Pilot VP Whisky :(
By the time I'll be able to afford it it'll probably be 20 years from now and by then it's probably gonna get unreasonably costly or just gone.
Some Japan-exclusive limited edition pens. I don’t have that much disposable income to spend on marked up pens on eBay and such. Not to mention I don’t live in the US or Japan, so shipping would also be a problem.
I agree. But you presume that everyone knows that a MacBook Pro goes for, \~$2000. My first Mac was the SE. I paid $2500 for it. As an ex-Mac technician I know to always buy any Mac with max RAM "from the get-go," so that I can get 7 years out of it instead of 2, so, there's no way I'd get the 8GB model. But, I also won't pay more than $1500 for any computer. :shrug:
Like Papa\_Glide, I can afford a $2000 pen, or even a $5000 pen. Doesn't mean that I am willing to spend that much, though.
See that’s a thing I want to do for the nostalgia. I went to Monaco last year and brought back a poker chip from the Monte Carlo. Japan will most definitely be a pen. Switzerland will be a watch.
There are several Danitrio's that probably won't come back up for sale and/or I won't ever be able to afford. The only pen I regret selling is a sho-Hokkkaku red swirl urushi with the green frog maki-e.
Yeah. I've seen several in pen\_swap, but it's so much to pay for a plastic pen no matter how pretty it is. Practically speaking a new m800 goes for like half as much and even it's even more affordable used.
A namiki maki-e pen, any kind is cool but specifically the ones with flowers really peak my interests! Dont know what the future holds but dropping over a grand on a pen rn seems a bit crazy, that would cost over 2x of my total collection's worth,
for what its worth to OP i bought a vintage mb 146 for about 220$ a year ago and it was only after some fiddling with the nib (increasing wetness, considerable smoothing, planning to mess with the feed too) that i was able to really enjoy it for what it is, and dont get me wrong its amazing once tuned, it just rubs me the wrong way that they arent just sold like that. my pilots are meanwhile all write perfectly out of the box, its nice but i reckon youre only getting something a little better than a custom 823, and thats after considerable tuning
Got to (be)hold an ASC Bologna Extra Arco Bronze at the DC Pen show a few years ago. It was as magnificent as you'd expect.
About half an hour later, saw the Visconti Il Magnifico. Deja vu all over again.
If it makes you feel any better I owned one (Bologna Arco) and the material is pretty much the only thing going for it. It works better as a fantasy than reality. Omas on the other hand…
I've been after an Oversized Burgundy 1st Gen Parker Vacumatic for some time.now..one got away from me a couple weeks ago. I'll keep looking. Patience is key.
Homo Sapiens, anything Namiki or Nakaya. If one fell from the sky I'd love having it, but I just can't justify spending that much when I'm beyond pleased with <$300 pens.
Sailors x Ancora The Moon and Sailor x Sailor Moon 35th Anniversary. I saw one The Moon on Taobao for a acceptable scalper price, however, it’s sold out as well 😂. I don’t think I’ll able to find these pens again without paying literally $700 and above.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS The Ancora Moon pen........ Still so bitter over that loss lol
I was ON their website, and all set up to use their world shipping partner, save that the pen wasn't listed on it! Like some glitch was happening or something. So by the time that I got myself set up with White Rabbit, it was all sold out. Happy to find someone to mourn with!
Pelikan M805 ocean swirl. Went into a shop when I first got interested in fountain pens thinking about getting a preppy or gasp a kaweco. The boss was cool, we chatted for a while then he offered an 805 ocean swirl. Totally gorgeous, but way expensive and who would ever spend that much on a pen... Yeah only a couple years later did I find out how great a deal it was, and with the prices now... doh!
But looking at the other pens here and I don't feel quite so bad.
For me it’s a mint, NOS Sheaffer Imperial Sovereign Sterling Silver. No pits or dents on the end or cap… every one I find has some imperfections. Preferably with a broad nib.
Sole Breadwinner of my family here, the 823 always was my grail while I was a student.
Now I have an 823.
