In this super fast age of technology and gadgets, there are still some people who hang on to certain traditions from the past, such as writing – I mean writing with a pen and paper. With people using tablets and PDAs to note down appointments, events, birthdays and even intimate ideas, those who pen down their thoughts on paper are becoming a rare breed altogether.
In times like this, it is a wonder that such a list as the one I am making right now can still be compiled – of the most expensive pens in the world. “Pen” is hardly the word you can use to describe these magnificent & extravagant creations, so I am going to go with “writing instruments.”
The existence of these writing instruments is wondrous but the fact that someone actually paid a hefty price to acquire them is even more so. I would suppose that these opulent pens, forgive me, writing instruments could hardly be used to take down notes in a business meeting; I am guessing signing papers for multi-billion takeovers and making out checks for obscene amounts are some of the job responsibilities entrusted to them. Apart from glittering fashionably and mesmerizing others, of course!
Now, take for instance the Aurora Diamante, a pen that could easily blind you on a bright sunny day. Why, you ask? Well it’s made from diamonds and De Beers diamonds no less. While this humble soul lusts for one carat of such brilliance, this marvel boasts of 30 carats of shine and glow culminating from almost 2000 4C diamonds. The Diamante is topped with a polished diamond cabochon and has an 18kt gold nib. Only one such pen is made each year and considering the effort that goes into making this pen, one understands why. Keep guessing the price, it’s only available on request but estimates put it at 1.8 million!
Aurora Diamante
Another formidable warrior in this field is the La Modernista Diamonds from Swiss Company Caran d’Ache. Made in 1999 as homage to Antonio Gaudi, one of the most famous Modernist architects, La Modernista Diamonds has been crafted from rhodium-coated solid silver components.
Each writing instrument has a whopping collection of diamonds – 5072 pieces of Top Wesselton VS diamonds weighing 20 carats and let’s not forget the 96 rubies on the cap. Even the nib is 18-carat rhodium-coated gold. The workmanship of this pen is credited to master jeweler Robert Perron who took about six months complete this exemplary tribute to the written word. The La Modernista Diamonds was sold in Harrods, London, for $265,000 making it the most expensive pen in Guinness World Records in 2001.
La Modernista Diamonds from Caran d’Ache Company
Next in line is the Limited Edition Mystery Masterpiece, a joint creation between Van Cleef & Arpels and Montblanc to commemorate their centenary in 2006. Only nine such pens were made in this year and each pen had 840 carats of diamonds and 20 carats of gemstones. It stakes claim to being the most expensive writing instrument in the world. And, when you see the price tag it comes with – $730,000 – one is inclined to take their word for it.
Limited Edition Mystery Masterpiece by Van Cleef & Arpels and Montblanc
Before signing off, I’d like to draw your attention to one more masterpiece the Marte from Omas Fountain Pen. Although it’s a pretty meek soul as compared to some of the other writing instruments we’ve discussed here with a price tag of just $43,000, the Marte (Italian for Mars) intrigues me.
The Marte from Omas Fountain Pen
This rose gold instrument represents the pink-red hue of the planet Mars. The barrel of the pen features deserts, craters and mountains and it is encrusted with four rubies that mark the points where the American and Russian probes landed. The cap is studded with 2K of small diamonds reminding you fo the polar ice caps and even the rose gold nib has an engraving of the Greek God Mars! Now that’s what I call a work of art!
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