Nahvalur Nautilus Ti (Titanium) Black fountain pen review

Nahvalur (Formerly Narwhal pens) continues to push the envelope with designs and materials. A few years ago, they introduced the Nautilus collection, comprised of oversized piston fill fountain pens made from ebonite. One of the most interesting aspect of this collection, was that the pens had “porthole” ink windows which allowed you to see your ink level while continuing along with the nautical theme. I spoke with the Nahvalur team at the recent Baltimore pen show, and they graciously provided the newest model (released March 18th 2025) the Nautilus Ti Black (Titanium) and an original line Nautilus Blue Ringed fountain pen to review and compare. Thanks go out to the team for providing these for review and stay tuned for a review of the Blue Ringed model by Evan in the future.

Packaging: The pen has an outer grey and black slipcover with the Nahvalur logo in greyscale. Inside is a blue magnetic closure flip top box with a cut out again showing the Nahvalur logo in gold. Inside the box is a warranty booklet, that also includes filling instructions and a QR code which helps to identify which filling mechanism your pen has, which can be helpful if you are newer to the hobby or if this is your first piston filled pen. Under the warranty card, the pen rests in a cutout in a plastic protective sleeve held in place with an elastic band.

First Thoughts: The black finish on the pen is perfect, like looking into the depths of the ocean.

Design: The overall shape of the pen is like the previous Nautilus models (Cigar or tube shaped), with some differences or upgrades. The first change that stands out is the new clip. The previous models had a clip that mounted through the side of the cap. On the new model, the clip mounts at the top of the cap, giving it a better pivot point that is easier to use and clips securely. In addition, with the move to the top of the cap, there is no inset finial now, just the pivot for the clip. The Ti Black is also made from titanium which makes the pen just over half an ounce heavier compared to the ebonite version.

Initially, I was indifferent about the change, but after using the pen for the past two weeks, I am a fan of the new clip style and weight and feel it is more durable and well balanced.

Nib Performance: The pen comes equipped with a #6 in house made nib that is black to match the pen. There is decorative scrollwork around the edges of the nib and the Nahvalur logo in the middle near the breathing hole. I received a medium nib and it laid down a nice balanced, not to wet or dry line, and kept up with fast writing.

Filling System: Piston filler

Value: $199 USD or $399 USD with a 14kt nib

Overall: The new material and finish are perfection. As someone who is always looking for a new black pen, or orange pen, this fits perfectly in with what I like. The material is durable so I don’t need to worry about it putting it in a pen pouch with my other daily carries. The new style clip works perfectly for thicker clothes and it springy and easy to open. The filling system and cap threads are smooth and beautifully engineered. Most importantly the pen writes well with a balanced ink flow and just a hint of feedback.

Specs:

Name: Nahvalur Nautilus Ti Black

Design: Titanium

Length: 151mm (5.94in)

Posted: Not able to post

Diameter: 14.5mm (0.57in)

Weight: 54g (1.9oz)

Nib: Stainless Steel

Filling System: Piston

Pros: Wonderful material with a balanced weight, new easier to use clip, easy to use ink windows

Cons: I can’t think of any on this model

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