Pelikan M800 Souverän Fountain Pen - Black / Green

If you picture a “classic Pelikan,” you’re probably picturing this one: the Souverän M800 Black/Green—iconic green pinstripes, warm gold trim, and that effortless, old-school gravitas that still feels totally usable as a daily writer. The striped barrel isn’t just a look, either: it’s made from cellulose acetate in an elaborate process (Pelikan says it takes months to produce the striped material), then shaped and finished with diamond-cutting steps for that crisp, dimensional shine.

The M800 is a piston-filler through and through—built around Pelikan’s differential piston mechanism for big ink capacity and easy refills from a bottle. You get an 18k/750 gold nib with rhodium décor, plus 24-carat gold-plated clip and rings, all manufactured and assembled in Germany. Pelikan also notes each pen’s writing qualities are tested by hand before it leaves.

Specs

• Nib: 18k/750 gold nib with rhodium décor
• Filling system: differential piston mechanism
• Materials: striped cellulose acetate barrel + high-quality resin black parts
• Trim: 24-carat gold-plated clip and rings
• Length (capped): 14.1 cm
• Weight: 28.2 g

The M800 is the "really nice splurge pen" (I actually bought mine used) that quietly turned into my forever pen. It's substantial, without being unwieldy; classy without being ostentatious, and a work of art that looks best when it's actually being used. There is absolutely nothing I would change about this pen.