For longtime pen collectors, the new Souverän 800 Green Demonstrator may look a bit familiar. Introduced as an earlier iteration all the way back in 1992, Pelikan has recently brought this vibrant green model back, with a few contemporary updates.
But first, let’s take it back 31 years to the original release. Earlier in Pelikan’s history, the concept of special editions was rare. In fact, the first special edition to be released was the M800 Transparent Green Collector’s edition, the precursor to the soon-to-be-released Souverän 800 Green Demonstrator. This pen was so popular that it sold out soon after and became a signifier of the German brand’s eye for style and design.
Fast-forwarding to today and we are promised a rerelease of sorts of this apple green beauty. Most important for this release is that it’s not a simple rehashing of the design, but instead an upgrade that’s more in-line with Pelkan’s contemporary aesthetic principles. For one, this demonstrator’s cap ring is now a single ring, updating the look while remaining true to the original “feel” of the pen. Further, the ring on the fill button has been updated to juxtapose a glossy and satin differential, giving the pen a modern feel by playing with textures and materials of the pen.
This is a great way to bring back the magic and reintroduce old fans of Pelikan to the brand. Oftentimes, the pen industry focuses on the churn of new products to entice a wider audience but there is something to be said about a brand looking retrospectively at their history and working to honor their past while making only minor tweaks to tried-and-true sellers.
This pen will be available later this month at various retailers, with some already offering pre-orders at €545. The pen is a larger-sized pen with a great weight and handfeel and is available with a 18-karat gold nib in EF to B. We think this will be as much of a fan favorite as the original 1992 model and we’re excited to see brands like Pelikan look back to their archives ot bring modern sensibility to old favorites.
