--- title: "Diplomat Magnum: German Steel-Nib Fountain Pen" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/diplomat-magnum/" description: "Diplomat Magnum fountain pen explained: 135 mm and 14 g, soft-touch resin, steel nib from EF to B, international cartridges, colours incl. Prismatic Purple." category: "Pens" type: "Fountain pen" published: 2026-10-22 updated: 2026-10-24 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 7 products: - name: "Diplomat Magnum Fountain Pen" brand: "Diplomat" brand_origin: "Germany" made_in: "Not stated" material: "Plastic (resin) with soft-touch lacquer, brass, steel nib" released: "1996" price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Diplomat (Germany; production site in Cunewalde, Saxony)" model: "Magnum fountain pen" mpn: "D40906023" gtin: "4009746012823" url: "https://www.diplomat-pen.com/de/product/fullfederhalter-magnum/" --- # Diplomat Magnum: German Steel-Nib Fountain Pen > The Diplomat Magnum is the German maker's most affordable fountain pen: a light resin pen with a soft-touch lacquer, a steel nib in EF, F, M or B, and standard international cartridges or a converter. Diplomat lists it at 135 mm and 14 g, and it sells in our $$$ band in the US. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/diplomat-magnum/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-22 - Updated: 2026-10-24 ![Diplomat Magnum fountain pen in Prismatic Purple, capped, drawn to scale at 135 mm with chrome trim, with an inset of the steel nib](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/diplomat-magnum-16x9.png) *The Prismatic Purple Magnum, capped and drawn to scale at Diplomat's 135 mm.* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Diplomat Magnum Fountain Pen | Diplomat (by Diplomat (Germany; production site in Cunewalde, Saxony)) | Germany | Not stated | Plastic (resin) with soft-touch lacquer, brass, steel nib | 1996 | $$$: $20–75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Diplomat Magnum Fountain Pen): Not stated. Diplomat's German product page doesn't state where the Magnum is made. Its history page says the company set up its production site in Cunewalde, eastern Saxony, in 2001, and some retailers describe Diplomat pens as made in Germany, but we found no statement for the Magnum itself. ### Diplomat Magnum Fountain Pen colors - Body colors (8 standard, 0 special edition): Hellrosa; Zitronengrün; Krähenschwarz; Indigoblau; John Doe (Prismatic Purple at Goulet Pens); Rot; Perlweiß; Ägäisches Blau. - Ink in the box: blue cartridge (one included). - Per Diplomat (German site) (https://www.diplomat-pen.com/de/product/fullfederhalter-magnum/), checked 2026-10-24. Eight colors as named on Diplomat's German store, which says the pen comes with one blue cartridge. Goulet Pens sells John Doe as Prismatic Purple. Tints were sampled from Diplomat's color chips; the cartridge tint from the box in Diplomat's photo of its blue 6-cartridge pack. Shops stock different colors; check the listing. ## Key takeaways - Diplomat lists the Magnum at 135 mm (5.3 in) capped, 153 mm (6.0 in) posted, 12 mm wide and 14 g. - Goulet Pens measures 1.52 ml in a long international cartridge and 0.55 ml in the converter. - Diplomat's German store sells it in 8 colours, including John Doe, the shade Goulet sells in the US as Prismatic Purple. - Diplomat's German store lists it at €26.22 (about US$29) with VAT; US shops sell it in our $$$ band, $20–75. - Diplomat says it launched the Magnum in 1996, as its entry to mid-priced fountain pens. ## What is the Diplomat Magnum? **The Magnum is Diplomat's entry-level fountain pen: a light, rounded resin pen with a soft-touch lacquer, chrome trim and a steel nib.** Diplomat's history page says it launched the Magnum in 1996 to bring the brand into mid-priced fountain pens; its German page now pitches it as an everyday pen for adults and for children from first grade. On October 22, 2026, the Prismatic Purple Magnum was No. 40 on Goulet Pens' best-seller list. Diplomat itself dates to 1922, when Karl Räuchle founded the brand in Hennef, Germany. ## Diplomat Magnum specs | Spec | Diplomat Magnum | |---|---| | Maker | Diplomat, Germany | | Body | Resin with soft-touch lacquer; brass parts (Diplomat); snap cap (Goulet) | | Nib | Stainless steel (JoWo, per Goulet); EF, F, M, B | | Filling | Standard international cartridges, short or long, or converter | | Ink capacity (Goulet) | 1.52 ml long cartridge; 0.55 ml converter | | Length capped / posted | 135 / 153 mm (5.3 / 6.0 in) (Diplomat); 133.3 / 151.7 mm (Goulet) | | Body / cap length | 123.9 / 52 mm (4.9 / 2.0 in) (Goulet) | | Diameter | 12 mm (Diplomat); 11.5 mm body, 12.2 mm cap, 15.5 mm with clip, 8.3 mm grip (Goulet) | | Weight | 14 g (Diplomat); 14.0 g, 7 g body and 7 g cap (Goulet) | | Barcode (Prismatic Purple, F) | 4009746012823 (Goulet; DP-D40906023) | | Price band | $$$ ($20–75) | Diplomat's and Goulet's lengths differ by under 2 mm; we use Diplomat's. ![Diplomat Magnum and LAMY safari capped lengths drawn to scale: 135 mm and 139.5 mm, 14 g and 17.0 g](https://stationerytimes.com/images/diplomat-magnum-vs-safari.svg) *The Magnum is a little shorter and lighter than a LAMY safari.