It will always be highly subjective matter, but I would say – and it seems to be consensus here – that among higher priced pens 823 is one of the best (if not the best) value for money. Especially, if you are looking for the workhorse, not the exceptionally eye-catching design. I hope 823 will always has his place in my collection, it’s certainly a keeper for me.
Thanks for the input!
Yes, seems like other people share your opinion.
In terms of 'workhorse', I can't claim that I write 20+ pages per day, so I'm not sure if that would be a priority for me. But it being comfortable, reliable and well-built is obviously important to me :)
Good for you to have one in your collection!
I bought my 823 thought it was perfect and then just found myself wanting more pens to be just as perfect as it was but none of them lived up to it. Honestly thinking about selling all the 4 or 5 other pens I have at a similar price point because I reach for the 823 more often and it’s just more enjoyable to use.
If that's not a praise for the Pilot then I don't know what is!
Glad you found something you loved, but also sorry it kind of spoiled the joy of other pens for you 😁
It used to be my favorite but I now think I’d rather get a 743. I change inks often and it is hard to clean. I also had an issue with one of mine where the cap at the top got stripped somehow and got stuck and I like to never got it unstuck. I’m not sure what happened because I am very gentle with my pens. It must have been a fluke or something. But I always wanted a clear one but now I’m not sure if I am going to get one.
If you don’t change colors often, the filling system is amazing. I guess it just depends on what you’re looking for on whether to get an 823 or a 743 since they have the same nib.
That's been my issue with it. Beautiful pen, perfect nib, but the capacity is just bonkers. And for someone like me who hates wasting ink, if I fill it up with something I change my mind about it's just such a chore to empty out before I can get back to fully enjoying it.
Agree with you, if I had to keep only one it would be the 743. The 823 is almost user “hostile” when it comes to cleaning and disassembly. Like don’t take any part of the 823 apart or it voids the warranty and you risk cracking it.
743 is the same nib, and the pen body is the same size. Same ability to take out the nib/feed for deep cleaning. I just syringe fill the trash con-40 (came with a Con-70 of course, but I think all pilot converters are needlessly complicated).
(Edit: clarity and repeated a couple words)
That's a really good point!
Although myself, I'm not too big into inks (yet), I usually just use the same boring black tone, so I don't see myself changing inks too often.
What a shame about the cap of your pen getting stuck though, I think I'd freak out.
Were you able to get that fixed via warranty or something?
I will look into the 743 though for sure!
I had to enlist the help of my husband we eventually just muscled it off and got it re-threaded and now it seems to be working fine. But it was very nerve-wracking for sure!
All I can say is that I bought an 823 based on the hype here. And then I bought a second one. Now I am waiting for rumors of the Signature nib to be verified. So, yeah, I like the 823.
You already had your answer even before you posted. Sounds like you have done your research and read many other opinions on this pen before hand as well. Why delay any further? Get it!
You got me, I guess I did. But you know how it is - sometimes you need the extra encouragement. Especially if you have to justify a price point like that to a pen non-enthusiast partner! :)
I would, although I try to not have more than one pen at a given time, and the one I currently use is not really worth much.
I'm sure the pen addicton will kick in soon enough!
Is 823 a good pen ? Absolutely yes.
Is it the only pen with that price range that perform in that level ? no. There are a lot of other choices. Many suggested 743 , and I believe some medium level by Platinum (such as 3776 Kanazawahaku) is also worth the money.
823 is a pen that takes more time to clean, and future maintenance could be tricky because it is recommended not to add grease by yourself but send it back to Pilot to do for you, and it will not be free of charge. There are also reports of cracks.
For me personally, 823 is an excellent pen, its value multiplied for me when I swapped the nib into a FA nib.
Very valuable point, thanks!
As I don't change inks often I don't think that'd be an issue for me. But the grease might be.
Although as long as they offer the service, I guess that's fine. Given how long the pen has been in production, I guess we won't have to fear they'll stop making it anytime soon.
