My recommendation is to go far enough up the Pelikan line to have a 14K nib. They write beautifully and effortlessly and are easy to refill. I have been using one for ages with no leaking or other issues. i used to use Waterman Mysterious Blue but shifted to Pelikan blue black. Both are nice inks. i got my daughter a Cisele Parker Sonnet, and that too is a very nice pen. The weight of the metal provides a very nice stability.