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Pelikan Souverän M605 Marine Blue Review


sannidh

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My favourite of the demonstrators. Below is the link to my blog post:

 

Pelikan Souverän M605 Marine Blue

 

So, here goes my review of the m605.

 

The M4XX/6XX are usually considered to be next steps to an M2XX. As with the model numbers, there is a general increase in nib size & specs, in addition to overall dimensions, when you move from M4XX to M1XXX. Brass piston fittings in 8XX/1XXX series, render additional weight to these pens. The designs of the striped 400/600/800/1000 are pretty linearly recurring over the entire writing range except for several special editions. 405/605/805/1005s refer to the similar pens with silver accents, plated with noble metals (like Palladium or Rhodium), unless it’s a special or demonstrator model. The other model numbers refer to special/limited editions like the one reviewed here which is the m605 Marine Blue Special Edition. Another such alluring model is Souverän M 625 with sterling silver fittings (Ag 92.5%).

 

DESIGN - THE MARINE TRANSPARENCY (6/6)

 

Light and dark can play very differently with this pen. The m605 marine has a darker hue of blue which is as elegant as the deep blue ocean and it’s capable of refracting even a tiny shimmer of light with the palladium coated silver loops dazzling in utter consonance. Absence of light makes it adorn an almost blackish blue hue.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EbGwVJGZXLA/Vd2hwV8nyBI/AAAAAAAAFN0/mkuC89g9HMw/s1600/DSC_5582.jpg

The blue is remarkably darker than the blue shade of a Pilot Custom Heritage 92.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0tVz2wn40wI/Vd2hukVg4dI/AAAAAAAAFNs/QqDdHt8JJxI/s1600/DSC_5590.jpg

The entire pen gleams with a revealing blue and silver with ambient light and these effects do proliferate with sunlight. The radiance is matched throughout the pen starting with a silver gleam from the famed finial and the pelican beak (clip) through the concentric bands in the cap before finally converging with the piston rings.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DrS42sX2yDc/Vd2hs3IgvXI/AAAAAAAAFNk/iecshy1EKOE/s1600/DSC_5588.jpg

The cap feels light and unscrews with a single turn, revealing a dazzling rhodium plated nib. The grip reveals another knot of glitter, towards the nib end. The transparency does reveal the inside works of its piston mechanism.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1PvVXxR0ck/Vd2h5_AmgfI/AAAAAAAAFOM/dUefKi-PrYg/s1600/DSC_5600.jpg

Two concentric palladium plated bands with a dazzling silver crown embossed with the pelikan logo, adorn the cap with a signature pelican beak-shaped clip. The thicker one carries the usual brand imprint of PELIKAN SOUVERÄN GERMANY. The logo on the finial is the one embraced by Pelikan post 2003, that of a mother pelican and its chick, gleaming in brushed palladium. You can see the distinct outlines of the cap insert here. The bands have an intrinsic association with the design rather than just differentiating the aesthetics element.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xN1Kc33fuI4/Vd2iBapyplI/AAAAAAAAFOk/6VIsqP5pdqM/s1600/cap.jpg

 

FILLING SYSTEM (6/6)

 

A piston filler with a sturdy knob is embellished with two concentric silver loops. Apart from their enchanting looks, like any other pelikan, it's an easy and hassle-free mechanism. The piston end unscrews with three to four rotations and ink is sucked in, with quite a gush, once the piston is screwed back on. And of course, you can observe the entire thing in action. A plastic spindle connector in the m4XX/6XX limits overall weight. M6XX fills upto 1.75 mL of ink. However, given the wet flow of the flock, it does not last for a long time.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zUjch5SlNPs/Vd2h7Rtsa2I/AAAAAAAAFOU/uoRgn3z9SkI/s1600/DSC_5603.jpg

One thing to note here is that these piston mechanisms for M4XX/M6XX are not supposed to be dismantled as they are friction fit under heat. In case of problems other than lubricating the piston seal, it’s better to send the pen to Pelikan Germany/Country Authorized Service Center. Pelikan does have an excellent customer service.

 

NIB - ALL THAT MATTERS (6/6)

 

The nib comes in a rhodiated 14k design across four stock widths - EF, F, M & B. It has the standard pelikan scrollwork with the usual convenience of a screw-fit section.

Like all its cousins, the nib is exquisite and efficient. With a standard m6xx feed, the nib-section is an ensemble of efficiency as well as art. And this monotone rhodiated finish does converge with the palladium coated trims in terms of both glitter and glimmer.

