Not long ago, I had a box of plastic disposable biros on my desk, ready to jot down notes whenever needed. But when a company offered me a chance to review one of their "luxury pens" costing around £50, I thought it would be silly not to see what I was missing.
Scriveiner: A British Luxury Pen Brand
Scriveiner pens are designed in England and are, I'm told, the only British pen brand to receive an award from King Charles III. If they're good enough for a reigning monarch, they should be good enough for me. They've also been the number one luxury pen seller on Amazon for six consecutive years, with a clean sweep of five-star reviews. Prices range from around £30 to well over £60, and there are various colors to choose from—the gold finish is particularly gorgeous.
Unboxing and First Impressions
The journey into stationery royalty begins with a lovely unboxing experience. The packaging is of high quality, with a ribbon gently holding the pen against a soft cushion. I felt I needed to be careful with such a valuable pen, but it's incredibly solid and robust. It has a real weight to it, yet it's very balanced. The pen is comfortable to hold for long periods, and the slightly weighted twist action to retract the nib is delightful. It truly feels every bit a £50 product. The box itself is a thing of beauty and includes a cloth for polishing and a spare refill.
Personalisation and Value
You can personalise Scriveiner pens through Amazon for just a few pounds extra, which is great value. The shiny gold-coloured pen I received does show fingerprints quickly, but the included cloth helps. Refills cost £8.99 for a pack of four, and you get one spare in the box. It might accept unbranded refills, but I haven't checked that. Browsing the Scriveiner page on Amazon reveals several discounts, and some rollerball colour options are much cheaper. I'm tempted to pick up a "Silver Chrome with Gold" one for only £34.99.
A Convert to Luxury Pens
I never thought I would consider £34.99 a decent value purchase, but I'm tempted to buy a second Scriveiner pen. Not because it improves my handwriting—only hypnosis or a hand transplant could do that—but because it's such a lovely thing to use. Switching back to a bargain ballpoint feels uncomfortably light and annoyingly scratchy on paper. I'm a convert, resigned to a life of posh pens. And when I finally receive the knighthood I've been waiting for, I'll know that the letter from His Majesty was written with the same pen I've been using to earn my title.
