Most Beautiful Pen Is...

[heretic]

As a left hander, I have never found anything to beat the Parker 25, of which I have owned one since new in the 1970's. It's one of the few Parkers I have found that doesn't leak and is totally reliable. I own Lamy, Shaeffer, French Parker, Waterman and Rotring FP's, but none of them come close to the '25'.

[redisburning]

Maybe I'm the only one but I dont think pens are "beautiful". To me there is acceptable and gaudy, as is the case for almost everything mechanical.

 

To me, it's what the pen makes that has the potential for being more than just pleasing.

 

I do own a 51, but my least offensive looking pen is, at least with the cap on, my Targa.

[Beechwood]

The Pelikan White Tortoise takes some beating

Edited October 30, 2010 by Arthur

[Beechwood]

The Pelikan White Tortoise takes some beating

[John B]

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

"Leonardo Di Vinci"

[zenshrink]

My vote goes to the Omas Brown Arco old Paragon or new Milord.

[Martius]

Danitrio, Nakaya, Platinum, Pilot listen up! The most beautiful pen was created in 1939 by some uptight American working for the Parker company. That's right, like many that have come before me I have discovered the wonder known as the Parker "51". I love this pen!

 

Some people love the "'51." I love TM Snorkels. Much the same aesthetic done differently, I think.

[goodguy]

This is a beautiful pen

 

http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u330/alfa170a/Picture017-3.jpg

 

And this is a classic pen

 

[freewheelingvagabond]

'Beautiful' is not the same as 'pretty', or 'good-looking' ....it's that indefinable 'something extra' which a possibly less 'good looking' object (or, more definitely, a person) has, which makes you just want to keep 'experiencing' it with more than just your eyes.

Beautiful things(and people) are not always pretty.

 

A pen which wrote badly could not, for me, be 'beautiful' ....the mega-bucks MBs and Oscarsons are, again IMO, 'spectacular' rather than beautiful...I cannot comment on their functionality.

 

As a young lad I was struck by the beauty of an Emerald Pearl Vacumatic set, in the stationer's window...I really wanted it but it was beyond my means. The E.P. Vac pen I now have (born the same year as I) is a 'faded beauty', with that wonderful barrel clarity gone.

I am still waiting for Sarj (or someone) to find me one which hasn't lost that youthful beauty...

 

The P51 is, for me, a 'classic beauty' (like Chanel's 'little black dress') .... it looks really good, can 'function' perfectly, but is probably just one step behind a pristine Vac.

 

 

I second you! Absolutely! For me, the most beautiful Parker pens are the Vacs in celluloid, and the sterling silver cisele 75 and sonnet. Ok, here's a list of pens I think are beautiful:

 

(not in any particular order, and this list is not exhaustive)

 

1. Parker Vacuumatic Celluloid

2. Parker 75 and/or sonnet sterling silver

3. Parker Duofold checks (modern)

4. Lamy 2000

5. Pelikan M800/M1000 in striped green

8. Aurora Talentum (black, red)

9. Aurora Optima Auroloide

10. Delta Dolce Vita

11. Visconti Ragtime brown

12. Lamy Safari (might be a shocker for some! )

13. Bexley Americana

14. Waterman Charleston

 

I'm sure there are many others, but I can't think of them off hand. Also, I'm not a SE/LE guy. I like the regular pens, at least the 'regularly priced pens'.

[dnb]

I enjoy the simplicity of the Zen aesthetic. The 51 though - I know everyone raves about them, but they are too plain for me. I guess I enjoy more of an adorned simplicity. For me, it is the Omas 360 Bronze Vision. Simple lines consisting of an elegant flow from triangle to the curve into the cone and cap's end. You get to see what's inside - as an analogy of life, isn't that what we want to know about ourselves? Simplicity with the Truth inside.

OK - I'm getting too heavy for a simple question!

[alvarez57]

Thank you. No apology needed. Had a bad day. Meant it more as a bit of education. I appreciate your kindness. Fountain pen collectors are nice people.

 

That is very noble and kind of your part. Welcome to FPN.

 

... but frankly when my daughter wakes up in the morning and gives me a hug and a kiss then all I know is that this is what life is truly about and not pens, watches, cars or anything else

 

Not only you're a goodguy but also a sweetguy!

 

 

Danitrio, Nakaya, Platinum, Pilot listen up! The most beautiful pen was created in 1939 by some uptight American working for the Parker company. That's right, like many that have come before me I have discovered the wonder known as the Parker "51". I love this pen!

 

http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/42295/2975654690105226730S425x425Q85.jpg This is beauty for me. Zen? the design invites quiet meditation.

 

 

 

Most beautiful to me might be the Parker Vacumatics with pearlescent bodies. They are hypnotic to gaze at. But for consistent performance and reliability, the P51 is hard to beat. And yes, its simplicity is beautiful too.

 

Agree and I want one, the Vacumatic, that is (but they are very pricey!)

 

I don't believe in "a most beautiful pen." I believe in beautiful pens. I consider myself lucky to have at least several.

 

Okay, more than several.

 

 

My vote goes to the Omas Brown Arco old Paragon or new Milord.

 

Another grail pen but very, very pricey. Rather spend that money on a Nakaya or Danitrio.

 

 

 

http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/2647/2765838110105226730S425x425Q85.jpg

 

The "shubui" pen.

