A fountain pen nib (see illustration below) is the metal writing point at the end of the writing instrument. Virtually all quality fountain pens use solid gold nibs, both for their durability and for the smoothness of the writing experience they provide. Cheaper steel and gold-plated nibs, on the other hand, have a tendancy to deteriorate and are harder to customize or repair, whereas a solid gold nib can last a lifetime (and more).

So while the choice of a solid gold nib has more to do with practicality than snobbery, the differences between solid gold nibs of different carat counts tend to be subtle. In fact, 14k nibs are often the most prized, as they are both more resiliant than softer 18k and 21k nibs and better suited to John's customization for added flex.

Even most experienced fountain pen users usually report not being able to notice the difference between 14k, 18k, and 21k nibs once they have been properly tuned and optimized for the preferences of the individual writer through John's set up process. For more information, see our examination of the differences between hard, soft, and flexible nibs.