Pelikan M900 Toledo - Black

The Pelikan M900 Toledo fountain pen is one of the few modern fountain pens that can genuinely be called a work of art. At its core, it’s a flagship Pelikan—built on the full-sized M800 platform—but what sets it apart is the hand-engraved sterling silver sleeve that wraps the barrel.

The Process

Each piece is individually worked in a traditional Toledo-style technique, where the intricate relief is etched, oxidized, and partially gilded to create depth, contrast, and a sense of movement. The barrel sleeve is a single piece of 925 sterling silver, hand-engraved by a goldsmith with Pelikan's mother-and-chicks motif, then finished in 24-karat gold vermeil. This is real damascening — the same gold-on-metal technique that decorated swords in sixteenth-century Toledo, Spain — adapted by Pelikan since 1931 and still done entirely by hand today.

Each engraver works slightly differently (collectors have spotted subtle variations in wing feathers and line work between pieces), so no two are exactly alike. The artisan signs and numbers every sleeve. It ships in a silk-lined wooden box, and when you hold it, the 38-plus grams of silver and brass piston mechanism give it a heft that the resin-barreled M800 simply doesn't have.

Underneath that artistry is the engineering Pelikan is known for, namely the proven M800 platform. The differential piston-filling system is smooth and generous in capacity, the 18k gold nib has beautiful Rhodium accents and comes tuned for a wet, confident line with a cushioned feel, and the overall balance is substantial without being unwieldy.

This is not a pen you buy on impulse—it’s a statement piece, meant for collectors and serious writers who appreciate both craftsmanship and performance. The M900 Toledo doesn’t just write beautifully; it reminds you, every time you pick it up, why fountain pens still matter.