* ## What colours does the Magnum come in? **Diplomat's German store lists eight: light pink, lime green, crow black, indigo blue, John Doe, red, pearl white and Aegean blue.** Goulet sells John Doe, an iridescent purple, as Prismatic Purple, and says the colour is a Goulet exclusive in the US. Diplomat also sells a Magnum ballpoint and a clear Magnum Demo fountain pen, and sells the steel nib unit separately. ## How does it compare with the LAMY safari? **The Magnum is lighter and takes standard international cartridges; the safari needs LAMY's own.** | | Diplomat Magnum | [LAMY safari](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/lamy-safari/) | |---|---|---| | Length capped | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 139.5 mm (5.5 in) | | Weight | 14 g | 17.0 g | | Nib | Steel, EF to B | Steel, EF to B and LH | | Cartridges | Standard international | LAMY T10 | | Grip | Round | Triangular | | Price band | $$$ | $$$ | Magnum figures are Diplomat's; safari figures are Goulet Pens', from our safari guide. For other first fountain pens, see the [Pilot Metropolitan](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-metropolitan/), the pocket [Kaweco Sport](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kaweco-sport/) and our [best fountain pens for beginners](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-fountain-pens-for-beginners/). ## Which nib should you choose? **F for everyday notes; M or B if you like a wetter line or write large.** Diplomat offers EF, F, M and B, and they are European sizes, so they run broader than Japanese nibs of the same letter. Goulet notes that Diplomat is switching the Magnum from a matte to a polished nib, so the finish may differ from photos. ## How much does the Diplomat Magnum cost? **It's in our $$$ band, $20–75, at US shops.** On October 22, 2026, Diplomat's German store listed it at €26.22 (about US$29) including 20% VAT. ## Where is the Diplomat Magnum made? **Diplomat doesn't say on the Magnum's page.** Its history page says the company opened a production site in Cunewalde, eastern Saxony, in 2001, and French entrepreneurs Mathias and Marcel Ringeard bought the brand in 2016. Some retailers call Diplomat pens German-made, but we found no maker statement for the Magnum, so we list it as not stated. For a flat-top steel-nib pen from a revived American brand, see the [Conklin Duragraph](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/conklin-duragraph/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What cartridges does the Diplomat Magnum take? Standard international cartridges, short or long, per Goulet Pens, so most European ink cartridges fit. A converter lets you use bottled ink. ### Is Prismatic Purple the same as John Doe? Yes. Goulet Pens, which sells Prismatic Purple as a US exclusive, says the box may read John Doe, the colour's name outside the US. ### Who makes the nib on the Diplomat Magnum? Goulet Pens says it's a JoWo stainless steel nib, and that Diplomat is moving from matte to polished nibs, so either may arrive. ### Is the Diplomat Magnum good for kids? Diplomat says so: its German page calls the Magnum suitable for children from first grade, and for left- and right-handers. ### How heavy is the Diplomat Magnum? Diplomat lists 14 g net and Goulet Pens 14.0 g, split evenly between the 7 g body and 7 g cap. ### Is the Diplomat Magnum made in the USA? No. Diplomat is a German brand, and neither its product page nor Goulet states a country of manufacture for the Magnum. ## Sources - [Diplomat (German site): Füllhalter Magnum (135 mm capped, 153 mm posted, 12 mm, 14 g, plastic and brass, 2-year warranty, €26.22 with VAT, colours and nibs; read October 22, 2026)](https://www.diplomat-pen.com/de/product/fullfederhalter-magnum/) - [Diplomat (German site): Unsere Geschichte (founded 1922 in Hennef; Magnum launched 1996; Cunewalde production site 2001; bought by Mathias and Marcel Ringeard in 2016)](https://www.diplomat-pen.com/de/unser-unternehmen/unsere-geschichte/) - [Diplomat (English site): Magnum fountain pen](https://www.diplomat-pen.com/en/product/magnum-fountain-pen/) - [The Goulet Pen Company: Diplomat Magnum Fountain Pen, Prismatic Purple (JoWo steel nib, lengths, diameters, weights, ink capacity, UPCs)](https://www.gouletpens.com/products/diplomat-magnum-fountain-pen-prismatic-purple) - [The Goulet Pen Company: Best sellers (Magnum Prismatic Purple at No. 40, October 22, 2026)](https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/best-sellers) - [Drop: Diplomat Magnum SoftTouch fountain pen](https://drop.com/buy/diplomat-magnum-softtouch) - [Diplomat (German site): Packung mit 6 Patronen (blue cartridge photo)](https://www.diplomat-pen.com/de/product/packung-mit-6-patronen/)