Pilot Metropolitan: A Comprehensive Guide

Handsome, well made, and surprisingly affordable, every member of the Pilot Metropolitan series is professional enough for the boardroom yet durable enough as a knock-around, everyday writer.

The Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen is the most famous member of the series, but its gel pen and mechanical pencil siblings are no less impressive. In this guide, we’ll discuss the different types of writing instruments in the Pilot Metropolitan family, their available finishes, and why the fountain pen is such a consistent favorite.

Table of Contents

Pilot Metropolitan Characteristics

Pen and Pencil Types

Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pens

Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen writing sample.

We love the Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, and it’s not just us—nearly everyone who tries it is impressed by the smoothness of its nib, its quality construction, its looks, and its accessible price point. The Pilot Metropolitan consistently tops best beginner fountain pen lists, but experienced fountain pen users also appreciate it as a reliable pen that’s easy to replace if lost but fancy enough for formal occasions. It’s also a genuine pleasure to use.

Pilot Metropolitan Gel Pens

Pilot Metropolitan Gel Pen writing sample.

The Pilot Metropolitan Gel Pen houses the same smooth gel refill as the best-selling Pilot G2. Not only does it deliver an excellent writing experience, but you can easily find refills in other colors and sizes if you’d like to replace the 0.7 mm black refill this pen comes with. The gel pen features the same elegant design as the fountain pen. Only the tip under the cap reveals that these are different pens.

Pilot Metropolitan Mechanical Pencils

Pilot Metropolitan Mechanical Pencil writing sample.

The Pilot Metropolitan Mechanical Pencil perfectly complements the Metropolitan fountain pen and gel pen, with a matching center band and a faux cap on the rear of the pencil that mimics the look of a posted pen. The Pilot Metropolitan pencil comes filled with premium 0.5 mm Pilot Neox High-Purity Graphite Pencil Lead in HB. This lead’s high degree of smoothness, darkness, break resistance, and erasability makes it especially good for writing and drawing.

These mechanical pencils are available as the Pilot Metropolitan and the Pilot Cocoon, a version of the Metropolitan that is intended for the Japanese market. The pencils in these two product lines come in different colors but are otherwise identical.

Form Factor

Pilot Metropolitan pens and pencils are designed to look cohesive when collected in a set.

The Pilot Metropolitan is seriously classy. Its brass body is beautifully curved, with a cigar-like shape. It has an overall matte finish and a glossy or patterned band just below the cap. The gel and fountain pens have black plastic grip sections and snap-on caps with simple metal clips. The caps can be posted on the backs of the pens.

The mechanical pencil forgoes the black grip section, allowing the curve of the body to continue uninterrupted through the silver nose cone and conical lead sleeve. The rear of the pencil is styled to look like a posted cap and has a functional clip. An exposed silver section provides space for the “cap” to move down when pressed to advance the lead.

Overall, the refined look of the Pilot Metropolitan series makes each of its members seem at least twice as expensive as it is.

In the Box

The Pilot Metropolitan pens and pencils come in a display case.

The Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen, gel pen, and mechanical pencil all come in a handsome display case tucked inside a cardboard box. The Pilot Cocoon does not come in a box. Instead, it is packaged in a protective plastic sleeve.

The fountain pen ships with an ink cartridge and a CON-B squeeze converter. It is compatible with proprietary Pilot cartridges in ten colors and the CON-40 piston converter.

Pilot Metropolitan Collections

The Pilot Metropolitan series is available in three vibrant color collections, plus the Pilot Cocoon’s exclusive hues. With many different colors available, there is a design to fit every personality.

Pilot Metropolitan Standard Collection

Fountain pens from the Pilot Metropolitan Standard Collection.

Sophisticated black, silver, and gold make the business-appropriate Pilot Metropolitan Standard Collection the choice for those who prefer understated elegance. The black fountain pen is also available with an italic nib.

