How many versions of Parker Sonnet are there? Is mine a fake?

[chanwhk]

I have received my Parker Sonnet Laque Black Gold Trim Fine I bought it on Ebay today. To my knowledge is that there are different versions and they differ in the size of the "cap band" and the nib. The one I have received is different from the one shown on ebay. Does anyone know how many versions are there? What are their prices?

 

The ebay name of the seller is montgomerystationery, and I believe they also have a website selling pens http://www.montgomerypens.com/index.asp (not sure if they are the same owner. Does any know of their reputation?

 

The ebay auction name was "PARKER SONNET BLACK GT 18K GOLD FOUNTAIN PEN NEW IN BOX" but in description it says "Parker Sonnet Laque Black Gold Trim Fountain Pen Fine Point", are they the same?

 

Here are some pictures of my pen. What version is this? Or is this a fake??

 

The last picture was post on ebay by the seller.

Edited September 24, 2007 by chanwhk

[J English Smith]

I love Sonnets, but I am confused about all of the variations too. I only know that there have been two style changes for the pen, the most visible sign of which is the gold band below the cap. Mark I Sonnets (c. 1993) have a thin band, Mark II (c. 2000 or so?) have a thick band, current style Mark III is back again to a thinner band. There seem to be a lot of gold nib variations too, which abets all of the rampant counterfeiting...

Edited September 24, 2007 by J English Smith

[Col]

The ebay name of the seller is montgomerystationery, and I believe they also have a website selling pens http://www.montgomerypens.com/index.asp (not sure if they are the same owner. Does any know of their reputation?

They're reputable.

 

Here are some pictures of my pen. What version is this?

That's a Laque Black GT, that is.

 

Or is this a fake??

No, it's a boney fido pen from Parker's current Sonnet range.

 

Oops, no - it's NOS as noted. Still genuine though.

Edited September 25, 2007 by Col

[greencobra]

I've bought 2 Sonnets from Montgomery Pens via eBay and 1 through the web site. They are the same people and I'm quite sure mine are real.

 

I'm no Sonnet expert so I won't try to tell you about yours. (Off the record, it looks good to me) That's the way my 18ct nib looks too but the steel plated nib is much plainer looking and could cause confusion.

 

 

[chanwhk]

Thanks for all your replies, now I am more sure with my pen. However, I was initially intended to buy the newer version with the thinner band like the last picture have shown. I like that design more and I believe they have a different value. Am I right?

[scubie02]

I have a black sonnet from oh, 15 or 20 yrs ago, and the band is not like either of those pictured, but is MUCH thinner, if that last pic is supposed to be the newer, thinner band. To my knowledge there isn't really a price difference, just different versions sold at different times. Which one you like better would be a matter of personal preference I would think.

[michael_s]

If I'm reading the date code properly, your pen is from the second quarter of 2004, i.e. new-old-stock (NOS). I guess the Sonnets back then had a wide band with a vertically-oriented stamp. Current Sonnets have a slightly narrower band with horizontal lettering, and the nib has more intricate engraving. I guess the earliest Sonnets, with the older Parker logo, have a really narrow band.

 

PenHero has a nice article on Sonnet clones, which includes photos of authentic Sonnets with the really narrow and wide bands (though not the most recent band design).

 

Lewertowski, a well-known seller here on FPN, has close-ups of the current Sonnet in his eBay auction.

 

-Mike

[chanwhk]

If I'm reading the date code properly, your pen is from the second quarter of 2004, i.e. new-old-stock (NOS). I guess the Sonnets back then had a wide band with a vertically-oriented stamp. Current Sonnets have a slightly narrower band with horizontal lettering, and the nib has more intricate engraving. I guess the earliest Sonnets, with the older Parker logo, have a really narrow band.

 

PenHero has a nice article on Sonnet clones, which includes photos of authentic Sonnets with the really narrow and wide bands (though not the most recent band design).

 

Lewertowski, a well-known seller here on FPN, has close-ups of the current Sonnet in his eBay auction.

 

Yes, thats exactly what I thought. The 3 versions I have known of. I have also checked the penhero article on sonnet clones but my diamond shape symbol on the nib is a little different then their's.

 

The pen on Lewertowski's ebay auction was the pen I'm looking for and intended to buy on ebay, but instead I've received the pen I've posted above. I have already sent a message to montgomerystationery about the different version of pen.

[JayLo]

I too picked up a Laque Blue Sonnet from Montgomery. Looks pretty good to me. More important it writes and handles very well.

I've purchased a few Rotring mechanical pencils from Montgomery in the past with no problems.

[JohnS-MI]

I have four Sonnets, two from Montgomery. The two older ones have VERY thin cap rings, approx. 0.050", gold trim and gold nibs. Parker legend is on the barrel not the cap ring

 

The two from Montgomery have wide cap rings, approx 0.200", "silver" trim (because of the pen color), and the 18K nibs are "silver" plated (probably palladium or rhodium). Mine differ slightly in that the words on the cap ring are horizintal around the ring, not vertical. The nib decoration is slightly different. However, I suspect it is just one of the Parker variations as the logo looks correct, and all the other elements appear to be there. The gold nibs are marked with 18 k and with 750 (meaning 75% gold). Mine came with the expected boxes, papers, etc.

 

All four write about the same, feel equally flexy, etc.

 

Your last picture looks like it might be the satin finish not lacque. I prefer the lacque, but YMMV.

[lewertowski]

Hi,

Montgomery is a reputable pen seller, he is an authorized dealer for parker pens so don't worry your pen is genuine, the last version of the laque black GT fountain-pen is this one:

http://i1.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/d7/bd/91_1_sbl.JPG

http://i13.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/d6/72/81_1_sbl.JPG

http://i2.ebayimg.com/02/i/03/d7/ea/66_1_sbl.JPG

http://i9.ebayimg.com/01/i/03/d5/18/e8_1_sbl.JPG

J.M.L.

[chanwhk]

Hi,

 

Montgomery is a reputable pen seller, he is an authorized dealer for parker pens so don't worry your pen is genuine, the last version of the laque black GT fountain-pen is this one:

 

http://i1.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/d7/bd/91_1_sbl.JPG

 

http://i13.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/d6/72/81_1_sbl.JPG

 

http://i2.ebayimg.com/02/i/03/d7/ea/66_1_sbl.JPG

 

http://i9.ebayimg.com/01/i/03/d5/18/e8_1_sbl.JPG

 

J.M.L.

 

I intended to buy the newest version from him, but he sent me the second newest version.

Here is my other post that discuss this.