Choosing the Perfect Father's Day Gift Pen

By Daniel Whitehouse

Graphic with happy fathers day sign

Choosing the Perfect Father's Day Gift Pen

By Daniel Whitehouse

If your dad is anything like mine, the search for a Father’s day gift he doesn’t already have is an impossible task, but finding him a relevant present he’ll use everyday and love doesn’t have to be. I invite you to consider getting him a Father's day gift pen.

Personalized pens are practical enough for any dad, no matter what he does, and can be completely unique to him.

In this article, we are going to talk about how to choose the right pen for your dad for Father's Day whether he is constantly working on projects around the house or relaxing with a video game.

Where to Start with Writing Instruments

Now, when I am looking to buy a pen as a gift for someone I always like to start by asking myself a few questions:

  1. What kind of pen do I see him using? Is it a ballpoint? A rollerball? A fountain pen? 

  2. What is his style? Is he very professional and put together or more comfortable in a pair of jeans and a favorite t-shirt? 

  3. How does he use his pen? Is he constantly writing at a table or out and about pulling a pen out of his pocket? 

With those questions in mind, let's look at three different "types" of dads, how they use their pens, and what kind of pens we think they will be proud and excited to use this Father's Day.

The Dad on the Go

This dad is the kind of guy who is constantly moving from task to task. His job may be out on a worksite, visiting different locations, or walking from patient room to patient room. 

This dad always has his hands in a project or fixing something around the house.

I like to focus on practicality when searching for a Father's day gift pen in this case. He needs a pen that is durable, functional, and easy to carry. Ballpoint pens fit that bill perfectly.

They are ready to write at any moment, they dry almost instantly, and they can write on pretty much any surface. 

Something with a quick, easy click-action and something that has a smaller profile for portability is super handy if he is constantly taking his pen in and out of is pocket.

Durability is also something to consider since the writing instruments will need to stand up to a work day.

Further Reading: What are the Best Ballpoint Pen Brands?

Great Options to Think About When Buying a Father's Day Gift Pen

The Parker Jotter

Light weight, slim profiled, and durable as all get out, the Parker Jotter has long been an Everyday Carry Pen because it is the quintessential workhorse pen.

Parker Jotter Stainless Gold Trim Gel Pen, a great Father's Day Gift Pen choice

Addictive click action and smooth ink refill makes this pen a steal at around $20.

The Dayspring Richmond Matte Black Set

A set made up of a ballpoint pen and a mechanical pencil, the Richmond is sleek, minimal, and solid.

The Richmond Matte Black Pen and Pencil Set Ready for Fathers Day in a Dayspring Pens gift box

It's a great middle of the road set at around $30.

The Waterman Expert Stainless Chrome Trim Ballpoint

Durability is a given with the Waterman Expert Stainless Ballpoint. The stainless steel finish could survive a tank and the Waterman quality ballpoint is unparalleled.

Personalized Waterman Expert Stainless Ballpoint

A luxury pen that can stand up to a hard days work, the Waterman Expert comes in at roughly $140.

The Weekday Warrior Dad

This dad works his nine to five from his office whether that’s remote at home or in the office building. Maybe he likes to do the morning crossword or keeps a physical planner.

Whether crunching numbers or building a website, a majority of his time is at his desk. 

Since this father is doing his work at his desk, I find he has a lot of freedom in what he writes with.

I like to recommend fountain pens or even rollerballs for this dad. They give a unique, smooth writing experience perfect for jotting down notes and marking up documents. 

Look for a fountain pen with a comfortable weighted body allows for longer periods of writing without hand cramping. 

You can find a wide range of styles from something modern and architectural to something classical with finesse so you can tailor the Father's day gift pen to his style.

Discover More: What Are the Types of Fountain Pens?
 

Father's Day Gift Pens to Consider

The Dayspring Alexandria Fountain Pen

An entry level fountain pen, there is nothing to fear with getting this pen. The Alexandria Fountain Pen is simple to load and has a nice medium to large barrel.