Pilot Metropolitan Standard Fountain Pens
Pen	Name	Nib Sizes
	Plain Gold	Fine, Medium
	Gold Zigzag	Medium
	Plain Silver	Fine, Medium
	Silver Dot	Medium
	Plain Black	Fine, Medium, Medium Italic
Pilot Metropolitan Standard Gel Pens
Pen	Name	Tip Sizes
	Gold Zigzag	0.7 mm
	Silver Dot	0.7 mm
	Plain Black	0.7 mm

Pilot Metropolitan Animal Collection

Fountain pens from the Pilot Metropolitan Animal Collection.

The Pilot Metropolitan Animal Collection is perfect for those who want to show their wild side. Five barrel colors are paired with tasteful animal accents that add a touch of individuality without being overwhelming.

Pilot Metropolitan Animal Fountain Pens
Pen	Name	Nib Sizes
	Violet Leopard	Fine, Medium
	Taupe Lizard	Fine, Medium
	Silver Python	Fine, Medium
	Black Crocodile	Fine, Medium
	White Tiger	Fine, Medium
Pilot Metropolitan Animal Gel Pens
Pen	Name	Nib Sizes
	Violet Leopard	0.7 mm
	Taupe Lizard	0.7 mm
	Silver Python	0.7 mm
	Black Crocodile	0.7 mm
	White Tiger	0.7 mm
Pilot Metropolitan Animal Mechanical Pencils
Pen	Name	Nib Sizes
	Violet Leopard	0.5 mm
	Taupe Lizard	0.5 mm
	Silver Python	0.5 mm
	Black Crocodile	0.5 mm

Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Collection

Fountain pens from the Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Collection.

The Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Collection bursts with fun, bright, never-seen-anywhere-else colors and patterns. As a bonus, each fountain pen is available with an italic nib to give your writing character. If you like color that pops, want to stand out, or just want to make sure that no one ever mistakes your pen for theirs—this is the collection for you.

Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Fountain Pens
Pen	Name	Nib Sizes
	Red Wave	Fine, Medium, Medium Italic
	Orange Flower	Fine, Medium, Medium Italic
	Green Marble	Fine, Medium, Medium Italic
	Turquoise Dots	Fine, Medium, Medium Italic
	Purple Ellipse	Fine, Medium, Medium Italic
	Gray Houndstooth	Fine, Medium, Medium Italic
Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Gel Pens
Pen	Name	Nib Sizes
	Red Wave	0.7 mm
	Orange Flower	0.7 mm
	Green Marble	0.7 mm
	Turquoise Dots	0.7 mm
	Purple Ellipse	0.7 mm
	Gray Houndstooth	0.7 mm

Pilot Cocoon Series

Mechanical pencils from the Pilot Cocoon Series.

The Pilot Cocoon is the Japanese cousin of the Pilot Metropolitan. The two series are clearly members of the same family, with identical builds that differ only cosmetically. The Cocoon comes in an array of snazzy single-hue finishes that include both subdued and vibrant shades to suit all tastes.

Pilot Cocoon Mechanical Pencils
Pen	Name	Nib Sizes
	Bordeaux	0.5 mm
	Blue	0.5 mm
	Titanium	0.5 mm
	Silver	0.5 mm
	Metallic Gray	0.5 mm
	Black	0.5 mm
	White	0.5 mm

Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen Characteristics

The Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen is the most popular version of the Metropolitan, so it only seems fair that we shine a spotlight on this fan-favorite pen.

Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen Nib

The Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen nib.

The Pilot Metropolitan has a remarkably high-quality steel nib that is known for its smoothness. The rounded nib is good for everyday handwriting and is available in either medium or fine. The best size for you depends on how big your writing is. If you make tiny letters, you’ll want a fine nib. Some colors also come with an italic nib that is great for adding flair to your writing. Bear in mind that since Pilot is a Japanese company, the nibs are about a size smaller than Western nibs with the same name.

