Jinhao Century 100 Fountain Pen – 18K Gold-Plated #35 Nib | Sky Blue Acrylic Barrel | Piston Converter Included | 2.6mm Cartridge Compatible

Jinhao Century 100 Fountain Pen – 18K Gold-Plated #35 Nib | Sky Blue Acrylic Barrel | Piston Converter Included | 2.6mm Cartridge Compatible

A large-format resin pen with a gold-plated nib, at a price that invites daily use. The Jinhao Century 100 is Jinhao’s flagship full-size fountain pen: a substantial, barrel-heavy design in sky blue acrylic that sits solidly in the hand, writes from a 18K gold-plated #35 nib, and ships ready to fill via the included piston converter. The nib is a two-toned gold-plated steel nib — the gold plating provides the warm visual finish of a traditional gold nib at a fraction of the cost, while the steel tipping delivers the writing consistency that daily writers expect. The sky blue acrylic barrel catches and scatters light with a depth that standard resin cannot match — a material that makes the pen worth looking at when it is on the desk as much as when it is in the hand. The Century 100 also accepts standard 2.6mm diameter ink cartridges for situations where converter filling is not practical. One pen, two filling systems, the nib specification that suits serious daily writing.

Substantial pen. Gold-plated nib. Sky blue acrylic. Fill it your way.

✒️ Product Highlights

• Brand: Jinhao
• Model: Century 100
• Nib: #35 nib, 18K gold-plated steel — two-toned gold finish
• Barrel material: Sky blue acrylic — translucent depth, light-scattering finish
• Filling system: Piston converter (included) — fills directly from bottled ink
• Cartridge compatibility: Standard 2.6mm diameter ink cartridges (cartridges not included)
• Cap mechanism: Screw cap — airtight seal, suitable for long-session writing and extended storage
• Format: Full-size, barrel-heavy design — substantial in the hand, comfortable for extended writing without posting
• Suitable for: Daily journaling, letter writing, calligraphy practice, desk pen use, fountain pen collecting

🏅 18K Gold-Plated #35 Nib – The Specification That Defines the Pen

The nib is where a fountain pen’s writing character is determined. The Jinhao Century 100’s #35 nib is a large-format nib — sized proportionally to the full-size Century 100 barrel — with the following specification:

• 18K gold plating: The nib body and tines are plated in 18K gold, giving the nib a warm, deep gold colour and the visual presentation of a traditional gold nib. The gold plating is a surface finish applied over the steel substrate — it provides the aesthetic without the full cost of a solid gold nib, while the steel core provides the tipping durability that daily writers require.
• Two-toned finish: The nib features a two-toned design — the gold plating contrasts with the steel tipping and the rhodium or darker accent at the nib tip area, creating the visual layering seen in premium European pen nibs.
• #35 size: A large nib format, wide enough to flex slightly under normal hand pressure and produce a satisfying line with appreciable ink flow — not a fine scratchy nib, but a nib with presence on the page.
• Steel tipping: The tipping material is steel-grade — hard-wearing under daily use, consistent across the full cartridge or converter fill, and requiring no warm-up or break-in period in normal use.

💙 Sky Blue Acrylic Barrel – A Material Worth Looking At

Acrylic — polymethyl methacrylate — is the material of choice for high-visual-impact pen barrels because of what it does with light that standard resin cannot replicate. The sky blue acrylic of the Century 100:

• Translucency: The acrylic is semi-translucent in the sky blue colourway — light enters the barrel and scatters through the material, creating depth and visual movement that a fully opaque barrel does not have. The blue shifts subtly between cool aqua and deeper sky depending on the light source and viewing angle.
• Finish quality: The barrel is turned and polished to a high gloss — the surface catches desk and task light cleanly without the haze or micro-scratches common in lower-grade resin finishing.
• Weight and feel: Acrylic is denser than standard resin and lighter than metal — the Century 100 barrel sits in the hand with the satisfying weight of a substantial pen without the fatigue of a full brass or steel body over long writing sessions.

💧 Two Filling Systems – Converter and Cartridge

The Century 100 supports two ink filling methods, giving the writer flexibility across different use contexts:

• Piston converter (included): The converter installs in the barrel in place of a cartridge. Insert the nib into a bottle of ink, rotate the converter piston knob to draw ink up into the converter chamber, remove from the bottle, and wipe the nib clean. The converter allows any bottled fountain pen ink to be used — the full range of inks in any colour, finish (shimmer, sheen, iron gall), and viscosity is accessible. The piston converter provides a larger ink volume than a standard cartridge and is reusable indefinitely.
• 2.6mm diameter cartridges (not included): The pen accepts standard 2.6mm international cartridges — the widely available international short or long cartridge format. Cartridges are practical for travel, for situations where bottled ink is not available, and for users who want to switch between colours quickly by replacing the cartridge. Standard 2.6mm cartridges are available from most fountain pen ink brands internationally.

