Image	Product	Features	Price
	Montblanc Meisterstück 164 Gold Coated Classique Ballpoint Pen		Check Price
	Caran d’Ache Ecridor Ballpoint		Check Price
	LAMY LX Rollerball Pen		Check Price
	Esterbrook Estie Sea Glass Fountain Pen		Check Price
	LAMY Studio		Check Price
	Diplomat Excellence		Check Price
	Visconti Van Gogh Starry Night Fountain Pen		Check Price

Introduction

A luxury pen always makes for a great gift for graduations, promotions, birthdays, and other important life milestones. But with so many fine writing tools that combine both elegance and high-quality writing, choosing expensive pens for gifts can be a challenge. 

To make this process easier for you, we’ve explored some of the best expensive pens on the market and why they make such great gifts. As pen aficionados who appreciate the art of writing, we’ve tested and reviewed all of our top picks, so you can give that special someone a memorable present they’ll cherish for years to come.

And if you're looking for less expensive pens for gifts, check out our gift pen guide.

Best Expensive Pens for Gifts Recommendations

The following pens belong in the ballpoint and fountain pen categories, so if you’re looking for a rollerball, check out our article on the best rollerball pens.

Best Ballpoint Pen Overall - Montblanc Meisterstuck 164

Specifications

Manufacturer	Meisterstuck
Color	Gold coated, Platinum coated, Rose gold coated
Weight	20 g
Length	136 mm
Material	Resin
Series	164

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Lightweight pen
• Sturdy
• Classic design 

Cons

• No cons to note

The Montblanc Meisterstuck 164 is a ballpoint pen that symbolizes high-quality luxury writing. The pen was first introduced back in the 1970s and it’s become a huge sensation since then. Pen aficionados like it not only for the superior writing experience that it provides, which is common for Montblanc pens, but also for the impeccable craftsmanship that’s reflected in the pen’s classic and elegant design.

It features a black precious resin barrel and a medium-sized, stainless steel tip, with the well-known Montblanc logo on the cap. Apart from providing a great writing experience, the Meisterstuck 164 is a symbol of reliability, quality, and status, so the recipient of the pen is bound to feel special.

Best Design Ballpoint Pen - Caran d’Ache Ecridor Ballpoint

Specifications

Manufacturer	Caran d’Ache
Color	Venetian Palladium, Sunlight, Venetian Chevron Rose, Avenue, Golf, Retro, and others
Weight	24.2 g
Length	128 mm
Material	Brass
Series	Ecridor

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Mesmerizing design
• Unique hexagonal barrel
• Balanced weight and length

Cons

• No cons to note

Not many ballpoint pens are comparable to the Caran d’Ache Ecridor and its unique design. 

The Ecridor’s well-known hexagonal shape, which is the signature design element of this collection, provides a comfortable writing experience, making the pen perfect for longer writing sessions. 

The body is made using the guilloche technique, a well-known Swiss technique that engraves intricate, precise, and repetitive patterns on materials, which only adds to its standout design. The pen is compatible with Goliath cartridges available in black, blue, green, red, turquoise, and violet ink to suit the needs of every pen aficionado.

This is an amazing pen to give as a gift because it’s durable, has a special design, and writes smoothly, so it’s bound to become a cherished present.

Best Value Fountain Pen - LAMY LX

  

Specifications

Manufacturer	LAMY
Color	Marron (Brown), Palladium (Silver), Rose Gold, Ruthenium (Grey)
Weight	28.9 g
Length	11.9
Series	LX

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Ergonomic grip section
• Color variety
• Modern design

Cons

• Only uses LAMY refills
• Goes through ink really fast

The LAMY LX (Luxe) isn’t just a pretty pen with a modern design. It’s a true combination of quality and comfort due to the high-quality materials it's made of and the ergonomic grip that provides a comfortable writing experience. The barrel and cap made of anodized aluminum give the pen an elegant appearance, while the durable stainless steel nib ensures consistent and smooth writing.

The LX is available in four luxurious colors, Marron, Palladium, Rose Gold, and Ruthenium, each more visually appealing than the other, so you can choose the one that will go well with the recipient's stationery. And the best part about this pen is that it comes with a converter and is also available with various ink cartridges, making it easy to refill.