Edited November 2, 2010 by alvarez57

[Rose Nibs]

Looking at the gorgeous images on this thread, I notice that some pens are presented capped and some with the nib exposed. There is an air of mystery about those cigars - what sort of nib is concealed? Is the beauty we seek in the cylinder shape and it's adornments or is it in the business end of the thing - the nib? Are admirers of Parker 51s less concerned with what the instrument is for and what it does? And those big fat Montblancs, is it possible that the function is a little overstated there? Am I a donkey for thinking about this?

[carlmaloschneider]

it's a classic, but now it's trite.

 

Certainly, in the manner that Shakespeare is full of clichés.

Oh, well done! So witty!

 

...my Grandmother came from Alsace, apparantly...

[carlmaloschneider]

I enjoy the simplicity of the Zen aesthetic. The 51 though - I know everyone raves about them, but they are too plain for me. I guess I enjoy more of an adorned simplicity. For me, it is the Omas 360 Bronze Vision. Simple lines consisting of an elegant flow from triangle to the curve into the cone and cap's end. You get to see what's inside - as an analogy of life, isn't that what we want to know about ourselves? Simplicity with the Truth inside.

OK - I'm getting too heavy for a simple question!

Yeah, I agree. I'm new to Fountain Pens, but not to appreciating beauty; either created (natural) or designed (man made). I do appreciate Art Deco. As I'm new to Fountain Pens, and therefore could be considered a 'grasshopper' (just to continue/mix the Zen/Buddhist metaphor), I'm just a little hesitant to comment; but only a little; and I like to lead with my chin; so I'll boldly state that I don't 'get' 51s. For me, they're a little plain, but not in a 'plain white shirt with mother of pearl cufflinks and black trousers, no jacket or tie, black belt, black shoes, glass of chardonnay, one hand in pocket, smoking' sort of way, more like a 'bought from the local stationary shop sort of way. For plain, I prefer the classic looks of a Sailor 1911 sort of style, for beautiful, I like the Parker Burgundy/Black Vacumatic I'm lusting after. Some very expensive pens I've seen on the 'net look like Chockito Chocolate bars that have been left floating in a swimming pool for a few days, or the gilded stuff that Michael Jackson franticly crammed his 'house' with.

Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder, which is, I guess, why we've all embarked on this discourse, because if it werent (in the eye of the beholder) thered be nothing to discoursificate about, would there?

Edited November 2, 2010 by carlmaloschneider

[winedoc]

P51 is not the prettiest pen... but it is the shiest pen.... why? it hides it's nib! Call me shallow, but I like pens with big nibs and not afraid to show them. :roflmho:

 

Kevin

[goodguy]

P51 is not the prettiest pen... but it is the shiest pen.... why? it hides it's nib! Call me shallow, but I like pens with big nibs and not afraid to show them. :roflmho:

 

Kevin

:ltcapd:

 

Thanks Kevin I needed a good laugh and honestly you do make a good point

[Bo Bo Olson]

Odd how I forgot my Parker 75 cisele, but with a stiff regular nib, it's just laying around gathering patina.

It's got to have 'the nib', or it falls off my radar.

 

It is a very classy pen.

 

How classy. @ 1970,I'd gone into a BX (AF's PX) with money... First I looked at the Black and Gold classy Cross high status BP.

I looked at a Snorkel, I'd wanted since I was a kid. I got ambushed by the sterling silver P-75 cisele, and his evil brother the P-75 MP.

I never thought about the Snorkel again, until I got on this com two years ago.

 

It takes some pen to make one forget the grail pen of one's youth....and now even though it has perfect balance. I don't use it, and once I thought the stiff regular nib, so nice.

Come the day...I'm going to get a semi-flex nib and it's going to make a come back...big time.

[penrivers]

Good thread. But...,Which are the referents to make a good judgement?.

Cost in money? (and I feel an undercurrent about it in all this thread) the winers by far are the Germans trade marks and the Italians.

Flashyness? belive me that I have some Golden Jinhaos with fake ruby eyes that are far beautiful Than those

from Viconti, Montegrappa , Carans, etc and with the bigger nibs I ever saw in my life, ¿ are we getting Freudians here?.They cost me 10 dollars and I found them in a shoe box forgaten in a Chinesse store in Laredo Tx.

Nibs? I dont want to be redundant but again, the reason of the hood in the P51 was that the factory wish to

keep the wetness in the nibs for months after last time used. But for me the genious of the designer is that you could put your finger tip right over the nib and write,on others pens you just cant,OK you can but you will mess your fingers with ink. I know they wont give me variation line but Idont care as soon as I know they are are the finest work horses, for me, thats beauty.

I don like sections but it is that the line that goes from the top of the barrel in a P51 is one from there to almost

the tip of the nib, it means there is a section but you dont see it, now, that is confort and design. And beauty.

Greetings from México.

Edited November 3, 2010 by penrivers

[carlmaloschneider]

P51 is not the prettiest pen... but it is the shiest pen.... why? it hides it's nib! Call me shallow, but I like pens with big nibs and not afraid to show them. :roflmho:

 

Kevin

That Geha 725 Goldschwing pen's nib that Bo Bo posted has GOT to be the BEST nib ever, it's so art deco! So cool! I'm now actively looking, probably in vain, I'd even sell one of my German Vintage cameras for it...

Edited November 3, 2010 by carlmaloschneider

[carlmaloschneider]

Got one!

A Goldschwinge no 736 with 14 k M nib, 1960. Such a cool, cool UBER cool pen! My search is over:

Thanks Bo Bo, for putting me on to these; you have taste, Sir...

Edited November 3, 2010 by carlmaloschneider