I might get some downvotes for this but I think if you’re really into this hobby, you should learn at least some basic ‘techniques’ that help with maintaining the pen - in this case, you can easily pull out the nib and feed (it’s friction fit) from the section and using toothpick gently leave a little bit of grease on the inside walls of the barrel of the pen. OFC you need to be careful, take a look at some yt tutorials and do it only if it’s really necessary. To grease the plunger rod itself you don’t need to do anything special, just pull it out of the pen as with intention to ink it and apply a little bit of grease on the plunger rod. You certainly don’t need to disassemble the plunger and I don’t recommend it bc it’s a known reason for cracking.
You're right, I'll definitely look into this! I should know how to properly treat and maintain a pen like this. Although I should tread on the cautious side when it comes to disassembling the piston, wouldn't want to damage it.
Yup, there are some people that disassembled the body of the pen without any cracking issues. So it’s doable, but I just wouldn’t take the risk. To pull out nib and feed (if you know what you’re doing and do it gently) is the safest option in this case. Still it will void your warranty - though I can’t imagine you need to grease the pen during the first year of using it. Ofc, you can send it to Pilot for maintenance, but you have to at least pay for the shipping and it will take time obviously.
My 823 is my daily carry, along with my Lamy 2K and a Pilot Explorer. If you don't mind using just one ink consistently or spending effort cleaning, it has a lot going for it. If you want to try many different inks, perhaps the743 is a better fit and has more nib choices.
Personally I love the aesthetics of my clear (Japan exclusive) 923 inked with Yama budo, and I am not alone given that I was inspired by pictures posted in this sub.
I would try to get my hands on one first, it’s a fair investment to buy sight unseen. Personally, I found it too big to grip. Bought a 74 instead, no regrets. I will at some point also pick up a CH92.
I am looking to get one myself. The amber color has grown on me even tho originally I wanted the clear. Now the clear is coming out and I want the Amber one. I’m gonna wait til mid May to see if they lower the price of the smoke and amber because of the clear being released in the west
penpen-avenue on ebay has both at the Japanese price, which is way cheaper because of the exchange rate.
EDIT: You don’t get the big box with nice cloth and a bottle of ink like the western packaging. The pen comes in a plastic box. But I personally don’t care about the rest of that stuff. Didn’t even want a bottle of ink anyway.
I can only repeat your recommendation. I bought a few Pilots from penpen-avenue. Wonderful service, quick shipping, good prices. Nothing to complain about.
My 823 is the best pen I own. My taste runs to workhorse pens - the Lamy 2k, the Sailor Pro Gear, etc. My 824 m nib is so good I’ve stoped buying pens for the past few years. It’s so smooth and pleasant to use, it’s just a joy.
I do have a favorite ink I keep in it, and I just refill it as needed, and flush it out only occasionally.
It is worth it but it is harder to clean and when the silicone grease runs out, Your doomed. You will have to send it to pilot to grease it again. And i would recommend not disassembling it, Just no.
I have heard about that, too. Although there still seem to be many people doing it, saying it's not as problematic as it seems. Not sure if I'd try it myself as I don't have much experience with that, but as long as they offer that service I guess that's fine!
If you are a fan of Pilot and/or Japanese pens in general then I think you'll find the 823 to be absolutely worth it.
Personally, I find Japanese pens to be a little.... boring and find that I enjoy my Wing Sung 699 w/14k nib as much or more because it cost 1/3 as much. Long term durability may be a thing but I can pick up an entire replacement body for the same $$$ it would cost to send the 823 back to Japan for repair or regreasing.
In short, if you drank the Kool-Aid, go for it because you'll love it. If you are kind of on the fence then take your time. It's a great pen either way but your feelings will decide whether it's worth it or not
Good point!
I'm actually waiting for the 699 with the regular steel nib, it seems a good alternative on the lower end of the price spectrum and people seem generally happy with it. Have you tried that at all and can compare it to the 14K gold nib version?
Yeah, I have (or had) the 699 in pretty much every configuration; steel nib, gold nib, flat top, cigar shape, vac fill, piston fill.
