Pelikan’s newest addition to its Classic line dropped last month, bringing a new color combination to the series. That said, the M200 Pastel Blue sticks to the company’s tried and true recipe of “same pen, different color.” That isn’t necessarily a bad thing provided the color appeals to you. Pelikan has been releasing marbled finishes for nearly a century so it’s not surprising to see the tradition continue. Three years after its introduction in 1988, the M200 line was expanded to include Green, Blue, and Gray marbled finishes. More recently, we’ve seen Brown, Gold, and Pastel Green varieties, the last two being amongst the first to be coupled with white resin components. The Pastel Blue does likewise with an ethereal, almost cloud like marbling. No two pens are the same which makes each unique in its own right. The caveat here is that you have to be comfortable with a smaller pen, but the payoff can be huge. The Pastel Blue has serious workhorse potential but there are some pitfalls to consider. Continue reading to figure out if this pen is right for you.

Appearance & Design (10/10) – This M200 looks good in blue, particularly with the accompanying white resin

Past releases from the Classic line were offered in Pelikan’s G5 gift packaging. This consisted of a box with a pull-out drawer housing a faux leather envelope which contained the pen. It was a bit less showy than the old G15 gift packaging reserved for the Souverän line. Pelikan seems to have streamlined things by offering both their Classic series and Souverän models in their G30 gift packaging. While still relatively new, it appears that Pelikan has embellished upon the standard design by changing the box’s exterior to white and including a light blue interior which matches the pen’s color scheme. I suspect that we will see more thematic packaging along the same vein in the future. It’s a small thing but the attention to detail is appreciated. Opening the box’s magnetic closure reveals the pen, initially housed in a faux leather sleeve. Do yourself a favor and open this one in the presence of good lighting, you won’t be disappointed. Like past finishes, there is a chatoyance here that gives the pen a multidimensional feel. The sky blue is light but not too light and is offset nicely by the white resin and gold-plated furniture. Past imprudent errors of design appear to have largely been avoided here. The cap top on the Pastel Blue is done in a white resin to match the pen’s other components, something notably amiss on the M200 Gold Marbled (2019). The crown nut is also plated to match the rest of the furniture, something the M205 line has been sorely lacking since the introduction of the Petrol Marbled (2021). The remainder of the furniture is simple but tasteful, consisting of a beak clip, a single cap band, and a trim ring at the piston knob. A clear ink view sits behind the section, a most welcome inclusion. The pen is topped off with a gold-plated stainless-steel nib. Overall, I find the look of this one very pleasing and easy on the eyes. It is certainly better looking than the Pastel Green (2020), in my purely subjective opinion, which was otherwise styled very similarly. If blue is your thing, I find little to be down about with this one.

Pelikan’s standard G30 gift packaging was altered to match the pen’s color scheme, a small but welcome detail

The barrel is rather translucent, and the inner workings of the pen can be seen in good light

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Construction & Quality (9/10) – This model has workhorse written all over it

The M200 Pastel Blue is no Souverän but that doesn’t mean it can’t hold its own. The Classic line is just slightly less polished than the higher end models. There is a seam on the section, which is hardly noticed, and the nib is stainless steel rather than gold. Otherwise, you’d be hard pressed to find any qualms with this model’s construction. The pieces all fit together well, without any play or misalignment. You might recall that past releases with white resin caps had an issue with cracking, the M400 Tortoiseshell White being perhaps the best example. That said, I have not heard of any widespread issues with their more recent crop of white resin pens, so I suspect that Pelikan has since taken steps to ameliorate the issue in case that gave you some pause. There is no reason that this model can’t be a reliable workhorse for years to come. The only concern that I might venture would be the inherent risk of staining, not only of the white resin components but also of the clear ink view. Proper pen hygiene and prudent ink selection can allay such concerns so save your heavily saturated inks for another pen to avoid any disappointment or frustration.

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Weight & Dimensions (9/10) – She may be small and light, but she is also very nimble, gliding across the page

The M200 Pastel Blue is a small pen by today’s standard, no matter how you slice it. The size is not at all off putting but many people today simply prefer bigger pens. Pity though since the M200 is sized perfectly for portability. It feels at home in almost any shirt pocket and no case is too small. While it can be used comfortably when uncapped, the M200 really shines when posted, taking on a near perfect balance and gaining about 3/4 of an inch in length on the back end. This model lacks any real weight behind it due to its mostly plastic construction, so if a lighter pen does not suit you, you will want to look elsewhere. As far as its dimensions, the M200 measures 4.92 inches when capped, 5.71 inches when posted, has a diameter of 0.46 inches, and weighs 0.49 ounces.  Those are essentially the same dimensions as the higher end M400. When it comes to travel companions, the size of this one shouldn’t be an issue.

