Pilot Iroshizuku inks are now available in cartridges ($14 for 6 cartridges). Is this something we wanted as a pen community? I am not sure. If I said yes, I don’t thin I would have imagined each cartridge to cost $2.33 each. I mean I love Ku-Jaku but I like being able to put the ink into any pen that I own not just Pilot-specific cartridge-accepting pens.
Pilot Iroshizuku bottled ink is about $24 for 50ml (that’s $0.48 per ml). The bottled ink can be used in any fountain pen with a converter or piston filling mechanism while the cartridges will only work with Pilot fountain pens.
Of course, if you or someone you know is buying their first-ever fountain pen like a widely-recommended Pilot Metropolitan, then a pack of Pilot Iroshizuku cartridges would be a great starting point.
So, if you are trying to build a great starter kit for a graduate, fountain pen-curious friend’s birthday or what we like to think of as a “first taste is free” gift, then pairing a Pilot Metropolitan and a pack of Pilot Iroshizuku cartridges is a good way to do it. For more experienced fountain pen fans, this may not be your most flexible or cost-effective method to keep your ink needs met.
Of course, I say all this and then I thought “Oh, this is great to have at work in case my pens run our of ink during the day.” I think I drank the ink.
DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Vanness Pen Shop for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.
Thank you for the review, Ana! Great selling point, there with the starter pack concept.
The line seems to be missing my most-used Iroshizku ink, which matches my Metropolitan: Fuyu-Gaki. But with that said, another key selling point you neglected to mention is using a cartridge eliminates the frustrations (and spouting invective) inherent in using that darn CON-40. Having a cartridge might be just what some people need to use their pen more. It’s good to have options!
Oh, yes! Those stock CON-40 converters are awful! Maybe Pilot will add Fuyu-Gaki to the line-up soon?
I find cartridges an economical way to try an ink I may not like. I would rather be underwhelmed at $6 than spent $24 and then wonder what I’m going to do with all this ink.
You had me spitting my tea out laughing with the last comment
In Europe Pilot Metropolutans don’t come with a converter.. maybe that’s the precise target market lol.
I actually ordered some of these cartridges yesterday (Memorial Day sale so a bit of a discount). I use the Namiki cartridges in my beloved Cavaliers, and I’m rather bored with the small selection, so I was excited that they made available at least a few of the beautiful Iroshizuku colors in cartridge form. Yes, it’s embarrassing to admit, but I do like the convenience of pre-filled cartridges when that option is available.
Another selling point is that cartridges are an easy way to use a large variety of inks without having to invest in full bottles. Ink samples aren’t available everywhere and are too much of a hassle for many people even when they can be obtained relatively easy (and/or the sample size is often too small).