News of 2024’s Edelstein Ink Of The Year broke in February. For only the second time in its history, Pelikan released an ink with a shimmer effect and Golden Lapis has been well received, described as both beautiful and forgiving. The fervor surrounding the ink may have only been eclipsed by the anticipation for the inevitable matching fountain pen. Today, we learned of the Pelikan M200 Golden Lapis special edition demonstrator and it does not disappoint. Pelikan has been releasing pens to match their Ink Of The Year since 2015. Golden Lapis is the tenth pen in the series and only the third M200. The majority of pens released to date have been from the M205 line, characterized by chromium plated trim instead of gold. While the Edelstein series of fountain pens has not always had a consistent track record, Golden Lapis seems like it will be a major star, joining the likes of the M205 Amethyst (2015), M205 Aquamarine (2016), M205 Olivine (2018), and M205 Star Ruby (2019). Common to all the aforementioned pens is the fact that they are demonstrators. Where the Golden Lapis stands out from the pack is in the fact that it marks only the fourth instance of a Pelikan demonstrator incorporating a shimmering finish into its resin. Read on to learn whether or not this one should be on your wish list.
While a few of the prior releases may have been an iffy match to their respective ink, the M200 Golden Lapis appears to fully embody and complement its ink. Pelikan’s promotional literature states;
“The Golden Lapis gemstone is a symbol of inner peace and emotional balance. It was once considered a gemstone for kings and was associated with strength, wisdom and protection from negative influences.
The fascinating blue of the Pelikan M200 Golden Lapis fountain pen picks up the golden shimmer and enchants with a shimmering presence. At the same time, the velvet-matt transparent material composition reveals the inside, the piston mechanism. If the shimmering golden elements in the ink are shaken before filling, they give the writing ever-changing expressions of color. The finely crafted stainless steel nib and the decorative elements are gold-plated in 24ct.”
The M200 Golden Lapis is made from a blue transparent material with a matte finish. That matte look is similar to what was employed on last year’s Rose Quartz. The blue resin is embellished by the inclusion of glitter, imparting a shimmering effect to the material that we haven’t seen since 2021’s Golden Beryl. The M200 is a piston filler and the black resin mechanism is on full display. The M200’s trim includes a single ring at the piston knob, a single cap band, a crown clip nut, and a beak clip, all plated in gold. In the past, Pelikan’s designs have sometimes failed to execute a complete and cohesive vision. An unplated crown clip nut here, a mismatched cap top there. None of that is present here. The plated clip nut gives the pen a polished appearance and the shimmering blue cap top with a golden Pelikan logo screened atop is the pièce de résistance. There is no component of the M200 Golden Lapis that isn’t executed with thought and deliberation. The M200’s look is topped off by a simple gold plated stainless steel nib available in EF, F, M, and B widths. Because the barrel’s material is translucent, it will be easy to gauge the remaining ink level in the pen. That also means an inherent risk of obvious staining if not cared for properly.
The M200 Golden Lapis is a special edition which means it will be in production for a limited time only. That said, these should be fairly easy to come by if history is any judge. Pelikan abandoned the practice of releasing a matching K200 ballpoint with last year’s Rose Quartz. The same looks to be true here. As in years past, the fountain pen will be available as part of a gift set, combining the fountain pen with its corresponding ink. Prices will likely vary depending on where you live and where you shop but I would expect this one to range between $135 and $210 based on historic trends. The fountain pen as well as the gift set will be available in September 2024.
Pelikan may have just gone and announced the nicest pen in the series to date. We will have to reserve final judgement until seeing this one in real life but the pre-release photos are quite promising. The shade of blue is alluring and the glitter effect complements the appearance of the resin nicely. Rather than looking gimmicky, it looks natural. Pairing the warmth of the gold plated trim with the cool blue hue works wonderfully. Extending the finish all the way to the cap top shows that this design was well thought out. It feels like Pelikan’s design philosophy has finally matured and I can’t imagine this one not flying off store shelves. How about you? Will the M200 Golden Lapis be landing in your rotation? Did Pelikan do the ink justice? Let me know what you think in the comments section below.
