Do you think it could be?

Picture shamelessly stolen from Stylophiles Online.

Well, I'll tell ya JohnJohn, I really like the classic cut of a Pelikan over 99.9999% of all pens. Left myself a little wiggle room cause I ain't seen em all.
But this pen is truly a work of art, an outstanding pen. Again I ain't seen them all, yet.

Gorgeous. Yes, it could be.

It's beautiful, but I don't think I could ever use one. I'd just feel so self conscious about my flashy pen... I had a white tortoise for a while and sold that eventually, it seemed like a very feminine design once I used it for a while.

It *is* gorgeous.....I thought that the first moment I set eyes on it (in print only---never had the opportunity to see one in person yet ).
Definitely one of the first modern pens (after this one ) I would buy, if I fell into a lot of money....

I bought the white tortoise for my husband, thinking he'd not want it and someone else (like moi) might end up with it. He's a PI, tough guy, works a lot of criminal cases...and he LOVES whipping out his M400 Tortoise filled with Pelikan Violet (his choice ink, by the way) and showing it off to "the boys." I never dreamed that pen would end up at crime scenes, attorneys offices, you name it.

Here, try this, my contender for the honor.

Maja, that's an awesome choice. I love that Omas Arco!

In a similar vein, I could definitely go for one of these:

If the piston screw was gold (as in the squared off version), I'd DEFINITELY be lusting after this one as a major contender for best looking Pelikan:

Visconti Wall Street LE:

Stunning pen! If only they made it in the M800 size!

Guess I'll have to get that Arco. I think the Milord retails for $775.

Well, maybe I'll find a used one, a really used one.

That brown or black Duofold, with the fishbone pattern... Ot the Takumi... Or....


Nenad

Johnson,

Is this your pen on auction?

http://www.martiniauctions.com/auction/item.php/id=4261/

It's open through March 20...

I have always loved the Pelikan Tortoise shell style pens. This is no different, in fact I fell in love with that pen when it first came out a few years ago. One complaint.... I wish it was in the M1000 size or even the M800. That would be a perfect size for me!!!

Note to self, add one of these to your wish list.

I don't know what all you people are blathering about. Pelikan makes great looking pens, but the M450 is carrying a bit too much bling for my taste. I prefer this M400:



OTOH, the all-time winner in the Best Looking Pen contest is this pen:



There, see? Wasn't that easy?

Rick,

What Pelikan is this one. I like it a lot.

I give you the humble Parker 51 Demi grey, F to M nib. One of the best writers I own, It is beautiful in its simplicity.

I quite like this one myself: http://www.stylophilesonline.com/05-06/05aida.htm

Shame it's a bit out of my price range.

My picks:

Imported:
Pelikan 140 (in black or striped green)
Pelikan 400 (vintage)
Pelikan M400 (modern in blue stripe or black)


Domestic:
Sheaffer Balance in black celluloid (any of the early-mid 1930s vintages)
Parker Duofold Flat Top in Jade Celluloid that has not discolored
Waterman's Red Ripple #7
(honorable mention to the Conklin Glider in blue stripe and the Parker Vacumatic)

As for the original post pen- love the barrel stripes, but too much gold and metal for my liking.

The Pelikan M400 Richard posted is quite nice- I actually do prefer that to the original post pen.

I agree with Richard about the 'beautiful simplicity' of the "51", although I prefer the even simpler single jewel model...to me the double jewel looks as if the end has been cut-off and neatly repaired!

I have just acquired a green/gold Striped Duofold which, IMO, also takes some beating.

Y'know, I think you hit the nail on the head there, Roger. Although I have to admit that I've always admired the Parker 51 DJ, there has been something about it that looked just a little "off" to me. But that's it--the nice contoured "torpedo" end of an SJ 51 is lost when you have the bottom end cut off for the tassie/jewel mounting on the DJ. I also tend to like that tapered bottom end that doesn't distract from the beauty of the cap. It gives these pens enough of a distinctive difference, that owning a SJ 51 doesn't necessarily make you feel like you're seriously missing something by not having a DJ 51. Especially when you look at the price difference these days!

I like the green Parker Vacumatics a lot. I really would like a 620 in the Pelikans.

While I am not a fan of striped pen of any color, the tortise color is my favorite and yours is one very handsome Pelikan. I completely fail to see how anyone can put a 51 in any lineup of pretty pens with a straight face.

I'm glad this thread was ressurected because a month ago, my husband bequesthed his 450 to me (okay, I asked for it, but only after I saw he was *never* using it). I think, like Richard, hubby thought it had too much bling. Not for me. Bling it on, baby. I then ordered an ItaliFine nib from Richard Binder (writes Italic one way, fine the other). Nib just arrived yesterday, and I'm in heaven. My bling dream pen. Filled with Zhivago.

That is a beautiful pen, my favorite is the Visconti Ragtime

The title was 'best-looking', not 'prettiest'



The "51" (SJ ) has a simple elegance and balance which, IMO, few others can match...every thing seems to be where it is for a reason and there is no 'bling' at all.

There are many more 'spectacular' pens(like the OP's), but for me the "51" simply 'looks right' (as an ex-aviator, I think the same of the Spitfire and the Hawker Hunter).

I have one of these and like it a lot, especially the nib and the celluloid.
However, stylistically, I think that big curved clip looks out of place with the straight/square lines of the body.

I also find it slightly annoying that they rarely seem able to make the 'flats' on the cap and barrel line-up exactly when the cap is screwed-on....disappointing in a pen of that price.

Since this is the Pelikan Forum, I saw this beauty in Pen World magazine the other day:

Pelikan Sahara Special Edition


OHHHH...YES...

All my 51s (6 of them) are single jewel aerometrics with plain lustraloy caps. I love them for their simplicity, and I do use them, and I find the humble lustralloy more forgiving for the ocasional scratch, ding, dent...not that they have many, but I buy pens to use ink, not rescue remedy.

Hard to pick only one.

Juan

Well, the pen that kicked off this thread is certainly a beauty.

I personally love the Pelikan Kyokko and Gekko set, shown below (in another pic taken from Stylophiles Online magazine). These are probably my alltime favorite looking pens . . .



As a compromise, I would love to see a mashup using the barrels from these pens and the gold cap and end from the leadoff post!

Notice the binde is not straight.
Something to look for when purchasing a Pelikan.

WOW

These pens are beautiful!
Where can I get one of those?

Frank

Okay how about the Toledo 1931
Much sleeker, more unpretentious than the M700 or M900 but heck, I'll take all three

MIke

My favorites in the realm of Pelikans are the M805 in blue and the M400 White Tortoise. Classic green pin stripes ARE classic though.

sorry for resurrecting an old thread, but i'm also wondering what this pen is.

i'm smitten!

That is the LE "Anniversary Pen". Here's another shot:

If you're really interested in that pen -- who isn't? -- then step on it. Only 75 were made.

Mike