Pelikan set for themselves an ambitious timeline of October releases with no less than five models slated to hit store shelves during the autumnal month. While the reasoning behind such a self-imposed glut of new models remains unclear, it seems that Pelikan has not been able to stick to their own timeline. To date, just two of the promised five models have made it to market with All Hallows’ Eve just around the corner and October rapidly drawing to a close. The pens that have already made it into consumer’s hands include the high end M1000 Maki-e Dragon and the M600 Glauco Cambon. The M205 Rose Quartz, which had been pushed back due to post-production issues, and the M600 Red-White are still anticipated for a late October release and evidence suggest that these may be making their way to retailers now. Unfortunately, the M200 Copper Rose Gold looks to be delayed for an as of yet unknown duration. As the Glauco Cambon has now arrived on people’s doorsteps, it’s certainly worthy of a review given that this is perhaps the most innovative pen that Pelikan has put out in years. The “Art Collection” conceit used here is actually decades old. Sometime during the late 1980s/early 1990s, coinciding with Pelikan’s Harmony Und Präzision marketing campaign, the historical art collection first came to life. That initial iteration took the form of special tin packaging featuring one of Pelikan’s historic posters from 1903, ‘The Lady of the Lake‘ by Georg Tronnier. The very same concept again surfaced in 2021 but nothing seemingly came from it, not until August of this year when Pelikan announced the M600 Glauco Cambon, the first in a proposed series of pens based on the company’s extensive collection of historic posters, many of which were derived from competitions that saw entries spanning a wide range of artists, both big and small. Pelikan’s newest M600 doesn’t only bring with it a re-invigorated concept and a fresh design, it launches an entirely new production process for Pelikan, one that achieves an effect not previously seen on any of their pens. Continue reading for an in-depth exploration of this new M600’s nuances in order to help you figure out whether or not you should add it to your flock (Spoiler alert: the answer is an emphatic YES!).

Before the M600 Glauco Cambon of 2023, the “Art Collection” concept was employed, taking the form of a metal gift box circa the early 1990s. Click on a photo to view the gallery

Before diving into the review, it’s only proper that we take a moment to acknowledge the artist whose work inspired this new fountain pen. Glauco Cambon, a graphic artist and painter, was born in Trieste, Italy on August 13, 1875. He attended school in Monaco di Baviera, the Italian name for Munich, Germany where he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts of Munich in the early 1890s. His career would start in his hometown of Trieste with the paintings “Portrait of Attilio Hortis“ and “Music.“ Both works brought him fame and notoriety. He was invited to exhibit in a show ordered by the Artistic Circle Of Trieste in 1895 and then the Venice Binnale in 1907 where he would become a regular exhibitor. Mr. Cambon would ultimately lend his talents to a wide range of artistic endeavors including portraiture, caricatures, decorations, and artistic billboards, but he became interested in advertising posters circa the early 1900s. Under the direction of Fritz Beindorff, a passionate art collector and industrialist, Pelikan would host a number of poster competitions spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was one such contest, “Competition for Art Painters and Architects,“ that Glauco Cambon, at the young age of 22, entered in 1909. The competition was themed around Pelikan’s liquid inks and received 2,535 entries, one of which was the poster that is now the basis for the new M600. His design was awarded a prize, was purchased by Pelikan, and was displayed at a traveling exhibition. Glauco Cambon would pass away on March 7, 1930, in Biella, Italy at the age of 54 but his art has endured for over a century, finding new life in the most unexpected of places.

Glauco Cambon’s entry in Pelikan’s 1909 poster competition themed around the company’s liquid inks which now forms the basis for the newest Pelikan M600

• Appearance & Design (10/10) – The barrel has a quasi-holographic appearance that is unrivaled from anything else Pelikan has put out before

Pelikan has done a good job of adapting their newer G30 gift packaging to accommodate the specific theming of a wide variety of releases, mostly by tweaking color schemes. The Glauco Cambon M600 goes another direction with fresh packaging that is wholly unique to the new model. A white, rectangular outer box houses a black box with gold lettering featuring the Pelikan name and logo along with the designation “Art Collection.” A magnetic flap at the bottom gives way, allowing the lid to flip open, revealing Glauco Cambon’s poster with a small rectangular indentation at the bottom where the pen resides. Removing that insert reveals a card with a faithful reproduction of the poster along with a 38 page booklet briefly detailing the artist, the competition, and the process that was used to create the unique effect of the new M600. It is certainly packaging worth saving. To start, let’s focus on the familiar. Each pen features a piston knob, section, and cap done in black resin. The furniture is plated in 24 carat gold and consist of two trim rings at the piston knob, a trim ring at the section, two cap bands, a beak clip, and a plated cap top featuring the company’s one chick logo. What is exotic here is the barrel, clearly the star of the show, with a holographic effect that no other Pelikan has ever employed. I’ll get into the details of the methods behind the design below, but the effect achieved is a multicolored, holographic menagerie of yellows, greens, blues, and oranges. Photographs simply cannot do it justice. The pattern symbolizes the reflections of the multicolored pelicans as seen on Glauco Cambon’s poster and truly does convey a sense of art brought to life. The effect is colorful, unique, dynamic, and lively. The barrel conveys a sense of depth that isn’t possible with the typical striped designs. What you don’t see is an ink view which will be a detractor for some no matter how nice the design. Normally, that is the camp that I’m in as well, but this is one of those rare instances where extending the design to the section without the interruption of an ink view works. It’s a tradeoff between form and function but I’m not mad at form for winning this argument. On the bright side, it allows for the utilization of a wider breadth of inks without having to worry about potential staining. There was certainly a lot of hype surrounding this one pre-release, much more so than we’ve seen with other models, but I think that it was, by and large, well deserved. In good lighting, this one is a stunner.

