Spread the loveThis year’s top picks combine high-quality ink formulas with durable tip constructions, ensuring longevity and consistent performance. Here’s a look into the cream of the crop: ...

The pens cost hundreds of dollars; the refills, about $12. You can cut down a Mont Blanc refill with an exacto-knife and reap all its benefits inside an inexpensive Pilot G2.

By contrast, the Pilot Metropolitan is a bit more of a standard-looking “pen,” and grips like one. It’s not flashy or stylized, which is both a pro and a con in my book.