 

The tail end specifies the nib-width and composition (14 C, 58.5% Au) of the gold-alloy used. Three arabesques diverge along the shoulders of the nib with two of them converging near the circular breather hole. The third curve runs across the tines towards the shoulders ending with the tail end of the nib. There is of-course the dazzling mother-baby pelikan logo, resting above the tail. This one in the picture is a Fine nib and writes smooth and wet out of the box.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2VTl4bu_hs0/Vd2h5MrKedI/AAAAAAAAFOE/2WVWKksH5mw/s1600/DSC_5643.jpg

A standard black plastic feed (earlier ones had ebonite feeds) ensures a good ink buffer for the promised wetness and prevents hard starts.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xDXXzk82WrA/Vd2h8WPlGYI/AAAAAAAAFOc/ARajTx329A4/s1600/DSC_5654.jpg

 

PHYSICS OF IT (6/6) – RELATIVELY SPEAKING

 

For me, this pen is quite comfortable to write continuously, while posted.. The overall capped length is around 13.3 cm. The total weight of m605 has a third of contribution from the cap and it feels light without posting the cap. The pen does get some heft from the ink inside the barrel.

  • Uncapped Length ~ 12.4 cm
  • Posted Length ~ 15.4 cm
  • Nib Leverage ~ 2.3 cm
  • Overall Weight ~ 18 g (without ink)

Capped, uncapped and posted comparisons with its cousins - m400 and a m805 go below for your reference.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Szlbwi8JT7U/VatxFBpMP8I/AAAAAAAAE6A/WI3MKqTWTYQ/s1600/DSC_4556.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKRvVUnJtLo/VatxdhNisxI/AAAAAAAAE6Q/yAypHzfnwZc/s1600/DSC_4574.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YpU6_6F8m_M/Vatxb2Ic7tI/AAAAAAAAE6I/jH4ohE7Ic7s/s1600/DSC_4568.jpg

 

ECONOMIC VALUE (4/6)

 

The m605 Marine retails at around USD 595, it does sound like a rather crazy spend. I have found it frequently auctioned on the bay with the final price dropping to 60% of RRP or even less. You can get a Pilot Custom Heritage 92 for USD 130 or less, although it will lack the finesse of a pelikan. I do consider the pen as a dependable workhorse.

 

OVERALL (5.6/6)

 

These 14k nibs are extremely smooth and have a very wet flow. The nibs are stiff & I absolutely love these nibs since I find myself quite ill equipped for flexible nibs. With a slight bit of spring and softness in them, there is absence of any noticeable line variation. Being extremely wet writers out of the box, the Fine nib puts a line which takes around 20 seconds to dry GvFC Moss Green ink on MD Paper.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nSAMdt3eHqQ/Vd2iCdiHHTI/AAAAAAAAFOs/2w7h7D_vrUA/s1600/DSC_5660.jpg

 

REFERENCES

 

Pelikan M4XX

Nib Adjustment

Pelikan M625

Patent

Piston mechanisms

Ink Capacities

Pilot Custom Heritage 92

 

Thank you for going through the review.

You can find some more pen and paraphernalia reviews here.

Edited by soniknitr

You have come to earth to entertain and to be entertained - P.Y

 

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Very nice review and great photos. Thanks.

The M605 Marine Blue was was my second Pelikan (about 8 months ago). Since then I haven't been able to recover from the bird flu.

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Well done! I love all your beautiful pictures and explanations. The Marine Blue is certainly eye catching.

 

I own the M605 blue striated EF nib. You're right it truly is a delight to write with. I tried to get one from Classic Pens, but they were sold out.

 

Good luck with your Pelican!

 

Keep on writing. Pete

There are a thousand thoughts lying within a man

that he does not know until he takes up his pen to write.

Thackeray

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Very nice review on a very nice pen. Thank you.

Thank you so much, Chris.

 

Very nice review and great photos. Thanks.

The M605 Marine Blue was was my second Pelikan (about 8 months ago). Since then I haven't been able to recover from the bird flu.

 

Thank you so much. You are spot-on. It's an irrecoverable bird flu :)

You have come to earth to entertain and to be entertained - P.Y

 

Some Pen & Paraphernalia Reviews

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Well done! I love all your beautiful pictures and explanations. The Marine Blue is certainly eye catching.

 

I own the M605 blue striated EF nib. You're right it truly is a delight to write with. I tried to get one from Classic Pens, but they were sold out.

 

Good luck with your Pelican!

