--- title: "Pilot Custom 823: Vacuum Filler, 14k No. 15 Nib" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-custom-823/" description: "Pilot Custom 823 explained: a plunger filler holding up to 2.55 ml, the 14k gold No. 15 nib, 148.4 mm and 29.5 g per Pilot Japan, Amber, Smoke and Clear colors." category: "Pens" type: "Fountain pen" published: 2026-10-21 updated: 2026-10-24 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 8 products: - name: "Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen (Amber)" brand: "Pilot" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Translucent resin body and cap, gold-plated trim, 14k gold nib" released: "2000" price_band: "$$$$ (over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America" model: "FKK-3MRP (Custom 823)" mpn: "FKK-3MRP-BNF" gtin: "4902505238864" url: "https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100000361" --- # Pilot Custom 823: Vacuum Filler, 14k No. 15 Nib > The Pilot Custom 823 is a translucent resin fountain pen that fills by a vacuum plunger, holding up to 2.55 ml per Goulet Pens. It has a 14k gold size No. 15 nib and comes in Amber, Smoke and Clear. Pilot Japan lists 148.4 mm (5.8 in) and 29.5 g; Goulet Pens names it a top seller. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-custom-823/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-21 - Updated: 2026-10-24 ![Amber Pilot Custom 823 with the cap posted, drawn to scale, with an inset of the 14k No. 15 nib](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/pilot-custom-823-16x9.png) *The Custom 823 in Amber, posted, to scale at Goulet Pens' 164 mm.* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen (Amber) | Pilot (by Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America) | Japan | Japan | Translucent resin body and cap, gold-plated trim, 14k gold nib | 2000 | $$$$: over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen (Amber)): Japan. Goldspot's Custom 823 spec sheet says "Made in: Japan". Pilot's Japanese web catalog doesn't state a country. Source: https://goldspot.com/products/pilot-custom-823-fountain-pen-in-amber-with-gold-trim-14k-gold-1 ### Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen (Amber) colors - Body colors (3 standard, 0 special edition): Amber (Brown in Japan); Smoke (transparent black in Japan); Clear. - Ink in the box: Pilot Blue bottled ink, 70 ml (one bottle included (US, per Goulet Pens)). - Per Goulet Pens (https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pilot-custom-823-fountain-pen-amber), checked 2026-10-24. US names and the 70 ml bottle of Pilot Blue in the box per Goulet Pens, which describes Amber as translucent smoky amber with gold trim. Pilot Japan's catalog lists the same three as ブラウン (brown), 透明ブラック (transparent black) and 透明 (clear). Tints were sampled from Goulet Pens' product photos. Shops stock different colors; check the listing. ## Key takeaways - Goulet Pens lists a maximum capacity of 2.55 ml, about twice the 1.23 ml it lists for Pilot's CON-70 converter. - Pilot's Japanese catalog lists 148.4 mm (5.8 in) long, 15.7 mm at its widest and 29.5 g; Goulet lists 164 mm (6.5 in) posted. - The nib is 14k gold in Pilot's size No. 15; Pilot Japan offers F, M, B and S, and Goulet calls S a Signature nib. - Wikipedia dates it to 2000; Pilot Japan lists it at ¥66,000 (about US$418) from July 1, 2026, model FKK-3MRP. - It is in our $$$$ band (over $75), and Goldspot's spec sheet says made in Japan. ## What is the Pilot Custom 823? **The Custom 823 is Pilot's large-capacity gold-nib fountain pen: a translucent resin pen that fills by pushing a plunger, with a 14k gold No. 15 nib.** Pilot's Japanese catalog describes its easy, high-capacity filling system as made for heavy use. It is also a big seller: Goulet Pens' best-seller roundup names the Custom 823 in Amber its best-selling fountain pen in one of its upper price tiers. Wikipedia dates the 823 to 2000. ## Pilot Custom 823 specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | Pilot Corporation, Japan | | Model (Japan) | FKK-3MRP, plus color and nib (e.g. FKK-3MRP-BNF, Brown, F) | | Filling | Plunger (vacuum) with shut-off valve; bottled ink only | | Ink capacity | Up to 2.55 ml (Goulet) | | Nib | 14k gold, size No. 15; F, M, B, S (Pilot Japan) | | Body and cap | Translucent resin; screw cap; gold-plated trim | | Colors (Japan) | Brown (US: Amber), Smoke, Clear | | Length capped | 148.4 mm (5.8 in) per Pilot; 149 mm per Goulet | | Length of body | 131 mm (5.2 in) | | Length posted | 164 mm (6.5 in) | | Diameter | 15.7 mm at its widest (Pilot); 12.5 mm body, 10.5 mm grip (Goulet) | | Weight | 29.5 g (Pilot); 29.0 g (Goulet) | | JAN (Brown, F) | 4902505238864 | Pilot's Japanese web catalog gives the model code, nib, length, width and weight; Goulet Pens adds the body, grip, posted and capacity figures. ![Pilot Custom 823 capped, uncapped and posted lengths drawn to scale, with weight and ink capacity](https://stationerytimes.com/images/pilot-custom-823-lengths.svg) *The 71.5 mm cap posts deeply, adding 15 mm.* ## How does the Pilot vacuum filler on the Custom 823 work? **You unscrew the knob, pull the rod out, dip the nib and push the rod down; the vacuum the plunger creates pulls ink into the barrel in one stroke.