Henry McIntosh explores three heritage fountain pens, perfect for passing down the generations

The pen is still mighty. It’s persevered through the centuries, in spite of the rise of contraptions that seek to replace it. The fact is, nothing beats having a pen handy to jot down a quick note or make a list.

When you’re sat in the boardroom or an important meeting, however, it doesn’t hurt to have a slightly different class of pen. Do you think Buffett cuts his cheques with a biro?

007 doesn’t stuff a gel pen into his tux either. The fact is, not all pens are made equal and why would you want an ordinary pen poking out from underneath your Savile Row suit?

Thing is, just like a Patek Philippe, a truly luxurious pen is something that you can pass down through the generations. It’s a heritage piece that you can cherish and unlike the biro, you will probably call the police when someone ‘borrows’ it.

Whilst you will undoubtedly be familiar with brands such as Patek Philippe, you may not be familiar with some of the luxurious pen brands available. They too boast centuries old heritage and the finest craftsmanship, so it may be time to take note. Without further ado here’s Luxurious Magazine’s run-down of three heritage fountain pens.

Graf Von Faber Castell Classic Sterling Silver Fountain Pen, £716.18

Graf Von Faber Castell has been crafting pens since 1761 and it seems they have perfected the art in that time. A testament to their prowess, the Classic Sterling Silver Fountain Pen is a fine writing instrument.

The majority of the pen is constructed from solid sterling silver, with the only exception being the luxuriously hand-crafted 18-carat gold nib.

With a ribbed sterling silver barrel, spring-mounted pocket clip and a double-milled edge cap, the Classic champions an elegant and refined aesthetic that has the unmistakable feel of true quality.

Waterman Edson Sapphire Blue Gold Plated Trim Fountain Pen, £725.00

Bestselling author Douglas Kennedy once referred to this pen as the ‘writer’s Ferrari’, the only difference being you won’t have any expensive service charges with this Sapphire Blue Fountain Pen.

Made from thirty-one different parts, Edson claims this pen will not leak even if you take it up to 6,500 feet. This durability is complemented by the undeniably suave aesthetic of the pen.

With a rich heritage spanning over 130 years, Waterman’s is a fine brand to bring to the boardroom or slip in your tux.

Yard-O-Led Viceroy Grand Barley Sterling Silver Fountain Pen, £435.00

Yard-O-Led pens have been hand-crafted in England since 1822 and the manufacturing process remains in good old blighty to this day.

Yard-O-Led’s strapline ‘… trends may come and go but our attention to detail and excellence in craftsmanship never waivers’ highlights their longevity in spite of changing times and the brand hasn’t deviated from this ethos in the modern era. In fact, even the very latest pens out of the Yard-O-Led workshop, are still created using the finest traditional techniques.

The Viceroy Grand Barley Sterling Silver Fountain Pen is a perfect example of this. The pen is hand-crafted using 19th-century techniques with eight different processes involved in its creation.

Such meticulous attention is evident in the barley pattern that adorns the pen’s sterling silver surface and the elegance of the 18-carat gold nib, that dances gracefully across the page.

Where & How
The retail price suggested is based on Pen Heaven’s pricing at the time of writing. To purchase one of the pens visit their respective links:

  • Graf Von Faber Castell- https://www.penheaven.co.uk/graf-von-faber-castell-classic-sterling-silver-fountain-pen
  • Waterman Edson- https://www.penheaven.co.uk/pen-brands/waterman-pens/waterman-fountain-pens
  • Yard-O-Led- https://www.penheaven.co.uk/yard-o-led-viceroy-grand-barley-fountain-pen