Below you will find a detailed accounting of all of the known variations of the Pelikan M6xx family of fountain pens.  Click on any heading to be taken to that model’s respective page which consists of detailed lists, descriptions, and pictures of many of the documented pens.

 

M600

Originally released in 1985, the pre-’97 pens are distinguished by two cap bands, a trim ring at the section, and a thicker trim ring at the piston knob.  The furniture is gold-plated and the cap top has an etched two chick logo.  The barrel exhibits transparency to allow the ink level to be viewed on the striated models whereas an ink window serves this purpose on the solid colored models.  The black model came first in 1985 followed by the burgundy in 1989 and then the green striped in 1990.  The nib, if original, can be used to help date the pen.  They are all “logo” nibs which were 18C-750 monotone gold 1985-1988, 14C-585 two-tone gold in 1989, and 18C-750 two-tone gold from 1990 until the pen’s design change.  The post-’97 pens have a black piston knob, section, and cap.  There are two cap bands, a trim ring at the section, and two trim rings at the piston knob.  The furniture is gold-plated.  The cap top has a painted two chick logo from 1997-2003, a one chick logo from 2003-2010, and a 24K plated one chick logo cap top from 2010 to present.  The nib depicts the Pelikan logo and is a two-tone 14C-585 gold (special editions more commonly have 18C-750 gold nibs).  The barrel exhibits transparency to allow the ink level to be viewed on the striated variations whereas an ink window again serves this purpose on the solid colored models.  1.30ml ink capacity.

Trim	Total Length	Barrel Length	Cap Length	Posted Length	Diameter	Weight
Pre-’97	5.00 in	3.23 in	2.20 in	5.87 in	0.46 in	0.52 oz
Post-’97	5.28 in	3.27 in	2.40 in	6.10 in	0.49 in	0.57 oz

 

M605

The M605 first debuted as a special edition in solid dark blue released for the export market only in 2003 alongside the similarly colored M405 and M805, all of which are now discontinued.  There is only one trim variant and size of the M605 since it was released after the 1997 trim change.  These pens are distinguished from the M600 because they have rhodium plated furniture as opposed to yellow gold and have also been available in a few different color patterns.  The M605 pens have a crown cap top, rhodium colored trim, double trim rings at the piston knob, a trim ring at the section, and double cap bands.  The cap tops will have a painted one chick logo until 2010 at which point the logo becomes rhodium plated.  The nibs of these pens are 14C-585 two-toned gold except for the Marine Blue special edition which has a rhodium plated nib.  1.30ml ink capacity.

Total Length	Barrel Length	Cap Length	Posted Length	Diameter	Weight
5.28 in	3.27 in	2.40 in	6.10 in	0.49 in	0.57 oz

 

M620

The M620 was a special edition of pens known as the “Cities” series, first released in 20o2, all of which are now discontinued.  The purpose of the series was to honor different cities and, towards the end of the run, places from around the world.  There is only one trim variant and size of the M620 since it was released after the 1997 trim change.  These pens are distinguished from the M600 by their color patterns but are otherwise similar.  The M620 pens in general have a crown cap top, double trim rings at the piston knob, a trim ring at the section, and double cap bands.  The furniture is either yellow gold or rhodium plated depending on the aesthetics of the design.  The cap tops will have a painted two chick logo on most of the earlier models before transitioning to the one chick logo after 2003.  There is likely still some carry over of two chick cap tops after 2003 due to the utilization of old stock.  The nibs of these pens are 18C-750 two-toned gold.  Some of the barrels below exhibit translucency.  1.30ml ink capacity.

