I don’t think that it’s too much of a stretch to say that, at least in the United States,  most people have heard the old saying about wearing white after labor day.  It has been a big no-no in fashion circles since sometime around the early to mid-twentieth century.  Nobody knows for sure how this piece of fashion etiquette came about let alone became ingrained into the mainstream collective.  One practical theory contends that, since people used to dress more formally, white was simply cooler in the summer months.  When the fall rains came, the color became impractical as it soiled easily with mud and debris.  While this theory sounds logical, that in and of itself may be why many scholars discount it.  The rules of fashion seldom seem to follow any logic.  A more salacious and compelling explanation may lie in the habits of America’s well to do who frequently escaped the doldrums of the city in the summer months.  That escape included leaving behind the more drab palette of the city which included opting for lighter clothing instead.  White linen suits became the unofficial uniform of the upper crust of society.  Labor Day, celebrated on the first Monday in September, has long marked the unofficial end of summer and was when the elite class would stow their whites and return to city life.  By mid-century, a clash between old money and new money was brewing as the middle class expanded and people became more upwardly mobile.  Old money elites looking to keep their social fabric from fraying would shun those not in the know.  Arbitrary rules, including not wearing white after Labor Day, allowed high society to protect their standing and identify the less savvy newer members of the upper class.  Whichever reasoning you may ascribe to, this old “rule” has largely fallen out of favor and many fashion icons have shown that white can indeed be worn year round.  That is a darn good thing too because Pelikan has graced the M6xx line with more white pens in recent history than ever before and I for one would hate to have to lock them away for half of the year due to some fashion snobbery.  Read on for a look at how Pelikan has made white pens chic again.

#nowhiteafterlaborday

The M600 line has seen a revival of sorts in the last few years having been graced with several of the more colorful variants in Pelikan’s line-up.  It would appear that someone at Pelikan really likes white.  A bit larger than an M400 but not nearly as heavy as an M800, the M600 line of pens hits the sweet spot for many writing enthusiasts.  These pens are roughly 5.28 inches in length, expand to 6.10 inches when posted, have a diameter of 0.49 inches, and a weight of 0.56 ounces.  The ink capacity is somewhere around 1.30mL.  To recap, the line’s white models include the M600 Tortoiseshell White (2012), M600 Pink (2015), M600 Turquoise-White (2018), and M605 White Transparent (2017).  All of these models incorporate the same white resin components and have the same furniture.  They vary in the patterns of their barrels and the M605 of course has palladium plated trim rather than gold.  White pens have always been somewhat polarizing amongst those in the fountain pen community.  They are perceived to be at a greater risk for staining which is a valid concern.  That said, avoiding certain highly saturated inks and employing routine pen care can usually mitigate any issues that might mar an otherwise beautiful pen’s appearance.

M600 Tortoiseshell White (2012)

The color scheme and pattern of the M600 White Tortoise are identical to that of the M400 that preceded it.  The barrel is done in a honey green tortoise pattern that is translucent when held to the light to allow for gauging the remaining ink level.  The furniture includes two trim rings at the piston knob, a trim ring on the section, double cap bands, and a 24K plated crown cap top with a single chick logo.  The cap, section, and piston knob are made from a white resin and the cap band is inscribed “Pelikan Souverän Germany.”  These came with a two-toned 14C-585 gold nib in EF, F, M, and B widths.  The White Tortoise M600 is rather hard to find for sale in today’s secondary market.  The original US MSRP was $475 and they sold for around $380 when new.  Expect to pay nearly double that if you can find one today.

M600 Pink (2015)

The M600 Pink came out three years after the White Tortoise and certainly raised some eyebrows.  The initial marketing materials labeled this one as the “Ladies’s Collection” and it was depicted with a pink ribbon.  Even the packaging had the appearance of a laced corset creating a small controversy amongst some in the community.  Despite those missteps, the M600 Pink is definitely one that you have to see in person and one that I would not dare to label as a ladies only pen.  As you can see, the furniture and white resin components are identical to those of the White Tortoise described above.  What is different is the Pink striped barrel and, unlike the Tortoise, there is no ink view of any type.  Included was a 14C-585 two toned nib in Pelikan’s standard widths.  These have become very hard to come by in a short period of time.  The US MSRP was $625 and they sold for $500 at retail making this the most expensive model of the quartet when new.  Like the White Tortoise, expect to pay almost double that in today’s secondary market.

M600 Turquoise-White (2018)

The M600 Turquoise-White is the most recent release to utilize white resin.  Similar to the M600 Pink, this model utilizes Turquoise stripes to achieve a very striking appearance.  One thing that you might note on any of these models is that not all of the stripes are completely identical.  There are some minor variations introduced in the material during production which can add a bit of character to a pen.  Aside from the difference in color, the other trappings of the Pink are preserved here including the lack of an ink view window.  The standard gold-plated furniture of the M600 as previously described is represented and the nib remains a two-toned 14C-585 gold.  The US MSRP is $500 for this one with street pricing of around $400 and these still remain available in retail channels though likely not for long.  Given how the previous two models described have doubled in price, it may not be wise to wait on this one if you’re at all inclined to pick one up.

M605 White Transparent (2017)

The M605 White Transparent was a model from last year and, as the name implies, it returned the translucency to the barrel’s stripes so that the ink chamber and its contents could be viewed.  While the furniture is the same as what we’ve previously examined, the plating is palladium instead of 24 karat gold.  The nib is made of a 14C-585 rhodium plated gold with a monotone silver colored appearance.  The US MSRP for this model was $475 with retail pricing of $380 turning back the hands of time and resurrecting pricing seen 5 years prior, a welcome relief for enthusiasts.  These can still be found in the retail channels if you’re interested.

Left to right; Pelikan M600 Tortoiseshell White (2012), M600 Pink (2015), M600 Turquoise-White (2018), and M605 White Transparent (2017)