Despite my intentions to always write my important thoughts and appointments with a beautiful pen, these day I usually pick up whatever pen is nearest when I need to write something down. I have a rag-tag bunch of promotional and off-brand pens, very few of which actually work well. I use them because they are there.
Most of the cheap pens and pencils bought by the thousands by companies, conference centres, and hotels are of very poor quality. I have often wondered why companies or the government offices do not invest in nice pens for their employees. Give each employee a good quality pen and then all you need is refills. Surely it would be cheaper in the long run, and better for the environment?
The Swedish Parliament used to give each member of parliament a leather planner with their name on it, and supply refills each year. I think they have stopped doing that now that so many people are digital but it was wonderful to see all those well-worn calendars.
But, I digress.
I hardly ever finish a pen refill these days. Usually they start to skip and blob well before the end of the cardrige (bad quality again). But about 18 months ago I found the pens above at a local store. I bought three because I loved the rose gold colour and floating stars, and they were cheap. I had no great expectations but I was so happy with how they wrote. I used every single one right up until the last drop, which is something of a record. They wrote perfectly right to the very last letter. They are not refillable and of course they don’t make them anymore. I wish I had bought more at the time.
For years I used my Montblanc Meisterstück fountain pen and my Waterman Carène pen set. I had Sheaffers too. I never lost one along the way so I wonder what happened to me that now the only ones I use are really bad ones?
So how about you? What has been your favourite pen?
