New G.p. Sonnet Design - Fake?

[gvl]

http://i59.tinypic.com/2d8q0j7.jpg

 

 

 

Haven't seen this design on a Parker Sonnet before (taken from an ebay listing) and can't find it either on http://parkerpens.net/sonnet.html or http://www.parkerpen.com/en-GB.

 

Fake?

Edited July 8, 2014 by gvl

[Chrissy]

I don't know that much about Parker pens to know which designs were made or not, but the 'feathers' of that arrow clip don't look right to me

[RMN]

Hmmm, I am no Parker specialist, but that pattern looks rather stamped than engraved.

 

It would not convince me to part with my money.

 

 

D.ick

[richardandtracy]

If not from a known & reputable dealer, I'd be concerned.

 

The clip isn't dead straight & the pattern is very like a current Jinhao: http://www.ebay.com/itm/FOUNTAIN-PEN-JINHAO-165-18KGP-MEDIUM-NIB-NOBLEST-GOLD-J125-/251183883313?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7bb9e431

Could be non-Parker.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Oldparkerguy]

Hmmm, I am no Parker specialist, but that pattern looks rather stamped than engraved.

 

It would not convince me to part with my money.

 

 

D.ick

I looked closely at a Sonnet in my collection (no expert either) but the feathers on the clip do look less stamped on mine and more like light engraving.

[gvl]

Yes, all good points.

 

The seven lines on the clip are more in keeping with the older style of Sonnet - last seen on Monochrome - but the slant/length of lines are wrong.

 

Not too happy with the band at the base of cap. Gap at top and base of band too wide.

 

I agree almost certainly a fake. Looks like the counterfeiters have been working on some new designs - something to watch out for in future.

 

The seller, incidentally, registered on ebay earlier this year and has a low (100%) positive score but the Sonnets sold previously appear to be genuine.

Edited July 8, 2014 by gvl

[Wolverine1]

Looks like a fake, albeit a good fake Sonnet to me.

[gvl]

Also available in blue...

 

http://i57.tinypic.com/r0qb69.jpg

 

And as a rollerball pen in red...

 

http://i57.tinypic.com/71k56p.jpg

 

And the fountain pen...

 

http://i61.tinypic.com/2s0lmz7.jpg

 

The above 3 were all offered by the same seller on Ebay.

 

G.

Edited July 8, 2014 by gvl

[torstar]

hope the fake works better than the real one i had as a curse in my life

 

i will in fairness note that some find the Sonnet the greatest pen ever on here.

[gvl]

Have corrected earlier posting.

 

These counterfeits seem to be based on the latest designs from Parker - see http://www.parkerpen.com/en-US/shop-online/sonnet-red---fine-stainless-steel-nib. The new designs incorporate the new Parker logo (without slant) on clip and also worth noting is that the P of Parker is a larger font compared to the rest of the letters.

 

What is worth noting on the fakes are the feather lines on the cap - there should only be 5. The counterfeiters also seemed to have problems copying the more elaborate design of the nib of the fountain pen!

[richardandtracy]

Just looking at the nib of the red one. I do not think I have ever seen a Parker Sonnet nib that plain. The current ones certainly are not like that.

On the current red Sonnet the taper of the cap lip ring continues to the lip, and does not stop tapering at the lower groove. Also the taper extends to the top of the cap ring, and doesn't have a reverse taper above the ring.

 

I think after those extra photos, it can be said to be a fake.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[SENNA5]

I happen to have the Red fountain pen and the Red ballpoint.

The ones in the pictures above are fake as far as I'm concerned.

The nib is completely different and way to plain. Not a real Parker nib at all.

[Matlock]

I think Richard is spot on about the cap rings. The nib, however, would be correct for an early gold plated s/s nib but not for a later pen as these purport to be. The clip feathers are a give away as they are the early design but very badly executed. I amazes me that people go to so much trouble with these fakes when you can get a new Kaigelu 356, which is well made sonnet clone, for less than £6.

[gvl]

I think Richard is spot on about the cap rings. The nib, however, would be correct for an early gold plated s/s nib but not for a later pen as these purport to be. The clip feathers are a give away as they are the early design but very badly executed. I amazes me that people go to so much trouble with these fakes when you can get a new Kaigelu 356, which is well made sonnet clone, for less than £6.

To be fair, I expect most people who buy these expect to get genuine Parker Sonnet pens.

[RMN]

The nib on the red is lacking the stylized P

 

 

D.ick

[Matlock]

To be fair, I expect most people who buy these expect to get genuine Parker Sonnet pens.

 

 

I agree but I was refering to the fakers.

 

 

 

The nib on the red is lacking the stylized P

 

 

D.ick

 

Yes but that would be correct for an early Sonnet nib which predated the stylized P design.

[richardandtracy]

... I amazes me that people go to so much trouble with these fakes when you can get a new Kaigelu 356, which is well made sonnet clone, for less than £6.

I agree. The only thing about a Sonnet (& presumably the fakes too, if they are good enough) is that you can swap out the M nib and put in a different size.

 

Regards,

 

Richard

[RMN]

I agree. The only thing about a Sonnet (& presumably the fakes too, if they are good enough) is that you can swap out the M nib and put in a different size.

 

Regards,

 

Richard

Yep, including italics...

 

 

D.ick

[william2001]

I disagree with many people.

Although I may be wrong, I think those Parker Sonnets are real.

5 and 7 feathers are both possible since the number of feathers changed over time.

There are several designs of Parker Sonnet nibs. The red one has a simple nib, but there have been a simple design before.

I think it is real.

-William S. Park

Edited July 15, 2014 by william2001

[richardandtracy]

You may be correct, but I seriously doubt it. My reasoning is laid out below, if there is a fault in the logic I'd appreciate being made aware of it.

 

The exterior of the pen is to the latest Sonnet shape. The nib would not be anything other than the matching latest shape if it's a genuine Parker.

 

That nib does not match what Parker show on their official web site for the latest Sonnet shape, which means the nib is not the latest shape. If the nib is not the latest shape, then the nib is wrong, and if the nib is wrong then it's not a genuine Parker because Parker wouldn't be making a latest shape Sonnet with a non-latest shape nib.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.