Best Looking Pen Ever In The History

[Richard]

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:

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/collection/zoomed/M400_800.jpg

 

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

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/collection/zoomed/51_cedar_sterling_capped.jpg

http://www.richardspens.com/images/collection/zoomed/51_cedar_sterling.jpg

 

There, see? Wasn't that easy?

[wacomme]

Here, try this, my contender for the honor.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/rickp/PB75thRiepl.jpg

Rick,

 

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

[J English Smith]

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.

[Kakaze]

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

 

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

[Ray-Vigo]

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.

[rogerb]

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.

[MYU]

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!

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!

[Songwind]

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

[ANM]

Do you think it could be?

 

Picture shamelessly stolen from Stylophiles Online.

 

 

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.

[coco]

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.

[ukulelesurf]

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

 

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

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

[rogerb]

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

While I am not a fan of striped pen of any color, the tortoise 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.

 

 

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).

Edited June 6, 2008 by rogerb

[rogerb]

Visconti Wall Street LE:

 

http://www.stylophilesonline.com/archive/jan03/04wal5.jpg

 

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.

 

[penpimperLV]

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

 

Pelikan Sahara Special Edition

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/8633/pesaharafpnt3.jpg

 

OHHHH...YES...

[Juan in Andalucia]

 

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

[ArPharazon]

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 . . .

 

http://www.stylophilesonline.com/images/07-06/07kg1.jpg

 

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!

[Pelikanyo]

Do you think it could be?

 

Picture shamelessly stolen from Stylophiles Online.

 

Notice the binde is not straight.

Something to look for when purchasing a Pelikan.

 

[Federalist Pens]

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 . . .

 

http://www.stylophilesonline.com/images/07-06/07kg1.jpg

 

WOW

 

These pens are beautiful!

Where can I get one of those?

 

Frank

 

[lapis]

Okay how about the Toledo 1931

Much sleeker, more unpretentious than the M700 or M900 but heck, I'll take all three

 

MIke

[Garageboy]

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