** Pilot Japan recommends filling from its 70 ml INK-70 bottles to protect the nib and fill reliably. The knob also works as a shut-off valve, so loosen it a little while you write. The Gentleman Stationer notes you have to open the valve on vacuum fillers like the 823 to keep ink flowing; the [TWSBI VAC700R](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/twsbi-vac700r/) works the same way. ## What nib does the Custom 823 have? **It has a 14k gold nib in Pilot's size No. 15, larger than the No. 5 on the Custom 74.** Pilot Japan sells F, M, B and S; Goulet Pens says the S is a Signature nib that blends a broad line with stub-like variation. Pilot uses Japanese sizing, so the F writes finer than a European F. For a softer 14k Pilot nib, see the [Pilot Falcon](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-falcon/). The same No. 15 nib, in 14 types, comes on the cartridge-filled [Pilot Custom 743](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-custom-743/), which shares the 823's body size. ## How does the Custom 823 compare to other Pilot gold-nib pens? **It is the biggest, heaviest and highest-capacity of Pilot's popular gold-nib pens.** | | Custom 823 | [Custom Heritage 92](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-custom-heritage-92/) | [Custom 74](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-custom-74/) | |---|---|---|---| | Filling | Plunger | Piston | Cartridge or CON-70 | | Capacity | 2.55 ml (Goulet) | 1.2 ml (Pilot) | 1.23 ml (Goulet) | | Capped (Pilot) | 148.4 mm (5.8 in) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | | Weight (Pilot) | 29.5 g | 20 g | 17.4 g | | Nib | 14k No. 15 | 14k No. 5 | 14k No. 5 | | Price band | $$$$ | $$$$ | $$$$ | Figures for the other two pens come from their guides. Above the 823 in Pilot's range, the lacquered [Pilot Custom Urushi](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-custom-urushi/) carries an 18k No. 30 nib, twice the size number of the 823's No. 15. ## Where is the Pilot Custom 823 made? **Goldspot's spec sheet says made in Japan.** Pilot's Japanese catalog doesn't name a country. ## How much does a Pilot Custom 823 cost? **The Custom 823 is in our $$$$ price band, over $75 per pen**, based on the US listings we checked in October 2026; Goulet Pens says a 70 ml bottle of Pilot Blue ink comes in the box. In Japan, Pilot's web catalog lists the Brown F-nib pen at ¥66,000 (about US$418) including tax. Pilot's price list shows that price from July 1, 2026, up from ¥55,000 (about US$348). For other high-end picks, see [best luxury pens](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-luxury-pens/). ## Frequently asked questions ### How much ink does the Pilot Custom 823 hold? Goulet Pens lists a maximum of 2.55 ml, about twice the 1.23 ml it lists for Pilot's CON-70 converter. ### Does the Pilot Custom 823 take cartridges or a converter? No. It fills only from bottled ink with its built-in plunger. Pilot Japan recommends its 70 ml INK-70 bottles for filling, and Goulet Pens says a 70 ml bottle of Pilot Blue comes in the US box. ### Why does my Custom 823 stop writing? The plunger knob doubles as a shut-off valve. Unscrew it slightly while writing so ink can flow to the feed, and screw it closed for travel. ### What does the 823 in the name mean? Wikipedia says Pilot's three-digit Custom numbers combine the launch year and a price: the 823 came out in 2000, Pilot's 82nd year, at ¥30,000 (about US$190). ### Is the Pilot Custom 823 made in the USA? No. Goldspot's spec sheet says it is made in Japan. ### Which Custom 823 color should I buy? Pilot Japan sells Brown (sold in the US as Amber), Smoke (透明ブラック) and Clear. Goldspot lists all three in the US. ### Can you post the Pilot Custom 823? Yes. Goulet Pens lists it as postable, at 164 mm (6.5 in); capped it is 149 mm (5.9 in). ## Sources - [FKK-3MRP-BNF｜カスタム823｜PILOTウェブカタログ (Pilot Japan catalog page: Brown, F, JAN 4902505238864, ¥66,000)](https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100000361) - [FKK-3MRP-TBF｜カスタム823｜PILOTウェブカタログ (Pilot Japan catalog page: plunger filler, 14K No. 15 nib, 15.7 mm, 148.4 mm, 29.5 g, INK-70 recommended, colors and nibs F, M, B, S)](https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100000364) - [価格表 2026年7月1日付 (Pilot Japan price list, July 1, 2026, PDF: Custom 823 FKK-3MRP from ¥55,000 to ¥66,000)](https://www.pilot.co.jp/information/pricelist_202607.pdf) - [Goulet Pens: Pilot Custom 823 fountain pen, Amber (lengths, diameters, 29.0 g, 2.55 ml, Signature nib, Pilot Blue ink in the box)](https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pilot-custom-823-fountain-pen-amber) - [Goldspot: Pilot Custom 823 fountain pen in Amber (vacuum filling, made in Japan)](https://goldspot.com/products/pilot-custom-823-fountain-pen-in-amber-with-gold-trim-14k-gold-1) - [Goulet Pens: Best selling fountain pens at every price point (Custom 823 Amber tops its upper-mid price tier)](https://gouletpens.com/blogs/fountain-pen-blog/best-selling-fountain-pens-at-every-price-point) - [Wikipedia: Pilot (pen company), Custom pens (Custom 823 introduced 2000 at ¥30,000, plunger filler)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_(pen_company)) - [The Gentleman Stationer: Pen review, TWSBI Vac700R (vacuum fillers and the Custom 823's shut-off valve)](https://www.gentlemanstationer.com/blog/tag/TWSBI+Vac700R)