Does the brass finish stay shiny or does it tarnish?

The brass is uncoated and will develop patina naturally through handling and exposure to air. It darkens over time, gaining depth and character. You can polish it back to brightness with metal polish if you prefer a shiny finish, but the pen is designed to age visibly.

What kind of ink cartridges does this pen use?

It accepts standard international cartridges or a converter for bottled fountain pen ink. The #5 nib size is a common European standard, so cartridges and converters are widely available from multiple manufacturers.

Is the textured grip uncomfortable for long writing sessions?

The rhombus pattern is milled rather than knurled, so the edges are crisp but not sharp. The texture distributes across the barrel rather than concentrating in one spot, which spreads the friction and reduces fatigue. Most writers find it secure without being abrasive.

How heavy is the pen compared to a plastic fountain pen?

Solid brass is significantly heavier than resin or aluminum. The weight gives the pen momentum and presence on the page, which some writers prefer for control. If you're used to lightweight pens, the difference will be noticeable during extended writing.

Can I use this pen for calligraphy or line variation?

The steel nib is rigid and designed for consistent line width, not flex. It will produce clean, even strokes suited to everyday writing, note-taking, and correspondence. For expressive calligraphy or line variation, a flex nib or dip pen would be more appropriate.

Black Forest Pens Rhombus Fountain Pen - Brass

The 3-second version

Rhombus pattern milled into solid brass for all-over textured grip
Uncoated brass develops patina and character through daily handling
#5 steel nib in fine or medium, accepts international cartridges
Brass develops patina and darkens with use
Steel nib offers no flex for calligraphy
Heavier than aluminum or resin pens

Why it's on GiftsFeed

Machined brass body with geometric grip milled into the metal

Most textured pens concentrate grip in a single knurled section near the nib, leaving the rest of the barrel smooth. That works until your hand position shifts or you rotate the pen while thinking. The Rhombus distributes friction across the entire writing surface, so wherever your fingers land, they hold.

The pattern also solves the visual problem of brass: plain metal bodies look unfinished, but coatings and plating hide the material's best quality—the way it changes with time. Milling the texture directly into the brass preserves that aging process while giving the surface enough complexity to read as intentional, not incomplete.

Good gift when

Writers who prefer metal pens that age visibly over time
Anyone who wants grip texture without rubber or knurling
People switching from ballpoint to fountain pen for the first time
Daily writers looking for a substantial, machined tool

Skip it if Brass patina bothers you, or you need a pen that stays polished and uniform without maintenance

Specs

Material: Brass
Nib: #5 steel, fine or medium
Ink system: Standard international cartridge or converter
Origin: Made in Germany

What's included

Black Forest Pens Rhombus fountain pen
Steel nib (fine or medium)

If you're giving it

No sizing to guess

Nib size (fine or medium) should match the recipient's writing style and pressure.

The details

The barrel carries a repeating diamond pattern cut directly into the brass. Each rhombus is milled as part of the machining process, turning the entire surface into a textured grip that doesn't rely on coatings or separate sections. The geometry gives your fingers purchase without adding knurling or rubber.

Brass construction means the pen gains weight and character as it ages. The metal develops patina over time, showing use in a way that stainless steel or aluminum cannot. Uncoated brass darkens and acquires depth through handling, or you can polish it back to brightness if you prefer.

The #5 steel nib is a standard European size, available in fine or medium widths. Steel nibs deliver consistent line variation without the flex of gold, making them well-suited to everyday writing rather than expressive calligraphy. The nib accepts standard international cartridges or a converter for bottled ink.

Black Forest Pens machines each pen in Germany. The rhombus pattern is not decorative alone—it changes how the pen sits in your hand, distributing friction across the entire grip zone rather than concentrating it in a single textured ring. The result is a writing instrument that feels deliberate in construction and secure during use, built to handle daily pressure without wearing smooth.

Galen Leather

Black Forest Pens Rhombus Fountain Pen - Brass

German-made fountain pen built from solid brass, finished with a repeating rhombus texture

$167at galenleather.com

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Buy from Galen Leather

Ships and sold by Galen Leather. About this merchant

The 3-second version

Rhombus pattern milled into solid brass for all-over textured grip
Uncoated brass develops patina and character through daily handling
#5 steel nib in fine or medium, accepts international cartridges
Brass develops patina and darkens with use
Steel nib offers no flex for calligraphy
Heavier than aluminum or resin pens

Cheaper alternatives

Questions

Does the brass finish stay shiny or does it tarnish?: The brass is uncoated and will develop patina naturally through handling and exposure to air. It darkens over time, gaining depth and character. You can polish it back to brightness with metal polish if you prefer a shiny finish, but the pen is designed to age visibly.
What kind of ink cartridges does this pen use?: It accepts standard international cartridges or a converter for bottled fountain pen ink. The #5 nib size is a common European standard, so cartridges and converters are widely available from multiple manufacturers.
Is the textured grip uncomfortable for long writing sessions?: The rhombus pattern is milled rather than knurled, so the edges are crisp but not sharp. The texture distributes across the barrel rather than concentrating in one spot, which spreads the friction and reduces fatigue. Most writers find it secure without being abrasive.
How heavy is the pen compared to a plastic fountain pen?: Solid brass is significantly heavier than resin or aluminum. The weight gives the pen momentum and presence on the page, which some writers prefer for control. If you're used to lightweight pens, the difference will be noticeable during extended writing.
Can I use this pen for calligraphy or line variation?: The steel nib is rigid and designed for consistent line width, not flex. It will produce clean, even strokes suited to everyday writing, note-taking, and correspondence. For expressive calligraphy or line variation, a flex nib or dip pen would be more appropriate.