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Thread: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

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    Senior Member penwash's Avatar
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    Default How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    By "expensive" I'm talking about $500 (USD) and beyond fountain pens.

    What's your story?
    What pushed you to that level?
    - Will
    Unique and restored vintage pens: Redeem Pens

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    Senior Member jar's Avatar
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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    Time. The tier of pens I liked that once cost $15.00 now cost $500.00.

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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    I haven't, and I'm not sure I ever will. (I tell myself that now...)
    Pens and Perspective for all hands, great and small (including pen reviews by the small handed!)

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    Senior Member Anne's Avatar
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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    Oh my gosh...I Dove...I absolutely dove over the edge! I only have one pen that cost over that amount individually, however. I did A Lot of research and watched videos to get an all around review of how people felt. But, yes, in the end I went with my desire of having a pen that had more than one feature I knew I would enjoy.
    I don't regret one single purchase I have ever made. If it didn't work out entirely the way I thought, I Learned a lesson along the way.

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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    Quote Originally Posted by jar View Post
    Time. The tier of pens I liked that once cost $15.00 now cost $500.00.
    Indeed. My first Pelikan Souveraen cost me the equivalent of $75 some 32 years ago; I'm assuming you might be my senior by a few years?

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    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    I sold almost every pen in my collection on ebay, in order to buy my first Montblanc, even though it was only a BP.

    Thankfully, I kept my Sheaffer Targa Brown Ronce set though.

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    Senior Member SeminarianMike's Avatar
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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    I have given my first expensive pens from someone on this forum!!! A MB 149 and a pelikan m800! After that I traded a couple pens ended up with a Mike worked 146 and saved up for a 2nd pelikan! But honestly I prefer the sub 300 dollar pens... I'm afraid to take expensive stuff to school and that's where I really fall in love with a pen. Doing long writing sessions in class. I have my eyes set on a sailor pro gear next

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    Senior Member jar's Avatar
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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    Quote Originally Posted by inklord View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by jar View Post
    Time. The tier of pens I liked that once cost $15.00 now cost $500.00.
    Indeed. My first Pelikan Souveraen cost me the equivalent of $75 some 32 years ago; I'm assuming you might be my senior by a few years?
    About a decade before that I bought my first Montblanc 149 and IIRC it was about $60.00 but that included a bottle of ink and some other stuff.

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    Senior Member gbryal's Avatar
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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    Still not there. It would have to be a darn charming pen. I still don't feel like I was particularly wise to buy a $400+ pen.

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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    I probably wouldn't have purchased an expensive pen but my wife bought a M1000; fabulous pen in my estimation. I was hooked and bought one. Since then, I have bought $20 pens and other +$500 pens when they appeared have value to me. I enjoy all of them. If it is comfortable to you and you can afford it; go for it.
    We have met the enemy and he is us.
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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    Quote Originally Posted by penwash View Post
    By "expensive" I'm talking about $500 (USD) and beyond fountain pens.

    What's your story?
    What pushed you to that level?
    Bad case of shinyism and I want oneism.

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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    All my pens but one were under $500 USD. I got them on sale.

    The one pen I paid over $500 was Montblanc JFK Limited Edition Fine. I had been saving for a 149. And I fell in love lust. So I ordered it.

    I have several that would have cost over $500 that I use daily but got good deals. Montblanc Silver Doue. MontBlanc Starwalker Doue. Both F. Pelikan M1000 M 24ct

    All these are in my daily rotation. Fantastic pens.

    I also have a Sailor Pro but got in Japan where they can be found for around $200 but here they are very very expensive.

    You have to search. And you can find deals.

    But I buy mine for the way they look and feel to me. And love writing with pens that not everyone carries

    My Grail pens are Montblanc 149 Platnium f. Hakase Tortoise shell. Nakaya red urushi fold maki

    But in time. In time. I have to save and sometimes I splurge. As I find something so so special to me. As all my pens are special for various reasons

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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    Quote Originally Posted by jar View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by inklord View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by jar View Post
    Time. The tier of pens I liked that once cost $15.00 now cost $500.00.
    Indeed. My first Pelikan Souveraen cost me the equivalent of $75 some 32 years ago; I'm assuming you might be my senior by a few years?
    About a decade before that I bought my first Montblanc 149 and IIRC it was about $60.00 but that included a bottle of ink and some other stuff.
    Whoa! That decade dropped the value of the US dollar considerably, compared to DM - When I went for the M400 it was roughly 1/4 the price of the MB149 (that would have been about $300.- by then?!? anyway, it was about DM 600.- and the US$ to DM conversion was about 1:2) The funniest thing was that I did not get a Lamy 2000 back then because it was about 20 DM more than the DM 150.- Pelikan - and look at them now!
    Last edited by inklord; February 10th, 2016 at 05:29 AM. Reason: added info

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    Senior Member carlos.q's Avatar
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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    I have no expensive pens as defined...

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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    On my side I saved for almost 3 years to buy my first MontBlanc ballpoint.
    My other writing instrument is a pencil.

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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    Yet to buy anything close to that value. It's funny how different people define expensive differently I would probably would say any high end pen falls into the bracket of expensive so probably something with a street price of greater then £200. I would say high end starts with pens where quality hasn't been compromised to price. It also obviously depends on peoples position in life too.
    Last edited by top pen; February 10th, 2016 at 03:03 PM.

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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    I have spent more than $500 on pens, but not on a single pen. I just cannot make the jump.
    The most expensive pen that I bought was $150.
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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    After a while, I think you just get used to higher prices. I remember first getting into the hobby a couple years ago and buying a Lamy Safari. A month or so later, I bought a Lamy 2000 for $160. I figured I would never buy a pen more expensive than a Lamy 2000. I was wrong.

    At the point, I figure, if I can afford it and it brings me joy, then there's worse things I could do with my money than buy expensive fountain pens.

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    Senior Member Bisquitlips's Avatar
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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    Crimeny! That is a great question!!!

    Was it a jump or a sentient dive into the most gorgeous of writing instruments??!!?

    I have several $2000.00 fountain pens, but haven't yet made the jump to $5000.00 pens. Why? Cause there are so many others below that price point what I want to acquire!

    My next multi-$0000.00 pen I would like to own is a Montblanc Hemingway FP. Love the Agatha vermeil and will hopefully own a set someday soon, but sheesh! There are SO many pens and so little time! I have the sterling set. Vermeil is next..... Sapphire eyes on the snake. What could be better? But that is subjective!

    In the meantime......... I Travel, journal, photograph, discuss, share, and enjoy what we have!

    I cannot tell the of the joys of journaling at a breakfast cafe in London or while enjoying a Cafe' Americain across from the Louvre! I cram my Moleskines with flowers I picked from above the alps in Austria, and leaves from the trees in Windsor. Or French chocolate candy wrappers, or ticket stubs from our train journeys in Switzerland.

    Life is so much more than a pen. But an incredible fountain pen causes you to bleed your thoughts onto your journal with a fervent passion while sitting over coffee and croissants.


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    Senior Member I like mango pudding's Avatar
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    Default Re: How did you make the jump to "Expensive" pens?

    That was the easy part. The hard part was stopping.

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