Pelikan has a long history of sticking to their established model lines without making many changes. However, they have occasionally offered fresh takes on standard models, like the M815 Metal Striped (2018) and the M800 Green Demonstrator (2023). You can now say the same with regards to Pelikan’s newest M200, the Orange Delight. Accepting the M481 as the beginning of the line, Pelikan’s Classic series has been around since 1983. In the intervening years, we’ve never seen a pen quite like this from Pelikan. This model is unique because it combines opaque resin with transparent materials, a departure from their usual style, creating a first of its kind hybrid. The concept isn’t fresh, and many will draw comparisons to pens like the TWSBI Eco. Not only are the mixed components unique, the bright orange hue is also unusual for Pelikan, known for more conservative colors. The future status of this newest M200 as the first in a line of similarly styled models or as a one and done remains to be seen. Combining the elegance of opaque resin with the allure of a demonstrator won’t appeal to everyone. Despite the substantially higher price than a TWSBI, I expect this one to sell well. Keep reading in order to discover whether or not this one is worth adding to your flock.

Appearance & Design (10/10) – The contrast between opaque and transparent components allows this one to stand out

The Orange Delight arrives in the versatile G30 gift packaging. The packaging underwent a slight alteration to complement the pen’s color, a feature we have seen with past releases. Such thematic trappings are a small but welcomed touch. Opening the magnetically sealed lid reveals the M200 nestled in a faux leather pen sleeve. The first thing that jumps out is the contrast between the transparent barrel and the opaque resin components. It’s a look that I really like. Interestingly, Pelikan doesn’t have too many orange pens with which to compare.

The G30 gift packaging for the Orange Delight includes a rectangular box made of orange and white cardboard with a magnetic closure. It contains product literature, a faux leather pen sleeve, and the M200.

The M320 Orange Marbled (2004) and the M600 Vibrant Orange (2018) aren’t good one to one comparisons because of their marbled appearance. The M800 Burnt Orange (2015) is likely the closest juxtaposition, but the Orange Delight comes in a much brighter hue. The gold plated furniture complements the warmth of the bright orange resin nicely. The standard M200 trim includes a clip nut, a beak clip, a single cap band, and a trim ring at the piston knob. The cap band is engraved “Pelikan Germany,” and the cap top is the same orange resin adorned with the company logo screened in gold. A gold-plated stainless steel nib featuring the company logo and width completes the pen’s look. Despite its plain appearance, it suits this model well.

The M200 Orange Delight (2024) is much brighter compared to the M800 Burnt Orange (2015) and the M320 Orange Marbled (2004)

The M200 Orange Delight has a cohesive look without the issues of past models. Gone are mismatched cap tops (e.g. M200 Gold Marbled, 2019) or un-plated clip nuts (e.g. M205 Petrol Marbled, 2021). The transparent orange barrel allows a full view of the piston assembly and ink chamber, making it easy to see the ink level. However, the transparency can show staining, but this can generally be managed with careful ink selection and pen maintenance. The presence of an ink window is a big plus for those that value an easy way to gauge the remaining amount of ink in a pen. Overall, I really like the color, style, and how well all the parts work together to make an attractive fountain pen.

Click on an image in the gallery to view it

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Construction & Quality (10/10) – A pen that marries good looks with quality construction

Hailing from the Classic family means a little less polish, but no less of a focus on quality construction. Finishes and nibs aside, the biggest difference when compared with a Souverän are the visible, opposing seams along the sections of the lower tier models. The seams on the M200 Orange Delight in no way detract from the pen’s appearance and are simply a byproduct of the manufacturing process.

Everything fits together snugly meaning that there is no play in either the cap or the piston knob. The cap post securely to the back of the barrel which is how I prefer to use my pens. I really dislike a cap that won’t stay put. The pen can be promptly uncapped with three quarters of a turn, allowing you to get to the business of writing without delay. I see no reason why the Orange Delight couldn’t make for a durable and dependable workhorse of a fountain pen for many years to come.

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Weight & Dimensions (9/10) – The M200’s perfect balance won’t make up for its small size which won’t suit everyone

While the M200 Orange Delight is no behemoth, it isn’t exactly a slouch either. While many may prefer a larger pen, I would contend that the M200’s size allows for unrivaled versatility. It is imminently portable, fitting comfortably in most shirt pockets, cases, and pen loops. While smaller in stature, the act of posting the pen imparts a supremely comfortable length and a near perfect balance.

The only thing that it cannot make up for is its lack of girth and weight. The M200 is thin and light, but being svelte does give it a wonderful, non-fatiguing nimbleness on the page. Officially, the Orange Delight measures 4.92 inches when capped and 5.71 inches when posted with a diameter of 0.46 inches. It weighs a mere 0.49 ounces.  You will have to judge for yourself how those dimensions fit your preferences.

