Handwriting can tell us a surprising amount about a person.
Graphology, the study of handwriting, is used primarily by criminologists and criminal profilers to determine key personality traits, subconscious feelings, and even medical diagnoses – but also has varied applications across psychotherapy, counselling and career guidance. It’s said that the many ways in which letters and words are formed by the human hand can indicate over 5,000 personality traits.
This makes the instrument with which you choose to write bizarrely important, given the influence certain pens can have over one’s handwriting style.
While stationery enthusiasts like ourselves here at ES Best have been particular about our choice in pens from the moment we gained our ‘pen licenses’ at secondary school (for those who didn’t experience this, it was the official and rather exciting graduation from pencil to pen which was awarded to young students with exceptional handwriting skills), the personal and professional repercussions of our handwriting may just force us to take a slightly different approach.
So, what does a gel rollerball pen say about a person? There’s no dedicated Zodiac-esque guide, which means we’ll have to make our own inferences and assumptions. Rollerball pens work with the help of a spherical nib, usually made from steel or tungsten carbide, which can roll and rotate 360 degrees.
The roller ball sits in a socket which is directly connected to the pen’s ink reservoir and together they work to deliver unbeatably smooth lines which remain the same thickness no matter what you’re writing or drawing. Ink-wise, rollerball pens typically have a less viscous, water-based product akin to the ink used in fountain pens. Ballpoint pens, conversely, use a thicker, oil-based ink which is versatile, quick-drying and easy to manoeuvre. The overall mechanisms of each pen work in the same way.
Rollerball gel pens thus offer a healthy combination of the humble ballpoint and the silky smooth water-based roller ball. Gel ink is still water-based but has that characteristic thick consistency and allows for a higher proportion of pigments in the ink – resulting in a beautifully bright saturation and smooth, dense colour.
In conclusion, we’d say the handwriting produced by a rollerball pen with gel ink is typically indicative of a wonderfully clever person who’s got it together and places a high value on aesthetics. No bias here.
Shop our top pick of gel rollerball pens below.
uni-ball Vision Elite E Airplane Safe Rollerball Pens Black (Pack of 3)
The pièce de résistance of this article. A tried and true ES Best favourite.
We’re not quite sure how, but this pen ensures your handwriting remains silky smooth, gliding between every stroke of the pen. The ink is relatively thick, so you have to take care not to smudge it while jotting away, meaning this pen is perhaps not the best option for left-handers. The 0.8mm rollerball pen also features a pocket clip and a grip area for extra comfort while writing.
The Vision Elite also come equipped with airplane-safe technology, which prevents leaks due to changes in pressure – making it perfect for the frequent traveller. You can pick up this dream instrument in blue, black or red.
Buy now £9.32, Amazon
Uni-Ball Jetstream Retractable Ball Point Pens,0.7mm, Black Ink
A brilliant hybrid writing instrument, the Uni-Ball Jetstream glides across the page with a gel pen-like smoothness yet has the quick-dry properties of a ballpoint. The retractable pen is also equipped with an embossed grip for extra comfort, and it’s available in blue, black and red for all your notetaking needs.
Buy now £15.90, Amazon
Leuchtturm1917 Drehgriffel Ballpoint Pen
Beloved stationer Lechtturm1917 has revived one of the brand’s most popular pens from the 1920s, the ‘drehgriffel’ – a German compound noun which translates to ‘twist stylus’. The distinctive, wide hexagonal barrel provides ergonomic ease, and it’s available in a variety of contemporary hues to suit your personality.
Buy now £20.90, London Graphic Centre
Pentel EnerGel Xm Retractable Rollerball Set of 9
This set of nine, colourful medium-tip, quick-dry pens from the fan-favourite stationery manufacturer Pentel is any avid note-taker’s dream. The retractable rollerball design features a hybrid liquid gel ink, which flows smoother and dries quicker than regular old gel ink. An eco-conscious choice, the pen barrel contains 50 per cent recycled materials and is refillable with a LR7 cartridge. It has a 0.7mm nib which produces an approximately 0.35mm line.
Buy now £20.00, Cult Pens
Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens | Medium Point (0.7mm) | Dark Blue Ink | 12 Count
Known among pen lovers for that characteristic double heart logo, Paper Mate is home to an array of sumptuously smooth gel-based pens. Fear not, lefties, for this viscous option nevertheless dries three times faster than other pens to prevent smudging and smearing. The ergonomic comfort grip adds to the premium feel of the pen, and the 0.7mm point flows beautifully. It’s also available in a rainbow’s worth of additional colours.
Buy now £15.99, Amazon
Toshine Smooth Writing Retractable Quick Dry Gel Ink Pens, 0.5mm
Don’t be fooled by their colourful exterior, these retractable quick-dry gel ink pens by Toshine contain solely black ink. They provide an ultra-smooth ink delivery and require very little pressure to write beautifully, making them a great option for those who struggle with writer’s strain. The 0.5mm fine point tip produces medium-thick lines and prevents pesky bleeding or smudging. Users tend to like the metallic ball on the pen clip, which can also function as a fidget device.
Buy now £6.29, Amazon
Pilot G-Tec C4 Microtip Rollerball Pen Black
Gel ink pens tend to have a medium-thick nib, but not this brilliant option from Pilot. Its ultra-fine 0.4mm nib produces a fine 0.2mm line, making it a top choice among designers and journaling lovers who value precision above all else.
Buy now £4.69, London Graphic Centre
Pentel Mattehop 1.0mm Gel Pen
Offered in a delightful range of hues, the cult-favourite Pentel Mattehop gel pens contain a signature, high-opacity, quick-drying ink with a uniquely matte finish. It’s a versatile addition to any stationery arsenal and has a thick 1.00mm nib which produces a 0.5mm line width.
Buy now £2.68, London Graphic Centre
Zebra Sarasa Clip Gel Rollerball Pen 0.5 Vintage Colours
Minimalistic, ergonomic and oh-so-smooth, the Zebra Sarasa is one for lovers of vintage aesthetics. The blue, green and red inks have a muted, old-school feel which is certainly easy on the eyes. The thick gel ink, distributed by a fine 0.5mm tip, is also offered in intriguing hues like Bordeaux Purple, Sepia Black, Blue Grey and Camel Yellow – among many others.
Buy now £2.60, Cult Pens
