Roman Empire

Pen of the Year 2018

Since the first edition in 2003, the Pen of the Year has gained an exceptional position among lovers of luxurious writing culture. The exclusive writing instruments appear in limited editions and showcase exceptional materials that have been crafted with great skill. The current edition of the Pen of the Year tells the story of epochs, personalities and peoples whose deeds have shaped the history of mankind. This time, the focus is on an empire that connects three continents from the 8th century BC onwards: Europe, Africa and Asia. Even today, at the beginning of the 3rd millennium, it exerts an almost immeasurable influence on our world: the Imperium Romanum.


Beauty in white
The fine-grained, shimmering white Statuario marble from Carrara is surrounded by an aura of uniqueness. It stands for elegance and prestige, as can be seen impressively in the entrance hall of Faber-Castell Castle. A special variety of the Statuario was chosen for the Pen of the Year 2018 "Imperium Romanum". Each individual piece is handcrafted in the Stephan gemstone manufactory. Platinum-plated rings with laurel wreaths are set between the marble segments of the barrel, symbolizing fame and success and giving the writing instrument its inimitable elegance. Another extraordinary detail of the edition is the elaborately crafted cap with an engraving of the famous Colosseum and a miniature Caesar denarius. A very rare, antique silver coin with the emperor's likeness from the year 44 BC served as the model.


Fascination in black
The appearance of the Black Edition is a fascinating contrast. Nero Marquina from the Vizcaya region in the Basque Country was chosen as a counterpart to the white Statuario marble, as it combines a black base tone with a pronounced white structure. It harmonizes with the anthracite grey PVD coating made of titanium, which acquires an iridescent surface when in use. The fountain pen is fitted with a hand-inscribed 18-carat gold nib with ruthenium coating, which perfectly matches the very masculine design of the barrel. The cap of the Black Edition is also adorned with an engraving of the Colosseum and a miniature Caesar denarius. The platinum-plated fountain pen with 18-carat bicolor gold nib is limited to 400 pieces. There will be 120 copies of the rollerball pen. The Black Edition will be released with an exclusive edition of 330 fountain pens and 100 rollerball pens. The copies of both editions are individually numbered and are kept in a high-gloss polished black wooden box. A certificate with the signature of Charles Graf von Faber-Castell certifies the limited editions.