What makes premium pens enduring personality statements in the digital era

There is a market for specially crafted writing instruments that are produced in very small numbers for a niche set of customers; tips on how to pick one up

A transaction expert was trying to ink a deal between an illustrious French client and the wealthy owner of a pen who wasn't willing to sell. The expert shares how he was engaged in a series of back-and-forth discussions between buyer and seller, so intense that it seemed as if they were deciding “the fate of nations rather than organising the sale of a pen”! His French client was determined to buy a rare vintage Dunhill-Namiki, the only one of its kind known to exist and reserved a very chic restaurant to finalise the deal. “Not a table, mind you, but the entire restaurant was reserved! At the end of our meal when the contract was signed, the handshake made and the pen handed over, the wait-staff erupted into delighted applause,” says Ivan Briggs, the Director of Fine Pens and Watches for PBA Galleries and erstwhile Director of Fine Writing Instruments for Bonhams Auctioneers, who negotiated the private treaty sale between these two parties. “I'm not at liberty to divulge the sales price, as one of the conditions of the private sale, but it was a lordly sum. I really think it illustrates the appeal of the finest luxury pens for buyers at a certain level of means.” The premium attached to fine writing instruments can be gauged by the “level of ceremony” surrounding this transaction of an antique pen, which seems straight out of a storybook.  

Don’t they say the pen is mightier than the sword? Battles are fought over its ownership. But then, what is it that makes the pen a treasure. 

The high-end pen market is essentially driven by three factors -- quality, scarcity and brand integrity. Generally, these are crafted using rare and precious materials, such as gold and platinum, and are often set with precious gemstones like diamonds, rubies, sapphires. They feature aesthetically advanced designs; skeleton pens are especially sought-after. These are the kind in which the barrel and cap of the instrument are "skeletonised" by baring them to their essentials, thereby revealing the design's perfection by eliminating everything superfluous. The most coveted pens are produced in very small numbers and buyers must sometimes wait for years before they can get their hands on them. Brand consciousness is strong among luxury pen buyers, with Montblanc and Namiki occupying the very top positions.

Makers of luxury pen reveal how painstakingly each and every piece is crafted. Says Arif Khatri, Boutique Manager (Mont Blanc), “Every single Montblanc fountain pen nib has to undergo a handwriting test. Montblanc's specially trained craftsmen would hear or feel it if a nib didn’t write smoothly through drawing waves and eights on a piece of paper.” The USP of this iconic masterpiece is a simple yet elegantly designed body with a unique number engraved on the clip ring. It is an individual series number known as a "Quo vadis" (Where are you going?) number. This number gives every pen its own identity. Besides, every regular fountain pen nib is crafted from solid 14-carat gold (Au 585), while 18-carat (Au 750) is used for special and limited-edition pens. Every fountain pen nibs has a tip made of iridium, one of the hardest metals and one that's even rarer than gold or platinum. If the nib tip were just made of gold, it would be too soft and quickly “written away”. Moreover, every product tells its own individual story,” says Khatri, “Therefore Montblanc does not mass produce pens because for them, each pen has a story behind it, an inspiration and dedication. So every year since 1992, Montblanc has paid tribute to writers, artists and great characters whose works have become part of everyone's life.” These are limited or special edition pen collections include Patron of Art edition, Writer edition, Muses Edition, Artisan edition. The basic pen starts at Rs 22,700 from Starwalker collection and as they say, the sky is the limit.

What they cost in India

In India, there is a bigger market for premium pens. When it comes to luxury category, over Rs 20,000, it is Montblanc that sells well. As far as the premium pens are concerned, there are brands such as Cross, Sheaffer, Waterman, Parker Duofold, Parker Premium, Sailor and Lamy. The bestsellers are Cross and Sheaffer in functional range of Rs 1,000-5,000, while Lamy Safari Collection sells well in fountain pens in the range of Rs 2,000- 3,000. Sailor from Japan is considered the best Fountain Pen for writing while Cross is known for its excellent quality of Ballpoints. When it comes to smoothest pen, Salior pens with 21 carat gold nibs are considered to be the best and smoothest pens for writing.  

Limited or special editions are released by nearly all big brands such as Parker, Graf Von, Faber Castell, Montblanc, Pelikan, Sailor. For instance Caran D'Ache has collection called Shiva priced at Rs 7 lakh, at William Penn. Noblia has Ganesha, Balaji, Radha Krishna Limited edition, all costing over Rs 1 lakh. Sheaffer’s sterling silver limited edition fountain pen is priced at Rs 2.5 lakh at William Penn and restricted to 516 pieces.

Buying a writing instrument

While selecting a pen one must take care of a few things. If you write small-sized letters and writing is fast then it’s better to go for ballpoint or roller balls, advises Ravi Kashyap, Business Head, Pens World. But if you are fond of writing regularly, then the fountain pen is best wherein you have nibs available as fine, medium and broad sizes as per your handwriting. Also there are calligraphy pens available for cursive writing. If you like heavy pens then it is better to go for metal body, though resin body pens are also available. Kashyap reveals that generally people prefer black pens in India, but now there are brands like Lamy, Monteverde, Conklin with colourful pens within the Rs 2,000-5,000 range. For beginners, Lamy Safari is a good instrument to start writing, with Fountain pens starting at Rs 2,400 while Sheaffer VFM is good as a ballpoint to start using premium pens, which starts at just Rs 995, including gift box packaging. 

People who invest in pens are highly distinguished individuals within their fields and they have the motivation and the means to acquire the pieces that they want, regardless of expense! Ivan Briggs shares how the most expensive pens that he has  sold at auction are a pair of Dunhill-Namiki fountain pens in the rare large "Emperor" size, created by master artisans Haruo and Mansui in the early 1930s. These pens were of the highest quality, and were specially commissioned by composer Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji and used by him to score a number of his greatest orchestral works.  Interest was strong and the pair sold for US$305,000.   

Finally pens are emblematic of self-expression, and as such, they have great appeal to those who are leaders especially lawyers, doctors, CEOs and heads of companies in their chosen areas, to those with something to say, to those who are accustomed to being heard.  

Pricey pens
S.No.	Brand	Product Name	MRP (Rs)
1	Montblanc	John F Kennedy Special Edition Ballpoint Pen	54,000
2	Visconti	Opera Silver Dust limited and numbered edition (No. 373) fountain pen, medium nib	71,350
3	Visconti	Homo Sapiens Demo Bronze Swirl limited and numbered edition  (No. 351) fountain pen, fine nib	79,550
4	Caran D' Ache	Roller Wonder Woman Justice League Limited Edition	1,05,000
5	Montegrappa	Sophia Loren Black Silver limited and numbered fountain pen, medium nib	1,15,000
6	Montegrappa	Extra Otto Malach limited and numbered fountain pen, medium nib	1,19,000
7	Noblia	Radha Krishna Limited Edition Fountain Pen	1,31,000
8	Sheaffer	Sheaffer Centennial 9213 Sterling Silver Limited Edition Fountain Pen	2,50,000
9	Sailor	KOP Ebonite Maki-e Fountain Pen Shi-Rei "Hou-ou" Phoenix 21K M

3,94,000 10 Visconti Homo Sapiens Midnight in Florence fountain pen 76,08,940
(€970,00)