Total Length	Barrel Length	Cap Length	Posted Length	Diameter	Weight
5.28 in	3.27 in	2.40 in	6.10 in	0.49 in	0.57 oz

 

M625

The M625 debuted in 2006 as the dark blue transparent model which was followed up by two other releases in the subsequent years.  They have since been discontinued by Pelikan.  There is only one trim variant and size of M625 since it was released after the 1997 trim change.  These pens are heavier than the M600 due to their sterling silver components.  They are distinguished from other pens in the M6xx family because they have sterling silver caps, piston knobs, and sections.  The M625 pens have a crown cap top and silver-colored trim.  There are no trim rings at the piston knob or section and there is a single cap band.  The barrels are translucent but are actually quite dark in color.  The dark blue and aubergine pens have colored bands enameled into the side of the cap.  The cap top contains the one chick Pelikan logo.  The nibs of these pens are 18C-750 rhodium plated gold.  The caps are engraved “Ag 925” along with the more typical “Pelikan Souverän Germany.”

Total Length	Barrel Length	Cap Length	Posted Length	Diameter	Weight
5.28 in	3.27 in	2.40 in	6.10 in	0.49 in	01.05 oz

 

M630

The M630 was released in 1999 according to Pelikan’s website and the black barreled variant is the only model in this series.  It is characterized by a black barrel in the standard post-’97 M600 size with a green ink view window.  They are somewhat heavier than the M600 due to the sterling silver cap.   The M630 has a sterling silver cap with gold-plated clip and cap bands.  The section and piston knob on these are resin as compared with the silver of the M625 series.  There are two trim rings at the piston knob, a trim ring at the section, and two cap bands.  There is a crown style cap top with a painted two chick logo.  The nib is 18C-750 two-toned gold.  Also released in 1999 was the M430, a very similarly styled but smaller pen.

Total Length	Barrel Length	Cap Length	Posted Length	Diameter	Weight
5.28 in	3.27 in	2.40 in	6.10 in	0.49 in	0.79 oz

 

M640

The M640 line of special edition pens was initially released in 2007 starting with the models Niagara Falls and Sahara.  This was followed up with the Polar Lights, Mount Everest, Indian Summer, and Eternal Ice.  The final release occurred in 2011.  The M640 line-up all have very similar characteristics.  The barrels are made of metal and the various models have engraving/lacquer/filigree work to achieve their artistic visual effects.  These are heavy pens as depicted in the table below, heavier even than an M800 and nearly as heavy as an M1000.  The pattern on the barrel does not have a tactile feel so the finish of the pen is smooth.  There is a single trim ring at the piston knob and one on the section.  There are two cap bands and the cap top has a painted one chick Pelikan logo surrounded by rhodium trim.  The traditional “crown” cap top is absent here.  The cap clip is also not the traditional pelicans beak but rather more broad and less beak-like.  The cap, section, and barrel are made of matching colored resin.  The furniture is rhodium plated and the nibs are a monotone rhodium plated 18C-750 gold except for the Mount Everest and Sahara which feature a two-toned nib.  There is no ink view window or visualated section and the barrel has a slight bulge in the middle rather than being a straight cylinder.  1.30ml ink capacity.

Total Length	Barrel Length	Cap Length	Posted Length	Diameter	Weight
5.31 in	4.09 in	2.24 in	6.14 in	0.55 in	1.16 oz

 

M650

The M650 debuted in 1997 in both solid black and green striated models that have long since been discontinued by Pelikan.  A red striated model is occasionally seen as well but this is not likely to be a true M650 but rather an unofficial creation by some enterprising retailers.  There is also rumor of a bordeaux model which was created as an export for the Japanese market but I have not been able to verify the actual existence of this.  These pens are distinguished only by their vermeil cap.  To produce vermeil, the manufacturer bonds a thin layer of very pure gold to an underlying silver base.  Other than their caps, these pens are essentially standard M600 models in all of their other features.  There is a crown cap top and gold-plated furniture.  There are two trim rings at the piston knob, one trim ring at the section, and there are two cap bands.  The cap band reads, “Pelikan Souverän Germany 925.”  The black barrel has a green ink view window and the striated version has transparency.  The cap top has a painted two chick logo.  The nibs are two-toned 18C-750 gold.

Total Length	Barrel Length	Cap Length	Posted Length	Diameter	Weight
5.28 in	3.27 in	2.40 in	6.10 in	0.49 in	0.79 oz