Is there a more consistent fountain pen brand on the market than Pelikan?
There is an argument to be made for a few brands to sit along side the big bird. I’d advocate for Pilot pretty heavily, for example. But the consistency in every single aspect of a Pelikan fountain pen each time I pick one up is to be applauded. They are rock solid writing instruments, to be sure.
That’s why, even as someone who doesn’t use many Pelikans, I was excited to get the M200 Orange Delight into my hands. Yes, it is Orange, and that is important. Even more important is the fact that it is in the M200 category, which is the Pelikan model that I get along with the best.
M200 series Pelikan fountain pens are small in stature, but large on features. The piston filling mechanism is the standout, and is arguably the best on the market. It’s a smooth, effective twist to draw in ink from a bottle, or to flush with water when cleaning.
The out-of-the-box Steel nib experience is perfect as well. I use a stock Extra Fine nib in my Black M205, and would have gone for the same in this Orange Delight if I didn’t pick it up from Mark Bacas, aka Nib Grinder, at the Atlanta Pen Show. He had a Fine nib, which I immediately turned into a wonderful Cursive Italic. This is my nib width maximum on Pelikan pens, and the reason I rarely use their gold nib models. Those end up being too wide and wet for my writing.
Left to right: LAMY AL-Star, M200, Kaweco Sport.
The aforementioned size of the M200 is perfect for me. It’s small, and light - maybe too small, and too light for some. What I learned about my M205 was that this size is ideal for portability. I can take it - and use it - anywhere. It never gets in the way, and is a joy to use. It is big enough to use uncapped when writing, but posts deep enough that I almost consider going that route sometimes. Only sometimes, though.
To say the Orange Delight fits my aesthetic would be the understatement of the year. The solid Orange resin is set off perfectly by the translucent Orange mid-section. I love seeing the piston hardware, and the ink sloshing around inside the barrel. The Gold trim is a perfect match as well, and for this particular pen, works better than Rhodium-plated hardware would have.
There have been many Pelikan M200 fountain pens that have tempted me over the years, but at around $200, they are not a mindless purchase. I’m glad I bided my time until I found one that delights me as much as this one does.
The biggest takeaway from my experience with the Orange Delight is that I had no inclination to ink it up with an Orange ink. There can never be too much Orange, so maybe one day I will, but so many other colors fit well with this pen and nib. It may be a boring choice, but I’m thrilled with the Brown shades of Pelikan Edelstein Smoky Quartz in this pen, an ink I haven’t given much of a chance to previously. It’s a perfect match, and I wouldn’t hesitate to go a second round with it when I write this one dry.
In a sea of similarities, Pelikan still finds a way to be unique amongst the flock, while staying true to their roots. I can’t help but be continually impressed by everything they make.
(I picked up this pen from Nib Grinder at the 2024 Atlanta Pen Show in a trade for products.)
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