2010 Pen of the Year Limited Edition...a secret art with highly aesthetic results. For the Pen of the Year 2010, Faber-Castell has returned to a process for which very few workshops still have the skills: the gunsmith’s art of case hardening. Founded in 1761, the Faber company developed into the leading manufacturer of wood-cased pencils which created a series of fascinating products that set standards to this day. The uncompromising awareness of quality, the innovative drive, and the social commitment of past generations form the basis of the company’s dealings to this day. It is now headed by Count Anton W. von Faber-Castell, the eighth generation of his family. Count Roland von Faber-Castell, the father of the present Count, was a passionate huntsman. The aesthetic appeal of some very valuable hand-crafted hunting rifles, owned by Count Roland, inspired the Pen of the Year 2010.
On seeing the new pen one immediately notices the case-hardened metal parts and the fine engravings. Until the late 19th century, case hardening was the sign of a fine gun, with the inimitable shimmering coloration it provides. For centuries, the technique was handed down by word of mouth and was something of a secret art. The iron parts are usually packed in carbonized leather and heated to convert the surface into steel; the fine nuances of colour appear on quenching. Only recently has it been discovered that some 20 parameters contribute to the beautiful visual effect, including the thickness of the metal, the temperature, and the rate of cooling. With long experience a craftsman can influence the results but never predict them precisely, so no two case-hardened items are identical. The character of the case hardening is emphasized by elaborate engraving and a 24-carat gold inlay, inserted by hand. Nowadays there are only a very few traditional workshops that can carry out these ancient skills in the way that the Pen of the Year 2010 demonstrates. In addition, the material of the barrel of the pen fully matches up to the claim of exclusivity: it is the valuable wood of the Caucasian walnut. Seasoned for many years, walnut wood is tough and inelastic, with fine but marked patterns: it does not warp or splinter… the ideal wood for the stock of a gun – and for very special writing implements. Valuable too as it is not enough to fell the trees: the stumps have to be dug out, because the best figured wood is in the roots that go deep into the ground. No other tree warrants this time-consuming excavation.
The valuable wood of the barrel and the splendid metal parts make the Pen of the Year 2010 an exclusive and individual fountain pen. The 18-carat bi-colour gold nib is available in - F, M and B widths. The platinum-plated end cap protects the knob for the plunger mechanism, on which each pen is individually numbered.

KRONE ROYAL NAVY - The United Kingdom is an island nation and the sea has always been a vital factor in its history. The Royal Navy with its rich heritage and tradition is intrinsically tied to the British Isles. Krone pays homage to this tradition with a beautifully handcrafted writing instrument. The barrel, hand-painted with an artistic interpretation of a British Man of War, evokes memories of Lord Nelson, Sir Francis Drake, Captain James Cook and all British seamen who have sailed under the flag of her Majesty. The sterling silver band at the top of the barrel is a compass rose. The cap is comprised of textured sterling silver, fashioned in the likeness of an 18th century battle cannon. Sculpted in sterling silver, the clip is a relief halyard rope. Atop the cap is a black onyx coin with an engraving of the Royal Navy Crown. Available in a worldwide Limited Edition of 388 fountain pens and 38 rollerballs. Piston Fill. F, M and B.
The Royal Navy Name and logo are trade marks of the Secretary of State for Defense and are used under license. www.royalnavy.mod.uk