Top 10 most expensive writing instruments

When you buy an expensive pen, you make a statement that sets you apart from the crowd. Till date, we have seen so many stunning writing instruments that are simply meant for the super-rich. Every third person is not lucky enough to have a pen encrusted with diamonds, rubies and other precious stones. The luxury writing instruments have become an obsession for the affluent. Here, I have compiled a list of the top 10 most expensive pens in the world. Hit the jump to see these luxurious writing wonders…

10. Caran d’Ache 1010 Limited Edition fountain pen

Caran d’Ache’s 1010 Limited Edition fountain pen is a tribute to honor the Swiss watchmaking industry. The inspiration for the name “1010” comes from “Ten minutes past ten (10:10),” the moment when the hands on a watch dial are rightly balanced. Made of rhodium-coated silver, the 1010 pen boasts a clip that resembles a watch hand. An ornamental balance wheel has been placed between two rubies under a sapphire dome and the beautiful tiny tick marks are etched around the barrel. Pricing starts at a cool $19,000.

9. Four Seasons Limited Edition Fountain Pen Sets by Ferrari da Varese

The Four Seasons Limited Edition Fountain Pen Sets were launched to celebrate the shades and changing colors of the passing time. Green stands for the spring, red for the summer, brown for the autumn and gray for intimate winter. The pen features 18-carat gold nib, classy engravings, and a state-of-the-art pump filling system. Only 33 units were made, with each priced at $36,000.

8. Ripple HRH Limited Edition Visconti fountain pen

The Ripple HRH Limited Edition Visconti fountain pen was made of 18K white gold and diamonds and with two-tone 18K gold nib. Available in white gold and black and priced at $57,000, this pen has double reservoir filling system.

7. Montblanc Boheme Royal Pen

The Montblanc Boheme Royal fountain pen features retractable platinum-plated 18K gold nib, 18K white gold barrel and cap set studded with 1,430 brilliant-cut diamonds. The Mont Blanc star logo is made of 19 diamonds highlighted with 18k white gold rings and the clip is set with a paramount-cut diamond. The diamond-studded writing instrument exceeds the million dollar mark with its luxury price tag of US $1,500,000.

6. Caran d’Ache ‘1010’ Fountain Pen

The Caran d’Ache ‘1010’ Fountain Pen was made with 18-carat gold and studded with a diamond and a ruby. The pen touts details that can be found on fine mechanical watches. Even the ink bottle looks like a watch crown. The barrel was made transparent with the use of sapphire crystal. Only 10 units were produced, with each costing $174,000.

5. Limited Edition Boheme Papillon Pen

Crafted in the solid white, yellow or rose gold, the Limited Edition Boheme Papillon Pens are studded with over 1,400 scintillating diamonds and sapphires which delicately wrap around the body in three levels and onto the internal spring mechanism. Fragile butterflies and Keatsian plant tendrils festoon the cap and the body while the patented signature star-shaped Montblanc Diamond graces the top of the cap. These limited edition writing marvels have been designed to pay homage to one of the most amazing creatures in nature, the Butterfly. The limited edition Boheme Papillon is priced at 180,000 Euros (US $230,410).

4. Prince Rainier III Limited Edition 81 Pen

Only 81 pieces of the Prince Rainier III Limited Edition 81 pens have been made. The fountain-pen is made of 18K white gold and festooned with diamonds and ruby-studded. It flaunts 996 diamonds cut with facets and 92 rubies around its exterior while the inner workings are completely visible. The clip ring on the cap has 19 rubies attached to it while the 18K gold nib is set with two rubies. Priced at 200,000 Euros (US $256,010).

3. La Modernista Diamonds Pen

This pen was made by Caran d’Ache, a Switzerland based company in 1999 as homage to architect Antonio Gaudi. This amazing fountain pen was sold at an auction for $265,000. The pen had an 18-carat rhodium-coated gold nib and was set with a total of 5,072 Wesselton diamonds weighing in at 20-carats, as well as 96 rubies totaling 32-carats. La Modernista Diamonds has been featured in the Guinness Book of Records 2001 for being the most expensive pen at that time.

2. Caran d’Ache Gotica Pen

The Gotica pen from Caran d’Ache recently made its debut in China. The pen, which celebrates Gothic art and architecture, is made of rhodium-coated solid silver with six faces decorated with Gothic windows, fleurs-de-lis and rosettes. The Gotica Jewel pen is fitted with 892 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 7.10 carats and the rosettes have 72 emeralds and 72 rubies. Priced at 3.28 million yuan ($406,453) in China.

1. Mystery Masterpiece

The luxury houses of Van Cleef & Arpels and Montblanc are the proud makers of this breathtaking writing instrument named the Mystery Masterpiece, which was launched on the February 2006 as a part of their centenary celebrations. The pen was made of white gold, adorned with rubies, sapphires, or emeralds and accented by diamonds. Each pen has 840 diamonds and more than 20 carats of gemstones set in a Van Cleef & Arpels patented ‘Mystery Setting’. This incredible thing is priced at $730,000.

Fountain Pen Worth mention:

Titanic-DNA Fountain Pens by Romain Jerome

Although we don’t have any pricing info for the same, but I am sure it would cost more than a few thousand dollars. Created by Jean-Pierre and Benjamin Lepine in collaboration with Romain-Jerome CEO Yvan Arpa, the Titanic-DNA Fountain Pens collection is limited to a series of 88 exquisitely handcrafted pieces only. In a tribute to the Titanic ship, the pens are crafted from the finest materials, including Palladium, brass, PVD, stainless steel and gold. Each Romain Jerome Titanic-DNA fountain pen is decorated with a ring of oxidized steel at the barrel with the metal being a blend of materials reclaimed from the actual sunken ship and steel obtained from Harland & Wolff shipyards where the Titanic was built.

Note: Many of the pens listed above are not available as of today, but they certainly deserved to be in the list.