Pelikan created all new packaging for their Art Collection release, highlighting both the pen and the artwork that inspired it. Click on a photo to view the gallery

The barrel of the M600 Glauco Cambon is very difficult to do photograph well but these images illustrate the colors achieved as the pen is rotated in the hand. The effect is almost holographic

• Construction & Quality (10/10) – The Glauco Cambon uses a whole new process in its design that pays off in a big way

The M600 Glauco Cambon is perhaps the first Pelikan in recent memory to embark upon such a significant departure from the company’s usual script. It is enough of a departure that I’m surprised it still carries the M600 model designation. To me, it feels more akin to something like a model M215 which also employed brass barrel construction. Having not previously had an M615, that would have been a reasonable designation, but I guess it’s all just semantics. For a firm that is so deeply rooted to tradition and conservative design, I applaud the team for taking a leap of faith on this one. Enter the Aurora Process, not to be confused with the Aurora brand of pens and inks. The design starts with a brass tube which is engraved and then guilloched with thin grooves that impart the light reflecting holographic effect. Ten layers of clear lacquer are next applied and polished after which the colored design gets printed. A final polishing is done in several steps in order to give the barrel a high level of sheen. In very strong light, you might notice a reddish tint, perhaps a quirk of the lacquer used. Whether or not we will see this process utilized again in the future remains to be seen but it does feel at home here on the M600. This pen exudes quality. All of the pieces are polished and fit together with precision. One thing that I’m happy to see is the use of the traditional trim rings of the Souverän and not the uni-piece construction which was employed on the M800 Green Demonstrator, a design which I do not think would have looked as nice on this one. With routine pen maintenance, there is no reason that the Glauco Cambon can’t be of service for decades to come. How this new finish will hold up over that time remains to be seen but there are no overt concerns on that front out of the gate. For the money asked, you can at least rest assured that you’re getting a quality piece of German engineering.

Upon close inspection, you can visualize the fine grooves of the guilloche pattern that contributes to the holographic effect

• Weight & Dimensions (10/10) – Pelikan’s middle of the road model gets a bit heftier without changing its size

While I cheered the arrival of the Art Collection, I cringed slightly after hearing that the chosen vehicle would be an M600. I find that the M6xx represents a fault line of sorts for aficionados of the brand, dividing users into three distinct camps. On the one hand, there are those that love the M2xx/M4xx sized models and shy away from anything larger. On the other are those that gravitate towards the much bigger M8xx and M10xx lines, lamenting each release that comes out in a smaller format. The M6xx straddles these two worlds with neither camp being truly satisfied. Of course there are those on either side that cross the lines and I certainly don’t want to ignore the large swath of fans that find the M6xx to be the perfect sized pen. This M600 is a slightly different animal though, a distinction which might give it a larger appeal. Its overall dimensions are unchanged from those of a standard production M6xx. That means it has a capped length of 5.28 inches, a posted length of 6.10 inches, and a diameter of 0.49 inches. Where it differs slightly is in the weight, going from 0.56 ounces to a slightly huskier 1.02 ounces thanks to the brass barrel construction. This might extend a small olive branch to those who prefer a beefier pen. The M600 remains compact enough to be easily transported in most standard shirt pockets and cases but it is not so heavy as to be uncomfortable during extended writing sessions. The pen feels nice in the hand, whether posted or not but does post securely and without too much of an imbalance for those that prefer that route. Overall, I can easily see why Pelikan selected the M600 to serve as the chassis for this design, and it’s a hard decision to fault.

• Nib & Performance (8/10) – Nothing as unique as the barrel but reliable as always

The M600 Glauco Cambon comes with Pelikan’s standard 14C-585 gold, two-toned rhodium plated nib in the usual assortment of EF, F, M, and B widths. There is nothing with the nib that stands out as particularly exceptional nor especially lacking. It is nothing if not dependable, laying down a wet line when called upon to do so. The feed easily resists drying out which means that the pen can be ready to write, even after a prolonged period of stasis. My example was ordered with a medium nib which seems to reasonably approximate a western medium. It was well aligned out of the box and came without hard starts or skipping. The nib is fairly firm and the line that it puts down is devoid of any unique character or variation. The design is attractive, featuring Pelikan’s usual scrollwork and logo though a unique design for this collection would have been very welcome. That has been an area that Pelikan has been very hesitant to venture into unlike some other brands, presumably a cost saving measure. The nib is removable here so that it can be swapped for another size should you have a desire to do so. Removal also facilitates the infrequent maintenance that these will eventually require.

