Lamy AL-Star Graphite

This was one of the two pens I purchased as my foray into fountain pens. It's a lightweight pen, which initially I did not like, but taking into consideration the convenience of easily interchangeable nibs, comfortable and easy to acquire grip, and the overall streamlined design of it, it's clearly intended more for functionality than luxury, but it excels in this capacity. I jot down a lot of things in a pocket notebook, and with the fine nib and a very light touch, it's easy to keep things small. I could imagine travelling with this pen and being content with it if it was all I had.

Taking all of this into consideration, I would say the price is fair. The metal barrel and cap of this model gives it a more mature, modern, and masculine appearance to my eye, and I would recommend it as a good first fountain pen for anyone who is looking for something functional.