---
title: "Fonte Skeleton Fountain Pen: Clear Starter Pen, Swap Caps"
canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/fonte-skeleton-fountain-pen/"
description: "Fonte Skeleton Fountain Pen from Komamono Lab explained: a clear 117 mm starter pen with converter, F nib, 14 cap colors, ink options, Japan and US prices."
category: "Pens"
type: "Fountain pen"
published: 2026-11-04
updated: 2026-11-04
author: "Ellis Penhale"
publisher: "Stationery Times"
sources: 4
products:
  - name: "Fonte Skeleton Fountain Pen (Komamono Lab), clear ABS body, stainless steel F nib, converter included"
    brand: "Fonte (Komamono Lab)"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Not stated"
    material: "ABS body; stainless steel nib; polypropylene converter"
    price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Nippan (Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Inc.), Japan, under its komamono lab brand"
    model: "Fonte Fountain Pen"
    url: "https://komamono-lab.com/fonte/"
---

# Fonte Skeleton Fountain Pen: Clear Starter Pen, Swap Caps

> The Fonte Skeleton Fountain Pen is a clear starter fountain pen from Komamono Lab, the original-goods brand of Japan's Nippan. It is 117 mm long with an ABS body, a stainless steel F nib and a converter in the box, and takes cartridges too. Komamono Lab sells it for ¥715 (about US$4.50) with tax.

- URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/fonte-skeleton-fountain-pen/
- Category: Pens
- Author: Ellis Penhale
- Published: 2026-11-04
- Updated: 2026-11-04

![Fonte skeleton fountain pen, 117 mm long with a blue cap, above six cap colors, drawn to scale](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/fonte-skeleton-fountain-pen-illustration-16x9.png?v=af2bd590)

*The pen at 1 mm = 7 px from Komamono Lab's 117 mm length, with six of its cap colors.* Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times. Original drawing (SVG): <https://stationerytimes.com/images/fonte-skeleton-fountain-pen-illustration.svg?v=099a5233>. 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fonte Skeleton Fountain Pen (Komamono Lab), clear ABS body, stainless steel F nib, converter included | Fonte (Komamono Lab) (by Nippan (Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Inc.), Japan, under its komamono lab brand) | Japan | Not stated | ABS body; stainless steel nib; polypropylene converter | – | $$: $5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) |

- Made in (Fonte Skeleton Fountain Pen (Komamono Lab), clear ABS body, stainless steel F nib, converter included): Not stated. Komamono Lab's Fonte page lists size, materials and price but not the country of manufacture. Yoseka Stationery calls the pen a rebranded Jinhao 992; we could not confirm that with the maker, so we do not state a maker or origin.

- Good for: First pen, Everyday writing. Skip it if you want a pen you can name a maker for: Komamono Lab gives no origin, and Yoseka's rebadge claim is unconfirmed.

### Fonte Skeleton Fountain Pen (Komamono Lab), clear ABS body, stainless steel F nib, converter included colors

- Body colors (14 standard, 0 special edition): Skeleton (clear) (Cap); Blue (Cap); Green (Cap); Orange (Cap); Yellow (Cap); Pink (Cap); Maroon Brown (Cap, no photo to sample); Honey Yellow (Cap, no photo to sample); Deep Green (Cap, no photo to sample); Dark Blue (Cap, no photo to sample); Lavender (Cap, no photo to sample); Wine Red (Cap, no photo to sample); Taupe Gray (Cap, marked NEW on the maker's page); Midnight Blue (Cap, marked NEW on the maker's page).
- Per Komamono Lab (Japanese): Fonte brand page (https://komamono-lab.com/fonte/), checked 2026-11-04. The body is clear (skeleton). Komamono Lab lists 14 separate cap colors, romanized here from its katakana. Tints were sampled by hand from the maker's cap photos for six of them and are representative; the other eight have no photo we could sample, so they show no swatch. Shops stock different colors; check the listing.