Best Fountain Pen Design - Esterbrook Estie Sea Glass

Specifications

Manufacturer	Eastbrook Estie
Color	Turquoise
Weight	35 g
Length	155 mm
Material	Resin, metal accents, and polished chrome
Series	Sea Glass

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Comes in two sizes, regular and oversize
• You can choose between chrome and a gold trim
• Comfortable grip
• Stunning design
• Smooth writing experience
• Well balanced pen

Cons

• It’s on the heavier side
• Limited color options
• Cartridge only pen

The Eastbrook Eastie Sea Glass offers a lot of versatility in terms of pen size, nib size, and the trim material. It’s another unique writing tool whose stunning, vintage-inspired sea design makes it an impressive gift.

The nib provides a smooth and consistent writing experience and comes in extra fine, fine, medium, broad, 1.1 mm stub, journaler, scribe, and 18k medium nib size. The pen also comes in different sizes, regular and oversized, both of which are really well-balanced and lay comfortably in your hand.

That being said, we have to mention that the oversized pen is suitable for those with larger hands, otherwise it won’t be comfortable to use for longer writing sessions. Moreover, this is a cartridge-only pen, which might not make it a great gift idea for fountain pen users who prefer bottled ink.

If you’re looking for more luxurious fountain pens to give as a gift, check out our recommendations in the $500 to $1,000 category.

Best Pen for Taking Notes - LAMY Studio

Specifications

Manufacturer	LAMY
Color	Dark brown, Black forest, Glacier Blue, Piano Black, Black, Blue, Palladium, Stainless steel
Weight	19.94 g
Length	139.7 mm
Material	Metal
Series	Studio

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Wide range of nib sizes (extra fine, fine, medium, broad, 1.1 mm calligraphy, 1.5 mm calligraphy, 1.9 mm calligraphy)
• Unique clip
• Proper inkflow
• Modern and minimalist design

Cons

• Slippery grip section

If you’re planning a gift for a college student, the LAMY Studio fountain pen checks all the boxes. It has a modern and minimalistic design paired with a propeller-shaped clip, which only adds to its visual appeal. The extremely durable nib comes in extra fine, fine, medium, broad, 1.1 mm calligraphy, 1.5 mm calligraphy, and 1.9 mm calligraphy sizes, providing pen aficionados with multiple options for different line variations.

Due to the interchangeable nibs, this pen can be used as a go-to for taking notes, signing documents, calligraphy, drawing, and more, so the opportunities are really limitless. It can be used either with a converter or an ink cartridge, so using bottled ink is also an option.

Best Fountain Pen Overall - Diplomat Excellence 

Specifications

Manufacturer	Diplomat
Color	Evergreen, Bauhaus, Black & Gold, Skyline Blue, Oxyd Iron, Chrome, Black & Chrome, Marrakesh
Weight	39.69 g
Length	138.7 mm
Material	Metal/ Lacquer
Series	Excellence

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Classic design
• Grip section that enables you to hold the pen comfortably
• Large nib that’s well-tuned, has consistent ink flow
• Various color options

Cons

• High price
• Quite heavy

Another amazing pen you should consider is the Visconti Excellence, as it offers the best when it comes to both design and functionality. 

This elegant and sophisticated fountain pen is characterized by clean lines and curves, and has minimal embellishments, making it a true classic. It’s made of high-quality metal and lacquer, which gives it a glossy finish and contributes to its luxurious feel. You can find it in various color options, the evergreen being the most timeless option.

Its nib is another notable feature that’s responsible for the pen’s exceptional writing experience and comes in a stainless steel and gold variety, as well as in four different sizes, which include extra fine, fine, medium, and broad sizes. The pen doesn’t skip, nor does it take too long to start, making it a perfect gift for a professional in any field. 

Most Unique Fountain Pen - Visconti Van Gogh Starry Night

Specifications

Manufacturer	Visconti
Color	Variations of blue, brown, and gold
Weight	35 g
Length	140 mm
Material	Resin and metal accents from palladium
Series	Van Gogh Starry Night

Pros & Cons

Pros

• High-quality materials
• Unique design, made to resemble one of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings
• Great grip section, comfortable for longer writing sessions

Cons

• High price
• Significant weight

The Visconti Van Gogh Starry Night is inspired by one of the artist’s most famous paintings with the same name. This impressionist collection of pens pays real tribute to the technique and emotion expressed in Van Gogh’s painting. The pen features swirling colors and textures, including shades of browns, dark blues, and gold throughout the resin barrel that’s accented with a palladium trim. 

We should mention that no two pens patterns in this collection are the same, which only adds to their value.

