Pilot Custom 823 Brown Fountain pen

Author: Johanna S

Review Title: Excellent pen

• Review Add on: 02-01-2026
• Average Rating: (5)

This is an excellent pen. I ordered the fine nib and their tuning service in December 2025 for 400€ and it is a very nice writer. I use it for my journaling and thus write with it every day.

Author: NK

• Review Add on: 21-07-2025
• Average Rating: (4)

Great pen. Writes very smooth with a M nib and the „tune&smooth“ option. The ink last very long and the pen fits perfectly in the hand.

Author: Daniel Warren

• Review Add on: 26-11-2024
• Average Rating: (5)

Amazing. Buttery smooth even with the fine nib. This pen has effectively ruined all other pens in my collection. It makes me want to write. No other pen I've ever tried has truly made me feel like that. If you're on the fence, don't be afraid to pull the trigger. Allow the extra time to have the nib tuned and smoothed by Appelboom and sit back and wait for an amazing writing experience. You will not regret it.

Author: Lingling Jiang

Review Title: Wrong colour, but still love it!

• Review Add on: 27-06-2024
• Average Rating: (4)

Actually I ordered the brow transparent version, instead I received the other colour they have, deep blue? Anyways, it didn't bother me quite much since the writing experience is so wonderful. The pen holds a lot of ink, pretty suitable for a person like me who keeps several jounals at the same time and writes a lot. F nib is perfect for Chinese writing. The gift wrapped shipping speaks for what calls service, very satisfying purchase in general. Well, the price is definitely higher than in Asia, understandable!

Author: Matti Vaakanainen

• Review Add on: 06-01-2024
• Average Rating: (5)

I got this Pilot pen for my birthday last year and I have to say it has been my daily writer ever since. The nib (Medium) is extremely smooth and easy to write with. I also like the vacuum filling system (first one in my collection), easy to fill and maintain. Highly recommend!

Author: Joëlle

Review Title: Excellent service

• Review Add on: 16-04-2023
• Average Rating: (3)

Je suis ravie de mon stylo dont la plume a été rodée. L’expérience d’écriture en est magnifiée . Le service d’Appelboom est parfait. J’ai particulièrement apprécié le soin apporté à l’emballage cadeau et au « koekje ». Geweldig!

Author: Amir Shuster

Review Title: This is the real thing

• Review Add on: 06-01-2023
• Average Rating: (5)

What a marvelous pen from Pilot!
Looks stunning, large ink capacity, and a perfectly tuned fine nib.
The only minor drawback is a stiff clip.
This is by far one of the best out there.

Author: PD

Review Title: Pleased and love the nib tuning

• Review Add on: 17-12-2022
• Average Rating: (4)

The Pilot Custom 823 is a lovely pen with an intriguing design. What I appreciated most about my order Appelboom was the nib tuning! Thank you.

Author: Jose Andin

Review Title: Pilot Custom 823

• Review Add on: 16-12-2022
• Average Rating: (5)

Fantastic pen and equally awesome company! I've bought several pens from Appelboom delivered to me here in the USA.

Appelboom offers great prices and outstanding customer service--I highly recommend them, and I will definitely buy from them again!

Author: Jesper Smit

Review Title: Pilot Custom 823 F

• Review Add on: 13-11-2022
• Average Rating: (5)

Impeccable service as always from Appelboom. The pen is amazing, smooth and fine but not too fine. I certainly recommend it.

Author: Darryl Jones

Review Title: Splendid Pen

• Review Add on: 11-01-2022
• Average Rating: (4)

I had long wanted this pen, and I’m not disappointed, it’s a large pen, but sits well in my hand, posted or not. The vacuum filler holds a lot of ink - more than any other pen I own. The amber design is striking. It writes very well indeed.

I ordered this from Appelboom, and it arrived very safely and extremely quickly. Couldn’t be happier with the service.

Author: Peter

Review Title: Lovely writer

• Review Add on: 30-12-2021
• Average Rating: (4)

Writes and feels lovely! The only thing thats annoy me is that you have to open up the top to get a good flow.

Author: Dimitrios Papaioannou

• Review Add on: 13-11-2021
• Average Rating: (5)

I bought mine with a medium nib.A delightful, smooth experience.For a Japanese nib, it's close to a European one, if not the same, at least in my case.

Author: Maurice Steenhuis

• Review Add on: 12-09-2021
• Average Rating: (4)

This is my first pen that is not from Pelikan.
I really love the pen. I bought a fine nib and it writes super smooth. The size and weight of the pen is excellent. In addition, I really like the filling mechanism. The pen can hold an enormous amount of ink.

As always great service from Appelboom!!!

Author: Mario Ferraz

• Review Add on: 08-08-2021
• Average Rating: (5)

I heard all the good stuff about this pen but was put off by the "classical" look. Finally bit the bullet and for sure is one of the best pens in my collection!

Author: Amrita Sengupta

• Review Add on: 03-07-2021
• Average Rating: (5)

I just love this pen, look, weight, smoothness, feel, and size. With looking extravagant yet elegant.
And super thankful to Annabella she just tuned it to the way i wished for the second pen for my sister, with just a bit of feedback and not overtly wet. Thank you..

Author: Saugata Bandyopadhyay

Review Title: Workhorse Pen!

• Review Add on: 07-12-2020
• Average Rating: (5)

This is a pen that I carry with me everywhere! With a gorgeous nib and an enormous ink capacity, this is truly a workhorse and a piece of art at the same time.