Faber-Castell unveils precious “Pen of the Year 2009”
October 27, 2009 – Faber-Castell, a German manufacturer of writing instruments, has presented its horsehair “Pen of the Year 2009”, platinum-plated with an 18-carat gold nib, at London luxury goods store William & Son.
The pens are being marketed around the world in a limited edition of 2,000.
The weaving of horsehair is a highly skilled, intricate and time-consuming process.
One of Germany’s leading experts in horsehair weaving took on the task of weaving horsehair for the pen.
Horsehair presents a special challenge. The tail hairs of a horse are relatively stiff and short, and so cannot be spun to a continuous thread. They cannot be woven in a conventional way.
Faber-Castell started its “Pen of the Year” in 2002 and in each year has used a different type of rare and exquisite material, including mammoth ivory, 200-year-old olive tree wood, and Indian satin wood.
“William & Son is looking for exclusive, interesting products that have a very clear point of reference — brands where you can see a special craftsmanship and heritage,” Count Anton-Wolfgang von Faber-Castell, CEO of Faber-Castell, told Jewellery Outlook in an interview.
“So it’s a perfect fit.”
Speaking in the office of William & Son in London’s elegant Mayfair district, just before a cocktail on October 21 to showcase the Pen of the Year 2009, Count von Faber-Castell said the pens are suited for a gift to mark a special occasion, and are now increasingly sought after by collectors.
William & Son’s Store Manager Roy Connor said he believed the horse-racing fraternity would be a strong market for the horsehair pen.
If a client wishes to arrange for a pen to be made with the tail hair of his own horse, a bespoke order can be carried out for around 5,000 pounds.
The horsehair pen has been especially popular with buyers from continental Europe and Asia, Count von Faber-Castell said.
The Faber-Castell Pen of the Year 2009 retails at William & Son for 2,200 pounds each.
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