Pelikan is undoubtedly a point of reference in the pen industry. Considering not only their long history, but also all developments they have achieved over the years, we can easily admit that the german brand has some of the best-performing writing instruments in the world. That said, we’re going to discover Pelikan’s largest fountain pen, the Souverän M1000.
Originally launched in 1998, the first M1000 was designed to be the largest fountain pen ever created by Pelikan, so that it could compete with the top models of Montblanc, Parker or Sailor, for example. The pen carries forward the classic and iconic look that has established the brand since the Pelikan 400 was released in 1950.
In terms of design, it’s really unmistakable: the green-striped barrel complemented by those glossy black surfaces and the gold-plated elements make the pen an authentic Pelikan, but it’s not only the design that makes this pen so special, and you’ll understand what we mean by that. The M1000 is also available in a black finish featuring the same gold-plated elements, a very nice and elegant option. However, for any Pelikan admirer, the classic green-striped version will remain forever a distinctive symbol.
Now let’s move on to the fountain pen’s features and begin with the size, which is remarkably impressive. The fountain pen measures 175 mm in length with the cap posted and 145mm when closed. The diameter measures 15 mm. If we compare it to the M400 for example, it is longer by up to 18mm when closed. In comparison with Montblanc Meisterstuck 149, it has a similar length but it’s shorter than Namiki Emperor. Even though it has a respectable weight of 35g, we believe it can be comfortable during short to medium writing sessions or for signing purpose. Like for any other writing instrument, some may find its size and weight comfortable, some won’t, in the end it’s a matter of taste.
The overall appearance of the fountain pen is overwhelming. It is everything you can expect from a top-shelf manufacturer like Pelikan – fine details and materials crafted at the highest level of quality. The green-striped barrel is reminiscent of the first striped model which was launched in 1950, but the pattern on the M1000 was slightly refined. The different green tones and irregularly stripes pattern was redefined into a pattern that displays regularly stripes and a nearly uniform green shade. The cap, the piston knob as well as the section are made of highly polished precious resin in black. The M1000 is fitted with the standard Souverän trim including two trim rings at the piston knob, a single trim ring at the section, and two cap bands which come to complement the 18kt gold nib. An interesting detail that Pelikan has taken care of is the translucent parts between the stripes that allow you to check the amount of ink that’s left inside the reservoir. It’s a subtle and very smart executed feature which cannot be observed unless you look closer to the pen.
Another great feature of the M1000 is the piston filling mechanism, that has already become a hallmark of Pelikan. Developed by the Hungarian engineer Theodor Kovacs around 1927, the piston filling mechanism with a differential spindle gear was a revolutionary achievement for that age. Today’s Pelikan M1000 comes equipped with the same piston filling mechanism invented by Theodor Kovacs, which was significantly improved and updated thanks to the technological progress. If you are used to cartridges, you might consider another model from Pelikan because this is a piston filler only. The piston travel is very smooth and you can effortlessly fill the reservoir.
The soul of this fountain pen, as you might expect, is the nib, which is considerably massive. The biggest nib of the entire Pelikan line but not the biggest on the market if we take a look at Namiki Emperor’s nib. Crafted of 18kt gold in two-tone design, it’s available in 4 sizes: exra-fine, fine, medium and broad. In terms of performance, the nib on the M1000 glides very smoothly across the paper and it’s not stiffer at all, but it puts down a very generous and wet line of ink, fact you should consider if you’re not into wet nibs.
Regarding the price, you have to pay around EUR 730 for this Pelikan M1000, and we believe that’s a fair price for the quality and performance you get instead. However, some retailers sell this pen undervalued.
Over the years, the generous M1000 has served as the base pen for several limited editions launched by Pelikan, and we believe it might be interesting just to mention some of them. The Maki-e limited editions are by far the most impressive ones. We are fascinated by the Maki-e Dragon and Phoenix released in 2005, the Maki-e Kingfisher launched in 2020 and the latest novelty of 2021, the Maki-e Seven Treasures.
To summarize, the Pelikan Souverän M1000 is for sure a piece that will stand the test of time because of its solid construction and classic design. That said, we believe that a proper maintenance can make this writing masterpiece suitable to be passed on to future generations.
image sources: web
M1000 is indeed the King ! No other pen comes close in smooth flow of ink while writing!