Review: Majohn Q1 Demonstrator Fountain Pen (Fine Nib)

If you haven’t noticed yet, I’ve grown quite fond of writing—especially with fountain pens. Naturally, that led me down the delightful rabbit hole of collecting not just pens, but also fountain pen-friendly notebooks and inks. I’ve written a few articles about some of the brands I’ve tried—here are two of my recent ones, with snippets below.

What’s a good fountain pen-friendly paper and where to source them in the Philippines

Fountain Pen Review: The Best Chinese Brand Fountain Pens in My Experience

I’ve also noticed that when I need to take a mental break from life’s stresses, I tend to watch fountain pen reviews on YouTube—especially ones about brands and models I haven’t tried yet. When my kids catch me watching one of these videos, they would sometimes tease me about having too many pens already. Haha! It was during one of these relaxing watching sprees that I stumbled upon a review of the Majohn Q1. Link below:

The Majohn Q1 is a charmingly chunky (some people call it chonky) pocket pen that punches well above its weight for its price. As a demonstrator, it offers the added bonus of seeing the ink slosh around in the barrel—an aesthetic treat for fountain pen fans who enjoy watching their tools in action.

Build and Design

The Q1 has a sturdy, compact build with a clear acrylic body that feels solid and well-made. Its squat, almost bulbous profile gives it a unique, vintage-inspired character while remaining practical and durable. The screw-on cap seals securely, helping prevent dry-out issues, and the included eyedropper-style filling system lets you carry a generous amount of ink. Bonus points for the o-rings that give you confidence it won’t leak when carried in a bag or pocket. I am also pleased that the unit I got has convex cap that magnifies the nib from top view, it was like looking at the nib through a loupe.

Nib and Writing Experience

The fine nib provides noticeable feedback on most paper types, depending on the ink’s wetness. I’m using Vinta Dugong Bughaw, which is dry. While it’s not as smooth as higher-end gold nibs, it gives enough feedback to feel like a quality pen. Initially, there was a hard start due to the dry ink, but after adding a drop of water to the nib, the flow became continuous and skip-free, which is impressive for such an affordable pen. I purchased it for only Php 999, or about 18 USD, from Everything Calligraphy via their Lazada store.

Grip and Comfort

Despite its short form, the Q1 is comfortable to hold. The grip is well-shaped and slightly tapered, allowing good control even during long writing sessions. However, those with larger hands may find it a bit short without the cap. Fortunately, capping the pen increases its length without affecting balance. Its thickness makes it easy to hold, even for those who tire easily. I bought this pen to test whether egg-shaped designs reduce hand fatigue. I’ll share my experience after using it for a while.

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Final Thoughts
The Majohn Q1 is a charming fountain pen that offers style, transparency, and reliability. Its fine nib is good for daily notes or journaling, and the comfortable grip along with a smooth ink flow enhances the writing experience for its price. I recommend using a wetter ink than Vinta Dugong Bughaw, such as most Diamine inks, with this pen.

Whether you’re new to fountain pens or an experienced writer, the Q1 is worth a look. Its compact size makes it easy to carry and attractive to other writing fans.

Here’s a video of my unboxing and test writing of this pen:

Majohn Q1 is currently available in different colors (image below from Everything Calligraphy website). I have my eyes on the green and blue ones as well! My poor wallet. Haha!

Thank you for reading this far.

Grass