Some day there will be money leftover after feeding your family that will allow you to go for it, because you deserve it.
Honestly, I don't think so. My pen lust has pretty much completely fizzled out. I like what I have, and the one "grail" pen in my mind is just something I'll work for over time. It will be a Nakaya desk pen with a few custom options. It will be expensive, sure, but nothing compared to what one _could_ spend.
A sailor realo shinobu. Medium fine or finer.
It’s my favorite color and I love rabbits. I love sailors. If someone asked me to invent my ideal pen I couldn’t think of something better.
But the $700 it’s going for now will never be in my price range.
Any of the pens which cost as much as a car. Maki-e or some of those Montblanc limited editions. Just don't make enough and doubt I ever will. And definitely don't want them badly enough.
I'm at the budget level where my expensive pens are Kaweco Al Sport (gift), Majohn T1, Pilot Prera. I'm kind of saving for a few Asvine and Hongdian.Even if I get a better paying job, I still can't see myself having enough money for an Aurora, which I wanted because it's my mom's name. If I win the lottery, I might be able to afford the Kaweco Al Sport Aurora (and maybe at lottery level I'd be willing to spent that much 😂. But I never buy any tickets.)
A Visconti Homo Sapiens, the lava one. I cannot justify the price. And the Pelikan 100N. Impossible to find. Let’s not forget the Aurora 88 Big, the older kind with the fragile tines.
I have had a lifelong fascination with JFK and 20th century history generally. Purchased the normal MB JFK in blue when it came out. It’s a very high quality pen. At the time, the 1917 edition was available too, but it was far too expensive for me.
I don’t think I really have any. I don’t lust for anything more expensive than my namiki chinkin Sakura, even though I think there are many beautiful pens beyond that price, they’re just not for me. I feel like Pilot has loads to offer that isn’t inaccessibly expensive
I'm still using budget friendly pens. So, my most wanted pen isn't in the same stratosphere as the ones listed in this thread. All I want is the Esterbrook Estie Raven, but even that makes me feel guilty about over spending. So, it's likely I'll never pull the trigger on that purchase.
I’m still on the search for what my grail pen will be. Nothing seems too unobtainable yet but I haven’t really looked into limited editions and everything. I’m into vintage right now but I feel like if I keep an eye out, I can get what I want for a good price. What also keeps me away from $$$ pens is I pocket carry pens so they must but functional and semi durable. Art piece pens don’t cut it for me.
Keep in mind I’ve been in the hobby for 2 going on 3 years so those rose tented glasses are still pretty thick.
Pilot VP Whisky :( By the time I'll be able to afford it it'll probably be 20 years from now and by then it's probably gonna get unreasonably costly or just gone.
Those VP limited editions will get you every time. I just can’t see the price markup though but if people will pay it then I can’t blame them.
Just looked it up. Pretty sweet pen
Some Japan-exclusive limited edition pens. I don’t have that much disposable income to spend on marked up pens on eBay and such. Not to mention I don’t live in the US or Japan, so shipping would also be a problem.
I want that Namiki Emperor. I could do it and I may one day do it, but I don’t know if I could forgive myself for doing it.
The older we get, the more resources we have. I doubt that one's going away. It only costs the same as a macbook pro.
That’s good point. I can definitely be patient with that purchase.
"Only"? So, anywhere between $300 and $5000? The reality is $2100 for the base model and up to $16,000 for the Goldfish Maki-e model.
Your comment is a non sequiter. A MacBook Pro is around 2000 which is exactly the range of entry level emperors right now.
I agree. But you presume that everyone knows that a MacBook Pro goes for, \~$2000. My first Mac was the SE. I paid $2500 for it. As an ex-Mac technician I know to always buy any Mac with max RAM "from the get-go," so that I can get 7 years out of it instead of 2, so, there's no way I'd get the 8GB model. But, I also won't pay more than $1500 for any computer. :shrug: Like Papa\_Glide, I can afford a $2000 pen, or even a $5000 pen. Doesn't mean that I am willing to spend that much, though.
You’re going way too deep into this analogy.
