Updated in January 2024 to include more detail about how engraving works on pens, and more explanation on writing feel with comparison to cost.

If you’ve been looking for ideas for the best engraved pens, here’s a fairly well-detailed list that I’ve prepped for you.

Our team spent a late week of December 2024 comparing our most popular engraved pens in terms of weight in hand, grip comfort, price and brand quality. Each pen is ranked from our favorite to the still-good but not quite as good option at the end.

Rank #1: Cross Calais Ballpoint Pen—Blue Lacquer

Cross Calais Ballpoint Pen - Blue Lacquer

Starting us off is this custom engraved blue Cross Calais.

It's one of Dayspring Pens' best-sellers and my personal favorite, and here's why: It's a stand-out engraved pen at an affordable cost.

A stunning, deep sea blue base — and a lustrous chrome cap and trim — accentuate this pen's sleek design. The blue has a depth of color that holds its own in the light.

A medium diameter barrel means that your name or company logo can be custom laser engraved, and is easily legible. The Calais is well balanced and fits comfortably in any hand. The result is a stand-out Cross pen that writes smoothly, for years and years.

When compared with cost this works out to be an excellent pen and affordable.

Pen’s Features:

• Medium-sized twist-action ballpoint with art-deco lines
• Blue lacquer barrel with lustrous chrome cap and appointments, with black ink
• Comes in Cross brand gift box
• Permanent personalized engraving that appears light brass on the pen cap or upgrades to deep-cut blue-filled engraving
• Engrave your pen by choosing fonts, writing hand, engraving text and more. How it Works

Other Specs:

• Cross Calais AT0112-3
• Barrel width: 1.2 cm
• Pen Weight: 1.2 oz.

Rank #2: Woodmark Rosewood Ballpoint Pen and Case

Woodmark Rosewood Ballpoint Pen and Case

This custom engraved Rosewood Ballpoint and Case is an excellent choice for a meaningful gift. The natural rosewood is finished with high-quality oil that highlights the natural grain and adds a protective topcoat.

The pen is comfortable, reliable, and long-lasting, perfect for daily use. Put your engraving on both the pen and the case, and make this a gift pen your recipient will be sure to remember.

Pen’s Features:

• Twist-action ballpoint pen in a matching case
• Rosewood carved ballpoint with gold accents and case with black ink
• Free custom engraving is black with the option for a gold engraving

Other Specs:

• Barrel width: 1.3 cm
• Pen Weight: 1.2 oz.

Rank #3: Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen

—Black

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This custom engraved Metropolitan fountain pen puts all other entry level fountain pens to shame. Perfect for jotting a quick signature or writing a long letter, this personalized Pilot pen is created of a durable, well-made body accentuated by a stainless steel nib that actually offers some flex and finesse without demanding you change how you hold a pen.

This Japanese precision pen has medium point nib and an ink cartridge as well as squeeze ink converter.

Uncap and write when you need. Personalization makes your text or logo stand out in a contrasting silver against the matte black lacquer finish. It has an ergonomic shape and a balance weight for holding comfort.

Pen’s Features:

• Capped fountain pen with medium stainless steel nib
• Black barrel with chrome trim and black ink
• Pen ships in a Pilot gift box
• Also available as a ballpoint or rollerball pen
• Custom engraving is silver 

Other Specs:

• Length - 5.4 inches
• Thickness - 0.52 inches
• Weight - 0.96 ounces
• Manufacturer SKU - MRFC1BLKMBLKP

Rank #4: Fisher Bullet Space Pen—Matte Black

 

 

A custom engraved Fisher Bullet Space Pen puts a little piece of history in your pocket at a price that doesn't hurt. Permanently housed in the New York Museum of Modern Art as a testament to industrial design, the Bullet is an extremely portable pen (capped, it is a mere 3.5in). Not only that, but this pen is a real life tv star with an episode of Seinfeld dedicated to it (The Pen).

So what is it actually like? It's easy, durable, looks great, and writes upside down, in the wet, or in extreme temperatures thanks to Fisher Space Pen's pressurized ink technology.

For a not-too-expensive cost, you get an all-metal construction pen ready to slide into your pocket or write in a moment's notice.

