. By the way, the plunger system is a breeze to use and makes refilling the pen less frequent.

Great price