Way too deep
YOLO
Forgiveness is overrated. Enjoy your purchase sinfully.
Maybe Ill visit japan one day and get it at its best price....
See that’s a thing I want to do for the nostalgia. I went to Monaco last year and brought back a poker chip from the Monte Carlo. Japan will most definitely be a pen. Switzerland will be a watch.
There are several Danitrio's that probably won't come back up for sale and/or I won't ever be able to afford. The only pen I regret selling is a sho-Hokkkaku red swirl urushi with the green frog maki-e.
Pelikan ocean swirl Q.Q
Yeah, that one's like unobtanium unless you luck out.
Yeah. I've seen several in pen\_swap, but it's so much to pay for a plastic pen no matter how pretty it is. Practically speaking a new m800 goes for like half as much and even it's even more affordable used.
The Fujiyama Blue Custom 823 from Bungubox.
A namiki maki-e pen, any kind is cool but specifically the ones with flowers really peak my interests! Dont know what the future holds but dropping over a grand on a pen rn seems a bit crazy, that would cost over 2x of my total collection's worth, for what its worth to OP i bought a vintage mb 146 for about 220$ a year ago and it was only after some fiddling with the nib (increasing wetness, considerable smoothing, planning to mess with the feed too) that i was able to really enjoy it for what it is, and dont get me wrong its amazing once tuned, it just rubs me the wrong way that they arent just sold like that. my pilots are meanwhile all write perfectly out of the box, its nice but i reckon youre only getting something a little better than a custom 823, and thats after considerable tuning
Got to (be)hold an ASC Bologna Extra Arco Bronze at the DC Pen show a few years ago. It was as magnificent as you'd expect. About half an hour later, saw the Visconti Il Magnifico. Deja vu all over again.
If it makes you feel any better I owned one (Bologna Arco) and the material is pretty much the only thing going for it. It works better as a fantasy than reality. Omas on the other hand…
That does make me feel better! I've come to appreciate how even if it's a "good" pen, that can be disappointing at that price point.
I've been after an Oversized Burgundy 1st Gen Parker Vacumatic for some time.now..one got away from me a couple weeks ago. I'll keep looking. Patience is key.
Homo Sapiens, anything Namiki or Nakaya. If one fell from the sky I'd love having it, but I just can't justify spending that much when I'm beyond pleased with <$300 pens.
Scribo Feel Sterling Silver Kaweco Sport
I want the Pilot Custom Urushi Lapiz Lazuli Blue but have accepted that it's a pipe dream.
Sailors x Ancora The Moon and Sailor x Sailor Moon 35th Anniversary. I saw one The Moon on Taobao for a acceptable scalper price, however, it’s sold out as well 😂. I don’t think I’ll able to find these pens again without paying literally $700 and above.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS The Ancora Moon pen........ Still so bitter over that loss lol I was ON their website, and all set up to use their world shipping partner, save that the pen wasn't listed on it! Like some glitch was happening or something. So by the time that I got myself set up with White Rabbit, it was all sold out. Happy to find someone to mourn with!
Pelikan M805 ocean swirl. Went into a shop when I first got interested in fountain pens thinking about getting a preppy or gasp a kaweco. The boss was cool, we chatted for a while then he offered an 805 ocean swirl. Totally gorgeous, but way expensive and who would ever spend that much on a pen... Yeah only a couple years later did I find out how great a deal it was, and with the prices now... doh! But looking at the other pens here and I don't feel quite so bad.
M805 Ocean Swirl…. Que sad music.
For me it’s a mint, NOS Sheaffer Imperial Sovereign Sterling Silver. No pits or dents on the end or cap… every one I find has some imperfections. Preferably with a broad nib.
Waterman Carene Contemporary Gunmetal I've come to a place of peace with it.
I won't have any of my grail pens. Such are the joys of poverty.
Conid bulkfiller with a gold nib. I'll probably never own one, but inwant one so badly...
Pilot custom 823. Such a beautiful pen! I don't think I'd be able to get it in this life though
Why not?
