The 10 Most Expensive Fountain Pens in the World
Long seen as symbols of wealth and status, fountain pens have evolved into more than just writing tools. Adorned with things like precious metals, gemstones, or intricate details, some of these pens can sell for astonishing prices (as in millions!) due to their craftsmanship, rarity, or historical background. From diamond-encrusted fountain pens to ones forged in gold or silver, here are the most expensive fountain pens on the market, including one that sold for a cool $8 million.
1. Fulgor Nocturnus by Tibaldi
Sold for: $8 million
Crafted by acclaimed Italian manufacturer, Tibaldi, this flashy pen is adorned with 945 black diamonds and 123 rubies. Its design, which adheres to the “divine proportion of Phi,” is meant to symbolize “perfect harmony and beauty” (which sounds like boujee hogwash that no one understands). In 2010, the “Fulgor Nocturnus,” which translates to “dazzling brilliance occurring at night,” sold for a staggering $8 million at an auction in Shanghai, smashing records for the most expensive pen ever sold.
2. Montblanc Taj Mahal Limited Edition
Priced at: $2 million
This limited-edition pen from Montblanc aims to celebrate the grandeur and opulence of India’s Mughal Empire. Drawing inspiration from the Taj Mahal, it’s adorned with diamonds, sapphires, and malachite set against Champagne-tone gold. The pen is so fancy that it even comes with a “detachable rose-cut diamond revealing a miniature enamel painting.” (Not sure what that means, but it sure sounds expensive.) With only 10 ever made, each one is valued at $2 million due to the materials and craftsmanship involved.
3. Montblanc High Artistry Stella Nova Limited Edition 1
Priced at: $1.5 million
Inspired by German astronomer and mathematician, Johannes Kepler, this Montblanc pen is encrusted with 5,294 sapphires and 570 diamonds to evoke the mystery and beauty of the cosmos. Its design also includes a white gold barrel and a compass rose emblem meant to “emulate the Milky Way” and symbolize Kepler’s “three laws of planetary motion.” Talk about merging science with art!
4. Montblanc Boheme Royal Pen
Priced at: $1.5 million
Similarly, the Boheme Royal features an 18-karat white gold barrel adorned with over 1,400 diamonds. The pen comes in two versions: one with pure white diamonds and the other with a mix of white and black diamonds. Both options come with a retractable nib and diamond-studded clip. With an asking price of well over a million, it’s easy to see why Montblanc has established itself as a leading brand in the world of luxury pens.
5. Aurora Diamante Fountain Pen
Priced at: $1.47 million
With only one of these produced each year, this Diamante fountain pen boasts a platinum barrel encrusted with over 30 carats of De Beers diamonds and an 18-karat gold nib. While each piece is meticulously handcrafted at Aurora’s factory in Torino, Italy, it’s hard to imagine anyone dropping this kind of cash on something that could easily be lost in between couch cushions. (And believe me, once it’s fallen prey to the couch abyss, it’s gone forever.)
6. Heaven Gold Pen by Anita Tan
Priced at: $995,000
Designed by Chinese-Canadian jeweler Anita Mai Tan, this “heavenly” pen is crafted from 18-karat gold and decorated with 1,888 diamonds and rare gemstones, including a 2-billion-year-old Tsavorite. With only eight ever made, the celestial-inspired design is meant to symbolize the “movement of planets,” according to Tan. She also emphasized the significance of the number eight, which is considered a symbol of prosperity and good fortune in Chinese culture.
7. Limited Edition Mystery Masterpiece by Montblanc and Van Cleef & Arpels
Priced at: $750,000
This limited-edition collaboration between Montblanc and Van Cleef & Arpels features a white gold body set with 840 diamonds and additional stones like rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Limited to nine pieces, the intricate design and price tag reflects the expertise and influence of both luxury brands.
8. Caran d’Ache Gothica Pen
Priced at: $406,453
Inspired by Gothic architecture, this pen from Caran d’Ache is crafted from rhodium-coated sterling silver and embellished with 892 diamonds, 72 rubies, and 72 emeralds (Talk about being blinged out). Part of a limited-edition collection of just 1,140 pieces, the pen also features a six-sided design that’s meant to evoke Gothic window motifs like the fleur de lis and the rosette.
9. La Modernista Diamonds by Caran d’Ache
Priced at: $265,000
This pen was created in 1999 to honor renowned Spanish architect and designer Antonio Gaudí. It’s encrusted with 5,072 diamonds and 96 rubies, all set in a silver body coated in rhodium. The pen required over six months of meticulous work by master jeweler Robert Perron. But if you don’t have over $200k laying around, you can still snag this much cheaper version for $4,500 on eBay — though this one just comes with the “rhodium-coated, sterling silver body,” sans the diamonds.
10. Montblanc Prince Rainier III Limited Edition 81 Pen
Priced at: $256,000
This dazzling Montblanc pen, created to commemorate Prince Rainier III of Monaco, features a white gold body embellished with 996 diamonds and 92 rubies. Arranged to mirror Monaco’s coat of arms, its 18-karat gold nib is set with two rubies, while the clip ring is accented with 19 rubies. Limited to just 81 pieces in the world, the pen showcases the brand’s dedication to excellence and luxury.