It doesn't take long for new fountain pen users to recognize that all fountain pen ink cartridges aren't created equal. While there is such a thing as a "standard international" ink cartridge and converter, it’s neither “standard” nor particularly “international”, as that term has essentially come to mean that the standard version "fits pens with JoWo, Bock, or Schmidt nib/feed assemblies." Nearly all of the Japanese brands, as well as some European brands like Lamy, use their own proprietary cartridge/converter format. Today I'll talk a bit about why I tend to prefer the Japanese-style cartridges to the standard international format.

Note: Whenever you buy a new pen from a brand you haven't previously used, ALWAYS check whether you also need a specific converter and/or cartridge to go with that brand.

Pilot Pens and Pilot Cartridges — Pilot pens such as the Custom Heritage 912, the Custom 74, and the Vanishing Point all take the proprietary Pilot Cartridge.

Pilot Makes My Favorite Ink Cartridge, Followed By Platinum

Why these two, you might ask? Capacity. While each format is unique to each brand, these cartridges hold a LOT of ink. Moreover, the "wide mouth" format of the cartridge both ensures better ink flow than the typical international cartridge (which has a narrower opening) and makes the cartridge easier to refill with ink of your choice using a pipette or small eyedropper rather than a syringe. Of course, part of the reason why these cartridges tend to work so well may be due to the proprietary nature itself, with the cartridge engineered to fit the brand's specific nib and feed.

Pilot Cartridge Stoppers — Pilot cartridges are among the easiest to refill, so there’s even an “aftermarket” for things like these small rubber stoppers if you want to refill a full set. (Search eBay or your online marketplace of choice.)

As an aside, there has been a lot of speculation as to why Pilot recently released the Iroshizuku Inks in cartridge form, and why they believe they can price these cartridges at the relatively high price point of $14 for six. Personally, I think it's because a large portion of users write with fine or extra-fine nibs (if not finer). Given that Pilot cartridges hold a decent volume of ink, six of these cartridges could last someone up to a year, especially if they don't write extensively by hand and, for example, use their pen to make occasional notes in a planner. (Standard Pilot cartridges are much less expensive, as are Platinum cartridges, and are sold in boxes of one dozen.)

While Sailor cartridges also feature a proprietary format with a wider opening similar to Pilot and Platinum, and work just fine, they don't hold as much ink. On the other hand, I find that Lamy cartridges have narrower openings similar to the Western-style Standard International cartridge. As a result, the ink doesn't flow quite as well, and Lamy cartridges can be difficult to puncture to the point where I sometimes worry I'm about to break the pen.

TGS Refill/Cartridge Drawer — Don’t be like me. Use your cartridges.

Takeaways and Lessons Learned Over the Years

At the end of the day, the proprietary systems of cartridges and ink converters can be both a pain to navigate and part of the charm of using fountain pens. Sure, it would be much more convenient to have a single universal format for all brands, and to not have to worry about stocking refills from multiple brands, but over time I've just come to accept that "the cartridge singularity" is not going to happen and learned to love the different shapes and peculiarities of each cartridge. My own opinion is that the Japanese pen companies make better cartridges than Western manufacturers. Not only do I get better performance - mainly ink flow - when I use these cartridges, but the cartridges seem to last longer on the shelf. My insanely busy week/weekend of work saw me cycling through several cartridges on the fly, and the number of half-evaporated cartridges I discovered in my office desk drawer stash (mostly standard short international) reminded me that these things don't last forever. Use 'em if you got em'!

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Fountain pen manufacturers introduced ink cartridges as a way to counteract the threat posed by ballpoints, which had offered a less messy way to refill a pen by eliminating the possibility of knocking over an ink bottle, dripping ink on your clothes, etc. Eventually, the “cartridge/converter” filling system became the default, with most modern fountain pens shipping with a sample ink cartridge alongside a converter that you can use to fill from an ink bottle (though lately many companies have been omitting the converter altogether, forcing you to buy it separately).

