Snob Appeal/anti-Snob Appeal Pens

[Rubicon]

I think a lot of Italian pens qualify in the "snob" category, especially those like Visconti's HRH Editions... Yikes... OMAS, on the other hand, can be anti-snob, depending on your point of view. I keep getting the urge to file Caran D'Ache and Conway Stewart in the "snob" category.

 

Lamy is also anti-snob, especially the understated 2000. Low key, but endlessly intriguing. Silly me. I like both snob and anti-snob pens.

Edited December 21, 2011 by Rubicon

[ajoe]

I think a lot of Italian pens qualify in the "snob" category...

 

OMG, the Italian snobs...

 

Don't get me started...

[leod]

if you think pens have snob value and care what others think then you might have a problem not the pen

[celesul]

TWSBI doesn't have snob value among FP users, but to the general public I'm sure it does. It's big and shiny and way more than any of them would ever pay for a pen. And some Chinese manufacturers make pens that are obviously Chinese and cheap. Add standard Indian pens (Camlin, Wality) to the anti-snob category. They are cheap and not at all flashy.

[ethernautrix]

"This is why we can't have nice things."

[Fabienne]

Oh puh puh puh!!! I want to be a pen CLIP snob! I also want a snob smilie. One in a top hat and with a monocle.http://freesmileyface.net/smiley/others/snob-014.gif

Edited December 21, 2011 by Fabienne

[Rubicon]

if you think pens have snob value and care what others think then you might have a problem not the pen

 

I actually like pens that range from extremely anti-snob (Lamy Studio, for instance) to extreme snob (Montblanc Skeleton, Gaius Maecenas 888, OMAS Imagination to name a few). To me it doesn't actually matter, but "snob value" is fun to think about.

Edited December 21, 2011 by Rubicon

[Pen Nut]

Remember the golden rule " the man with the golden pen usually makes the rules "

[SHK]

"This is why we can't have nice things."

[Edgar Allan Bo]

For me, anything with more than one single trim ring on the cap (or anywhere else) goes into the SNOB category (even if it costs only 0.99)

 

I'd rather have no trim rings at all... yeah, I know, those caps/knobs are "prone to hairline cracks" and all that. But there are also inner trim rings, invisible from the outside.

 

But NO, FP companies WANT to have expensive looking pens because they are status symbols.

 

 

See LAMY 2000 = U N D E R S T A T E M E N T

 

 

I have nothing against the small shiny iridium point.

[Toolattack]

I feel that the pens that appeal to snobs are the 'louder' designs - precious stones, lots of gold, and lots of 'bumps and lumps'. In my own humble opinion; plain, darker pens appeal to anti-snobs. This means that most manufacturers fall into both categories to some extent - for example with the classic MB pens pretty understated, but the LEs very much 'show off' pieces (I own a few so I am not dismissing LEs!).

A Parker Cent. Duofold in black is not a pen for snobs, but costs £300 ($450) and there are certainly some very bright, 'showy' pens for less.

So are there brands that appeal to snobs? Maybe, but I think that pens say more about the owners than the manufacturers!

[wspohn]

One of the sillier threads I've seen in awhile.

 

As has been said, almost all non-pen fanatics won't even notice any pen you may use, and the people that do know pens probably aren't too likely to be impressed by any pen they don't like for other reasons than just cost or flashiness.

 

The only brand any non-pen fan will know is Montblanc, just as pretty much the only brand anyone that isn't into watches will think is anything out of the ordinary is Rolex.

 

Big whoop! Who cares? :blink:

[Redbarchettayyz]

TWSBI doesn't have snob value among FP users, but to the general public I'm sure it does. It's big and shiny and way more than any of them would ever pay for a pen. And some Chinese manufacturers make pens that are obviously Chinese and cheap. Add standard Indian pens (Camlin, Wality) to the anti-snob category. They are cheap and not at all flashy.

