When on the hunt for that perfect fountain pen, felt tip or pencil, simply searching the noun ‘stationery’ doesn’t quite cut it. You’ll instead be met by an array of options for – albeit beautiful – pieces of paper and envelopes adorned with spectacular florals and gold leaf for all your letter-writing needs.
Now that’s all well and good, but you’ll need the perfect instrument to pen these fair letters with. Likewise, if you’ve recently hopped on the bullet journal trend, you might want to pick up more than one writing tool to decorate your planning pages with that necessary pop of technicolour.
We don’t know exactly how, but writing notes, plans and dates with a piece of stationary that you really like helps you remember them better. Take it from those of us who were ridiculed for spending hours perfecting the colourful anatomy copied from biology textbooks onto flash cards, yet ended up with the A*’s to prove the theory. (That’s called a humble brag, we think).
Here at ES Best, we simply refuse to jot down even the smallest of notes with anything that isn’t the uni-ball Vision Elite Rollerball Pen. It’s a problem. Nevertheless, we are all both artsy and crafty in nature and therefore never pass up an opportunity to make use of some fun and funky stationary.
Whether it’s fine liners, pen sets, posh fountain pens or seriously good pencils you want, we’ve provided a round-up of our favourites. Keep scrolling if you’re a stationary geek.
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Liberty Floral Pen Set
Can’t get enough of those iconic Liberty florals? Bring your personal workspace up a notch with this delightful trio from our favourite department store. The capped ballpoint pens feature black ink and adorable rose gold hardware. You certainly won’t be putting these pens down.
Buy now £21.99, Liberty
Caran D’Ache Colour Treasure Ecridor Sunlight ballpoint pen gift set
If you’re looking to splash out on some serious stationary, you can’t go wrong with this Colour Treasure Ecridor Sunlight ballpoint pen by premium brand Caran D’Ache.
Known for their exceptional range of high-end writing instruments, Caran D’Ache was founded in Geneva in 1915 and has been at the top of their game ever since. The name itself means pencil in Russian, and has its roots in the Turkish word ‘kara-tash’, which means black stone – a reference to graphite.
This particular ballpoint pen is made from 100 per cent aluminium and comes with a leather case, gold metal box, rainbow sleeve and a Goliath cartridge in medium black. Finely engraved with a sun-effect diamond guilocharge, the pen’s design seeks to recreate the arc of a rainbow. It’s definitely a gift worth saving up for.
Buy now £250.00, Selfridges
uni-ball Vision Elite E Airplane Safe Rollerball Pens Black (Pack of 3)
The pièce de résistance of this article. A tried and true ES Best favourite.
We’re not quite sure how, but this pen ensures your handwriting remains silky smooth, gliding between every stroke of the pen. The ink is relatively thick, so you have to take care not to smudge it while jotting away, meaning this pen is perhaps not the best option for left-handers. The 0.8mm rollerball pen also features a pocket clip and a grip area for extra comfort while writing.
The Vision Elite also come equipped with airplane safe technology, which prevents leaks due to changes in pressure – making it perfect for the frequent traveller. You can pick up this dream instrument in blue, black or red.
Buy now, WHSmith
Hightide Timber & Brass Pencil
Crafted by Japanese brand Hightide, these timber and brass pencils are a delicate and stylish option for the note-taker who prefers a pencil full o’ lead. Despite the sleek and balanced American cedar wood casing, the lead is 2mm thick, making it a strong and robust tool no matter the writing task at hand.
Buy now £17.00, Katie Leamon
Faber-Castell Grip 2010 Fountain Pen and Ballpoint Set Coconut Milk
This award-winning fountain pen with Faber Castell’s signature ergonomic grip design is a fan-favourite for a reason. The triangular shaped profile boasts raised grip dots to prevent slippage and smudging, while the push-button retract system ensures you can control the flow of ink at all times.
Available in multiple sizes for both right and left-handers, this is pen is an ideal option for those looking for a stand-out, refillable fountain pen for daily use.
Buy now £18.00, Cult Pens
Uni-ball One Gel Pen 7 Color set 0.38mm Fika Color Limited set Made in Japan
Another set by our favourite brand Uni-ball, this time in a gorgeous array of pastel tones. Boasting a similar, gel-like consistency, these push-top ballpoint pens nevertheless feature a finer finish (0.38mm, to be exact) for greater detail and control. Ideal for the journal-obsessed, the highly pigmented colours are simply divine.
Buy now £18.74, Etsy
Caran d'Ache Les Crayons De La Maison Edition 9 Writing Pencils (Pack of 4)
We’d be remiss not to include a set of graphite pencils from the brand whose name literally refers to the writing tool in Russian. These four HB pencils have been crafted from reconstituted linden wood. However, what truly marks these pencils as luxurious is the fact that they are scented with perfume by Mizensir – a Genevese perfume house founded in 1999. The perfume itself is aptly named ‘Memories of School Days’ for the utmost feelings of nostalgia.
Buy now £20.00, WHSmith
Heritage Pencil Collection
This one is for the true stationary nerds out there. This Heritage Pencil Collection made by the Musgrave Pencil Company is your very own piece of stationary history. The family-owned, 100-year old pencil factory has witnessed major shifts in American manufacturing and has thus created writing instruments that change with the times.
This particular collection features 12 of the company’s most recognisable designs, and all the pencils are housed in one delightful jumbo pencil - making it a wonderful two-in-one desk caddy. Yes please.
Buy now £24.40, Present & Correct
Tombow Irojiten Colour Pencil Set
Otherwise known as a colour dictionary, or colour encyclopaedia, this wonderful set of high-quality, wax-based coloured pencils by Tombow is every rainbow lover’s dream. Each set of three pencils has a particular colour-theme and story attached to it. Choose from ‘Rainforest’, ‘Woodlands’ or ‘Seascape’ and brighten up your daily written iterations in an instant.
Buy now £49.00, Cult Pens
Crystal Glass Dip Pen
For the modern, expert calligrapher, scoop up these eye-catching glass dip pens to truly elevate your practice. With three pens and six bottles of ink included, this set is an absolute bargain. The glass pens are hand-made from borosilicate glass and feature a liner grooved nib for easy handling and writing.
Whether you’re using these glass pens on the daily or just for special letters, they make for some wonderful home-office décor.
Buy now £20.99, Amazon
Tombow Cozy Times Blended Lettering set
This collaboration between Tombow and Tanja has resulted in a unique lettering set with the casual calligrapher in mind. Practice your cursive with these expertly made brush pens which are designed so that the colours seamlessly blend into a gradient of your choosing. A pencil, eraser, fine liner and black brush pen is included in the set, alongside a handy blending guide.
Buy now £35.00, Selfridges