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Nib & Performance (8/10) – The nib isn’t fancy, but it does its job with a spring in its step

Perhaps the biggest difference between a Souverän and the Classic line is the nib. The former is gold, and the latter is stainless steel. In real world use, I find little difference between the two. The Pastel Blue’s nib is not flexible but does have a pleasing bit of spring. Pelikan’s feed performs the task of keeping the ink flowing admirably. Its ability to resists drying out is a big plus. The nib itself puts down a generous, wet line that is best tamed with a drier ink. The nib has a simple logo engraved as well as a stamp indicating the nib’s width. While not fancy, the gold plating allows it to blend nicely with the rest of the furniture. My example was ordered with a fine nib. It was well aligned out of the box and wrote smoothly, without hard starts or skipping. I cannot say that will be the same for everyone but, in general, that has been my experience. The line it puts down is fairly true to its designation, at least as far as western nibs go. Unfortunately, Pelikan continues to only offer EF, F, M, and B widths in their Classic line. Because the M200 has the same dimensions as an M400, interested consumers can easily find vendors willing to swap in a 14C-585 gold Souverän nib at the point of sale for an up-charge. While the gold nibs have a more polished appearance, I don’t think you gain any additional functionality for the money.

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Filling System & Maintenance (10/10) – Piston filling with an ink view speaks to the heart of a Pelikan’s DNA

The M200 is equipped with a piston mechanism, the same piston which has been a defining feature of the Pelikan brand for nearly a century. The knob at the end of the barrel doesn’t have any appreciable play and the piston travels the length of the barrel smoothly. It is effective at filling the pen quickly and easily but also facilitates a relatively painless flushing when the pen requires cleaning. The M200 is rated to hold approximately 1.20mL of ink. Thankfully, we have a clear ink view window just behind the section which makes assessing the remaining ink in the pen a snap. When filled with ink, the portion of the barrel that overlies the ink chamber definitely becomes darker due to its inherent translucency which might be off putting to some so best to know about it before hand. After several years of use, the piston may start to become stiff. This is easily remedied by carefully removing the nib and applying a tiny drop of pure silicone grease to the inner barrel. That is pretty much the only maintenance that this pen will ever require. The piston assembly is snap fitted to the barrel and cannot be removed without risking irrevocable damage to the pen. I wouldn’t consider that a negative since it is incredibly unlikely that the need for removal would arise for quite some time to come.

The barrel’s translucency means that it will darken significantly when filled with ink

The piston seal and spindle are also cast from white plastic materials

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Cost & Value (7/10) – Shop domestic if you can, but regional variations in pricing remain hard to ignore

Pelikan’s Classic line has traditionally been positioned to fill the market niche of a lower end alternative to the more upscale Souverän. Unfortunately, the last several years have seen a significant increase in pricing which has really blurred that distinction. Today’s US MSRP for the Pastel Blue is $290 which means that you can expect to pay around $232 at checkout. That’s still about $200 less than what the similarly sized M400 Souverän retails for in the USA but it remains quite the price tag for a pen equipped with a stainless-steel nib. Overseas vendors offer this one at a more reasonable €121 (~$132.74) when the VAT is excluded. It is hard to overlook a savings of nearly $100. This pen has the looks, a piston filling mechanism, and an ink view. Its only detractor is its price but that is the bitter pill you will have to swallow to bring one of these home. If this is a must have for you, your prospects are a lot sweeter when shopping overseas but please always try to lend your patronage to your local pen store if you’re able. There are too few left in existence today.

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Conclusion – The M200 Pastel Blue comes on strong and only stumbles because of its price

M200 Pastel Blue: 53/60 or 88.3%

The M200 Pastel Blue does not represent anything earth shattering. Pelikan only has a few recipes in their cookbook. What they do make, they make with consistency, so you know just what you’re getting, pretty much every time. Is this another case of “same pen, different color?” Absolutely, there is no question about that. Does that take away from the pen itself? In this case, I think not. If you have a flock of M200s, then this one brings nothing new to the table but if you like the color scheme and it brings you joy to own and use, then you could do a lot worse than picking one up. How much you pay will certainly influence your feelings on this model so shop around for the best deal possible. If you like the M200 but not the Pastel Blue, sitting tight might be wise since there is strong anticipation that an M200 Rose Quartz demonstrator will hit the market later this year should that be more to your liking.

A trio of white resin M200s. Top to bottom: M200 Gold Marbled (2019), M200 Pastel Green (2020), and M200 Pastel Blue (2023)

PROS

• This model incorporates an ink view window, a welcome and useful addition which adds to the pen’s functionality
• The pastel blue marbling has an ethereal look that is very pleasing to the eye
• The feed on this model gives it the useful ability to resist drying out
• The pen requires little maintenance over its life which is easily accomplished when called for
• The piston filling mechanism makes this model quick to fill and easy to clean

CONS

• The white resin and clear ink view put this pen at risk for staining
• The M200 is a smaller, lighter model that won’t be a good fit for everyone
• The nib is rather plain looking and only offered in the basic widths of EF, F, M, and B
• This model carries a big price tag for its small size and lack of a gold nib

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A Look At The Pelikan M200 Pastel Blue

Pelikan M200 Pastel Blue Writing Sample

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*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.