Review: M800 Cream Blue (2024)

February 16, 2025 By Joshua in Reviews Tags: Cream Blue, Fountain Pen, M800, Pelikan 12 Comments

Over the past century, fountain pen users have increasingly gravitated towards larger pens. This doesn’t mean that everyone prefers them, nor that larger models are a novel phenomenon. While this trend deserves its own discussion, the Pelikan M800 stands out as an essential model in the Souverän lineup. Its larger size and added weight contribute to its appeal for a broad swath of fountain pen users. It should come as no surprise then that this is where Pelikan concentrates many of their new releases. Their latest addition to the M800 line is the Cream Blue, unveiled late last year. Although there’s nothing revolutionary about it, the dark blue barrel and cream accents create an attractive package, and if you’re looking for an M800, it won’t disappoint. However, I can’t help but think about the untapped potential of this model. Read on for more of my thoughts on the M800 Cream Blue.

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Review: M670 Warm Grey (2024)

December 15, 2024 By Joshua in Reviews Tags: Fountain Pen, Grey White, M670, Pelikan, PVD Trim 12 Comments

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.

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Review: M200 Golden Lapis (2024)

November 10, 2024 By Joshua in Reviews Tags: Fountain Pen, Golden Lapis, M200, Pelikan 7 Comments

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.

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Review: M1000 Renaissance Brown (2024)

September 2, 2024 By Joshua in Reviews Tags: Fountain Pen, M1000, Pelikan, Renaissance Brown 11 Comments

Pelikan M1000 Renaissance Brown Fountain Pen

The flagship Pelikan M1000 fountain pen stands taller than its siblings, both literally and figuratively. Even so, it sees the fewest number of releases amongst all the Souveräns. Perhaps that is one reason that the new M1000 Renaissance Brown has made such a splash. It has been five years since the M1005 Stresemann (2019) made its debut which makes this new model worthy of review. Strictly speaking, I’m selectively ignoring the ultra-limited and exotic Raden and Maki-e models which are also built off of the M1000 chassis. The M1000 is a very large model, unwieldy for many, and not what I would call the most practical pen out there. And yet, there is something special about an M1000, something that the other Souveräns just don’t have. It’s a bit hard to describe but once you place that huge, juicy nib onto paper for the first time, you start to get a sense of that magic. While Pelikan’s modern nibs, at least those produced over the past few decades, have skewed towards hard and inflexible, the M1000’s nib graces the paper with just the most delightful amount of spring, thanks in part to its large size. They are a joy to write with and the Renaissance Brown is no exception. Also worthy of note is the fact that this is a case of “who wore it better?” Recall that the M800 Renaissance Brown was first on the scene in this finish back in 2017. When a classic makes a comeback, there is sure to be a lot to unpack. Keep reading to learn all about the M1000 Renaissance Brown and whether or not it would make a worthy addition to your flock.

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Review: M200 Copper Rose Gold (2024)

March 30, 2024 By Joshua in Reviews Tags: Copper Rose Gold, Fountain Pen, M200, Pelikan 19 Comments

Pelikan M200 Copper Rose Gold Fountain Pen

In a short time, Pelikan has released two brand new Classic models that are making waves. The first one, the M200 Orange Delight, came out last month, and now we have the long-awaited M200 Copper Rose Gold hitting store shelves. First announced at the end of September 2023, issues during the final quality check postponed the release until this Spring. With the wait finally over, the first Classic pen to incorporate rose gold trim is impressive. Developed in the 19th century and popularized by Carl Fabergé, rose gold is an alloy made of gold and copper, giving the final product a pink or reddish color. It’s use is not new in the fountain pen world, as other manufacturers have also applied it to their pens, but it is particularly unusual to see it on a Pelikan. In fact, the only other instance that I can recall its use was on 2016’s The Statue Of Zeus, the sixth entry in the Seven Wonders Of The World series and a much more upscale model. This special edition marries the alloyed furniture to a shimmering copper colored barrel with white resin accents, creating an attractive design. Due to the delay, there’s a lot of anticipation for this pen, and the only obstacle now might be similar to what affected the Orange Delight. Keep reading to find out what those obstacles might be and whether the M200 Copper Rose Gold is worth your time.

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Review: M200 Orange Delight (2024)

March 17, 2024 By Joshua in Reviews Tags: Fountain Pen, M200, Orange Delight, Pelikan 22 Comments

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.

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Review: M600 Red-White (2023)

January 20, 2024 By Joshua in Reviews Tags: Fountain Pen, M600, Pelikan, Red-White 13 Comments

Released alongside the M205 Rose Quartz, the M600 Red-White continues the practice of cladding the M6xx line in white resin. That is a tradition which began in 2012 and was last seen with 2021’s M605 Green-White. This is the seventh model to do so over the past decade, a total comprised of five M600s and two M605s. I have been slow to get this review out simply because of the number of great releases that we have had in the last few months. It’s hard to put the M600 Glauco Cambon (2023) down in order to use something else. The new Red-White comes as an M600, a medium sized pen with gold-plated furniture. Its color scheme was apropos for the holiday season which we recently found ourselves in, reminiscent of a traditional candy cane or peppermint. Personally, I prefer the bolder, red stripes over the pastel hues incorporated on past models. While the Red-White is a solid fountain pen, it perpetuates a few bad habits that will be a turn off for some. Even though the pen has no glaring faults, it fails to inspire in the way that the Tortoiseshell-Red or Tortoiseshell-Black did. That doesn’t make it a bad pen but one that you’ll want to consider carefully before making an investment. Continue reading to see if the Red-White is worthy of your time and money.

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Review: M205 Rose Quartz (2023)

December 14, 2023 By Joshua in Reviews Tags: Fountain Pen, M205, Pelikan, Rose Quartz 16 Comments

Pelikan has had a busy and slightly turbulent fall season. A large slate of October releases was marred by several delays, the most significant of which turned out to be the M200 Copper Rose Gold which is now tentatively planned for release in the Spring of 2024. The long awaited M205 Rose Quartz was likewise held up due to production issues which seem to have been more easily remedied. Retailers started receiving stock in early November which makes this one ripe for a review. The 2023 release that has towered over all others remains the M600 Glauco Cambon. I would place the M1000 Maki-e Dragon in the same company but that is an eminently less accessible model for most. Pelikan has been releasing pens to match their Edelstein Ink Of The Year line since 2015. The Rose Quartz is the latest special edition fountain pen to continue that trend. The majority of these pens have hailed from the M205 family, a model line characterized by chromium plated trim, giving the furniture a silver appearance as opposed to gold. The Rose Quartz fountain pen is no exception, its warmer pink tones blending well with the cooler silver elements, making this one of the nicer looking pens in the series. That is saying something when you consider the eight other models released to date, including the M205 Amethyst (2015), M205 Aquamarine (2016), M200 Smoky Quartz (2017), M205 Olivine (2018), M205 Star Ruby (2019), M205 Moonstone (2020), M200 Golden Beryl (2021), and the M205 Apatite (2022). Pelikan thankfully avoided any major gaffes with this one, leaving the glitter on the shelf and bringing back the chromium plated crown nut. Continue reading to discover whether or not the Rose Quartz deserves a place amongst your flock.

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