Why I Spent Almost £200 on a Pen

You read that right, pens can be expensive when you go beyond the disposable kind.

But how much should you spend on a pen? One pound? One hundred pounds? Some may even say upwards of thirty thousand pounds. There is no right or wrong answer to the question; however, your choice of writing instrument can speak volumes for your personal image.

So what pen could possibly justify such an eye-watering amount? That would be the Montblanc Meisterstuck ballpoint pen. Translating to 'Masterpiece', this is the flagship pen crafted by the German luxury stationery and leather goods company, Montblanc. Montblanc has always been a go-to brand that has appealed to me, aligning with my values as it signifies timeless class and elegance while being recognised around the world, with many world leaders, creative artists and celebrities alike using their pens. There are many reasons why a Montblanc pen is worth the investment, so I shall dive straight into them.



The first and most obvious reason: they look cool. If someone gave you ten thousand pounds to spend on a watch, you’d probably choose a Rolex over a thousand Casios - the same logic applies to pens. Montblanc pens have an instantly recognisable, understated design that’s far from flashy. Adding one to your wardrobe signals professionalism and shows you care about the often overlooked details.

Luxury writing instruments are also products that will last a lifetime with the correct care and attention. Montblanc is a brand with an intrinsic heritage whose pens have been passed down through generations. When a disposable pen runs out, your only option is to throw it away and use the next one. When using a luxury pen, only the refill goes in the bin and from there you can switch it out with a fresh refill. This leads me to another reason why Montblanc pens are the best: customisation. With a Montblanc pen, you have access to a wide variety of colours of ink: I was in Harrods the other day and decided to purchase some orange ink just for the novelty factor. There are countless colours of ink offered by the brand, providing you with a wide variety of options should you decide to purchase one of their pens.

While I can sound like a nerd and go on about my pen all day, I must admit there are drawbacks to spending obscene amounts of money on a pen. For all the clumsy people reading this, perhaps avoid purchasing a fancy pen just in case you lose it: that would be a very expensive mistake. The other drawback is when the pen costs an arm and a leg, so do the refills. There’s no cheap, universal refill that fits all high-end pens. Many brands have multiple refill types for different models, and some vintage pens even require refills that have long been discontinued. For reference, Montblanc charges £17 for two standard ballpoint refills, equating to at least twenty disposable pens of the same nature. The benefit with Montblanc is that their refills have always remained the same, allowing you to purchase with confidence.

With all of that taken into consideration, if you are interested in purchasing your own Montblanc Meisterstuck pen, they come in three models: ballpoint, rollerball and fountain. All models are coated in either yellow gold, rose gold or platinum and even have the option to be engraved for additional personalisation. Standard ballpoints tend to retail these days for £380; however, second-hand models can be found for less than £200, and they are the exact same pen. Once you have bought your first pen, you will soon be hooked by the joys of writing and find yourself falling into the temptation of purchasing more, maybe even limited editions. Don't say I didn't warn you...

Before I sign off, here is a beautiful pair of limited edition Graf von Faber-Castell pens I found in Harrods, which shows how much can be spent on a pen.