Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber

Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber

$336.00

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on salePilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber

Product Code PN60558

In Stock

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Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber
Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber

on salePilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen - Amber

Product Code PN60558

In Stock

out of stock

Shop All Pilot
$336.00

MSRP $420.00

Color:
Amber
Amber Clear Smoke
Nib Guide

Not sure which size nib is best for you?

Try our Nib Nook tool to view and compare nib widths using our writing samples. Learn more ›

A unique alternative to the everyday fountain pen, the Pilot Custom 823 is in a league of its own. The translucent smoky amber cap and barrel, visible ink supply, and unique writing system make refilling effortless. This fountain pen features a 14k gold nib, matching gold trim, and a vacuum filling system. A simple, yet elegant design, the Custom 823 is great for everyday writing.

Each pen is merchandised in a silver sateen lined Pilot gift box with a 70ml glass bottle of Pilot Blue (same ink as Namiki blue) fountain pen ink.

It now comes with a Signature nib option as well. The Signature (S) nib blends the broader aspects of traditional nibs with the artistic flair of stub nibs, enabling stylish strokes and enhanced personal expression in your handwriting. Designed for increased flexibility, this nib allows for subtle variations in line width with changes in writing pressure.

Condition
New
Brand
Pilot
Type
Fountain Pens
Color
Brown
Demonstrator

Whether or not the barrel of the pen is translucent, allowing you to see the ink and filling mechanism inside.
Yes
Body Material
Resin
Cap Rotations

For pens with a screw-cap closure, how many rotations it takes to uncap/recap the pen.
1.75
Cap Type

How the cap is opened/closed from the barrel of the pen. Some common options include Snap-Cap, Screw-Cap, Magnetic Cap, or Capless (no cap).
Screw-cap
Compatible inks & refills

Which ink this pen will accept. Choices include bottled ink and various styles of pre-filled ink cartridges.
Bottled ink
Filling Mechanism

How the pen fills with ink. Click here to watch our video tutorial on common filling mechanisms.
Vacuum
Grip Material
Resin
Nib Size
Fine, Medium, Broad, Signature
Nib Color
Gold
Nib Material
14k Gold
Postable

Whether or not the cap fits securely onto the back of the barrel when open.
Yes
Retractable

Whether or not the nib/tip can retract into the body of the pen (usually for click or twist-open style pens).
No
Diameter - Body
12.5mm (0.5in)
Diameter - Cap (without clip)
15.6mm (0.6in)
Diameter - Cap (with clip)
19.8mm (0.8in)
Diameter - Grip (mm)

Measured from the place most people choose to rest their fingers, which varies with each pen.
10.5mm
Length - Body

The measurement from the back end of the barrel to the tip of the nib.
131mm (5.2in)
Length - Cap
71.5mm (2.8in)
Length - Nib

The measured length of the visible portion of the nib when it is installed in the pen, from grip to tip.
23mm (0.9in)
Length - Overall (Closed)
149mm (5.9in)
Length - Overall (Posted)

When the cap of the pen is posted onto the back of the pen body, this is the measurement of the entire pen including the nib.
164mm (6.5in)
Weight - Body

If a converter is included with the pen, this weight is reflected in the total.
19g (0.7oz)
Weight - Cap
10g (0.4oz)
Weight - Overall (g)
29.0g
Max Ink Capacity - Piston Vac

The maximum volume of ink that can fit in the pen when using the built-in piston or vacuum filling mechanism.
2.55ml

Customer Reviews

Based on 248 reviews
92%
(227)
4%
(11)
2%
(4)
2%
(5)
0%
(1)
A
Alfredo G.
Pilot custom 923

Super soft nib. Never clogs. Great to take in an airllane

D
Dale F.
Exactly what I hoped

I've been using fine-nibbed fountain pens. My regular pen rotation was a Lamy 2k, TWSBI 580 ALR, and a Diplomat Aero, all of which I loved. I thought they were nicely smooth, and I was satisfied. But, still, I kept reading various things that indicated I might like a medium nib, and that the Pilot Custom 823 would be a better fit for my writing style.