## Key takeaways

- Komamono Lab lists the Fonte fountain pen at 117 mm long with an ABS body, a stainless steel nib, a polypropylene converter and an F (fine) nib.
- It fills from a cartridge or a converter, and Komamono Lab says it follows the European standard, so other international cartridges should fit.
- The body costs ¥650 (about US$4.10) before tax and ¥715 (about US$4.50) with tax in Japan; Yoseka Stationery listed the body with a simple cap at US$8 on November 4, 2026.
- Caps are separate: Komamono Lab lists 14 cap colors at ¥330 (about US$2.10) each with tax, and Yoseka sells them at US$3.50.
- Yoseka says Fonte first came out in February 2019 and is a rebadged Jinhao 992; Komamono Lab does not say who makes it or where.

## What is the Fonte Skeleton Fountain Pen?

**It is a clear, low-cost fountain pen built so you can pick the cap and the ink.** Komamono Lab is the original-goods brand of Nippan, the Japanese publisher distributor, and Fonte is its customizable pen line. The skeleton body shows the ink inside, and Komamono Lab's page describes choosing a favorite cap and ink and putting them together into "my own fountain pen".

Yoseka Stationery says Fonte first came out in February 2019 under Nippan's "Hmmm!? Stationery" label and caught on that year as a starter fountain pen. We could not find a maker notice with the release date, so that year is Yoseka's statement.

## Fonte Skeleton Fountain Pen specs

| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Nippan (Nippon Shuppan Hanbai), brand Komamono Lab, Japan |
| Length | 117 mm (4.6 in); diameter not listed for this model |
| Materials | ABS body; stainless steel nib; polypropylene converter |
| Nib | F (fine) |
| Filling | Cartridge or converter; converter included; European standard |
| Weight | Not stated |
| Price in Japan | ¥650 (about US$4.10) before tax; ¥715 (about US$4.50) with tax |
| Price in the US | US$8 at Yoseka Stationery, November 4, 2026 (body with a simple cap) |

Sizes, materials and yen prices are from Komamono Lab's Japanese Fonte page and the US price is from Yoseka's listing, both read November 4, 2026. The page lists a length only; the nearby rollerball and glass pens are given as 13 and 12 mm across, but we do not state a diameter for this pen.

![Four Fonte pens at one scale: fountain, rollerball, brush and glass, each about 117 to 120 mm long](https://stationerytimes.com/images/fonte-skeleton-fountain-pen-four-tips.svg?v=13bb97db)

*The Fonte family at one scale: Komamono Lab sells the same pen with a fountain, rollerball, brush or glass tip. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.*

## What does it take to fill it?

**A converter comes in the box, and cartridges work too.** Komamono Lab lists the pen as a cartridge or converter type and as following the European standard, so the cartridge in the maker's own 6-pack (¥330 (about US$2.10) with tax) is not the only choice. The maker's own cartridges come in ten colors: Black, Blue-Black, Gray, Cobalt Blue, Light Blue, Peacock Green, Brown, Red, Pink and Purple.

Komamono Lab also sells 20 g bottled inks for the line; see our [Fonte Bottle Ink guide](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/fonte-bottle-ink/). For filling steps, our [how to fill a fountain pen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/how-to-fill-a-fountain-pen/) guide covers a converter.

## Which caps and colors can you choose?

**The body is clear and the color comes from the cap.** Komamono Lab lists 14 caps for the line, each with a gold-colored clip and ring: Skeleton, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, Pink, Maroon Brown, Honey Yellow, Deep Green, Dark Blue, Lavender, Wine Red, plus Taupe Gray and Midnight Blue marked as new. A cap is ¥300 (about US$1.90) before tax and ¥330 (about US$2.10) with tax; Yoseka Stationery sells them at US$3.50 on November 4, 2026.

The caps are Φ13 mm, made of ABS with zinc alloy rings and clips, and they are also listed for the rollerball, brush and glass pens in the family.