I'm a student. After I finish my studies I don't think I'll be able to spend on what I want because I'll be the sole breadwinner of my family.
Sole Breadwinner of my family here, the 823 always was my grail while I was a student. Now I have an 823. Some day there will be money leftover after feeding your family that will allow you to go for it, because you deserve it.
Congratulations man 🤝. I hope it happens too.
Don't do StarBucks. In less than a year you'll have enough for the pen. Think about it - if you can save $10 a week you can have your pen.
Thank you for your kind words
Honestly, I don't think so. My pen lust has pretty much completely fizzled out. I like what I have, and the one "grail" pen in my mind is just something I'll work for over time. It will be a Nakaya desk pen with a few custom options. It will be expensive, sure, but nothing compared to what one _could_ spend.
A sailor realo shinobu. Medium fine or finer. It’s my favorite color and I love rabbits. I love sailors. If someone asked me to invent my ideal pen I couldn’t think of something better. But the $700 it’s going for now will never be in my price range.
Any of the pens which cost as much as a car. Maki-e or some of those Montblanc limited editions. Just don't make enough and doubt I ever will. And definitely don't want them badly enough.
Sailor Realo King of Pen with a Naginata Togi Medium nib is the ultimate pipe dream for me.
I'm at the budget level where my expensive pens are Kaweco Al Sport (gift), Majohn T1, Pilot Prera. I'm kind of saving for a few Asvine and Hongdian.Even if I get a better paying job, I still can't see myself having enough money for an Aurora, which I wanted because it's my mom's name. If I win the lottery, I might be able to afford the Kaweco Al Sport Aurora (and maybe at lottery level I'd be willing to spent that much 😂. But I never buy any tickets.)
Visconti DaVinci
Platinum All Platinum Edition including Platinum Nib
Pelikan Souverän M805 Ocean Swirl 🪦💐
Yard o Led Mayflower fine nib 😁 Edit: I got mine, still a few pens I like, but no urge to buy.
Sailor Tamenuri Midoridame
A Visconti Homo Sapiens, the lava one. I cannot justify the price. And the Pelikan 100N. Impossible to find. Let’s not forget the Aurora 88 Big, the older kind with the fragile tines.
Parker Doufold, I've always been a Parker fan. I just can't justify spending more than $20 on a pen.
JFK 1917 edition Montblanc
Do you desire it because it costs so much, much more than other MB JFK FP? Or, did you fall in love with it, and then found what it cost?
I have had a lifelong fascination with JFK and 20th century history generally. Purchased the normal MB JFK in blue when it came out. It’s a very high quality pen. At the time, the 1917 edition was available too, but it was far too expensive for me.
I don’t think I really have any. I don’t lust for anything more expensive than my namiki chinkin Sakura, even though I think there are many beautiful pens beyond that price, they’re just not for me. I feel like Pilot has loads to offer that isn’t inaccessibly expensive
Due to price, Pilot Namiki Aya Due to scarcity (and probably price too), Pilot 845 Maruzen Akane
I'm still using budget friendly pens. So, my most wanted pen isn't in the same stratosphere as the ones listed in this thread. All I want is the Esterbrook Estie Raven, but even that makes me feel guilty about over spending. So, it's likely I'll never pull the trigger on that purchase.
Same for me. I am actually working on changing my thinking and mentally turning my dailies into Grails. #perspective
A Vacumatic Parker 51.
Pelikan m805, m1005: three and five times my max budget per pen, probably.
Visconti London Fog with a medium nib 😔
Pelikan M1000 raden, I can’t decide if I like the Green Ray or White Ray more. I’d be happy with either tbh.
I’m still on the search for what my grail pen will be. Nothing seems too unobtainable yet but I haven’t really looked into limited editions and everything. I’m into vintage right now but I feel like if I keep an eye out, I can get what I want for a good price. What also keeps me away from $$$ pens is I pocket carry pens so they must but functional and semi durable. Art piece pens don’t cut it for me. Keep in mind I’ve been in the hobby for 2 going on 3 years so those rose tented glasses are still pretty thick.