So, even though I haven't bought a medium nib pen for 35 years, and never spent more than $200, I kept seeing reviews that said the Pilot would be a fantastic pen. So, after a lot of research, I broke down and bought one.

Long story short, I haven't used any of my other pens since the Pilot arrived. I love how uncapping the pen, then unscrewing the vacuum stopper makes writing more deliberative. I love how smooth and wet the nib is. For just writing, it's so, so good. Everything just flows so smoothly. It's a perfect match for my preferred ink, Noodler's Baystate Blue.

The only downside is that it's not well suited for endorsing checks. Check paper is too absorbent for the wetness of the nib, so it bleeds through like crazy. So, it's back to the Lamy when checks need to be endorsed for deposit.

Other than that, though, I'm thinking of just de-inking my fine Diplomat and TWSBI pens, and putting them back in storage with my Pelikan Pura and my 30-year-old Cross pen.

I think the Pilot Custom 823 is the best writing pen I've had for many years.

L
Laura D.
BEST PEN EVER

This is the holy grail of pens! Love it so much, writes flawlessly and beautifully. Cannot recommend enough!

L
L.D.
Second Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen

This is my second one. I got the first one in fine and this one in medium. It is quite literally the best pen I have ever used. I don't feel the need to buy fountain pens anymore. I found my every day carry.

T
T B.
Dream Pen

This pen is a superlative writer. After inking it up it immediately wrote smoothly with a flawless line. It took me a few days to adjust to the Pilot Fine nib. The bulk of my EF and Fine nibs don't come close to this one and have a considerably thicker line not that that's a bad thing. I purchased this because of the ink capacity. I am a prolific hand writer and this pen...it is divine!

123

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I fill a fountain pen with ink? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

It depends on the pen's filling mechanism, which you can find in the Technical Specs section above. 

Here's a quick definition of the most common filling mechanisms:

  • Cartridge - A small, disposable, sealed plastic reservoir that holds fountain pen ink. These come pre-filled with ink, and typically you just push to insert them into place and you'll be ready to write! Check out our quick guide here.
  • Converter - A detachable and refillable ink reservoir that allows you to use bottled ink in a cartridge-accepting pen. Typically you will install the converter into the grip section, dip the nib/feed into the ink, and twist or pull the converter knob to draw ink into the converter. Here's a video for how to fill a cartridge/converter pen using a LAMY pen as an example.
  • Eyedropper - A pen that utilizes the entire barrel as a reservoir for ink. Ink is directly filled into the barrel, allowing for a high ink capacity. Here's a video on how to do it!
  • Piston - A type of filling system that uses a retracting plunger inside a sealed tube to draw ink into a pen. They are typically either twist or push-operated. These pens cannot accept cartridges or a converter, and only fill from bottled ink.
  • Vacuum - A push-style piston that uses pressure to fill the large pen body with ink. They seal the ink chamber when closed, making it ideal for flying without risk of leaking. Check out our video on how to use a vac filler here.

Check out more info on these filling mechanisms including a video on how to fill each one on our blog.

How do I clean this fountain pen? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

It mostly comes down to flushing out the pen with water, and sometimes a little bit of pen flush if the ink is really stuck. 

We put together a blog post with step-by-step instructions, or you can watch the video here:

We recommend a good cleaning every 2 weeks, and any time you change ink colors. Water will usually do the trick, but we recommend you use our Goulet Pen Flush if the ink has been left in the pen for a while and could have dried up, or when you’re switching ink colors.

For even more information about fountain pen cleaning, check out our Fountain Pen 101 video blog post.

What's your return policy? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

We accept returns for up to 30 days from purchase. You can read all our Return Policies here.

To initiate a return, please submit a request at the Return Portal. Our Customer Care team might reach out to you for more information.