Pilot Custom 74 vs 742 vs 743 vs 823, Sailor Pro Gear and Platinum 3776: Choosing a Japanese Gold-Nib Fountain Pen

There is a moment, the first time you write with a good gold nib, when the pen seems to glide on its own. Japan's three pen makers, Pilot, Sailor and Platinum, are famous for exactly that feel, and for nibs fine enough to write small, neat handwriting. Their gold-nib pens are some of the best-loved fountain pens anywhere. This guide explains how Pilot's Custom 74, 742, 743 and 823 differ, how Sailor's Professional Gear and Platinum's #3776 Century compare, and what to know about buying them on Amazon. Specs are from each maker's official Japanese product pages (October 2026).

Pilot's Custom family: the difference is the nib size

Pilot's Custom 74, 742 and 743 look alike: black resin, gold trim, rounded ends. What changes is the 14K gold nib inside. Pilot numbers its nibs by size: size 5 on the 74, size 10 on the 742 and size 15 on the 743 and 823. A bigger nib has more gold to flex, so it tends to feel softer and more cushioned on the page, while a smaller nib feels firmer and keeps the pen light. The 823 uses the big size 15 nib too, but adds a built-in plunger filler.

A note on buying these on Amazon

Fountain pens are mostly sold on Amazon by independent pen shops and importers, not by the makers. The Custom 74 is sold in the US. The 742, 743 and 823 are Japanese-market models, so on Amazon they usually come from sellers who import them from Japan, often with only one or two in stock, and they may not be covered by a US warranty. Sailor and Platinum pens may ship from Amazon's Japan store. Check the seller, the nib width in the title and the delivery date before you buy. Also note that Japanese nibs tend to write finer than European nibs of the same letter, so a Japanese F is closer to a European EF.

The drawings below are simple illustrations, not product photos. Prices, sellers and stock on Amazon change often.

Pilot Custom 74: the classic first gold nib

The pen many people buy as their first gold nib, and keep. It has a 14K size 5 nib in 11 widths, from F to the music nib, and fills from a cartridge or a converter. The smaller nib keeps it light and precise, which suits everyday notes and small handwriting. It is also the one in this group sold through US pen dealers.

Pilot Custom 742: the most nib choices

For writers who want a particular nib. Pilot offers the 742's 14K size 10 nib in 16 widths, including special grinds you won't find on most pens: FA (Falcon, a soft nib that flexes for line variation), PO (Posting, very fine, for tiny writing), WA (Waverly, with a slightly upturned tip), SU (Stub) and MS (Music). If you have heard about the Falcon nib, this is the usual way to get one.

Pilot Custom 743: the biggest, softest Custom nib

A big nib in a familiar body. The 743 takes Pilot's large size 15 nib, the same size as the 823, which retailers describe as giving a relaxed, supple feel. It is the one to choose if you write a lot and want the softest Pilot Custom nib, without changing how you fill the pen. It is also offered with the FA nib.

Pilot Custom 823: fill it from the bottle

The pen people fall in love with. The 823 has the same 14K size 15 nib as the 743, but instead of a cartridge it has a built-in plunger: dip the nib in a bottle, pull the plunger out and push it down, and the pen draws the ink in. The see-through barrel, in amber brown, smoke or clear, shows the ink sloshing inside. It is a little more involved than a cartridge, and most people who own one say that is half the fun.

Sailor Professional Gear: 21K gold

A different Japanese feel. Sailor's Professional Gear uses a large 21K gold nib with a two-tone finish, a higher karat than Pilot's or Platinum's 14K. Its flat ends and squared-off shape make it instantly recognizable. Sailor pens are often described as having a little feedback on the page, a feeling some writers prefer to Pilot's glide. Sailor lists it in widths from extra-fine to broad.

Platinum #3776 Century: never dries out

The pen you can forget about and still pick up and write with. Named after Mount Fuji's height of 3,776 meters, the #3776 Century has a large 14K nib in widths from UEF (ultra extra fine) to C (coarse). Its Slip & Seal cap seals the nib so tightly that Platinum says the ink won't dry out for about two years without use. If you rotate several pens, or write only now and then, that is a real advantage.

Which one suits you?

• Your first gold nib: Pilot Custom 74.
• You want a Falcon (FA), Posting or Waverly nib: Pilot Custom 742.
• You want the softest Pilot Custom nib: Pilot Custom 743.
• You want to fill from the bottle and see the ink: Pilot Custom 823.
• You want 21K gold and a different feel: Sailor Professional Gear.
• You leave pens unused for weeks: Platinum #3776 Century.