A new cycle of Pelikan news begins for 2025, starting with this year’s Edelstein Ink Of The Year: Apricot Achat. This year’s ink is a non-shimmering shade of vibrant golden orange, inspired by Pantone 163C (Hex: #ff9d6e/RGB: 255,157,110). The hue resembles apricot agate, making it the fourteenth gemstone-inspired ink in the Edelstein series. Like previous editions, it will be available for one year or while supplies last. Apricot Achat is set to launch in March 2025, offering a fresh shade for Spring.
Recently and quite by happenstance, I learned of an animated documentary called Pelikan Blue. I’ve always considered myself a Pelikan enthusiast, a history lover, and a fan of cinema. Pelikan Blue unexpectedly combines these interests with a visual style similar to the 1990s MTV cartoons prevalent during my teenage years. The Iron Curtain, popularized by Winston Churchill in 1946, was a political, military, and ideological barrier that divided the communist Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies from the democratic West during the Cold War. When the Iron Curtain began to fall in the late 1980s, it brought new freedoms, like the ability to travel to a previously restricted Western Europe. However, traveling was very expensive, posing a challenge for people eager to explore. Pelikan Blue is a humorous yet nostalgic story of three young Hungarians who started creating fake train tickets utilizing Pelikan’s blue carbon copy paper in order to travel but speaks more broadly to the experiences of a whole generation of Hungarians. The documentary is currently making the rounds on the film festival circuit.
Launched in 1987, the White M100 paired white resin with black trim, eventually becoming something of a classic thanks to its unique look. At the time, white pens were uncommon, and its black anodized trim stood out amongst Pelikan’s fine writing instruments. It would earn the nickname “Stormtrooper” because of its resemblance to characters from George Lucas’ 1977 film. The White M100 was discontinued in 1993 due to poor sales and we haven’t seen anything quite like it since. Now, thirty seven years later, Pelikan has introduced what some are already calling the “Dirty Stormtrooper.” The new M670 Warm Grey is different; it doesn’t use a typical white resin and departs from Pelikan’s usual trim conventions, employing a black PVD coating. It has its own distinctive model designation, but still feels familiar. While I’m not keen on the resin color, I appreciate the innovative approach this pen represents. Although I find the model a bit forgettable, I’m curious about the possibilities it might unlock. Keep reading for a detailed look at the M670 and my thoughts on the line’s potential.
One important part of the supply chain is the distributor. Distributors connect manufacturers and consumers, helping move products to the market. They manage inventory, take care of logistics like storage and transport, and build relationships with retailers. This allows manufacturers to reach more customers without the hassle and expense of direct distribution. By combining orders from several retailers, distributors can achieve economies of scale in transportation and logistics, thereby reducing costs for manufacturers. In short, distributors help consumers access many products more easily. Pelikan has always depended on regional distributors to deliver its products, but a new competitor has disrupted the North American market, replacing Chartpak in Canada. With the change comes hope that the long held concerns of Canadians might finally be addressed. Read on to find out more about your North American distributors and how this change may impact you.
Many of my long-time readers have noticed fewer posts from me in recent months. This is largely due to burnout and chronic fatigue, making it hard for me to find time for writing. I obviously dedicate my remaining time to my family, but I haven’t abandoned the blog. My interest in this community and in Pelikan remains strong, even if I can’t write as much right now as I would like. Still, I remain committed to my mission to bring you all of the Pelikan news, reviews, and in-depth articles that I can. September 1st passed with little fanfare but it marked the tenth anniversary of The Perch. There was no celebration, just the satisfaction of a decade of connecting others with this brand. To celebrate this milestone birthday, I would once again like to host a contest where one lucky winner will receive a 2024 Pelikan M200 Golden Lapis fountain pen and ink gift set purchased from Fritz Schimpf, a top-notch fountain pen retailer out of Germany. Read on for details about how to enter the contest.
The Perch is back after a short break, and I have a lot to explore in the coming months. I’ll start with a series of reviews, beginning with the M200 Golden Lapis fountain pen. The M2xx line has had some design and material inconsistencies over the years, but I’m pleased to say the Golden Lapis resolves those issues, presenting itself as one of the most cohesive releases yet. Launched in 2015, Golden Lapis is the tenth special edition fountain pen inspired by Pelikan’s Edelstein Ink Of The Year and only the third M200 in this collection, alongside the Smoky Quartz (2017) and Golden Beryl (2021). The M200 line features gold-plated trim, unlike the silver colored chromium trim of the M205. The Golden Lapis is the fourth model to incorporate a shimmer effect within the resin, the others being the M205 Star Ruby (2019), the M205 Moonstone (2020), and the M200 Golden Beryl (2021). Keep reading to discover more about this stunning pen.
Pelikan Hubs has been a leading pen enthusiast event since 2014. Its survival through the COVID-19 pandemic shows its enduring popularity. On September 27, the ninth gathering of the fine writing community took place. This year, Hubs were held in 254 cities across 47 countries, with about 8,702 participants registered, a notable increase from previous years. Nearly one-third of participating cities were in the USA, including my own Hub of Philadelphia, one of the original Hubs locations back when there were fewer than 1,000 participants. This year’s growth is likely due to a longer timetable and a simpler registration process, a definite improvement from last year. Missed attending a Hub? Keep reading for an overview of the event and a summary of my local Hub’s activities.
The year started quietly, with Pelikan saving most of their major releases for the fall season. After only recently learning about the M800 Cream Blue and the M910 White Toledo, news has emerged about a third model: the Pelikan Souverän M1000 Raden Black Infinity Limited Edition. This pen follows last year’s Raden Red Infinity, featuring a similar design but in a different color. In the past decade, oversized Raden models have included the Starlight (2014), Sunrise (2016), Green Ray (2020), White Ray (2021), and Red Infinity (2023). Known for their shimmering abalone shell decorations, each pen is crafted and signed by hand. Only 400 pieces will be available worldwide for an October release. Keep reading to learn more about this latest Raden model.
