The Pilot Metropolitan (sold as the Pilot MR in some markets) has been one of the most consistently recommended beginner fountain pens in the world since its release in 2012. It offers a smooth steel nib, a solid brass body, and a writing experience that would be impressive at twice the price. This guide explains why it holds that position, and which Pilot pens we stock that give you the same nib quality.
Please note: we don't currently stock the Metropolitan itself. If you want Pilot's nib at a similar price, the Pilot Kakuno and Pilot Prera are covered at the end of this guide.
What makes the Metropolitan special
Three things. The nib: Pilot makes their nibs in-house, and the Metropolitan's steel nib is one of the smoothest production nibs at any price point. The body: brass rather than the plastic used in most budget pens, giving it a substantial, premium feel without excess weight. The value: it comes with both a cartridge and a squeeze converter in the box, so it's ready to use either way, immediately.
The nib options
Fine (F): The most popular size. Produces a clean, precise line suitable for most handwriting. The right choice if you're unsure, or if your handwriting is average to small. Remember Pilot uses Japanese sizing — a Pilot Fine writes similarly to a Western Extra Fine.
Medium (M): Wetter and more expressive than the Fine, showing ink shading and character more dramatically. Better for writers with larger handwriting or those who want to see what fountain pen inks are capable of.
Italic (M): Available on selected colour variants. Produces mild line variation — broader downstrokes, thinner cross-strokes — giving handwriting a calligraphic quality without requiring strict pen angle.
Collections and colours
Standard Collection: Professional black, silver, and gold finishes. These are the understated, boardroom-appropriate versions.
Animal Collection: Barrel colours paired with embossed animal-skin-pattern accents. The same excellent pen with more character.
Retro Pop Collection: Vivid colours and bold patterns, often with an italic nib option. The most visually distinctive group.
Filling the Metropolitan
The Metropolitan uses Pilot's proprietary cartridge and converter system. The included squeeze converter lets you fill from any bottled ink, and Pilot's piston converters (sold separately) draw ink more smoothly with slightly larger capacity.
Because Pilot's system is proprietary, you need Pilot cartridges or Pilot converters — other brands won't fit. For full colour choice, a converter and a bottle of ink is the recommended approach: Pilot Iroshizuku bottled ink is the classic match, and Iroshizuku cartridges bring the same colours to any Pilot cartridge pen. See also our guide to Japanese fountain pen inks.
The Metropolitan family
Beyond the fountain pen, Pilot makes Metropolitan gel pens and mechanical pencils in matching designs, sharing the Metropolitan's brass body and matte finish.
Metropolitan vs LAMY Safari
The two most recommended starter fountain pens. The LAMY Safari is slightly larger, has a triangular grip for ergonomic guidance, and has swappable nibs in more sizes. Both pens use their maker's own proprietary cartridges. The Metropolitan has a more premium feel thanks to its brass body, is more compact, and is widely considered to have a smoother out-of-the-box nib. Writers who want guidance toward a correct grip often prefer the Safari; writers who want the best writing feel for the money often prefer the Metropolitan.
Caring for the Metropolitan
Clean the Metropolitan every four to eight weeks with clean running water. The converter should be flushed thoroughly before changing ink colours. The snap-on cap is convenient but less airtight than screw caps; the nib will dry out within a day or two if left uncapped, so keep it capped when not in use. Our guide on how to clean a fountain pen covers the routine.
Pilot pens we stock with the same nib quality
Pilot Kakuno: Pilot's own beginner pen, with the same smooth steel nib family at a lower price. Light plastic body, a hexagonal barrel that won't roll, and a smiling face engraved on the nib. The easiest possible introduction to Pilot.
Pilot Prera: The closest in spirit to the Metropolitan: compact, a little more refined, with a clear demonstrator body that shows the ink inside. A lovely pocket pen.
Where to start: the Pilot Kakuno for a first fountain pen, or browse the best beginner fountain pens to compare all the starter options we stock.
