I do not think of myself as a collector of fountain pens but more of a sucker for a good looking one. The problem is there are lots of good looking pens out there and over the last thirty-five or so years I have amassed quite a pile. When I lived in Boston many years ago it was an easy walk into Broomfield Pen. Now I lurk on the web and when some new model or style comes along that catches my fancy I pounce. Don’t get me wrong I don’t buy every pen I see or I’d be broke and there would be no room in my house, but I bet many of you are inflicted with the same disorder. And that is how I happened upon the Parker Insignia Laque Green Bronze Fountain Pen with fine point.

The Insignia line was introduced in the early 90’s and the model being reviewed here made its debut during the late 90’s and I think the entire line has been discontinued.

First Impressions
Opening a pen box for the first time is always an interesting moment when you have bought something based on pictures. It is either what you expect, or is worse or is better and in this case the pictures did not do this pen justice. This is a beautiful pen that jumps out at you in contrast to the white cloth that the pen was resting on.

Appearance/Finish
The lacquer finish has a rich green gloss marble look that feels smooth and warm. It is applied to the brass barrel and cap. The top of the cap is flat and crowned with a narrow gold plated cover with a ring cut in for style. The clip is also gold plated and designed in a sleeker styling of the Parker arrow that looks very contemporary. Completing the gold trim is the cap band which is gold plated and inscribed with “Parker Insignia USA� and the letters IIIE. I do not know what the karat content of the gold plating is and thus maybe one or you can fill this in.



The nib sits in a plastic holder with a threaded brass insert that is screwed into the barrel. The brass insert is designed so that a brass ring separates the barrel/nib holder giving it another small styling detail to further enhance the posted/un-posted look.

Design, Size & Weight
The weight with ink cartridge comes in under 0.8 oz (23 grams). For comparison a Pelikan M400 weighs under 0.53 Oz (15 grams). The follow table gives the dimensions:

Capped: 5.25 inches (13.3 cm)
Posted: 5.85 inches (14.9 cm)
Un-Posted: 4.8 inches (12.2 cm)
Barrel diameter at the nib: 0.36 inches (9 mm)
Cap Diameter at fattest point: 0.48 inches (12.2 mm)
Barrel Diameter at fattest point: 0.43 inches (10.7 mm)
Nib Length: 0.7 inches (17.7 mm)


Size Comparison to a Pelikan M600

This pen is heavy for its size giving it a feeling of quality and making it feel bigger than its size would indicate. This pen is also well balanced feeling good both posted and un-posted. Since I write un-posted as nature intended (just kidding) the weight is just enough to let gravity apply the nib pressure while you do the writing.

Filling System
The filling system is strictly Parker’s cartridges or converter. Since I prefer cartridges this is not a detriment and in fact I would have avoided pens that do not accept cartridges except there are too many good looking ones that do. Looks like no Noodler’s Bay State Blue for me in this quill.

Nib Design & Performance
The nib is gold plated steel etched with an understated diamond pattern and inscribed with the words PARKER at the base. I read on the web that these nibs can be removed by unscrewing them and are interchangeable with Parker Sonnet nibs. As of this writing I have not tried to remove the nib to verify this.


Nib Comparison of the Insignia to the Pelikan M600

Selecting one of my favorite cartridges of Parker Quick Blue I pushed one of these loads into the ink receptor feeling for that firm click confirming the ink supply is engaged. After a few quick shakes the first sputter of ink hit the page. Within a few words of writing the ink began to take on the fine rich blue that only the best ink on the planet can deliver (tongue in cheek). The fine nib is firm and glides smoothly over the paper laying down a consistent and not overly wet line. In addition, rapidly drawing swirls the nib delivered without hesitation or skipping. Even the back write (turning the nib to write on the back side) writes smoothly laying down an XX-fine line giving this pen a little more utility when one needs to cram in a few more notes. This pen is a joy to write with.

Samples of writing follows between the Insignia, Pelikan M600
fine nib and a Waterman Phileas medium nib ground to a fine.


Cost
This pen is made out of brass with gold plated trim and nib with a nice lacquer finish and I bought it all for around $50.00. Considering the major bucks I have spent for a Mont Blanc 146 made out of precious resign (plastic), or the wonderful mostly plastic Pelikan M600, this pen is a bargain. And now that the Insignia is not made any more it has become an instant classic and true collector’s item and should be worth thousands in the years to come (joke). And I thought I wasn’t a collector.

Conclusion
This is a nice pen, looks good and writes well. For me the size is comfortable but it is towards the narrow side. If you like the larger diameter pens like the Pelikan M600 or larger this pen will not be for you. However for those that enjoy and a slightly narrower write this pen is a joy to use and at a very good price.

I had this pen for a while. And I'll agree that it is beautiful. But the one thing that coninutally bothered me--and the reason I moved it along--was that the pattern on the pen was obviously printed on. Mine had a "seam" down the entire length of the pen where the marbling looked like it had been wrapped around the body and it had met in the middle. That seam alone was enough of a distraction that I felt made the pen look much cheaper than I wanted.

This pen is really just a square-ended Sonnet. The section, feed and nib are the same (with a plastic trim ring rather than steel/gold plate). Which pen came first I do not know.



Yep, I agree. Most onlookers will never know, but I the owner do. It was quite a letdown when I noticed it.

Still dig that M600, though.