I'm an ER doc, and I have some unusual requirements: I work in a chaotic environment; I chart on low-quality paper; and I hate writing with the cheap ballpoint pens. Over time I've tried expensive ballpoints, rollerballs, and gel pens. None of them made me happy. Fountain pens bring a tiny amount of joy to my work, so I've tried many over the years. I've found that open nibs look a bit ostentatious for my job and draw too much attention to themselves (they might be more appropriate if I were a cardiologist or a psychiatrist).
I wound up using Lamy 2000s at work, which are wonderful but somewhat expensive pens. 2Ks have very smooth bodies, and I reliably drop them uncapped once or twice a year. The beautiful, aerodynamic, Bauhaus design of the Lamy 2K means that it invariably lands nib-first when I drop it. I'm on my sixth 2K, which probably makes Jon and Liz happy but is getting a bit ridiculous.
So when I saw the Diplomat Viper in a recent Wonder Pens newsletter, I was intrigued. Hooded nib? Guilloché? I'm in! I bought a black and a blue on spec, and I absolutely love them. These pens are solid, and feel indestructible. I was worried that the patterning would feel too rough, but it is just the right amount of texture and feels very pleasant in the hand. I've read online reviews questioning whether the section should also be textured, and I wondered the same thing before I got the pen. Having used it, I think the designers made the right decision to have the section smooth.
The magnetic cap also makes me smile every time I use it.
Only small downside is that the clip is a bit tight. One other complaint: it currently only comes in blue and black at time of writing (Jan 2025). I think the Diplomat design team could have lots of fun with different colours and accent materials for these pens, and I hope they bring out more designs in the coming years.
