Inky Thought Of The Day - (Inky T O D) - What Is A Serious Pen?

[amberleadavis]

So, because we all have those Inky Thoughts.... And in the spirit of Pinky and the Brain ...

 

 

What is a serious pen?

 

I agree my TWSBI with Akkerman Orange is not the height of seriousness when I arrive at court. Also, dcpritch's beautiful fuchsia celluloid flex pen is stunning - awesome and has panache, but it lacks gravitas. That being said, I have business cards with flowers - so I'm not dissing the stunning visuals. I'm just not sure that even expensive skeleton pens have enough umpff to be considered serious. I'll admit, when I go to court, I take the MB Starwalker or the Vintage MB Ballpoint.

 

I suspect that the fountain pen, no matter how expensive, beautiful or tasteful, is just too flashy or different to be serious.

 

What do you think of when you want to project an aura of serious .... what is a serious pen?

 

 

 

[mirosc]

just any fountain pen will suffice and I have more style and class than a ballpoint person - most of the time that's a cheap company's ballpoint with huge advertising, even at court.

 

If I really cared about that question there are enough plain black pens in my desk... :-)

 

Oh, btw: at court it depends which role I have to play; sometimes it could pay to be the plain, common man from the street who has to ask for a pen... :-)

[WOBentley]

I have to admit that in my world "seriousness" is not important...as no one judges me by my appearance, but if I had to choose a pen for a serious or somber occasion and it could be a fountain pen then something in Black with chrome or silver tasteful accents and an identifiable but subtle logo (like the MB Star or the classic Pelikan clip) would be my choice. Personally from my collection a M1000 or a MB 149 would be my most likely choices or the large Sailor Models in Black (like a KOP or maybe a Pilot 845). However I tend to gravitate towards the brightly colored and people have grown to expect that from me so I use those much more often. If you are stuck with needing a BP/Rollerball a Pelikan 800-1000 series would be my choice as there is no MB 149 rollerball/ballpoint. If you want slightly more exotic...perhaps a darkly colored Nakaya?

[Vgimlet]

Any plain dark colored pen is serious. Black is a power color, (serious words) blue is more business-like; also serious, but I always think more business related. A dark red wouldn't be bad also, but one would have to be careful as to tone. A dull pewter type silver grey would not be bad either, also serious, but not as stern as black.

 

I think I read too many dress for success books, and transfer the color to FP's, LOL.

[Bigeddie]

As an academic I think we are allowed a little more freedom. An MB or Sailor Torpedo in black, my colleague uses a waterman carene, I have used a Pelikan M400 in green. I think a degree of understatement is important, but I would go to something sterling silver, not to a gold coloured pen... maybe not chrome either.

 

Current pens at work:

Pilot custom 823 x2 (tobacco and clear demo)

Montblanc 1912

Sheaffer Touchdown Imperial (sterling silver)

[white_lotus]

I think there is serious and then there is Serious. For me and who I am: plain, understated is the way to go. And serious might not apply so much for me.

 

But if I was someone who held sway over the world economy and with a single stroke of the pen could wipe out trillions of dollars in wealth, then I'd want a very serious pen with a very serious ink. A ballpoint simply would not be up to the task.

[Ron_L]

Guess it depends on your practice. if you do bankruptcy, might be a good idea to walk in with a Bic Clic to show your client you are right there with them! On the other hand, if you are high profile criminal attorney, perhaps a MB 149 is in order. And if you're a real estate closing attorney specializing in million dollar mansions, then pull out any $2,500 - $5,000 fountain pen for everyone to sign their nom de plume. Oh and leave it with them when they are done!

[Koyote]

Around here, people would think my Pilot 79g is a serious pen.

[chad.trent]

I've been searching for just such a pen for a while. I have an affinity for demonstrators and brightly colored pens. I have a bunch of Lamy Safaris/Al-Stars, a bunch of bright yellow and orange pens, etc. For what I do normally, that's not a problem. But, there are times I need to appear more... "sophisticated" I guess, for lack of a better term.