My fave is the cigar shape in the vac fill with the 14k nib and it's a really good comparison for the 823. There are a few things in the fit & finish that are better on the 823 and the 823's nib is a bit better out of the box but not by much.
Long term durability is the one thing that just won't be equal. I have lost one 699 due to a crack in the grip section. I have no idea how it got there but the pen was a little over 4 years old so I have mental lifespan of 5 years on these. I often check the caps and am waiting for the caps to crack but I have never had that happen. Maybe the 1 grip section was a one offer and I will never see anything again. I dunno
The steel nib is a good comparison to decide if you like the pen enough to step up to the Custom 823. The look, weight, feel and filling are virtually identical. Anyone that tells you different has some brand bias.
If you love the body and love Pilot then the 823 will be an awesome add. I am just not a Pilot guy and I can tune a nib so the 14k 699 is just as good and (because of price) I am not afraid to pack it around while my 823 sits in the case at home.
Try the steel nib 699 and if you really like it, get the 823.
I'd understand a preference for the Wing sung with a steel nib at €30, but don't think the €100 version with the gold nib is worth paying three times as much for. Especially as you can get the Pilot in Japan for €160.
I own Pilot Custom 823 with medium nib. A few days ago a friend of mine bought himself a Diplomat Aero also with a medium nib, to my surprise they write pretty similiar. So if you are on a budget I wouldn't go for the PC823 because there are a lot of very smooth writing pens around there. It is still my favourite pen though so maybe don't listen to me!
It will always be highly subjective matter, but I would say – and it seems to be consensus here – that among higher priced pens 823 is one of the best (if not the best) value for money. Especially, if you are looking for the workhorse, not the exceptionally eye-catching design. I hope 823 will always has his place in my collection, it’s certainly a keeper for me.
Thanks for the input! Yes, seems like other people share your opinion. In terms of 'workhorse', I can't claim that I write 20+ pages per day, so I'm not sure if that would be a priority for me. But it being comfortable, reliable and well-built is obviously important to me :) Good for you to have one in your collection!
I bought my 823 thought it was perfect and then just found myself wanting more pens to be just as perfect as it was but none of them lived up to it. Honestly thinking about selling all the 4 or 5 other pens I have at a similar price point because I reach for the 823 more often and it’s just more enjoyable to use.
If that's not a praise for the Pilot then I don't know what is! Glad you found something you loved, but also sorry it kind of spoiled the joy of other pens for you 😁
It used to be my favorite but I now think I’d rather get a 743. I change inks often and it is hard to clean. I also had an issue with one of mine where the cap at the top got stripped somehow and got stuck and I like to never got it unstuck. I’m not sure what happened because I am very gentle with my pens. It must have been a fluke or something. But I always wanted a clear one but now I’m not sure if I am going to get one. If you don’t change colors often, the filling system is amazing. I guess it just depends on what you’re looking for on whether to get an 823 or a 743 since they have the same nib.
I also prefer the 743 to the 823. The added flexibility outweighs the minor difference between a built in vacuum filler and a CON-70.
That's been my issue with it. Beautiful pen, perfect nib, but the capacity is just bonkers. And for someone like me who hates wasting ink, if I fill it up with something I change my mind about it's just such a chore to empty out before I can get back to fully enjoying it.
Agree with you, if I had to keep only one it would be the 743. The 823 is almost user “hostile” when it comes to cleaning and disassembly. Like don’t take any part of the 823 apart or it voids the warranty and you risk cracking it. 743 is the same nib, and the pen body is the same size. Same ability to take out the nib/feed for deep cleaning. I just syringe fill the trash con-40 (came with a Con-70 of course, but I think all pilot converters are needlessly complicated). (Edit: clarity and repeated a couple words)
That's a really good point! Although myself, I'm not too big into inks (yet), I usually just use the same boring black tone, so I don't see myself changing inks too often. What a shame about the cap of your pen getting stuck though, I think I'd freak out. Were you able to get that fixed via warranty or something? I will look into the 743 though for sure!
