Posts filed under Pelikan

Pelikan 337 Giant Ballpoint Refill Review

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

I'm always on the lookout for a new Parker-style refill to try. The Parker-style refill is one of the most commonly used in ballpoint pens, and almost every pen manufacturer has their own version of this refill size. While the size is common across the board, the quality of the ink and the writing experience is anything but. For the longest time, I've regarded the Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 as my favorite Parker-style refill. In most cases, a new ballpoint pen that uses the Parker-style refill would immediately be replaced with a fresh EasyFlow to instantly improve the writing experience. Lately, I've been using the Pelikan 337 Giant refill, and I believe it's better than the Schmidt.

So, what does it take to knock the Schmidt out of first place in my book? The Schmidt is easy to find, affordable, offers a smooth writing experience, has a variety of color options (namely, blue), and is always quick to start writing even after a long shelf hiatus. The Pelikan beats the Schmidt in every area except for price, but I think it's worth it.

The Pelikan Giant refill is a standard Parker-style refill, but the ink formula is outstanding. It also comes in a wider range of colors and tip sizes (at least through JetPens) than the Schmidt. I'm currently using a Fine blue refill, and I love it. But, I also have the option of medium or broad tip sizes, and black and red ink colors. The Schmidt only comes in black or blue, and only one tip size — medium.

The ink in the Giant is somehow smoother than the Schmidt, and also lays down a more consistent line. In the world of ballpoint refills, the Schmidt does an absolutely fantastic job against the competition when it comes to ink consistency, color, and flow. The simple fact is the Giant does it all better. I like the lighter blue color better, I like the smaller tip size more, and the performance of the ink is crazy-good. It makes the Schmidt look like a Bic when compared side-by-side. And, it feels smoother when writing. I've been enamored with this refill ever since I started using it.

Performance and my own infatuation aside, this is an expensive refill. At just shy of $10, it's twice the price of the Schmidt EasyFlow refills and more than basically any other major competitor. Does this refill write twice as well as the Schmidt? I don't think so, and that will turn many people away from it. But, when you consider the improvement you can make on any pen, the price may be well within reason. Like most things, you're perspective will vary, as will the proposed value of a premium refill like this one. Bics make marks on paper, and they're also fantastic writing instruments when you can't have or afford anything else.

My assumption is that these refills are overpriced on purpose by Pelikan to align with the expectation of a premium luxury pen. From my research, any pen that Pelikan ships with this refill is in the range of hundreds of dollars. Considering that there are plenty of pens that accept the Parker-style refill and also cost less than the refill, it's a hard value proposition to swallow. Is it over-priced? Almost certainly. Will I still buy more? Oh, hell yes. For the same reason that I own pens that vary in price from the single-digit dollars to hundreds of dollars. They all offer something unique, and this refill elevates an ordinary ballpoint pen to something greater than the sum of its parts. It's a fantastic product with a special ink formula that really excels.

If you can stomach the price, I can only recommend the Pelikan 337 Giant refill as a big improvement on your favorite Parker-compatible ballpoint pen.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on July 8, 2020 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Pelikan, Ballpoint, Pen Reviews.

Pelikan M205 Star Ruby Fountain Pen Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

I'm frustrated by my inability to capture the true glamour of the Pelikan M205 Star Ruby. I've tried to describe it, since I can't seem to photograph it, and the closest I can get is, it looks like some kind of atomic fairy dust suspended in the purest raspberry jelly. By which I mean, it's beautiful, delightful, and my pen addict magpie heart is dancing.

Beautiful pens are common enough these days, I suppose. The market is saturated with tempting gems--too many for the health of my unhappy wallet. While the most noticeable aspect of this pen might be its shimmering beauty, the best thing about it is that it's a very well made, useable pen. It's also not outrageously expensive (for a Pelikan). because it's part of the Classic line, and not the Souveran line, it sacrifices a few fancy features for a lower price tag, but it sacrifices absolutely nothing in quality.