## Who is the Fonte Skeleton Fountain Pen for?

**It is a cheap first fountain pen for someone who wants a clear body and a choice of cap.** A converter is included, cartridges are sold by the maker, and the US price at Yoseka is US$8. See the fit note above for who should skip it.

- **First pen:** converter in the box, cartridge or bottle ink, and a body under US$10.
- **Everyday writing:** the maker's own cartridges cost about US$0.35 each in the 6-pack at Japan prices.

For other starters, see our [best fountain pens for beginners](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-fountain-pens-for-beginners/). If you only want to try a glass tip, the [Fonte Glass Pen guide](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/fonte-glass-pen/) covers the dip version.

## Where is the Fonte Skeleton Fountain Pen made?

**Komamono Lab doesn't say.** Its Fonte page gives materials but no country of manufacture. Yoseka Stationery says the pen is a rebranded Jinhao 992, but the maker does not confirm that, so we leave "made in" as not stated.

## How much does it cost?

**It sits in our $$ band ($5-20) at US prices.** Komamono Lab lists ¥650 (about US$4.10) before tax and ¥715 (about US$4.50) with tax; Yoseka listed US$8 on November 4, 2026, and its page says the price is for the body with a simple cap. Extra caps and any ink are additional.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does the Fonte fountain pen come with a converter?

Yes. Komamono Lab lists a converter in the box, and Yoseka says one converter comes with the pen. It also takes cartridges, so you can switch between the two.

### What nib does the Fonte fountain pen have?

An F (fine) stainless steel nib, per Komamono Lab's spec list. The page gives no tip width in millimeters and no tipping material.

### Do other cartridges fit the Fonte pen?

Komamono Lab says the pen follows the European standard for cartridges and converters, and Yoseka calls it international. We have not tried other brands' cartridges in it.

### Does the Fonte pen come with a cap?

Yoseka says the body comes with a simple cap that protects the tip, and that separate caps in more colors are sold on their own. Komamono Lab's page is built around choosing your own cap.

### How many cap colors does Fonte offer?

Komamono Lab lists 14: Skeleton, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, Pink, Maroon Brown, Honey Yellow, Deep Green, Dark Blue, Lavender, Wine Red, and the newer Taupe Gray and Midnight Blue.

### How much does the Fonte fountain pen cost?

In Japan the maker lists ¥650 (about US$4.10) before tax and ¥715 (about US$4.50) with tax. Yoseka Stationery listed the body at US$8 on November 4, 2026, so it sits in our $$ band ($5-20).

### What does Fonte mean?

Komamono Lab says Fonte is Italian for a spring, as in water welling up, chosen to suggest ink flowing out of the nib onto the page.

### Is the Fonte pen a Jinhao 992?

Yoseka Stationery says it is a rebranded Jinhao 992. Komamono Lab does not say who makes the pen, so treat that as the retailer's statement, not a confirmed fact.

## Sources

- [Komamono Lab (Japanese): Fonte brand page (fountain pen ¥650 (about US$4.10), ¥715 (about US$4.50) with tax; length 117 mm; ABS body, stainless steel nib, PP converter; F nib; cartridge or converter; European standard; caps ¥300 (about US$1.90), ¥330 (about US$2.10) with tax, 14 colors; cartridges, pen case, memo pad; read November 4, 2026)](https://komamono-lab.com/fonte/)
- [Yoseka Stationery: Fonte Fountain Pen, pen body only (US$8; simple cap in the box; one converter; first released February 2019; called a rebranded Jinhao 992; read November 4, 2026)](https://yosekastationery.com/products/fonte-fountain-pen)
- [Yoseka Stationery: Fonte Pen Cap (US$3.50 in 14 listed colors; read November 4, 2026)](https://yosekastationery.com/products/fonte-pen-cap)
- [Yoseka Stationery: Fonte Rollerball Pen (US$9, same body family; read November 4, 2026)](https://yosekastationery.com/products/fonte-rollerball-pen)