(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
The original Pilot Metropolitan took the stationery world by storm when it was first introduced a few years ago. A well-made fountain pen with a solid nib and classy metal body for less than twenty bucks? Yes, please! The Metropolitan quickly entrenched itself as a classic, default fountain pen for new and veteran fountain pen enthusiasts alike. It's a modern classic and also happens to make a great gift for fountain pen curious friends.
But, we all know that fountain pens are just one avenue of pen geekery, and sometimes you just want to use a good ol' reliable gel pen for a while. Maybe you're stuck using paper that doesn't play well with fountain pen inks, or maybe you just love using gel refills and are looking for a more classy body to use over the default clear plastic bodies. Well, the Pilot Metropolitan Rollerball might fit the bill.
The Pilot Metropolitan Rollerball is identical to the fountain pen version except for the grip section. In this case, the grip section is unique and fits a Pilot G2 style refill instead of a fountain pen nib and cartridge. If you want, you can swap the G2 section into a favorite fountain pen body to mix and match colors as you see fit. It's great that the only difference between these pens is the configuration of the grip section. I'm sure this cuts down on manufacturing costs, but it's also a nice perk for the customer.
Now, let's focus on the most interesting part of this pen: the refill system. It ships with a standard black 0.7mm G2 refill, but that means you can swap it out for any number of refills that match the G2 size — including the Pilot Juice refills. That's right, Pilot's best refill system will work in this pen, making it a classy combination that fits in at the conference table at work, your pocket while out running errands, or laying on your desk.
I'm a huge fan of the Pilot Juice line, but you are extremely limited by the default line when it comes to exterior design and color options. The Juice is standard across the board — clear body with a color-coordinated soft grip, nock, and clip to match the refill color you purchased. While it's a great pen, it's not classy. The Juice is well-made and plenty durable, but it does look like a bulk-purchase gel pen (same goes for the Pilot G2). If you want to class up your G2 or Juice, the Metropolitan Rollerball body is the perfect way to do this. You have plenty of options as far as the color and middle section design (the design featured here is *Black Crocodile Body) to match your aesthetic, and it will only set you back about $19. To me, this is a great value for a classy pen that's made of metal, interchangeable with the other Metropolitan fountain pen bodies I have, and accepts my favorite gel pen refills.
The Pilot Metropolitan is a timeless design that performs great. It makes a great gift, a great introduction into finer pens, and will last a lifetime if cared for properly. If you haven't tried one out yet, do yourself a favor and order one as soon as possible!
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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