Pelikan is a brand that doesn't treat its lower-tier pens like lesser-than versions of the expensive models. This pen feels every bit as refined as its upper-echelon peers. It is all flush joins and precise edges with crisp details. The nib is steel instead of gold, and it writes every bit as smoothly as any gold nib in my collection. Characteristic of Western nibs, this fine point writes closer to an Eastern medium, so fans of very small writing may prefer the extra-fine point.

The flow is excellent, and the piston-fill mechanism is smooth and holds a large amount of ink. I've inked it with the matching Pelikan Star Ruby ink, and it's a match made in pen heaven. Both the ink and the pen are 2019 special editions and won't be around forever (or very long at all, I predict), so don't hesitate if you're at all dazzled.

The pen body, cap, and grip section are made in ethereal, shimmering acrylic. It has chromium plated trim, with the characteristic Pelikan bill clip. The clip is just the right amount of firm and springy. The finial is black plastic with a silver stenciled pelican with one chick. Overall, it looks classy. It's not glittery in a kitschy way--it's fine, and subtle enough that it looks more like a shimmer, from a distance. Up close, in direct light, you can see the sparks of complex colors and depth to its finish. It's more playful than standard Pelikan fare, but stops well short of glitzy. The cap posts securely, and it is very comfortable to hold, posted or not, for my hands.

Between the brand name and fancy look, I had expected to file this release under the "grail" tab of my pen list, where a whole flock of Pelikans nest. I was surprised to find it being sold for under $170 at most retailers. That's still expensive, especially for a pen with a steel nib, but it's within the realm of reasonable, and might even be something Santa could manage, if you've been very good.

This is a happy pen--it makes me as happy to use it as to twirl it in a sunbeam. The downside? Writing time lost to pen twirling.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on November 21, 2019 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Pelikan, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Pelikan Classic M120 Iconic Blue Fountain Pen Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

There's a lot of overlap between fountain pen fanatics and those with an affinity for vintage and midcentury aesthetics. So it's no great surprise when a throwback limited edition comes along and steals our hearts.

The understated elegance of the Pelikan M120 Iconic Blue makes it a total heart thief. In photos it looks plain. Nice, but unimpressive. In person, it has a certain air about it. Somehow, they haven't just put this pen in a vintage suit--they put the soul of vintage in it. When I write with it, I feel like Agatha Christie. And I like it.

The pen is a reproduction of one of their old school pens. School pens weren't meant to be fancy, and this isn't. It's classy.

The body is a smoky cobalt blue plastic. It has 14k gold and gold-plated furniture, including the iconic Pelikan beak clip. The piston knob is a subtle step down from the body. It turns smoothly and extends just a little bit on the outside, but the ink capacity of the pen is impressive. I've been writing with it regularly for weeks and only just started seeing the ink level in the blue tinted ink window.

The cap screws on. It posts securely at the back without interfering with the piston knob. It's a small pen, so I imagine a lot of people will want to use it posted. I find it comfortable both ways. The cap is light and it doesn't affect the balance too much. The top of the cap is rounded, so it doesn't have the newer painted pelikan finial, but it does have a debossed logo set into the plastic. It's tricky to see, but is in keeping with the understated design of the pen.

The nib is gold plated steel, this one a fine. It is incredibly smooth and is nicely wet, so it writes closer to a medium line. The nib is surprisingly springy. I had to look it up to confirm that it is indeed steel, because this feels like a gold nib. The scrollwork on it is some of the prettiest I've ever seen, with lovely filigree flourishes.

With its subtlety, light weight, and fantastic ink capacity, this is the perfect everyday pen. I've used it at work every day (if there's ever been a pen that screams "librarian" more than this one, I haven't met it) and keep picking it up on the weekends, too. If I had to pick one downside to this pen, it would be the price. At $188, it's a bit steep for a steel nib, factory-made pen. But price is always going to be my downside with Pelikans--and it sure doesn't stop me from loving them. I always cringe when I spend the money on one, but I never regret it.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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