 

Regarding the TWSBI, most definitely. To us it seems practical and understated, but that's about it. I've had friends at work pull out the old "Hollywood with his fountain pen!" during meetings before when using my diamond 540. Even my cheap Chinese pens they are terrified to use, sure that they'll break them somehow, and are convinced they're ridiculously expensive, despite my claims otherwise.

[Beagle]

****************************************************

One of the sillier threads I've seen in awhile.

 

As has been said, almost all non-pen fanatics won't even notice any pen you may use, and the people that do know pens probably aren't too likely to be impressed by any pen they don't like for other reasons than just cost or flashiness.

 

The only brand any non-pen fan will know is Montblanc, just as pretty much the only brand anyone that isn't into watches will think is anything out of the ordinary is Rolex.

 

Big whoop! Who cares?

****************************************************

 

Exactly!!! That's why I use my Aurora Diamente (@ $1,300,000) because it's a fine writing instrument...the 40K in diamonds means nothing...and did I mention it cost $1,300,000???

[Orange25]

For non-FP users any FP is a snob tool, even a bling chinese pen, because they think it costs a fortune.

 

+1

 

So true.

 

Within this forum, I've seen a few snobby comments about TWSBI pens. I don't see the problem with them. I have a 540 - it was affordable, is well made and writes well. Nothing fancy and doesn't pretend to be.

[Mickey]

As long as one does not believe pen fanciers are prima facie snobs, I think the ultimate anti-snob pen would probably be a Nakaya Portable in a solid color usushi. Civilians will think the pen merely plain - no bling, no snob appeal - whereas pen fanciers will immediately recognize it as serious pen, one which suggests the owner has taste as well as a healthy wallet.

[voop]

Oh puh puh puh!!! I want to be a pen CLIP snob! I also want a snob smilie. One in a top hat and with a monocle.http://freesmileyface.net/smiley/others/snob-014.gif

 

YAY - fpn's own monopoly man!

[voop]

I was reading with interest the attempts that others have made to classify the new top tier pens in the 21st Century. Someone said that there was a "snob appeal" to some lists, interesting subject. You could pull one of those pens out in the middle of a State Dinner and not be ashamed. I also opine that there is a "anti-snob appeal" too, pens which are real cheap but write real well. You could pull one out in the middle of an Occupy Movement and no one would criticize you for it. This is meant in fun, not to be taken too seriously, and it's just about perception: a perceived luxury pen might not write well whereas an "entry level" pen might be wonderful. I have not been doing this for hundreds of years, but here are my picks:

 

Major Snob Appeal:

• Mont Blanc
• Small new pen shops with emphasis on hand crafting: Bexley and Edison for instance
• Pelikan-They do produce a student pen but I think by far their emphasis is on the upper echelons
• Yard-o-Led

Major Anti-Snob Appeal:

• Noodlers pens
• Chinese pens like Jinhao and Hero (BUT they style themselves like the high priced pens)
• TWSBI-<$100 and writes like a dream. Out of reach of the impecunious but then again most things are.
• Any disposable fountain pen. People even get excited about refilling Varsity & Bic Pens.

Major Covering Every Escape Hatch:

 

• Pilot-From the Varsity to pens costing hundreds of dollars, these guys don't miss a trick
• Lamy-From their entry level Safari up to expen$ive ones

 

Pilot/Namiki makes pens costing up to tens of thousands of dollars....granted, they are typically not sold outside Japan.

 

Lamy??? They do not "cover Every escape hatch" - all their pens are cheapies (relatively) .... Can't compare them to Pilot in any way.

[Scrawler]

"This is why we can't have nice things."

Thank you for saying what I was thinking.

[Florida Blue]

A Parker Cent. Duofold in black is not a pen for snobs, but costs £300 ($450) and there are certainly some very bright, 'showy' pens for less.

 

 

I think the gentleman in the Rolls Royce would strongly disagree.

 

Would you happen to have any Grey Poupon or perhaps a Parker Duofold on you????? :roflmho: