Out of my small collection of 5 fountain pens I notice that, aside from some nibs, all the furniture on the pens are in chrome, aluminium, silver, stainless colour, this has happened by chance, or so it seems to me, I was wondering if others notice a similar proclivity in thir collections as well?

Yes, I have ended up with pens whose furniture is gold, plated gold, sterling, chrome, and some I cannot even identify. It happens to be what came on the pen. In a very few cases I might have chosen, for instance, plated gold over chrome if all else was the same.

The furniture color is less important to me than the physical size of the pen, the materials in the cap, barrel and section, and the size and writing quality of the nib. With all the qualities I look for in a pen, something has to trail the list as being less important so I am willing to just go with the furniture the manufacturer put on the pen.

Most of my pens are Sheaffer's, so most of my pens have gold filled trim and/or cap. Some pens like the Sentinel have stainless steel and gold, while my Crest has an all gold cap. I tend to prefer pens with at least some gold trim, but I do have some with nickel plate like one of my Vac-Fils.

Evan

Depending upon the pen color, I generally prefer silver colored furniture; however, I have a Wality which is all black, including the furniture, and a Pelikan M100 in white, with black furniture. On the Pel it makes a nice contrast, and on the Wality it looks like a weapon for the Wet Squad
Donnie

On the whole, mine is all silver/chrome except for a couple of Carenes and Xezos where the gold just went better with the body of the pen. Not intentional, just what pleases my eye.

I prefer silver or chrome trim to Jazzy gold trim, but there are exceptions to that rule, like my Waterman Phileas and Parker Inflection (which is an awesome writer, I will try to write a review sometime soon).

I don't have any gold or GF, and I want to keep it that way... My next pen will probably be a Vacumatic Major so I have my eye out for one with silver furniture.

I tend to prefer silver/chrome trim as well. I'd only go for gold if it suited the colour and design of the pen.

Agreed with most of the above posters. Most of my collection tends toward the silver-tone furniture. I have the oddball here and there, but typically it's only when it fits the overall complexion of the pen. Both of my 51s are outfitted with gold trim - one has a gold cap. I'd rather have one of the nickel-plated varieties, but they don't come up all that frequently in the Vacumatic fillers.

As I look at the collection, though, I've also realized that I do have a handful of pens that are fitted with colored/painted furniture. Both of my Lamy Safaris (a baby blue and a flame orange) have the red-painted clip, my Pelikan Level L65 has a black/yellow clip, my Cross Solo has a black clip, and my rOtring 600 (G2 - no knurling) has a black clip, too.

Nearly all of my pens (perhaps 80%) have gold or gold plated (brass? ) furniture. These are all vintage pens purchased at flea markets. Gold, in those days, probably had status beyond the aesthetics of color coordination. The status seems to have varied in direct proportion to the price. Above a certain price level, the furniture changed from brushed aluminum, stainless steel, and chrome to a few gold-washed pieces, to all gold-washed pieces, to gold plate, to gold-filled, etc.

I think that, today, a fountain pen of any kind has its own status and people feel free to choose a color scheme they actually like.

Paddler

I simply avoid all gold tone trim.... I think it looks too mature for me

Chalk another one up to one furniture color... silver (stainless, rhodium, silver, etc.). The only way I'm going to end up doing gold is perhaps on a vintage Vac. or "51" or possibly on a Danitrio if I don't end up with a clipless. It's not that I think they're particularly ugly.... they're just not my cuppa'.

Cheers, Dean

Here, here! I agree the silver coloured furniture is much more pleasing to the eye and not as flash as the gold. I am not a "bling" type of person. Besides I tend to think the silver furniture is still different enough to set you apart. And does not the Pelikan clip just look great in silver? Now I will say I do agree with Donwinn, the black and white M100 looks really classic, but then I also have a black and chrome M100.

Cheers.

I still say we need Le Pen Revolution! Let us drive out the yellow gold from the fountain pen world!

You know if they can make a 14ct or 18ct or 21ct yellow gold or two tone gold nib, why not a white gold 14ct or 18ct nib?