There's no single "most legendary" pen, as it depends on the criteria (history, luxury, innovation), but the Montblanc Meisterstück is arguably the most iconic for luxury/prestige (like a Rolex), while the Waterman 52 is a vintage legend for writing feel, and the Pilot Capless (Vanishing Point) is legendary for innovation, with the Parker 51 also being a historic icon. The Tibaldi Fulgor Nocturnus holds records for being the most expensive, notes Goldspot Pens and Lamy India.
Top 10 Pen Brands in the World: The Best Pen Brands to Watch in 2025
Answer: Brands like Montblanc, Cartier, and LAMY are renowned for their luxurious pens.
Pens Through the Ages: A Look at Iconic Pens that Shaped History
1) Fulgor Nocturnus by Tibaldi — £5.9 million
Largely recognised as the most expensive fountain pen in the world, this genuine one-of-a-kind piece is crafted with rare black diamonds. It sold at a Shanghai charity auction and is the prized work of celebrated pen maker Tibaldi.
The 'King of Pens' is introduced as the top of the range, developed as the symbol of Sailor's technology, quality and writing perfection gained with the experience of over 100 years.
John F. Kennedy seems to have used a number of different pens: the Parker “45,” an Esterbrook fountain pen, and a Montblanc Meisterstück No. 149.
1911 is one of their most renowned series and was named in honor of the company's foundation year. King of Pen is Sailor's largest fountain pen size and denotes the instrument as top of the range.
The Final Verdict
Choose Parker if: You prefer a broader nib, appreciate classic design, and value brand heritage. Choose Pilot if: You desire a smooth and fine nib, enjoy a wider range of colors and filling mechanisms, and prioritize affordability without sacrificing quality.
Albert Einstein used both a Pelikan 100 N and a Waterman Taper-cap Fountain Pen which he used to develop the Theory of Relativity. The Waterman pen is on display at the Boerhaave Museum in Leiden.
J.K. Rowling's Parker Pens
J.K. Rowling, the famous author behind the Harry Potter series, has been known to use Parker pens while crafting her beloved stories. Specifically, she has been spotted using the Parker 51, which, like Agatha Christie, she preferred for its reliability and smooth ink flow.
The most expensive pen in the world is the Fulgor Nocturnus by Tibaldi which sold for $8 million dollars at auction. Translated from Latin, Fulgor Nocturnus means “night glow” which seems appropriate given the black diamond bling on this precious fountain pen.
For over 50 years, Fisher Space Pen has been the trusted choice of NASA and space programs worldwide.
Apart from nibs, the materials used to make the pen body can also be expensive. Premium fountain pens can be made with some of the highest quality resins and even precious materials such as urushi lacquer.
Cross are America's oldest pen brand. Founded in 1846, they created the ancestor of today's mechanical pencils. Lamy have a surprising amount of heritage for a young brand. The International brand of Lamy, comes from origins in 1930's Germany and the Orthos Füllfederhalter-Fabrik company, which rebranded to C.
Every pilot, whether they fly professionally or for fun, needs a pilot's licence issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. There are more than 30,000 active pilots in Australia.
The Parker 51 fountain pen, used by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to officially open Aston University's main buildings (then the College of Technology), was thought to have been lost for decades.
The name 'Quink' comes from 'Quick and Ink', which refers to its quick-drying properties. Quink is available both as bottled ink for refilling fountain pens and as a refill for ballpoint, rollerball and fountain pens. The ink is water-based, quick-drying and available in several colours.
The Red Band Parker "51" was very hard to repair and it was discontinued already in 1947, making it much sought after by collectors.
Montblanc Meisterstuck fountain pen
James Bond uses a Montblanc Meisterstück fountain pen in Octopussy (1983), which has a gadget function added by Q Branch.
The UK adopted Parker as a stationery national treasure when the Queen proffered a highly prized Royal Warrant for Parker to supply the Royal Household, due to its ‘highest standards of service, quality and excellence’.
Montblanc Great Characters Rollerball Pen - Limited Edition 1935 - Elvis Presley.
According to a 2018 article in Popular Science, “Carter boasted he could read 2,000 words a minute with 95 percent comprehension.” An advertisement for a speed-reading class in Australia claims that Carter read three thousand wpm and Kennedy five thousand (the reading equivalent of “Saul hath slain his thousands, and ...
US president Donald Trump has a well-known preference for using Sharpies to sign official government documents, as he did when he gave autographs. According to John Bolton, Trump once likened Taiwan to the tip of a Sharpie.