• Filling System & Maintenance (10/10) – No muss, no fuss dependability and ease of upkeep

The Glauco Cambon is a piston filler, like every other M600 out there, featuring a best in class piston filling mechanism that is snap fit to the barrel and not removable. Generally, the only maintenance that these will require is the occasional re-lubrication via a tiny drop of silicone grease applied to the wall of the barrel through the section. The frequency that such maintenance is required will be dictated by your usage patterns and ink selection. You’ll know that it’s time for maintenance when the piston starts to move a bit more stiffly, generally every couple of years if used regularly. A properly lubed piston travels the length of the barrel smoothly which will be the case with your brand new M600. The pen is reported to have a 1.20mL capacity and fills almost completely full with a single cycle of the piston. For those new to piston fillers, these only fill from a bottle of ink. How will you know when the pen is full? Unfortunately, you will have to take it on faith since there is no dedicated ink view, an issue fraught with pros and cons as far as this pen goes. At least staining won’t be an issue here. Flushing the pen for storage or a change of ink is easily accomplished with just water, flushing repeatedly until mostly clear. All things considered, the M600 Glauco Cambon comes with a low maintenance, easy to use, upscale filling solution that should provide reliable service for the foreseeable future.

• Cost & Value (8/10) – An expensive pen but perhaps the first Pelikan to justify its price tag in some time

The Glauco Cambon has a US MSRP of $790 which translates into a retail around $632 from most domestic vendors. It’s a little challenging to compare that with other M600s since we are looking at a new production process with different materials than the standard editions or even other special editions. That said, last year’s M605 Tortoiseshell-Black retailed for $552 and this year’s M600 Red-White is retailing for $512. The up charge here doesn’t feel like the worst case scenario, but it still makes this a pricey addition to any flock and will certainly exclude a portion of would be buyers. I suspect that this may be Pelikan’s bid to tack upwind in order to gain further penetration into the luxury writing instruments market, thereby increasing their margins. The same pen can be had from some overseas vendors for around €435 (~$460) when the VAT is excluded, a significant difference in a global economy. Given that this design is the first of its type, that it’s unique amongst the pantheon of Pelikan pens, and that it’s not at all hard on the eyes, means that there is value to be had here. With a sophisticated presentation and an implied suggestion of other models to later follow, this one could certainly be worth the price of admission lest you regret having to pay double later once quantities becomes scarce.

• Conclusion – A renewed concept, fresh look, and innovative design combine to make the Glauco Cambon a winner

M600 Glauco Cambon: 56/60 or 93.3%

The M600 Glauco Cambon feels like Pelikan getting back to form. The concept may not be new, but the implementation is fresh, ushering with it a whole new design process. The quasi-holographic appearance has never been seen on a Pelikan and, while the differences in design are quite obvious, the familiarity of the Souverän persist. A wonderful balance is struck between tradition and re-establishing the brand’s relevance in the twenty-first century. With an extensive back catalog of old posters, there is no shortage of material to draw from for future designs. We’ve already seen concepts floated utilizing the works of Rudi Rother and Georg Tronnier which might be amongst some of the next models in the series provided the company’s new ownership sticks with the concept. All is not perfect though. The lack of an ink view will irk some and the choice of an M600, regardless of the extra heft, will be a letdown for those longing for something in the M8xx family. Personally, the only thing that I would have liked to have seen would have been a custom nib, something as unique as the barrel itself but that is a small quibble. Amongst my reviews, only the M1000 Black/Green and M1000 Raden Green Ray have previously claimed a score of 93% which puts the M600 amongst some very good company. If you’ve been biding your time waiting for the next big thing from Pelikan, I wouldn’t wait much longer. The Glauco Cambon has an excellent chance of being just the pen that you’ve been waiting for.

PROS

• Possibly the gateway to a whole new series of pens based upon a renewed concept with deep roots
• A brand new design process that creates a holographic effect never before seen on a Pelikan
• The barrel’s design is both unique and attractive, radiating with lively color
• A little extra heft in a piston filler with a dependable nib makes this pen one of the more well-rounded M600s to come out in some time

CONS

• No discrete ink view will be a detractor for some, no matter how badly it would have marred the appearance
• The nib lacks character and brings nothing unique to the table
• The M6xx size is too big for some and falls short for others who prefer a larger model
• Domestic pricing is expensive and significantly more than what overseas vendors are charging

A Look At The Pelikan M600 Glauco Cambon

Pelikan M600 Glauco Cambon Writing Sample

*The pen utilized for this review is my own from my personal collection and therefore the opinions expressed are also mine and free of any undue influence.