📦 What’s in the Box

• 1 × Jinhao Century 100 Fountain Pen – Sky Blue Acrylic, #35 18K Gold-Plated Nib
• 1 × Piston converter (pre-installed or included separately)
• Ink and cartridges not included

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the nib solid 18K gold or gold-plated?

A: The nib is 18K gold-plated steel — a steel nib with an 18K gold plating applied to the surface. The gold plating provides the visual finish and warm colour of a gold nib. The underlying steel substrate provides the structural durability and consistent tipping performance of a steel nib. This is the same construction used in many mid-range European and Japanese pens and is the correct specification for a daily-use pen at this price point. A solid 18K gold nib — softer, with more natural spring — is a different product at a significantly higher price point.

Q: What nib sizes or widths are available for the #35 nib?

A: Please refer to the variant options above for the available nib widths for this listing (typically Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, or Broad). The #35 refers to the nib’s physical size and format — not its line width. Line width is determined by the tipping size, which varies by the specific variant selected. If a specific nib width is required, confirm from the variant selector before purchasing.

Q: How do I fill the pen using the included piston converter?

A: (1) Unscrew the pen barrel from the grip section or remove the converter from the barrel. (2) Ensure the converter piston is fully depressed (pushed down toward the nib end). (3) Submerge the nib fully into a bottle of fountain pen ink. (4) Slowly rotate the converter knob in the filling direction (usually counter-clockwise when viewed from the end) to draw ink into the converter chamber. (5) Remove the nib from the ink bottle and wipe the nib and grip section clean with a lint-free cloth. (6) Reassemble the pen and write. The pen is ready to use immediately with no priming required under normal conditions.

Q: What diameter cartridges fit this pen?

A: The Jinhao Century 100 accepts standard 2.6mm diameter international cartridges — the widely available international short (38mm) or international long (70mm) cartridge format used by most non-proprietary fountain pen brands. These cartridges are sold by brands including Diamine, Pelikan (4001 cartridges), Waterman, Schneider, and many others under the international standard format. Jinhao-specific or proprietary large-format cartridges from other brands (e.g. Pilot, Sailor, Platinum, Lamy) use different dimensions and are not compatible.

Q: Does the screw cap provide an airtight seal — can I store the pen filled for long periods?

A: Yes. The screw cap creates a sealed closure around the nib that prevents ink from evaporating and the nib from drying out during normal storage periods. For daily use, a filled pen stored with the screw cap secured will start reliably without requiring soaking or flushing. For longer storage periods (weeks or months), ink may thicken or settle in the converter; if the pen does not start immediately after extended storage, place the nib in a small amount of room-temperature water for 10–15 minutes to re-dissolve any dried ink before writing.

Q: Is the acrylic barrel prone to cracking or scratching?

A: Acrylic is harder than most standard resin and more impact-resistant than celluloid, but it is not scratch-proof. Surface scratches from keys, metal objects, or abrasive surfaces can occur with normal carry. Deep scratches in acrylic can be polished out with a plastic polish compound and a soft cloth. The barrel should not be dropped onto hard surfaces — acrylic can crack or chip under high-impact point loads. Stored in a pen case or pouch, the barrel will maintain its high-gloss finish indefinitely.

Q: What inks work best with this pen?

A: The Jinhao Century 100 is compatible with most standard fountain pen inks — dye-based inks, pigment inks (with regular flushing to prevent pigment settling), shimmer inks, and iron gall inks. For a gold-plated steel nib, avoid highly acidic inks or iron gall inks with high tannin content over extended periods without regular cleaning, as prolonged contact with corrosive inks can affect the plating over time. Flush the pen with room-temperature water when changing inks or storing the pen for more than a week. Standard dye-based inks from Pilot Iroshizuku, Diamine, Robert Oster, Waterman, and similar brands are fully compatible and require no special care.

Q: Is this a good pen for a beginner to fountain pens?

A: Yes, with one consideration. The Jinhao Century 100 is an excellent entry point into full-size, high-aesthetic fountain pens — the nib is well-tuned at the factory for smooth writing without adjustment, the filling system is straightforward, and the pen’s substantial size and weight make it comfortable and easy to control. The consideration: this is a large, barrel-heavy pen. Writers accustomed to lightweight or slim pens may find the Century 100 requires a short adjustment period. For beginners who prefer a smaller, lighter first pen, a slimmer Jinhao model may be a better starting point. For beginners who want to start with the full-size, full-presence fountain pen experience from the first fill, the Century 100 is an excellent choice.