(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)
I'm frustrated by my inability to capture the true glamour of the Pelikan M205 Star Ruby. I've tried to describe it, since I can't seem to photograph it, and the closest I can get is, it looks like some kind of atomic fairy dust suspended in the purest raspberry jelly. By which I mean, it's beautiful, delightful, and my pen addict magpie heart is dancing.
Beautiful pens are common enough these days, I suppose. The market is saturated with tempting gems--too many for the health of my unhappy wallet. While the most noticeable aspect of this pen might be its shimmering beauty, the best thing about it is that it's a very well made, useable pen. It's also not outrageously expensive (for a Pelikan). because it's part of the Classic line, and not the Souveran line, it sacrifices a few fancy features for a lower price tag, but it sacrifices absolutely nothing in quality.
Pelikan is a brand that doesn't treat its lower-tier pens like lesser-than versions of the expensive models. This pen feels every bit as refined as its upper-echelon peers. It is all flush joins and precise edges with crisp details. The nib is steel instead of gold, and it writes every bit as smoothly as any gold nib in my collection. Characteristic of Western nibs, this fine point writes closer to an Eastern medium, so fans of very small writing may prefer the extra-fine point.
The flow is excellent, and the piston-fill mechanism is smooth and holds a large amount of ink. I've inked it with the matching Pelikan Star Ruby ink, and it's a match made in pen heaven. Both the ink and the pen are 2019 special editions and won't be around forever (or very long at all, I predict), so don't hesitate if you're at all dazzled.
The pen body, cap, and grip section are made in ethereal, shimmering acrylic. It has chromium plated trim, with the characteristic Pelikan bill clip. The clip is just the right amount of firm and springy. The finial is black plastic with a silver stenciled pelican with one chick. Overall, it looks classy. It's not glittery in a kitschy way--it's fine, and subtle enough that it looks more like a shimmer, from a distance. Up close, in direct light, you can see the sparks of complex colors and depth to its finish. It's more playful than standard Pelikan fare, but stops well short of glitzy. The cap posts securely, and it is very comfortable to hold, posted or not, for my hands.
Between the brand name and fancy look, I had expected to file this release under the "grail" tab of my pen list, where a whole flock of Pelikans nest. I was surprised to find it being sold for under $170 at most retailers. That's still expensive, especially for a pen with a steel nib, but it's within the realm of reasonable, and might even be something Santa could manage, if you've been very good.
This is a happy pen--it makes me as happy to use it as to twirl it in a sunbeam. The downside? Writing time lost to pen twirling.
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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