1. TO THE POINT
Clean lines? Sturdy casing? Professional look? Smooth writing? Yep, the Parker Jotter has it all, offering a timeless look in a variety of colours. Three pack: $15–$30 / parkerpen.com

2. TOP OF THE LINE
It doesn’t get much better than Baltz. The quality craftsmanship of the Exemplar+ is sure to make the writing process more worthwhile. $280 / baltzpens.com

 3. OLD MEETS NEW
The FORAY Stylus melds tradition with modern, pairing a standard ballpoint with a touch-screen tool for smartphone and tablet devices. $6.99 / officedepot.com

4. COMFORT & COMMAND
With a sleek design and a comfortable rubber grip, the metallic-barreled Zebra F-402 retractable pen allows for maximum hand control. Two pack: $6.99 / zebrapen.com

5. OLD FAITHFUL
A staff favourite, the Papermate Profile has a 14-mm ballpoint that draws bold strokes without smudging. And the pen is sold in eight colours. Eight pack: $8.49 / papermate.com

6. STROKE OF GENIUS
One of the newest offerings from Cross, the Bailey is a high-quality fountain pen that is easy to load, easy to use, and makes for clean, smooth jotting. $50 / cross.com