Another key aspect is the smooth writing steel nib that makes for a perfect partner during long writing sessions and comes in fine, medium, and broad sizes. On top of that, the pen has a magnetic caps system that secures the cap in place so you don’t experience unwanted spills or leaks. The elongated clip with the spring at the end of the cap is very useful for sliding the pen into your shirt pocket or attaching it to a notebook. 

And on top of all that, the pen can be used with the standard international cartridge it comes with, or with a convertor if the recipient prefers using bottled ink. 

Buyer’s Guide on How to Choose a Luxury Pen

If you’re still unsure which pen to go for or can’t decide between a few options, we’ve got you covered. Here are the key factors to consider when choosing a luxury pen.

Writing Style

First things first, you should decide what type of pen you’d like to purchase. When it comes to luxury pens, people usually go with one of the following three options:

• Ballpoint pen
• Fountain pen
• Rollerball pen

Ballpoint Pen

Ballpoint pens are one of the most used pens because of their reliability and ease of use. Their tip is made up of a small ball that disperses the ink onto the paper when it rolls, leaving a smooth and consistent line. Ballpoint pens use oil-based ink, which means they don’t dry out as easily as other pens. 

These pens are an ideal gift for people who are constantly on the go and don’t want to risk getting spills in their bag. They can write on different surfaces and don’t require much maintenance, making them the perfect EDC pens.

Rollerball Pens

Rollerball pens use the same ink-dispersing system as ballpoint pens, and water-based ink like fountain pens, making them the perfect in-between option. The ink is more fluid than the previous option, and results in smoother and more consistent lines. This makes them perfect for both everyday writing and using them in more professional settings where precision is important.

Fountain Pens

The smooth-gliding ink, customization options, and the minimal pressure required when writing are just some of the many reasons why fountain pens are preferred by pen aficionados. These pens come with a container or a cartridge that holds the ink, but they require a lot of maintenance to keep in top form, which is their only downside. They offer the best writing experience for those who appreciate them and offer a lot of versatility when it comes to the nib type, which comes in different sizes and can produce different line variations, depending on how much pressure you use while writing.

Materials

The material that your pen is made of will define the degree of luxury. High-quality luxury pens aren’t made of plastic, on the contrary, they use materials such as metal, precious wood, celluloid, ebonite, etc. The finish is usually made of high-gloss lacquer or some other finish, and the pricier pens often have precious stone embellishments.

Price Point

Generally, pens that are in the $100 and below category primarily focus on construction and functionality, and sometimes use a bit of precious material. Pens over $100 are mainly made of precious materials and sometimes feature a unique technique of production. Pens over $500 are handmade and use the rarest and most expensive materials.

Uniqueness

Part of the luxury pen experience is owning a one-of-a-kind pen, so luxury brands focus on personalization and limited-edition pens. Limited edition pens are considered collector’s items, and the fewer pens there are in a collection, the more expensive they’ll be. 

Personalization is another way to make your pen unique and make it an even more special gift. A personalized pen can have a meaningful engraving, be made of a special material, or have another unique feature.

Additional Services

Last but not least, check out all the extras that come with the pen. Those can be extra refills, a pen case, pen rests, additional ink, and a warranty by the manufacturer.

FAQs

Is a luxury pen a good gift?

Luxury pens are an excellent gift since they’re durable, elegant, extravagant, and make for a memorable gift. Luxury pens are the go-to gifts for graduations, birthdays, promotions, and other life milestones that we celebrate.

What is the best luxury pen?

There’s not one answer that best answers this question since it depends on a few factors, such as your preferred brand, your budget, how often you plan to use your pens, etc. If you’d like more information on the best luxury pens, check out our article on the topic of best luxury pens.

What is the most expensive pen?

While there are a lot of pricy options when it comes to luxurious pens, the Fulor Nocturnus is the most expensive pen in the world, worth a staggering $8 million. For more information on for which you need a significant budget to purchase, check out our article on the most expensive pens in the world.

Conclusion

No two pens are the same and each luxury pen has its own set of specific features that make it unique and desirable. And if choosing the perfect pen for yourself felt like a difficult decision, choosing a luxury pen to give as a gift is even more challenging.

We believe that our recommendations have helped you to look inside the world of luxurious pens and choose the right one for the person you’re planning to surprise. Just know that giving a luxury pen as a gift is a great idea for any occasion.

Let us know which pen you’re considering for that special someone. You can also recommend us your favorite luxury pens that didn’t make our list in the comment section below.