Left to right: M205 Amethyst (2015), M205 Aquamarine (2016), M200 Smoky Quartz (2017), M205 Olivine (2018), M205 Star Ruby (2019), M200 Golden Beryl (2021), M205 Apatite (2022), M205 Moonstone (2020), and M205 Rose Quartz (2023)
Brilliant! Take my money now 🥵
I agree with that sentiment.
Just read your article and preordered from Appelboom. Of the translucent M20Xs i have the Smoky Quartz and Olivine, so it’s been a while since I’ve had to have the SE annual release M20X (demonstrator). This in is definitely flying off the shelf in my opinion. Thanks for your always-helpful articles!
This will make a nice addition to the Smoky Quartz and Olivine. Waiting to see it in person but this might be my favorite of the lot to date.
I am really excited to see these pre-release pictures and hope the actual production units are accurately pictured. I’ll be buying this one. Of course, I already own all the previous ones with their matching ink (LOL).
That is always the trick with the pre-release photos. Hopefully the real world pics/pens meet or exceed the expectations set by these photos.
I have one 200, the old style with the 14 kt nib. I just cannot get excited about any of the annual 200 series releases from my favorite pen manufacturer. But as always, I look forward to your posts-thanks Joshua.
Is it an M200 w/ a 14C nib or is it an M250? Regardless, lovely pen.
I find this disappointing. I was hoping for a solid blue version with golden speckles and an ink window. I still plan to buy one, though.
I can see how that would be a nice look as well if done right. As all of the pens in this series for the past decade have been demonstrators, I would have no expectation that Pelikan would change gears. I would fully expect future releases to all be demos as well.
I suppose one of the ideas of the pen is to highlight the ink, which would I think tend to lead down the demonstrator path.
Mine arrived yesterday from Akkerman. I must admit that it’s a pretty pen.
Glad you’re a fan. Mine arrived yesterday as well!
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Yea, count me in on this one…it turns out I am not a big fan of the ink (I like the look, but so far it is too much work for me to keep agitating it during use and filling), but the pen may also turn out to be a favorite.
I also agree that carrying the color theme through to the finial was also a great idea.
It’s about time they figured that out!
Glitter ink in general does not suit my purposes but as far as glitter ink goes, at least this one is relatively low maintenance. I definitely think the pen will be pleasing.
Be still, my heart! I am a huge fan of the color blue paired with gold (as opposed to the oh-so-predictable color silver), and I love the translucence of demonstrators. Add to that a beautifully subtle glittery finish and I’m sold. The gold logo on the pen cap is just icing on the cake! I haven’t tried the ink yet, so I will definitely be buying the gift set with the ink included. I know lots of people aren’t big fans of glitter inks, but I am, and I’ve found that my Pelikans handle glitter inks with ease (as long as they are properly cleaned). I am really looking forward to seeing this pen in person.
If you like glitter ink, this is a decent one to pick up and pretty forgiving. This is a great pen to pair it with from the looks of it.
I just got my Golden Lapis M200 with the matching ink. The pen is absolutely loaded with golden sparkles and so is the ink. They are a great match for each other. I got a B nib, but I might get a stub nib for this pen. A stub would certainly show the ink off to its full advantage. I love the translucence of the pen; I can easily see the ink level when I hold it up to the light. I have to admit I’m spoiled; lots of my M2XXs have 14K custom stub nibs. This pen wants one, too. The gold-plated stainless steel B nib is rather boring. However, I can fix that when my budget allows. Overall, I am very pleased with both the pen and the ink.
I like this pen and have one on pre-order. I plan to use it for the matching ink. This will be my only pen to use the shimmer ink. I have a fine nib ordered but would a medium be better as to minimize the risk of flow/clogging issues from the shimmer particles? Any input is appreciated from those who are familiar with shimmer inks and Pelikans.
When it comes to shimmer ink, I think the bigger and bolder the nib, the more obvious and wonderful the effect. If I were to get this one to solely use with shimmer ink, I’d go with a B nib. The smallest I would consider would be M. I don’t think F will show off the ink’s characteristic to their full effect. That’s just my opinion but it is based on past personal experience. I only put the glitter inks in pens with big nibs.
Thank you, Joshua. I am going to change my order.
I think you certainly may be more pleased with the results.