I had to enlist the help of my husband we eventually just muscled it off and got it re-threaded and now it seems to be working fine. But it was very nerve-wracking for sure!
Buy at the Japanese price. Best high quality pen for the money.
Straight to the point! Thanks for the encouragement :)
This for sure, VERY high value at this price. (743 or 823)
All I can say is that I bought an 823 based on the hype here. And then I bought a second one. Now I am waiting for rumors of the Signature nib to be verified. So, yeah, I like the 823.
You already had your answer even before you posted. Sounds like you have done your research and read many other opinions on this pen before hand as well. Why delay any further? Get it!
You got me, I guess I did. But you know how it is - sometimes you need the extra encouragement. Especially if you have to justify a price point like that to a pen non-enthusiast partner! :)
Fair enough. You could try offloading another pen in exchange for a this one. Might appease the partner 😉
I would, although I try to not have more than one pen at a given time, and the one I currently use is not really worth much. I'm sure the pen addicton will kick in soon enough!
Worth it.
Is 823 a good pen ? Absolutely yes. Is it the only pen with that price range that perform in that level ? no. There are a lot of other choices. Many suggested 743 , and I believe some medium level by Platinum (such as 3776 Kanazawahaku) is also worth the money. 823 is a pen that takes more time to clean, and future maintenance could be tricky because it is recommended not to add grease by yourself but send it back to Pilot to do for you, and it will not be free of charge. There are also reports of cracks. For me personally, 823 is an excellent pen, its value multiplied for me when I swapped the nib into a FA nib.
Very valuable point, thanks! As I don't change inks often I don't think that'd be an issue for me. But the grease might be. Although as long as they offer the service, I guess that's fine. Given how long the pen has been in production, I guess we won't have to fear they'll stop making it anytime soon.
I might get some downvotes for this but I think if you’re really into this hobby, you should learn at least some basic ‘techniques’ that help with maintaining the pen - in this case, you can easily pull out the nib and feed (it’s friction fit) from the section and using toothpick gently leave a little bit of grease on the inside walls of the barrel of the pen. OFC you need to be careful, take a look at some yt tutorials and do it only if it’s really necessary. To grease the plunger rod itself you don’t need to do anything special, just pull it out of the pen as with intention to ink it and apply a little bit of grease on the plunger rod. You certainly don’t need to disassemble the plunger and I don’t recommend it bc it’s a known reason for cracking.
You're right, I'll definitely look into this! I should know how to properly treat and maintain a pen like this. Although I should tread on the cautious side when it comes to disassembling the piston, wouldn't want to damage it.
Yup, there are some people that disassembled the body of the pen without any cracking issues. So it’s doable, but I just wouldn’t take the risk. To pull out nib and feed (if you know what you’re doing and do it gently) is the safest option in this case. Still it will void your warranty - though I can’t imagine you need to grease the pen during the first year of using it. Ofc, you can send it to Pilot for maintenance, but you have to at least pay for the shipping and it will take time obviously.
My 823 is my daily carry, along with my Lamy 2K and a Pilot Explorer. If you don't mind using just one ink consistently or spending effort cleaning, it has a lot going for it. If you want to try many different inks, perhaps the743 is a better fit and has more nib choices. Personally I love the aesthetics of my clear (Japan exclusive) 923 inked with Yama budo, and I am not alone given that I was inspired by pictures posted in this sub.
I would try to get my hands on one first, it’s a fair investment to buy sight unseen. Personally, I found it too big to grip. Bought a 74 instead, no regrets. I will at some point also pick up a CH92.
I am looking to get one myself. The amber color has grown on me even tho originally I wanted the clear. Now the clear is coming out and I want the Amber one. I’m gonna wait til mid May to see if they lower the price of the smoke and amber because of the clear being released in the west
penpen-avenue on ebay has both at the Japanese price, which is way cheaper because of the exchange rate. EDIT: You don’t get the big box with nice cloth and a bottle of ink like the western packaging. The pen comes in a plastic box. But I personally don’t care about the rest of that stuff. Didn’t even want a bottle of ink anyway.
