A fountain pen with a nib stamped from gold alloy sheet, with an iridium pellet welded to the tip, is called a gold-nib pen. Gold nibs come in two karat grades: 12K and 14K.
Authentic, branded gold-nib pens bear a clear trademark and model number on the cap band or clip surface. Inside the packaging, there is a quality inspection certificate, along with the manufacturer's name, place of origin, and the inspector's name or code. On the back of the nib tail, the gold content is clearly stamped — either 12K or 14K.
Common Counterfeit Tricks
Counterfeiters may use gold-plated nibs or titanium-plated imitation-gold nibs to pass off as gold nibs. Some counterfeit the brand and model of well-known makers, fitting imitation-gold iridium nibs with the same branding. Others are smuggled imports passed off as genuine imported gold-nib pens.
How to Authenticate a Gold-Nib Pen
1. Check the nib tail. Look for a clearly stamped gold-content mark — 12K (50%) or 14K (58.3% or 58.5%) — along with the brand marking (this applies to imported gold-nib pens as well).
2. Check the nib side profile. Examine the welding line between the iridium tip and the gold-alloy nib body. The arc between the two should show a clear yellow-white distinction. If the boundary is blurred, or if the iridium tip itself appears yellow or yellowish, the pen is definitely a counterfeit — either gold-plated or titanium-plated imitation gold.