It hasn't been all that long since I had a box of plastic disposable biros at the side of my desk, ready to leap into action and take down a few notes whenever the need arose. But then a company asked if I'd like to review one of their "luxury pens", costing around £50, and I figured it would be silly not to see what I was missing out on.
Why Scriveiner Pens Stand Out
Scriveiner pens are designed in England, and are, I'm told, the only British pen brand to be given an award by King Charles III. If they're good enough for a reigning monarch, they should be good enough for me. They're also the number one luxury pen seller on Amazon for six years straight, they have a clean sweep of five-star reviews, and their prices range from around £30 to well over £60.
I was more than a little excited, then, to see how the other half lives, and to sample what life would be like if I moved away from a slightly shattered biro that cost pennies, and into a "luxury pen" that cost £50. I chose a ballpoint pen, because it suits my sloppy writing style a little better, but Scriveiner makes fountain pens and rollerballs, and they're all extremely posh, and quite expensive.
The Unboxing Experience
The journey into stationery royalty begins with a rather lovely unboxing experience. There's a gorgeous quality to the packaging, with a little band of ribbon gently holding the pen against a soft cushion. I felt like I needed to be super careful with such a valuable pen, but actually it's incredibly solid and robust. There's a real weight to it, but it's also very balanced. It's comfortable to hold for long periods, and the slightly weighted twist action to retract the nib is delightful. I didn't expect to be saying this, but it does feel every bit a £50 product. The quality is exquisite.
You can also personalise Scriveiner pens through Amazon, and it only costs a few pounds extra, which is great value. The shiny gold-coloured pen I was sent does start to show up some fingerprints quickly, but you do get a nice little cloth in the box. Refills cost £8.99 for a pack of four, and you only get one spare in the box. It might actually take an unbranded refill, but I haven't checked this, and you mustn't tell the nice people at Scriveiner I said that.
Value for Money
Browsing the Scriveiner page on Amazon, there are a handful of discounts that are worth looking at, and some of the rollerball colour options are much cheaper. I'm tempted to pick up a "Silver Chrome with Gold" one, because it's only £34.99. Yes, I did just say that. Not only have I considered £34.99 to be a decent value purchase, I'm tempted to buy a second Scriveiner pen. Not because it's made my handwriting any better, only brutal hypnosis or some sort of hand transplant would do that, but because it's just such a lovely thing to use.
Switching back to a bargain ballpoint, it not only feels uncomfortably light, but also annoyingly scratchy on the paper. I'm a convert, then. I'm resigned to a life of posh pens. And when I finally get the Knighthood I've been waiting for, for services to the consumer, I'll know that the letter from His Majesty was written with the same pen I've been using to earn my title. And that'll make me feel quite special.
