Fake Sonnets, Surely?

[Guernseytim]

I always see posts about fake Mont Blancs but never parkers...

 

I've googled and it used to be commonplace for sonnets to be faked.

 

Tonight doing my usual searches I came across these.

 

Are they genuine?

 

I've asked the seller (awaiting response) but I'm dubious for the following reasons:

 

1) the box isn't what you'd geberally get with this level of sonnet

 

2) the nib doesn't look quite right

 

3) the pen is buy it now price, less than an 18k nib unit alone.

 

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=251819217231

[RudyR]

You might note that this is a 18K Gold PLATED pen. Probably very cheaply made, probably made in China, probably a piece of junk. I would pass on this no matter what the price.

[mariom]

I would guess it's quite likely a fake. I was tempted by the sale of an identical model in Australia, but in the end I decided that "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is". The seller assured me that HE had purchased it as genuine, but given that - like this guy - he had a few to sell, I decided not to pursue it.

[vikrmbedi]

look at the image of the 18kt nib provided by the seller... in the left of 750 mark there is a rhombus with a plus sign of sort....

 

in the original parker that rhombus would have had a parker's jewellers mark. (an arrow in between 2 p's) like in this image

 

http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Parker/Pics/ParkerSonnetClones02.jpg

(images source...)

 

 

anyways always trust your instincts...and if it loos fishy walk away.

[Matlock]

look at the image of the 18kt nib provided by the seller... in the left of 750 mark there is a rhombus with a plus sign of sort....

 

in the original parker that rhombus would have had a parker's jewellers mark. (an arrow in between 2 p's) like in this image

 

http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Parker/Pics/ParkerSonnetClones02.jpg

(images source...)

 

 

anyways always trust your instincts...and if it loos fishy walk away.

 

I agree except that the correct sponser mark for the latest Sonnet should be an arrow between a P and a W (Parker, Waterman).

[richardandtracy]

Iirc this seller is the same as where there have been previous doubts about the provenance of their Parker Pens too.

I'd suggest you don't touch it.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Guernseytim]

Many thanks - i am often of the 'if it's too good...' school of thought, but if someone doesn't know what they're selling (which, with the internet, is unlikely) then it's possible to bag a bargain.

 

I have received a response from the seller stating that they believe they are genuine. I responded advising that I don't believe they are, largely due to the nib. Recommended that he test the nib with a magnet.

 

I perused lots of photos yesterday after seeing the advert and could not find that pen body with that nib.

 

I shall likely report this to amazon - £25 for what is likely just a jinhao masquerading as a parker is a bit too expensive.

[hood]

look at the image of the 18kt nib provided by the seller... in the left of 750 mark there is a rhombus with a plus sign of sort....

 

in the original parker that rhombus would have had a parker's jewellers mark. (an arrow in between 2 p's) like in this image

 

http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Parker/Pics/ParkerSonnetClones02.jpg

(images source...)

 

 

anyways always trust your instincts...and if it loos fishy walk away.

 

 

 

I agree except that the correct sponser mark for the latest Sonnet should be an arrow between a P and a W (Parker, Waterman).

 

 

Also, even if the P|W logo was right, this model wasn't produced with that style of nib - this style was on the earlier models.

[yorktown5]

Wow, I'm glad you brought this up. A few weeks ago, wanting a knockabout pen that works in very cold weather (jotter "gel tip" refills), a ebay search turned up a ball point listed as a parker (small P) with poor photos, suspecting a "clone", I paid $12.00. Well, after receiving it, the pen is of such quality and with even a matching booklet in the case, I began to think I might have a real Sonnet BP. I'd seen this Tartan? pattern before, but only in silver...I'm still unsure, but if it IS a fake, it is a nicely built pen.

 

But....

[yorktown5]

There was another "lot" of unspecified used pens at auction last week and I ended up owning what ARE CLEARLY FAKE Insignias...fuzzy photos showed the same pattern as the ball point. They were all used, and if I was to hazard a guess were leftover's from some street vendor who couldn't sell them because none of them worked. Real junk. All had used "shorty" Parker cartridges in them save one which was in the barrel but unpunctured. They were poorly built as well. After overnight soaking, I still had to re-set the nibs to the feeds, and got them running, but no way would the slapdash original fitting worked. Cost me $4 each.

 

 

[yorktown5]

I guess my question really is, is my Sonnet ballpoint real? This photo should help show the much more fine pattern, thicker more feathered arrow clip and attention to detail on the Sonnet.

[yorktown5]

Oops, I don't know why I ID'd the crummy fakes as Insignias, they too are stamped Sonnet. Didn't take a nib photo, but only simple borders and the word PARKER on them.

 

Rick

[Guernseytim]

The ebay seller offered me them at a lower price but didn't seem impressed with my £5.

 

I thought it generous as that's what a jinhao goes for, roughly.

 

He stated he tested the nibs with a magnet and they didn't attract but I'm not comfortable with them.

[hood]

Not all steel nibs are attracted to a magnet. The magnet test can only tell you one thing: if the nib is attracted, then it's not solid gold.