Our 2023 Holiday Gift Guide!
It is hard to believe that the holiday season is here! This time of year can be stressful, especially during the rush to purchase gifts for friends and family. We have made this guide to help you find the perfect gift for everyone on your list, all within your budget.
These whimsical Christmas cards are from a brand that is new to Phidon; Mellowworks!
Gifts under $50
LAMY Safari
The LAMY Safari is a great option for anyone who may be interested in using a fountain pen for the first time! It takes cartridges or a converter if you are looking to get a bottle of ink as well. The great thing about this pen is it comes in so many fun colours to choose from.
If you aren’t sure about which nib size to get, we recommend a Fine nib so the pen can be used on lower quality paper without the ink feathering, just in case the person you are buying for doesn’t have fountain pen-friendly paper. If you are looking for a smooth writing experience and want to use good quality paper, we really like the Medium nib.
TWSBI ECO Fountain Pen
We have been loving TWSBI pens lately! The ECO model starts at $47 and has a piston filler mechanism with a large ink capacity, allowing you to go longer before having to refill your pen. It comes in many colours and nib sizes ranging from EF to 1.1mm. We like pairing these pens with a matching ink colour, making this a perfect gift set.
TWSBI Precision Mechanical Pencil
If you are looking for something other than a fountain pen, the TWSBI Precision mechanical pencil is a great option. It has some weight to it which stops your hand from cramping when writing and it comes in 0.5mm and 0.7mm lead widths, as well as silver and black finishes.
Notebooks
Notebooks always make a great gift! We have many different notebooks in stock from all over the world. Some of our favourite brands are Life, Apica and Stalogy. We have many formats available ranging from lined, grid, dot grid and blank that are perfect for going back to school in January, or for starting a new journal.
Col-O-Ring Mini Ink Testing Book
Do you know of someone who loves ink? Getting them an ink swatching book may just be perfect! The Col-O-Ring testing books come with 100 sheets of paper all attached in one metal ring. It is great to be able to see what your bottled ink looks like on paper before choosing which colour you will use next in your pen.
Sailor Hocoro Dip Pen
The Sailor Hocoro dip pen is a comfortable yet compact dip pen. The kit comes with a Fine and a 1.0mm nib, perfect for writing or testing ink, but you can also purchase separate nib units to add on to the dip pen, such as the Fude or 2.0mm nibs.
Stickers and Washi Tape!
For anyone who loves to add cute stickers to their notebooks or journals, we have recently brought in stickers and tapes to the shop from Bande, the Little Red House, BGM and Mustard Beetle. We also continue to have our favourites from Midori and King Jim.
Bottled Fountain Pen Ink
If you know someone who already has a fountain pen, giving them a nice bottle of ink is a great idea! We have a wide range of brands and colours, and many inks come in lovely glass bottles to display on your writing desk. Some of our favourites include Pilot Iroshizuku and Graf Von Faber-Castell.
Gifts under $100
Rossi correspondence sets
We recently brought in new notecards from the Italian company ROSSI. There are many designs including cats, feathers and florals, like the ones here that have envelopes lined with elegant poppies. The paper quality is lovely and there are a range of sizes from smaller than 4” x 6” to B5 writing paper with matching envelopes.
LAMY CP1
The LAMY CP1 pen is a modern classic. Fitted with the same steel nibs as the LAMY Safari but with a sleek and narrow body, it is the next step up from the Safari and AL-Star models. This pen is perfect for lovers of good design.
The CP1 is available as a fountain pen, ballpoint, mechanical pencil and as a multi-pen.
Pen cases
We have waxed canvas pen cases from LOCHBY which will keep any aficionado’s pens safe. Their Quattro case has room for four pens on the inside, with extra pockets on the outside to store cartridges and other accessories. If you are looking for a leather case, the Treuleben leather pen sleeve is a compact storage solution to keep your pen safe.
Mystery KitS
Our staff picks mystery kits are perfect bundles of all of our favourite items at Phidon! Each of the staff members have picked out their own items to add to their kits. They are great gifts and are perfect for Secret Santa!
Classes at Phidon
Give the gift of a great experience at Phidon Pens! We offer classes for those interested in learning calligraphy as well as journaling techniques. In the New Year, we are offering many more classes, which are available for registration on our website.
Gifts Under $150
LAMY Studio
The LAMY Studio comes in a fountain pen, rollerball or ballpoint. It is made of steel and the weight is perfect for smooth writing.
There are several colours to choose from including black, imperial blue and even brushed stainless steel.
SEcrid wallets
These beautiful, compact wallets from Secrid are perfect for keeping your credit cards and ID safe, while also having a spot for cash and receipts. They are available in leather and vegan leather options. Both the Slimwallet and Miniwallet have one RFID-protected compartment and the Twinwallet has two, for double the storage space.
GIFts under $300
Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter
The Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter is an organizer system that allows you to clip three notebooks into a cover, securing them all in one place. The covers are made from a variety of materials including genuine leather and recycled leather. The beauty of this system is you can find notebooks that fit into this cover everywhere. The A5 size is the most popular cover, but B5 and A4 sizes are also available if you are looking for a larger format. If you would like something more pocket-sized, we also have B6 and A6 sizes.
LAMY 2000 ballpoint, mechanical pencil, and fountain pen.
LAMY 2000
The LAMY 2000 is an iconic pen- one that any pen aficionado should have in their collection! It was designed in 1966 to be a modern pen fit for the 21st century. Even today, it is one of the most sleek looking pens at the shop. The fountain pen is fitted with a 14k gold nib and is a piston filler pen, holding a large volume of bottled ink at a time. It is also available as a ballpoint pen, a rollerball pen, a mechanical pencil, and even a 4-colour ballpoint pen!
We recommend pairing this pen with a bottle of LAMY ink to match. The regular series from LAMY features standard colours such as black, blue, blue-black, turquoise, red and green. If you are looking for an ink with more variation or sheen, there is the LAMY Crystal ink series, which has some more stunning colours to choose from.
Blue Stone, Forest Green and Grenadine Custom 74 fountain pens
Pilot custom 74 fountain pen
The Custom 74 fountain pen from the Japanese brand Pilot has a lovely 14k gold nib and it is a great option for someone who likes more classic looking fountain pens. Made with a resin body in a variety of colours, these pens are timeless.
GIFTS under $500
Graf von Faber-Castell Tamitio LIne
The Tamitio pen has a heavy aluminum body with fine features such as a spring-loaded clip. The pens come in a lovely wooden box, perfect to give as a gift.
This is the black edition of the pen, and we have other colours as well, such as the vibrant India red fountain pen. This pen is also available as a ballpoint, rollerball and mechanical pencil.
OTHER GREAT GIFT IDEAS
Caran D’Ache Léman
One last product we would like to mention is the Caran d’Ache Léman pen series. There are a variety of designs, including the latest Terre D’Ombre release. The lacquered brass body and rhodium-plated accents make this pen truly elegant. The fountain pens have a luxurious 18k gold nib and are made in Switzerland.
Gift cards
Still not sure what to get for everyone on your list? We also have gift cards available!
We hope this guide has been helpful in finding gift ideas for the pen and stationery lovers in your life. Please contact us if you have any questions. Have a lovely holiday season!