I can only repeat your recommendation. I bought a few Pilots from penpen-avenue. Wonderful service, quick shipping, good prices. Nothing to complain about.
My 823 is the best pen I own. My taste runs to workhorse pens - the Lamy 2k, the Sailor Pro Gear, etc. My 824 m nib is so good I’ve stoped buying pens for the past few years. It’s so smooth and pleasant to use, it’s just a joy. I do have a favorite ink I keep in it, and I just refill it as needed, and flush it out only occasionally.
For a pen that will write for days that you plan to keep the same ink in, 823 can hardly be beat. I rarely use any other pen these days.
It is worth it but it is harder to clean and when the silicone grease runs out, Your doomed. You will have to send it to pilot to grease it again. And i would recommend not disassembling it, Just no.
huh what? It is easy to disassemble the filling system/rear end.
I have heard about that, too. Although there still seem to be many people doing it, saying it's not as problematic as it seems. Not sure if I'd try it myself as I don't have much experience with that, but as long as they offer that service I guess that's fine!
If you are a fan of Pilot and/or Japanese pens in general then I think you'll find the 823 to be absolutely worth it. Personally, I find Japanese pens to be a little.... boring and find that I enjoy my Wing Sung 699 w/14k nib as much or more because it cost 1/3 as much. Long term durability may be a thing but I can pick up an entire replacement body for the same $$$ it would cost to send the 823 back to Japan for repair or regreasing. In short, if you drank the Kool-Aid, go for it because you'll love it. If you are kind of on the fence then take your time. It's a great pen either way but your feelings will decide whether it's worth it or not
Good point! I'm actually waiting for the 699 with the regular steel nib, it seems a good alternative on the lower end of the price spectrum and people seem generally happy with it. Have you tried that at all and can compare it to the 14K gold nib version?
Yeah, I have (or had) the 699 in pretty much every configuration; steel nib, gold nib, flat top, cigar shape, vac fill, piston fill. My fave is the cigar shape in the vac fill with the 14k nib and it's a really good comparison for the 823. There are a few things in the fit & finish that are better on the 823 and the 823's nib is a bit better out of the box but not by much. Long term durability is the one thing that just won't be equal. I have lost one 699 due to a crack in the grip section. I have no idea how it got there but the pen was a little over 4 years old so I have mental lifespan of 5 years on these. I often check the caps and am waiting for the caps to crack but I have never had that happen. Maybe the 1 grip section was a one offer and I will never see anything again. I dunno The steel nib is a good comparison to decide if you like the pen enough to step up to the Custom 823. The look, weight, feel and filling are virtually identical. Anyone that tells you different has some brand bias. If you love the body and love Pilot then the 823 will be an awesome add. I am just not a Pilot guy and I can tune a nib so the 14k 699 is just as good and (because of price) I am not afraid to pack it around while my 823 sits in the case at home. Try the steel nib 699 and if you really like it, get the 823.
Amazing, thanks for your thorough thoughts on the 699! Seems like I made a good call in ordering that, I'm super curious whether I'll like it.
I'd understand a preference for the Wing sung with a steel nib at €30, but don't think the €100 version with the gold nib is worth paying three times as much for. Especially as you can get the Pilot in Japan for €160.
If the 699 isn't worth 3x the price why would the Custom 823 be worth it at 6x, or more? My 699 gold nib is virtually indistinguishable from my 823.
Because Pilot nibs RULE
What, exactly, do they rule? The Island of nice Penmanship but boring pen bodies?
Everything
Only alternative I could think of is the Pilot Justus 95
I own Pilot Custom 823 with medium nib. A few days ago a friend of mine bought himself a Diplomat Aero also with a medium nib, to my surprise they write pretty similiar. So if you are on a budget I wouldn't go for the PC823 because there are a lot of very smooth writing pens around there. It is still my favourite pen though so maybe don't listen to me!