The Lamy 2000 is one of the most reviewed and revered fountain pens on the market. Classic styling, timeless design, notable brand recognition, and a remarkable history. I've mentioned this before, but I would probably bet it is on almost every pen fanatic's wish list and would even wager, for many, that it is often one of the first ventures into the world of more expensive fountain pens. With good reason: it is fantastic.
In the year 2000 in commemoration of the name "2000", Lamy released the Edition 2000 which features a slightly reversed styling of the original with a stainless steel barrel and cap, but with a Makrolon ring in the section. The popularity of the weight and material used in the Edition 2000 prompted Lamy to release as part of their permanent collection the 2000M in 2012 which featured an all stainless steel barrel, cap, and section which, when you first see one.... wow.
This pen was pretty high up on the "been waiting to pull the trigger" list for a long time, but the Lamy 2000 stainless steel fountain pen is one I've been excited to try and review. The regular Makrolon Lamy 2000 is a big step, but the stainless steel is almost an unnerving step due to the price. With a retail price of $375 (street price of $300) it is not cheap, but we'll get to whether it may be worth the price?
I picked mine up from Pen Chalet whom always has a good selection and price. There is a standing 10% off promo code CLICKYPOST for any orders you place which is always good to take advantage of. $30 off a stainless steel Lamy 2000? Win.
The first noticeable feature of the stainless Lamy 2000 is its weight. Being used to the Makrolon version which is made of a fiberglass (and not too heavy), the stainless initially feels like you are picking up a shot put. Inked up (with cap) this pen weighs in at a staggering 55g which is over twice that of the Makrolon. Really heavy pens generally don't appeal to me, but this one feels amazing. It is one of those surprises you aren't planning on but you enjoy.
Due to the weight I generally haven't been posting the cap (as it weighs 19g on its own) which really helps to balance the experience out while writing.
I'm going to just go ahead and say it; this is definitely one of the most stunning pens I've ever laid eyes on. In the design and style area it is a 10. Perfection, in my opinion. The Makrolon 2000 is a stunner, don't get me wrong, but something about the sleek brushed steel that has been painted over the original design is literally flawless. Is this the price talking?...
I go on... Uncapped especially, the shape of the barrel and uniformity of the all stainless finish make it look like beautiful modern art torpedo, but you WRITE with it. The craftsmanship and finish on this pen are so precise and I would venture to say I've not held a pen that lives up to this standard of quality, especially on a mass production scale. Every chamfer, seam, and polish is done to the point where I can't even point out a misstep or an area it may be lacking.
The clip that is on the stainless steel version of the Lamy 2000 shares the same shape and spring loaded function as that of the Makrolon, but instead of being brushed stainless (like the barrel) it is polished to a mirror finish. Personally I think this was a good move by Lamy. They could have just used the same brushed stainless as the other (save on parts/labor) and it still would have matched the pen, but the mirror finish allows it to stand out and contrast agains the more muted brushed barrel. It achieves the same dramatic result as the stainless against the black Makrolon cap but with texture instead of color. Pretty amazing, and kudos to Lamy.
I opted for the Medium nib in this particular Lamy as my Makrolon was a Fine. I enjoy the fine, but feel that with Lamy nibs that bigger seems to be better? Also, with a heavier pen, writing with the tip of a needle doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. I think the Medium was probably the perfect choice as it lays down a nice wet line that is comfortable with the overall pen itself. The nib I got was great, but there are reports from time to time of Lamy 2000 nibs being hit or miss.
The stainless steel version is also a piston only pen which requires bottled ink. If you are paranoid about ink levels at all times, this pen is not for you unless you can overcome that. There is no ink window and no way to see how much ink you have left... living on the edge! I'll admit that having no way to see how much ink is in the pen is a bit unnerving, but trying to incorporate some view into the pen would completely ruin the sleekness of the design. With all this beauty comes compromise people...
So the real question: is this pen worth the price tag? Personally, I'd say yes.
The added weight and the fantastic fit and finish (perfect, really) absolutely warrant the value. Are you going to get a better writing experience per se than the Makrolon? The same of course, but if you are looking for something in the metal and heavier pen realm, $300 street value is a good deal in my opinion.
I would compare it to other pens on the market like the Pelikan M405, full sized Sailors, or even the Metal Namiki Falcon which fetch price tags of $300+ all day. I like Lamy pens and feel they are generally high on the quality scale, but the stainless steel 2000 really blew me away.
As mentioned above, I picked mine up from Pen Chalet if you wanted to peruse the options.