Personalized Dayspring Alexandria Red Fountain Pen, a fantastic option for a Father's Day Gift Pen

Each Alexandria comes with a converter and two universal ink cartridges at approximately $35.

The Cross ATX Blue Rollerball

Architectural and futuristic, the Cross ATX just looks so cool.

Personalized ATX Blue Rollerball

With gel ink inside the pen, the ATX is one smooth writer from an American company, starting at $80.

The Cross Century II Black Fountain Pen

A classic pen with all the right details, the Century II is a thing of beauty. The pen inks a fantastic writing line.

Personalized Century II Black Gold Fountain Pen is a great looking Father's Day Gift Pen

A memorable addition to the Cross collection, the Century II is around $165.

The Father of the Boardroom

Somewhere in between the dad on the go and the dad working from his office, this father is a go getter, taking meetings with clients or running his own business.

He might be the head of the office or someone who takes their personal style seriously to present who they are and show their respect to their employees.

When I think about this type of dad, his writing instruments are an extension of how he dresses and approaches a room. I like to suggest something that is equally practical, but makes a statement in how it appears and how it writes.

That can mean a writing set like a pen and pencil that offers flexibility, but I like to think of the rollerball as the best writing style for this dad. Rollerballs have the ready to write practicality of a ballpoint, but the beautifully smooth liquid line of a fountain pen which means they make a signature look impressive. 

Handwriting Engraving

And speaking of signatures I want to mention my favorite option for personalization: engraved handwriting.

Engraved Handwriting puts his signature on the pen making it completely unique to him. His Father's Day gift pen will make a statement that perfectly represents what he does and the documents he has signed.

Related Reading: 20 Best Rollerball Pens to Give as Gifts

Recommended Father's Day Gift Pens

Dayspring Pens Monroe Gold Set

18k gold-plating is a rarity on a pen set and looks fantastic in this classic take on a click pen.

 

Engraved Monroe gold set in display box makes a great Father's Day Gift Pen

 

 

The Dayspring Monroe Gold Set comes with a black ink ballpoint and 0.7mm mechanical pencil with a comfortable ergonomic rubber grip.

Waterman Hemisphere Stainless Gold Trim Rollerball

Finessed and detailed, the Waterman Hemisphere is a Dayspring Pens staff favorite with the rollerball iteration being the most used pen in the office.

Personalized Waterman Hemisphere Stainless Gold Trim Rollerball

Durable and fancy with 23k gold appointments, this pen looks great and writes even better.

Parker Premier Rollerball 

Parker's highest end luxury pen, the Premier Rollerball is stunning with its high gloss finish and precision gold bandings.

Personalized Parker Premier Rollerball: another incredible Father's Day Gift Pen choice

This is a boardroom, executive pen through and through.

The table below highlights different pens that are fantastic options for Father’s Day gifts:

 Pen Type Average Price Range Budget-Friendly Options Premium Collections
Ballpoint pen $10 - $150 Parker JotterWaterman Expert Montblanc Meisterstück
Fountain pen $20 - $500 Dayspring Alexandria Fountain Pen

Cross Century II

Rollerball pen $15 - $300 Cross ATX Parker Premier

Conclusion

Those are my tips for finding the best Father’s Day gift pen.

Really, finding the perfect pen for Father’s Day is about finding a gift you are excited to give, and I hope asking yourself these questions and thinking about what he does and how he uses his pens has helped you shop.

If you have any questions or suggestions that helped you find the perfect pen for Father's Day leave a comment.

daniel

Daniel Whitehouse is the President and CEO of Dayspring Pens. He uses his expertise with premium writing utensils to create exceptional, intentional products and craft easy-to-understand articles that help both new and experienced users learn more about their writing tools. He lives in Virginia where he and his wife are raising their four children.

To learn more about him and his insights about custom engraved gift pens, follow Daniel on LinkedIn.

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