The Fine Print On Luxury Pens

The Sultan of Brunei recently bought a diamond-studded Caran dAche pen for Rs 45 lakh his signature will now be more than worth its weight in gold. If you want a similar honour, you can choose from a growing list of international brand names for luxury pens. With a selection of fountain, roller-ball and ball-point pens, you can make your mark according to your budget; fountain pens are the most expensive and ball-points are obviously the cheapest.

Pierre Cardin, Hertig and Parker have fine pens ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 2,500 at the low end. These are mostly assembled in India, with more and more components being made here (Luxor is assembling Parker pens, and Flair assembles Pierre Cardins); this saves you from paying import duties, which start from about 50 per cent for luxury pens. Youll find features like silver or gold plating for various components in the lower end pens either the outer shell, nib, or pen clip. As also attractive gift cases with the brand name displayed prominently, differentiating these writing instruments from their more modestly priced counterparts. However, the nib sizes are standard giving a medium width of writing; and theyre made from ordinary base metals, even if they have a silver or gold plating. Sales-people pushing the premium brands explain that such nibs wear out faster, and cause more friction with the page surface. Also, this range of fountain pens include a greater number of those that fill from an inkpot

 

through suction, rather than using the more convenient cartridge refills.

Pens in the price range of Rs 3,000 to Rs 12,000 come in a variety of nib sizes, and two circumference choices for the outer casing. These pens are mostly imported, but you can be sure of international standards. Salespeople comment that women usually prefer the narrower pens because of the smaller proportion of their hands. However, not all womens versions come with pen clips, so they may prefer the thicker mens versions for clipping on to a folder or pocket.

The widths commonly available in nibs are: extra fine, narrow, medium, or broad. Nibs in the last category are generally made of gold. The pen casing here may be of polished resin or composite plastic and resin the latter is not as easily scratched as the former. Most of these fountain pens are refilled with ink cartridges; Montblanc refills range from Rs 115 to Rs 250, Cartiers range from Rs 400 to 600. Refills are generally not interchangeable between different pens for instance, each Montblanc and Cartier pen has its own mould, so the inner dimensions differ as well.

Rs 12,000 and above will get you pens designed for special occasions. Montblanc offers a Traveller pen (about Rs 14,000), which claims to have a unique filling system: the cartridge holder has space for two cartridges, and allows refilling without removing the pen cap convenient when on the move. It also has a fine leather pouch with space for six reserve ink cartridges. For the frequent flyer or mountaineer-cum-writer, Parkers Snake Pen (Rs 1 lakh) offers an ink control system that is suited even to high altitudes. It has a twin-channel feed system which ensures that ink flows optimally, even at lower air pressures.

Pens in this category usually have 18 karat gold nibs, with a platinum, iridium or rhodium tip. The latter give durability, while the former provides smoothness. Such pens have an outer casing made of a variety of precious materials. The snake pen has a filigree serpent design in pure sterling silver or 18 karat gold on an acrylic base with emerald studs for the snakes eyes. This pen is a limited edition, with only 5,000 individually numbered versions worldwide. These are actually an investment; for instance, Montblancs Limited Writers Edition pen sets issued as tributes to Hemingway, Agatha Christie, Oscar Wilde, Voltaire and Dumas have increased by Rs 3,000 in sale value in one year. In March 1997, they were worth about Rs 32,000 each; now they are worth about Rs 35,000 each. You can call that a pen-vestment, quips a Montblanc salesperson.

For a wedding or anniversary present, consider Montblancs innovative Wedding Pen set (about Rs 17,000). The solid gold ring in the middle of each pen is detachable, so it can be engraved with a wedding date or a special message. This set is available in small or medium sizes, in a choice of two designs black resin and 14 carat gold, or diamond cut sterling silver.

The Leonard Bernstein pen is another buy to consider (also about Rs 17,000). Part of the sales proceeds go toward the Montblanc Philharmonia of Nations, which brings together classical music performers from around the world. The fountain and ball-point pens come with a CD of West Side Story, and the pen cap rings have musical notes and words from the Bernstein musical engraved on them.

While choosing a fancy pen, consider what youll actually use it for. Thicker pens, which concentrate the weight towards the middle of the pen, give your handwriting an elegant slant good for signatures and calligraphy. However, if you want the pen for extended periods of writing, you should look for one where the weight is more towards the nib. One example is Sheaffers Balance Limited Edition fountain pen (Rs 45,000). Its based on a design developed by Craig Sheaffer in 1928 placing more weight toward the nib to lessen finger cramps for the avid writer.

All of these luxury pen brands carry guarantees for mechanical defects; however, not all have service centres in India. Montblanc has one in Rajkot, and Cartier has one in Delhi so keep this in mind as well when you purchase your writing treasure. After all, if youre aiming for the next Booker Prize, you probably wont want your career blotted by a leaky ink pen.