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Nib & Performance (8/10) – As plain as plain can be but it’s nothing if not dependable

The Orange Delight’s gold-plated stainless steel nib won’t win any beauty contest, especially next to the nib of a Souverän. While it may not look like much, it can keep up with the best of them in terms of performance. Don’t get me wrong though, there is nothing inspirational about this nib. It writes as plain Jane as it looks but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. When I pick up a pen, I’m looking for something that won’t let me down when called upon. That degree of dependability is exactly what you get with the M200 Orange Delight. I purchased my pen with a medium nib which came well aligned out of the box. It puts down a line consistent with a Western medium, devoid of flex, with just a hint of spring. Other available nib widths include EF, F, and B.

You will need the skills of a nib meister for your writing to have any kind of character. Pelikan’s feed helps facilitate a wet and generous line of ink and keeps the pen from easily drying out. That is a big part of this model’s dependability and an often underappreciated trait. The nib is able to be removed and replaced as necessary though care should be taken so as to not stress the section. One perk is that the 14C-585 gold nibs of the M400 Souverän are plug and play. This allows an easy upgrade path for those who prefer gold over steel, however, you would be hard pressed to find a more dependable nib than that of the M200.

Pelikan’s gold-plated stainless steel nibs are quite simple compared to their Souverän counterparts. They only have the company logo and the nib width stamped on them

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Filling System & Maintenance (10/10) – A piston filler that knows its business and performs admirably

The Orange Delight’s piston mechanism is on full display thanks to the transparent barrel. Pelikan’s piston design has a proven track record of reliability, honed over nearly a century. When the piston is retracted, the piston knob snugs securely to the back of the barrel. Turning the knob to the left advances the piston smoothly down the barrel. Submerging the nib in a bottle of ink and turning the knob to the right fills the pen nearly full with a single cycle of the piston. Pelikan claims that their M200s have an ink capacity of approximately 1.20mL.

Love or hate the demonstrator look, the presence of an ink view is a must have for many. Pelikan’s piston fillers are easy to fill, simple to clean, and straight forward to service. When the piston eventually stiffens, simply apply a tiny drop of pure silicone grease to the inside of the barrel. This is easily accomplished through the section and will restore function as good as new. The piston assembly is snap fitted to the barrel and cannot be easily removed without potentially incurring damage. That fact shouldn’t cause too much distress however since removal is unlikely to ever be necessary.

The Pelikan M200 Orange Delight has a see-through barrel that lets you easily see the piston filling system and ink chamber

The ink chamber is fully visible in the Orange Delight, filled with Edelstein Mandarin in this instance

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Cost & Value (7/10) – While I appreciated the flat pricing, it is still hard to justify this price for a pen with a stainless steel nib

The M200 Orange Delight might draw many comparisons to a TWSBI, some favorable and some not. One clear difference between the two models is the price. The Orange Delight carries a US MSRP of $260 and retails for $208. That is actually a few dollars cheaper than what recent models like the M200 Pastel Blue (2023) retailed for but remains pricey for a pen with a stainless steel nib. Vendors overseas are asking €121 (~$132.42) when the VAT is excluded. It pays to shop around for the best price, but I would encourage you to buy from your local merchant whenever possible. Given the unique styling and bold colors, this one brings more value than most to the table and might just be worth picking up should it suit your budget and taste.

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Conclusion – The M200 Orange Delight really gets most everything right and comes in about as cohesive a package as you could want

M200 Orange Delight: 54/60 or 90%

The M200 Orange Delight doesn’t break any new ground in the fountain pen world but, as far as Pelikan goes, represents a seismic shift in design. Never before have we seen a hybrid of transparent and opaque resin components. Almost as rarely do we see such a bold splash of color. Further sweetening the deal is the fact that Pelikan successfully evaded many of the mistakes that we’ve seen in similar designs of the past.

Taken as a whole, this new M200 is a delight to look at and a joy to use. While the price is far from ideal, the fact that it has not risen for this model is a welcome reprieve from seemingly endless increases. I love my Orange Delight and highly recommend picking one up if you don’t mind the form factor and are at all intrigued by its appearance. Your taste and budget should be the only barriers to owning this one as it otherwise gets everything right.

PROS

• The transparent barrel allows the ink reservoir to be easily visualized
• The contrast between the opaque and transparent resin pieces creates a visually appealing design
• The filling system is easy to use, simple to clean, and overall low maintenance
• The little maintenance that this pen requires is easily accomplished
• The feed excels at resisting drying out, even after prolonged periods of stasis

CONS

• The transparent barrel will carry an inherent risk of showing stains
• The M200’s form factor is small and not well suited to everyone’s taste
• Pelikan’s nibs lack character and only come in the most basic of sizes
• For a pen with a stainless steel nib, the price tag seems disproportionate

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A Look At The Pelikan M200 Orange Delight

Pelikan M200 Orange Delight 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.