Replacement nibs are not sold separately, but the Pilot Metropolitan is compatible with the Prera’s italic nib or the Penmanship’s extra fine nib. Replacing the nib is easy: just follow the steps below.

1. Start with a clean pen. Using your fingers or a piece of soft, grippy material like rubber shelf liner, firmly grasp the top of the nib and the bottom of the feed. Use your other hand to hold the grip section.

2. Pull the nib and feed straight out of the grip section. This should not take very much effort, but if the nib and feed don’t budge, try wiggling them gently.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with the second pen. To install the nib and feed, make sure they are properly aligned (the nib will fit against a notch on the feed). Push the nib and feed into the empty grip section.

The Metropolitan shares its nib with three Pilot pens:

The Pilot Kakuno, which has a lightweight plastic body, a shaped grip, and a nib stamped with a cheerful smiley face. It comes in extra fine, fine, and medium nib sizes.
The Pilot Penmanship, which has a long, lightweight plastic body and an extra fine nib.
The Pilot Prera, which has a compact resin or acrylic body and a soft-closing cap. Its nib sizes include fine, medium, and medium italic.

For more information on nibs in general, see our Guide to Fountain Pen Nibs.

Testing the Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen

We tested both the medium and fine sizes of the Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen on four points: comfort, smoothness, writing speed, and flex. We used both Rhodia paper and regular printer paper.

Comfort

The Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen is a comfortable pen to hold.

The shape and weight of the pen make it comfortable to hold whether it is posted or unposted. It felt slightly top-heavy and more secure in our grip when posted, and slightly lighter when unposted. It has more heft than plastic pens, but feels solid rather than heavy. It was not tiring to use even after several paragraphs. The grip is somewhat narrow, and steps down from the wider body. Those who grip their pens higher up may find that the step gets in the way, but it worked well for us.

Smoothness

Both fountain pen nib sizes have some feedback without feeling scratchy.

We loved how smooth this pen was. Both nib sizes had some feedback on the printer paper, meaning that we could feel the texture of the paper as we wrote. The fine had more feedback, which we expected given its smaller size. Even so, both produced smooth, continuous lines without a trace of scratchiness. We experienced significantly less feedback with the fine on the Rhodia. The medium was so smooth on the Rhodia that it seemed to glide across the page, and we found ourselves looking for reasons to keep writing.

Paper can make a big difference when writing with a fountain pen. Check out The Best Notebooks for Fountain Pens and The Best Fountain Pen Paper for more recommendations.

Writing Speed

Whether you write quickly or slowly, the Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen can keep up.

Both the fine and the medium kept up perfectly when we wrote as fast as we could, with no skipping at all. They also did not pool when we wrote slowly. They may have laid down a marginally thicker line at slower speeds, but the difference was so slight that we almost couldn’t see it.

Flex

Pilot Metropolitan nibs can produce some line variation, though we don't recommend flexing the nib too much.

Both nib sizes have a delightfully “springy” feel that makes the nib more pleasant to write with. Firm pressure results in a noticeably thicker line. However, though this nib can create some line variation, we don’t recommend applying heavy pressure while writing. Pressing too hard will damage the nib beyond repair. Use a light touch for the optimal writing experience.

How to Fill the Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen with Ink

Watch the video above to learn how to fill the Pilot Metropolitan with a cartridge, squeeze converter, or piston converter. The ink shown in the video is still available but in a smaller bottle.

The Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen can use proprietary cartridges and converters. Each fountain pen includes a cartridge and a CON-B squeeze converter, but the CON-40 piston converter (sold separately) is also compatible with the Metropolitan. Watch our video or read the instructions below to see exactly how to use these ink filling methods.

You can learn more about the differences between cartridges, piston converters, and squeeze converters in our Fountain Pen Filling Systems Explained and How to Use a Fountain Pen Converter guides.

