I remember back in 2016, when I seemingly was the only pen blogger who had reviewed a product from German pen maker Otto Hutt, based in famed jewelry town Pforzheim since the 1920s. Over the past several years, Otto Hutt has made a concerted effort to expand beyond Europe into the U.S. market, and since I first reviewed the Otto Hutt Design06, I’ve had the opportunity to look at their flagship Design07, and today, the Design03. Each pen has been a pleasure to write with, and I remain an unabashed fan of Otto Hutt as a brand.
The Otto Hutt Design03 in blue (right) shown with the Otto Hutt Design06 in matte black (left).
The Design03 has a completely different look and feel from either of the two pens that I’ve previously reviewed. While both the Design06 and Design07 feature a “flat top” look, the Design03 is rounded, with a more modern silhouette and a more visible logo on the barrel. The Design03 is also the slimmest pen of the three I’ve reviewed, and would easily fit within a planner loop or pen sleeve (though I’d be sure to clip it in because the Design03 is on the heavier side).
The Design03 makes for a classy looking workhorse.
And let’s talk about weight. Like most Otto Hutt offerings, the Design03 is a metal pen, which gives it some heft. But also like the Design06 and the Design07, this fountain pen is exceptionally well balanced. Due to the shape and cap design, the pen doesn’t post, but the balance is such that the heaviest part of the barrel rests comfortably between my thumb and forefinger. I had no issues with hand fatigue, but as with most metal pens, those sensitive to the weight of their writing instrument may want to try this one in person before you buy it.
For me, this pen writes a perfect medium line. The balance of this pen makes me feel as though I have a lot of control over my writing, which I appreciate.
Finally, the nib. Otto Hutt uses bicolor stainless steel nibs that I believe are sourced from Bock, though they are customized for Otto Hutt. Every Otto Hutt nib I have used has been expertly tuned for a smooth writing experience that’s never caused me any issues. Indeed, the nibs on my Otto Hutt pens are some of the most reliable in my collection. The Design03 is no exception, writing a smooth, medium-wet line with consistent ink flow. (The ink shown here is Scribo Grigio, a dark grey-blue that’s a current favorite.)
One distinction between the Design03 and the Design06 is the lack of visible branding on the Design06 (other than the cap finial and cap band).
Takeaways and Where to Buy
As always, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to review this Otto Hutt fountain pen. Despite the brand’s somewhat inexplicable lack of traction stateside, I remain a huge fan and try to get my hands on them whenever I can. Otto Hutt’s steel nibs are smooth, reliable writers, and I personally find their pens fit my hand perfectly. The matte texture that they use on both the Design06 and the Design03 (featured here) makes for one of my favorite tactile writing experiences.
if you’re interested in trying Otto Hutt out for yourself, please visit Pen Heaven, a UK-based retailer that carries a wide-variety of fountain pens, ink, and related writing accessories. The Design03 pictured here is currently priced at $162, which hits the sweet spot for a pen of this quality. The pen accepts standard international cartridges, and also ships with an Otto Hutt converter. Many thanks to Pen Heaven for making this review possible!
The pen featured in this post was sent to me free of charge by Pen Heaven, for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this review. This post does NOT contain paid affiliate links and I am not compensated for any purchases made from Pen Heaven.