I'm leaning towards a Pelikan 600/605. It's colorful enough that it holds my interest, yet subdued enough that it's not "in your face".

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

In very generic terms, I'd say a well-polished Black pen with an open nib would be serious, and the less adornment the better. e.g. Parker England Duofold Senior.

 

At the office a Parker Sonnet Flighter is my daily writer, and in the field I use primarily a rotring 600. I've thought those 'serious' enough for any occasion.

 

If I were to wear my Hanna Montana bangles to a Big Cheese meeting, the Pink Safari might tag along, but that seems likely only in a parallel universe.

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

Around here, people would think my Pilot 79g is a serious pen.

 

LOL!

[ac12]

I agree with others,

In general, black with gold, chrome or black trim.

Next in line: a DARK color such as dark blue, dark green, dark red.

In my environment,

 

Flighter, brushed stainless steel finish, for durability.

 

Unless you have someone that can recognize the pens, I do not think the brand makes very much difference. From across the table, my $4 Baoer 388 looks like my $100 Parker Sonnet. And my $15 Pilot Metro might look like a MB (if they don't notice the missing white "splat").

 

For some people, the size (diameter) conveys seriousness.

For me it is just too FAT

[ajcoleman]

The first pen in my modest collection that I thought of was my black Parker 51 with the standard brushed chrome cap. If that isn't serious enough, then I probably don't belong there!

[Bo Bo Olson]

Black and Gold....the serious Germans made the colorful pens for export and kept the serious pens at home.

If some idiot used a pen with color out side a Pelikan tortoise or green stripped....he got fired. There was something wrong with him...frivolous...he was not serious enough. He couldn't be trusted...he was odd....thought for him self.....thinking is dangerous in subordinates.

 

Nope...no MB's....that is putting on the dog.

 

So black and gold non-MB...may I suggest the classiest black and gold pen of all? A sleek Geha 725 with inlaid nib, rolled gold trim...two gold disks on each end. and or Pelikan tortoise or green stripped; but not one of those bright red stripped ones or the pretty 600's....

 

Which explains why I said 3 years ago...no more black and gold pens...and 2/3s of what I've bought vintage of course are black and gold, along with $$$.

Vintage pens with color cost 1/2 more than black and gold.

[lapis]

Not sure if I really get the point or not but for me personally -- as well as that which I have gathered from others -- is that alone the "looks" and w/a "feelings" of an M800 /M1000 or a 146/149 definitely shows a great tendency towards seriousness.

 

Mike

[nvbrennan]

I think the above suggestion of the Pilot 845 is spot on. Serious, classy, refined, understated - all at once.

[amberleadavis]

BTW, Sandy - I plagiarized the word "gravitas" from your reviews.

[SallyLyn]

1+ to all the above. Of the pens I own the most "serious" would be any Parker "51" -Black Vac, Cedar Blue Vac, the Gray Vac maybe even the Plum Aero. My Sheaffer Snorkels are more colorful but the Burgundy could pull it off, that Triumph nib is powerful.

 

Most of my modern pens are inexpensive but the Pilot Namiki Falcon in basic Black is such a smooth graceful writer it would win any argument.

[amberleadavis]

Each of these pens has gone with me to various court appearances .... The most expensive is the Cartier which is slim and sophisticated, but I don't think it has the heft or imposing looks of a heavy MB. For that matter, with small hands the big pens can look disproportionately large.

 

http://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Inked_Today/slides/2013-Ink_843.jpg

 

Here's my going to court pen.

 

http://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/2014-Inklings/slides/2014-Ink_058c.jpg

[dcpritch]

I like to meet with clients or go to court or other serious event with a serious vintage pen just as much as a serious modern pen. I like taking a big Oversize flattop, a 1930s Italian celluloid or a vintage German pen as much as I do any modern pen. The main things I think about is to be sure it doesn't leak, that it starts up easy, and that I don't run out of ink!