Pen’s Features:

• Medium point black ink ballpoint pen
• Personalized engraving cuts into the finish for a permanent tone-on-tone, light brass message
• Pocket pen is 5.35in with the cap posted
• Also available in chrome
• Gift for graduation, men, women, professionals, and birthdays
• Custom engraving included

Other specs:

• Length - 5.35 inches
• Thickness - 0.38 inches
• Weight - 0.7 ounces
• Manufacturer SKU - 400CL

Rank #5: Monroe Gold Plated Pen and Pencil Set

The Monroe 18 karat gold set is a well-known best-seller. It's an affordable, metal construction set of reliable stationery, and adds a touch of class to your journal writing or gift-giving.

The rubber grips, together with a medium barrel, make for a very comfortable writing experience. It's a great choice for any occasion, and there's ample space for a clean, noticeable custom engraving.

Pen’s Features:

• Click-action ballpoint and pencil set
• 18 karat gold-plated finish with black ballpoint ink and 0.7 mm lead in the pencil
• Ships ready to give in Dayspring Pens gift box
• Personalized engraving appears subtle as a tone-on-tone

Other specs:

• Barrel Size: 1.0 cm
• Pen Weight: 0.6 oz

How Does Custom Engraving Work?

One line of custom engraving is included free with your pen. You can choose your font, style, text and even whether the recipient is left- or right-handed.

You can choose a standard font, handwritten font or a logo. This can make for a special gift, if you choose something meaningful such as a line of from a poem or song. Or, simply custom engrave with someone's name.

If you'd like to say more, you can custom engrave over two lines, but there is a minor extra cost.

When you add your pen to the shopping cart, you'll see a button that says "Personalize Your Order". This will then lead you through a few simple steps so you can get your pen custom engraved.

What Should You Look for While Shopping for Your Pen?

#1 Quality: Firmness and Sturdiness of Material

Generally, the higher the quality of a pen’s build, the less cheap it’s likely to be. But this isn’t a rule that’s set in stone. Affordable pens can be both sturdy and durable.

The true yardstick for durability in your pen—what you should look out for while shopping—is its use of durable materials such as titanium metal, sterling silver, celluloid, rare woods, and ebonite rubber.

Also take note of the warranty offered by both the manufacturer and store. A longer warranty means that they're happy to stand by the quality of the materials.

#2 Appointments: The Pen’s Trim and Finish

A pen’s trim contributes to its overall aesthetic. Many engraved pens will make use of rhodium, silver, or even gold for the nib design, clip, and banding.

A well-designed pen leaves plenty of space for the engraved text and matches the outer trim of the pen’s body. More importantly, its capping mechanism should work smoothly and snugly, whether it twists, snaps or presses in.

#3 Writing Flow: Quality of Stroke

This is perhaps the most important aspect you should look for in a pen. The actual quality of writing experience of the pen. Its' penmanship, if you will.

An irreducibly subjective quality which only you can determine after having tried it yourself on a piece of paper.

As luxurious and meticulous as a pen’s design might be, you need to make sure it’s both something that feels good in the hand (i.e. balanced) and something that produces a decent stroke as you move it across the page. The nib width and type play a considerable role in this aspect.

#4 Type of Pen

Most pen enthusiasts are looking for something specific. Something that conforms to their everyday writing needs.

There are essentially three main types of pens from which to select: fountain pens; rollerball pens, and ballpoint pens.

The pen that’s generally regarded as the best option for engraving, that which speaks to the kind of luxurious personalization you’re probably looking for, is the fountain pen.

#5 Service: Customer Support

Another reliable marker of a good pen-maker is a focus not only on production but on optimizing, testing, and inspecting a sold pen for the promised experience after the sale.

Likewise, a good pen manufacturer will always offer a warranty/guarantee in case of a defect. This reinforces their credibility and strengthens their promise to sell you a durably made pen.

Signing Off—Why Dayspring Pens?

Whether you are searching for a meaningful gift for someone who’s retiring or moving on up the corporate ladder, Dayspring Pens provides you with the right luxury pens and exemplary customer service to match.

Sam Di Nardo is an author for Dayspring Pens, where she has honed her expertise in ballpoint, rollerball, gel and fountain pens since joining the team in 2018. From her initial role as an Engraver to becoming the Production Manager, Sam's journey has been marked by her passion for the history, manufacturing, and the unique value of gifted writing instruments. A graduate of Regent University with a degree in English Literature and a special interest in Old Norse literature, dive deeper into Sam's world and discover why she's your trusted guide in the realm of gift pens. Follow Sam on LinkedIn.