Pen of the Year 2020: Sparta.

Graf von Faber-Castell has been offering its annual Pen of the Year since 2003, and each year it has revealed yet another beautiful pen of historical significance. The 2020 collection is making an early debut and like its predecessors, this years editionSpartawill give you a new appreciation for pens and the stories they tell.

The myth of Sparta and its heroes come alive in this limited edition writing instrument, and the design and workmanship is based on the armor and weapons of the Greek heroes. For example, the ruthenium-plated, sandblasted matte barrel is reminiscent of the Spartans steel battle dress. The pens milled decoration pays homage to the striped protective armor worn, and its grip evokes the form of the breastplate. Inspired by the rivets reinforcing the ancient armor, there are seven hand-applied rough diamonds totaling up to 0.35 carats adorning the body.

Both the end piece and the cap of the Pen of the Year 2020 are polished to a high gloss. The spring-loaded clip is based on a Greek warriors helmet. The pen also immortalizes the Lambda symbol from the Greek alphabet, once emblazoned on the defensive shields of the Lacedaemonians. It is featured as a lacquered inlay on the end of the writing implement and is joined by another historical Greek decoration, the meander, which symbolizes immortality.

Pen of the Year 2020, Black Edition

In the Sparta Black Edition, the legendary strength of the Greek heroes is symbolized in an interplay between the dark color of the pen and the stones decorating it. The anthracite-colored, milled metal barrel with PVD coating is adorned with 42 rough diamonds totaling up to 2.1 carats, in seven rows of six, which are again reminiscent of the rivets on the protective armor of the Spartans.

The Sparta fountain pens feature an 18-karat ruthenium-plated gold nib in fine, medium, broad and double broad sizes; there is also a rollerball in each version available.

Each writing implement comes in a high-gloss, black wooden case, accompanied by a certificate signed by Count Charles von Faber-Castell confirming the authenticity of the limited edition.

Earlier Models

The Pen of the Year 2019, the Samurai, is an homage to the warriors who were considered military nobility in medieval and early-modern Japan. The Samurai is distinguished by its dark barrel made of stained and polished magnolia woodembellished with Japanese characters, worked by hand in 24-karat gold. Quoting the samurai warrior and philosopherMiyamoto Musashi,it reads: Today I win against myself of yesterday.

The Pen of the Year 2018, the Imperium Romanum, is made from statuario marble, and its cap features an engraving of he Colosseum. The pen is crowned by a miniature Roman coin modeled on a very rare silver coin from 44 BC depicting Caesars head.

ThePen of the Year 2017is an ode to the Vikings, with a platinum-plated barrel inspired by the graceful curves of the Viking longboats. Slivers of curly birch wood are integrated into the design of the fountain pen and rollerball in a nod to the wood used in Norse boat making.

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Pen Of The Year By Graf Von Faber-Castell: New For 2020 - Forbes