How to Fill the Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen with a Cartridge

The easiest way to load the Pilot Metropolitan with ink is to use a cartridge. These self-contained capsules of ink are convenient to transport and reduce the risk of spills when refilling your pen.

1. Push the wide end of the cartridge into the pen's grip section.

2. Press firmly until you feel the cartridge puncture.

3. Cap the pen and leave it with the nib pointing down until ink saturates the nib. This can take about fifteen minutes.

Because converter filling draws ink through the feed, fountain pens using converters tend to write immediately. If you use a cartridge, the ink needs to flow down to the feed before the pen can write. After waiting fifteen minutes, try scribbling on a piece of scratch paper until the ink reaches the tip.

If the pen still doesn’t write, cap the pen and wait another fifteen minutes. Finally, in dire situations, you can gently squeeze the cartridge to force ink into the feed. However, be careful not to squeeze too hard, or ink will dribble out of the feed and onto your desk. Carefully monitor the nib, and when you start to see ink, stop squeezing.

How to Fill the Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen with a Squeeze Converter

Converters allow you to use any bottled ink with your Pilot Metropolitan. This gives you access to more different colors and is more cost effective in the long run than using cartridges. Squeeze converters are exceptionally straightforward. They use a simple squeezing mechanism to form a vacuum inside the bladder and draw ink from the bottle. Make sure to have a paper towel with you to clean the nib when the converter is full.

1. Insert the converter into the pen’s grip section. Squeeze the metal bars of the converter* and keep them pinched.

2. Dip all of the nib and part of the grip section in the ink. Gently release the converter to draw ink into the converter. Continue to squeeze and release until you see no more bubbles.

3. Remove the pen from the ink bottle. “Wipe” the nib and feed against the rim of the bottle to get rid of excess ink. Wipe the nib, feed, and grip section with a clean paper towel.

*We recommend squeezing the converter before dipping the pen in ink. If the ink bottle is filled to the brim, forcing air out of the converter could cause your ink to spill. However, if you’ve already used some of the ink, you can dip the pen first and then squeeze the converter.

How to Fill the Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen with a Piston Converter

Piston converters are generally clear, which allow you to see how much ink is in the converter at any time. Keep a paper towel on hand to clean the nib when you’re done filling the converter.

1. Insert the converter into the grip section of the pen. Twist the end knob to fully extend the piston*.

2. Immerse all of the nib and part of the grip section in the ink. Twist the knob in the other direction to retract the piston and draw in ink. Repeat as necessary until the converter is full.

3. Remove the pen from the ink bottle. “Wipe” the nib and feed against the rim of the bottle to get rid of excess ink. Wipe the nib, feed, and grip section with a clean paper towel.

*We recommend extending the piston before dipping the pen in ink. If the ink bottle is filled to the brim, forcing air out of the converter could cause your ink to spill. However, if you’ve already used some of the ink, you can dip the pen first and then extend the piston.

Metal Fountain Pens Under $25

Although there are other metal-body fountain pens at a similar price point, the Pilot Metropolitan is the only one to offer such a phenomenal mix of features: fine, medium, and italic nib sizes; converter capability; and a broad range of colors. When you consider its quality construction, appearance, and smoothness, it’s no mystery why the Pilot Metropolitan has become a choice pen for beginners and seasoned fountain pen users alike. If you’re less constrained by price, you can find lots of great options in our guide to Choosing the Best Metal Pen.

Product Name	Material	Colors	Nib Sizes	Converter Compatible	Price
Meister by Point Slim Liner	Aluminum	3	Medium	Yes	$$
Ohto Dude	Aluminum	3	Fine	Yes	$$$
Ohto Tasche	Aluminum	4	Fine	No	$$
Pilot Metropolitan	Brass	16	Fine, Medium, Medium Italic	Yes	$$
Regal 117	Copper	4	Medium	Yes	$$
Platinum Plaisir	Aluminum	13	Fine, Medium	Yes	$$
Zebra V-301	Stainless Steel	1	Medium	No	$

What’s the Difference Between the Pilot Cocoon and Pilot Metropolitan?