 

Keep on writing. Pete

 

Thank you so much, Pete. I completely agree with you on the color & pelikan nibs in general. I find the blue color going really well with silver trims.

 

Best,

Sonik

You have come to earth to entertain and to be entertained - P.Y

 

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nice review

"Friendship is the purest love. It is the highest form of Love where nothing is asked for, no condition, where one simply enjoys giving.”
- Osho

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Great review. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the coloured demonstrators, but I can definitely see this is a beautiful pen!

Pelikan 140 EF | Pelikan 140 OBB | Pelikan M205 0.4mm stub | Pilot Custom Heritage 912 PO | Pilot Metropolitan M | TWSBI 580 EF | Waterman 52 1/2v

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nice review

 

Thank you :)

 

Greta review, thanks! I love my M605 Marine Blue.

 

Thank you. Me too :)

 

Great review. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the coloured demonstrators, but I can definitely see this is a beautiful pen!

 

Thank you Suji.

You have come to earth to entertain and to be entertained - P.Y

 

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Aack. Just sold my m605 marine blue today and your review is making me regret it! :bawl:

 

Wonderful job! I agree whole heartedly on the beauty of this pen. I found it to be one of my most beautiful pens. And the EF nib was smooth and juicy indeed. The reason I sold it was because my m805 in blue stripes was a better fit in the hand for me, and because the EF nib was a little -too- wet and broad writing for my liking. Was my wettest nib, by far. I just never found myself wanting to write with it because of these reasons. However, the looks of her... whooeee.. that blue goes on forever.

Thanks for the review and the gorgeous photos. I will pine for my sold beauty but await with joyful anticipation the Nakaya that the sale has funded.

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Great photos and well thought out review. I have one of these that I never use because it's so beautiful.

I'm one of those guys that always eats my vegetables and stuff I least favor first saving my favorites to savor last. So it is with everything else.. If I really like something it never gets used and I'll buy a cheaper more durable version or duplicate of the expensive one to use everyday...

And that's the story with my marine blue and why I have so many Pelikans..lol.. I hope you are wrong about the value dropping off so steeply.

Thanks for the review, well done.

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Aack. Just sold my m605 marine blue today and your review is making me regret it! :bawl:

 

Wonderful job! I agree whole heartedly on the beauty of this pen. I found it to be one of my most beautiful pens. And the EF nib was smooth and juicy indeed. The reason I sold it was because my m805 in blue stripes was a better fit in the hand for me, and because the EF nib was a little -too- wet and broad writing for my liking. Was my wettest nib, by far. I just never found myself wanting to write with it because of these reasons. However, the looks of her... whooeee.. that blue goes on forever.

Thanks for the review and the gorgeous photos. I will pine for my sold beauty but await with joyful anticipation the Nakaya that the sale has funded.

 

Oops. I remember you had excellently reviewed the m605 in your flock review. Your Nakaya seems to be an adorable investment and guess it makes sense to fund it by selling some of your good pens. I will make sure I sell off the non-demo one if I go for a Nakaya later. I feel that your EF writes as thick as my F nib, quite strangely ;)

Thank you..

You have come to earth to entertain and to be entertained - P.Y

 

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Great photos and well thought out review. I have one of these that I never use because it's so beautiful.

I'm one of those guys that always eats my vegetables and stuff I least favor first saving my favorites to savor last. So it is with everything else.. If I really like something it never gets used and I'll buy a cheaper more durable version or duplicate of the expensive one to use everyday...

And that's the story with my marine blue and why I have so many Pelikans..lol.. I hope you are wrong about the value dropping off so steeply.

Thanks for the review, well done.

 

Funny thing is that I too share a similar habit with pens. My least used pens are my favourites - Elemento & Homo Sapiens. Found it increasingly difficult to deny them to any colleague who asks for a pen to jot down something, so I scribble with them at home.

Thank you so much for your kind comments and wish you happy flying with your flock :D

You have come to earth to entertain and to be entertained - P.Y

 

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Excellent review. Beautiful photos and a detailed, articulate write-up. You are definitely one of my favorite pen reviewers. Thank you.

Fountain pens forever and forever a hundred years fountain pens, all day long forever, forever a hundred times, over and over Fountain Pen Network Adventures dot com!

 

- Joe

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...You are definitely one of my favorite pen reviewers...

 

Thank you so much Joe. I will cherish this comment.

 

Many Thanks,

Sonik

Edited by soniknitr

You have come to earth to entertain and to be entertained - P.Y

 

Some Pen & Paraphernalia Reviews

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