THOSE WHO PURCHASE ONE OF 25 Rolls-Royce Phantoms built to celebrate eight decades of the Phantom nameplate will discover their cars have special appointments, such as a small case of aluminum and leather within the glove box. Inside rest a pen-and-pencil set created by Conway Stewart, makers of top-quality writing instruments. The Rolls-Royce/Conway Stewart collaboration has produced an elegant Duro-style fountain pen, ballpoint pen, and propelling pencil, each with the Double R logo engraved on its cap. They may rank among today's most desirable examples of their breed, if not the most exclusive, for the only way to own them is to acquire the limited edition Phantom.
There is nothing new, or even unusual, about a pen bearing the hallmark of a great motoring name. At the bottom end of the scale, one may find, for example, an inexpensive ballpoint with the name of the Russian car manufacturer Lada printed on its barrel. At the peak, perhaps, are those pens created for a handful of Rolls-Royce owners by the same firm that
supplies crested pens to No. 10 Downing Street.
For those who wish to evoke the spirit of the machines they drive while writing, there are a number of finely crafted pens that will be suitable. Produced in many cases with the collaboration of the manufacturer, they are small treasures to use, appreciate, and collect.
Consider Ducati pens from Aquila. Bearing more than a hint of the flair that sets the Italian motorcycle apart, Ducati pens are available in a variety of forms, designs, and finishes. Whether fountain pens or ballpoints, they feature the Ducati logo on their caps; some have a serial number engraved on a band around the base of the cap. Like the pens themselves, the clips
are gracefully tapered to complement the overall shape. Ducati pens are priced from $195.
Jaguar pens, also by Aquila, are as graceful as the cars whose name they carry. Whether mechanical pencils, ball- points, or the line-leading fountain pens (the latter are either cartridge- or converter fed, with stainless steel nibs and iridium points), they feature sturdy metal cases in one of four lacquer finishes: ebony, British racing green, ivory, or lime green. Each is as pleasurable to use or simply look at as its four-wheel counterpart, and prices start at $160.
A bit more flamboyant-like the machines that inspired them are Alfa Romeo pens from Delta Italy. The rarest of these belongs to a limited series created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the immortal Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The bodies of all three pens-ballpoint, fountain pen, and fountain pen with 18-karat gold accents are hand-turned from blocks of resin. Thick, rounded, and comfort- able to the hand, each features a clip hand-shaped in the form of the classic Alfa grill shell. The fountain pens are of the piston-fill type and have 18-karat gold nibs. They are priced from $225.
Equally elegant are the pens that commemorate the historic Alfa 1750 Gran Sport. Each of these limited edition pens, starting at $225, is finished in traditional Alpha red and whether ballpoint or fountain pen-is crowned by a sterling silver capuchon formed to represent the 1750's tires and wire wheels. A ruby on the clip pays tribute to the original car's red headlamp lenses, and a band around the body replicates the grill shell and Alfa crest.
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Pen Marques Automotive Pen, 2006
Archive Blog Posts
WES Journal edition #126, Winter 2023
Spotlight on Conway Stewart Originally published in WES Journal 126, pp 26-29, 2023
The History of Conway Stewart
The Beginning In 1905, Mr. Frank Jarvis and Mr. Tommy Garner formed Conway Stewart & Co. Limited at 13 Paternoster Row LondonEC1, next to St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Today,...
Conway Stewart 'Babbage'
Charles Babbage is popularly known as the “Father of Computing” for his pioneering work with computing machines. The use of Jacquard punch cards, chains and subassemblies, and the logical structure...
Conway Stewart Evergreen Sterling Silver Duro Special Edition
SOLD OUT! Retail List Price Fountain Pen or Roller Ball — £599 $970 €630 Welcome to our February 2010 Special Edition — the Conway Stewart Evergreen. Based on our popular Sterling Silver Duro model,...
The Balmoral
Following the success of our Windsor, which was inspired by the ornate decoration gracing the creations of English gunsmiths, Conway Stewart is pleased to announce the second in this prestigious...
Conway Stewart Cavendish Edition
Conway Stewart is proud to announce our new model in English hallmarked solid sterling silver, the Cavendish. A bold stylish design that brings together a traditional shape with a crisp...
Conway Stewart 'Elizabeth Garrett Anderson' Limited Edition
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson is regarded as England’s first female doctor; a pioneer in educating women in medicine; a strong supporter of women’s suffrage and opportunities in higher education, as well...
The Wellington Series
Arthur Wesley was born in Dublin in 1769. In 1798, his aristocratic Anglo-Irish family changed their name to Wellesley. In honour of Sir Arthur Wellesley, Conway Stewart commemorates the Duke...
Professional Series - Doctor's & Lawyer's Edition
The new Conway Stewart Professional Series is designed to reflect the dedication and life’s work of individual professional fields. These striking new designs are crafted of gleaming black resin and...
Kipling 'IF' Special Edition
The new Special Edition from Conway Stewart is inspired by one of the most important literary figures in English history. At first glance this pen looks like it has a...
Conway Stewart Belliver Series
The new Belliver model from Conway Stewart is a return to the finest traditions of CS heritage, rooted in attention to detail, a perfect size and weight, as well as...
Conway Stewart Montague and Capulet Series II
The 2013 Montague and Capulet series from Conway Stewart celebrates the principal characters of Shakespeare’s eternal classic Romeo and Juliet, bringing a graceful and elegant slim design to life in...
Excalibur Limited Edition
Conway Stewart is pleased to announce the latest new colour on the popular Churchill model — Excalibur with hallmarked solid sterling silver trim. The Churchill Excalibur hand made resin consists of a...
Conway Stewart Edwardian Limited Edition
Conway Stewart is proud to present our new limited edition sterling silver series, ‘The Edwardian’. Based on our popular Belgravia model, the Edwardian is completely crafted from solid sterling silver...
Conway Stewart Gatsby Limited Edition
“Nominee in the 2014 Pen World Reader’s Choice Awards — Best Cultural or Historical Theme” During the classic era of the 1920s, a fine fountain pen was considered not just a luxury,...
60th Anniversary 100 Series Special Edition - Pistachio
60th Anniversary Celebration! The 100 Series was first launched in 1954 and was quick to become one of the most popular Oversize pens ever made by Conway Stewart. In celebration...
Marlborough Vintage Limited Edition Pens
The Conway Stewart Marlborough Vintage Limited Edition is a distinguished new design, that is inspired by the classic styling of our vintage models and created with our present day manufacturing...
Jaguar Limited Edition
The Conway Stewart Jaguar is a new finish to compliment our sold out Elegance Aztec limited edition. Each pen from the Elegance range has a unique design and is produced...
Conway Stewart Collectors Club - Celebration Pen & Book Special
Offered only to members of our Collectors Club, Conway Stewart is making available the Celebration pens accompanied by a hardback copy of the new book, Fountain Pens for the Million — The...
Conway Stewart Collectors Club - Churchill Carbon Fibre
Conway Stewart is making available exclusively to members of the Collectors Club our award-winning Churchill model with hand wrapped Carbon Fibre overlay covering the cap and barrel. Each pen is...
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