Cartridges often go ignored by die-hard fountain pen lovers. There’s definitely an attitude out there among certain segments of the pen community that if you use ink cartridges, you’re not a “real” fountain pen user. Heck, some people believe that if you use a converter, you’re not a real fountain pen user, because the only “real” fountain pen is one that features an integrated filling system like a piston. While I’ve been guilty of thinking like this in the past, I’ve long since changed my tune, especially as I’ve been traveling more for work. While I still opt for the converter most of the time, mainly because I have a huge collection of bottled inks and I enjoy the variety they offer, I do keep a steady supply of cartridges handy. Here are a few of the reasons that I sometimes prefer to use them:

They take up no space and are easy to change on the go. When you’re on the road, it’s quite easy to grab a matchbox-sized pack of Kaweco cartridges and stick it in your briefcase, as opposed to sealing an ink bottle in a plastic bag and worrying about leaks, breakage, and TSA inspections, among other things.
Cartridge inks are typically safe and low-maintenance. A general rule of thumb is that if an ink is made by a pen company (especially one that makes expensive pens), it’s probably safe to use in most, if not all fountain pens. With a few exceptions, most widely-available ink cartridges are made by pen companies because they need to have a refill to include in the box with a newly purchased pen. If you use ink cartridges made by the same company that manufactured your pen, I can almost guarantee you there won’t be a problem, and if there is the pen company will have to make it right.
Cartridges are inexpensive. Sure, on a “per milliliter” basis, ink bottles offer you the best bang for your buck, but when was the last time you finished an entire 50ml bottle of ink? If you’re not someone who journals or takes extensive notes, a $4 pack of cartridges might last you a very long time, even though you’re “paying more” for the ink itself.

For all the advantages, there are also some annoying things about ink cartridges, including many that keep me coming back to my converters and ink bottles whenever it’s practical:

Cartridges lack variety. While companies like Diamine, J. Herbin, and Monteverde release many of their inks in cartridge form, for the most part the range of colors available in bottles dwarfs the selection available in cartridges.
Difficulty cleaning and changing colors. Cartridges are convenient if you’re traveling and don’t mind using only a single color of ink for a few days to a week. If you’re a serial color-changer, however, cartridges can be a bit of a pain because there’s no easy way to flush the pen in-between ink swaps, unless you travel with a converter or bulb syringe.
You create plastic waste. One of the reasons that I’m drawn to fountain pens is because they don’t generate the large volumes of plastic waste that cheap disposable pens do. (I know it’s a drop in the bucket, but I do what I can.) Unless you refill them with a syringe and reuse, ink cartridges are thrown out once they run dry, going to the landfill along with your spent ballpoints.
Nostalgia. Let’s face it. Filling a fountain pen from a cartridge simply isn’t as fun as filling from a bottle, and doesn’t give you that same “nostalgia fix” that you get from inking up a pen, knowing you’re doing it the same way that people have done it for more than 100 years.

Note: Not all cartridges fit all pens. Different brands use proprietary cartridges and converters that will not fit other pens. For these pens, unfortunately, you have to purchase pen-specific cartridges, which may further limit your available ink s… — **Note:** Not all cartridges fit all pens. Different brands use proprietary cartridges and converters that will not fit other pens. For these pens, unfortunately, you have to purchase pen-specific cartridges, which may further limit your available ink selection and possibly require you to buy a lot of cartridges if you want to have the option available for all of your pens. Most other brands accept the standard international (generic) cartridge. Be sure to check the specifications on your pen before purchasing. Pictured here, from left, are cartridges from Lamy, Sailor, Diamine (Generic Short International), Platinum, and Pilot.

To sum it up, cartridges aren’t my favorite way to ink a fountain pen, and I would never consider using them exclusively, but they do have their place. I make it a point to have a steady supply of cartridges on hand to give me options when traveling, because they make a much cheaper, easier, and less messy alternative to traveling with an ink bottle or something like a traveling inkwell. Fountain pen ink cartridges are also widely available, and most of our site sponsors keep them in stock, including Pen Chalet, Vanness Pens, Anderson Pens, Goldspot, and Appelboom.

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