JetPens carries the Pilot Cocoon Mechanical Pencil as a representative of the Cocoon series.

Depending on where you are, you may find pens and pencils that look essentially the same as the Pilot Metropolitan but are called the Pilot MR or Pilot Cocoon instead. This is because Pilot chose different names for the Pilot Metropolitan for use in different parts of the world.

The Pilot Metropolitan is intended for the American market.
The Pilot Cocoon is intended for the Japanese market.
The Pilot MR is intended for the European market, or for parts of Asia other than Japan. Its biggest difference is that it uses standard international cartridges rather than proprietary cartridges. The MR name is sometimes also used for products sold in the United States.

These pens and pencils are almost all identical except for differences in the available colors. The exception is the Pilot MR for the European market, which takes standard international cartridges and converters instead of Pilot’s proprietary items.

JetPens mostly carries the Pilot Metropolitan, but we also have the Pilot Cocoon Mechanical Pencil.

More Resources

Conclusion

Whether you stick with the fan-favorite fountain pen, try the gel pen or mechanical pencil, or use a matching set of all three, the Pilot Metropolitan delivers a great writing experience without breaking the bank. If you’ve enjoyed this overview of the Pilot Metropolitan series, subscribe to our newsletter to see other great products and guides every week.

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JetPens Fountain Pen Starter Kit 2

If you want to try a Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen but aren’t sure if you have everything you need, our Fountain Pen Starter Kit 2 has you covered. This comprehensive starter kit includes a black Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen with a fine nib, a Pilot CON-40 converter, fountain pen friendly paper, beautiful blue fountain pen ink, and even a second high-quality Pilot fountain pen.

If you’d rather use cartridges than bottled ink, check out our Graduation Gift Pack. For those of you who like to use matching stationery, the Pilot Metropolitan is also part of our White and Turquoise color bundles.

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Pilot Metropolitan Standard Collection
Name	Fountain Pen	Gel Pen	Mechanical Pencil
Plain Gold	Add Items to Cart	N/A	N/A
Gold Zigzag	Add to Cart	Add to Cart	N/A
Plain Silver	Add Items to Cart	N/A	N/A
Silver Dot	Add to Cart	Add to Cart	N/A
Plain Black	Add Items to Cart	Add to Cart	N/A
Pilot Metropolitan Animal Collection
Name	Fountain Pen	Gel Pen	Mechanical Pencil
Violet Leopard	Add Items to Cart	Add to Cart	Add to Cart
Taupe Lizard	Add Items to Cart	Add to Cart	Add to Cart
Silver Python	Add Items to Cart	Add to Cart	Add to Cart
Black Crocodile	Add Items to Cart	Add to Cart	Add to Cart
White Tiger	Add Items to Cart	Add to Cart	N/A
Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Collection
Name	Fountain Pen	Gel Pen	Mechanical Pencil
Red Wave	Add Items to Cart	Add to Cart	N/A
Orange Flower	Add Items to Cart	Add to Cart	N/A
Green Marble	Add Items to Cart	Add to Cart	N/A
Turquoise Dots	Add Items to Cart	Add to Cart	N/A
Purple Ellipse	Add Items to Cart	Add to Cart	N/A
Gray Houndstooth	Add Items to Cart	Add to Cart	N/A
Pilot Cocoon Series
Name	Fountain Pen	Gel Pen	Mechanical Pencil
Bordeaux	N/A	N/A	Add to Cart
Blue	N/A	N/A	Add to Cart
Titanium	N/A	N/A	Add to Cart
Silver	N/A	N/A	Add to Cart
Metallic Gray	N/A	N/A	Add to Cart
Black	N/A	N/A	Add to Cart
White	N/A	N/A	Add to Cart