Scarcely any other wood expresses such an enigmatic beauty as ancient wetland oak wood. It takes thousands of years for an oak tree to turn into such a sought-after and precious wood. Its deep, often gnarled textures make wetland oak look like driftwood found on the shore. But, in fact, these extraordinary pieces of wood have been buried for as many as 8,000 years in German bogs and marshes. The discovery of each find is a matter of chance and each piece seems to have a mysterious story to tell. No metal has fascinated mankind across centuries and continents as much as gold has: people have decorated themselves with it and fought over it. Its very name is synonymous with value and sovereignty and it expresses both power and love. At the beginning of the modern age it was one of the key driving forces behind the great voyages of discovery as people searched for El Dorado, the legendary land of gold.
After studying old Venetian gilding techniques and winning the Bavarian State Design Award, the gilder and church painter Ernst D. Feldmann has achieved the almost impossible: layer upon layer of 24-carat gold leaf is applied to the oak pen barrel in an intricate and detailed process. Embedded in resin, this reveals a unique pattern of reflections that only the purest gold can display.
A fascinating encounter: the deep structure of ancient wetland oak, whose beauty has been naturally wrought over thousands of years, together with gold, that lends a supernatural sheen to the most beautiful works of art created by mankind. A sensitive and masterly touch is demanded, if gold leaf is to mould perfectly to the graining of the oak barrel of the pen. The gold leaves are carefully applied by hand using a fine squirrel-hair brush. A 4,000 year old technique is used that dates back to the Egyptians and is mastered by only a select few people today. Such an extraordinary craft demands particular artistry and skill.
The combination of gold leaf and ancient wetland oak makes the Pen of the Year 2012 an extraordinarily luxurious fountain pen. The 18 carat bicolour gold nib is available in line widths M, F and B, each one *run in* by hand. The end cap protects the twist knob for the filling mechanism. All metal fittings are 24-carat gold-plated. The masterpiece is crowned by a chessboard faceted citrine gemstone set in the cap. Each individually numbered writing implement comes in an exclusive deep black wooden case. A certificate, signed personally by Ernst D. Feldmann, attests to the 24 carat, leaf gilding on the thousands of year old German oak wood, as well as to the edition limited to 1500 fountain pens. The high-gloss collector*s case with glass lid and two removable trays made of linden wood provides a masterly setting for any collectors favourite pens.

Bringer of luck, symbol of power, elixir of immortality – jade has always been surrounded by a special aura. From the earliest times, advanced cultures created jade objects of fascinating variety. The great jewellers of the Art Deco period discovered jade for their luxurious creations. Before then, the Russian goldsmith Fabergé – famous for his opulent jewelery – had already created artistic desk utensils from jade.
That unique symbolic and creative energy naturally predestined the green gemstone for a special role in celebrating Faber-Castell’s 250th anniversary. Eight segments of jade symbolize the eight generations that have made their mark on the family firm to date. In reference to the year when the company was founded, this exclusive edition is limited to 1.761 pens.
In China, no other stone was or is valued so highly. In a tradition that developed over the millennia, Chinese craftsmen advanced the working of jade to perfection. Revered as the stone of the gods, jade was reserved for kings and emperors. The link between the gemstone and the display of power and authority found perfect expression in the mythical jade emperor Yu Di. The oldest Chinese dictionary defines jade as “beauty in stone with five virtues”: human understanding, modesty, wisdom, justice, and courage – virtues that should still determine the way we treat people.
Jade is remarkably hard and resists efforts to work it – a fact that has inspired craftsmen through the ages to supreme feats. Extraordinary skill is required to bring out the astonishing qualities of this gemstone.
The Pen of the Year 2011 uses Russian jade. This emerald-coloured nephrite is delicately mottled; its deep green exhibits some appealing shadings. The jade is found in Siberia, but the exact location has always been one of the dealers’ best-kept secrets. Even today, the hunt for jade is something of an adventure.
Numerous processing steps are required before a piece of jade can be inserted into the Pen of the Year. From the first slice of the raw stone to the final polish, the craftsman must recognize its unique nuances and bring out jade’s natural gleam. Only very experienced jewellers can achieve that. None but a genuine artist can master the cuts typical of jade. Piece by piece, he chisels out a masterpiece in stone. A platinum-plated frame encases the individual pieces of jade, making the pen a special piece of jewellery. The elaborate faceting of the stones on the barrel and cap is the crowning glory of the Pen of the Year.
Immaculately faceted and polished, the jade is given its final and perfect form by a master craftsman of the Stephan gemstone laboratory. He is backed up by the long tradition of the Idar Oberstein workshops, that were set up in the 15th century and now enjoy a world-wide reputation.

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.

EQUUS - 2009 Pen of the Year - Limited Edition
A Near-Forgotten Art....Few creatures have inspired people’s imagination as much as the horse. Stone Age cave paintings preserve it in lively color; many deities are depicted on horseback, some even in equine form. The winged steed Pegasus brought thunder and lightning to Zeus as an insignia of his power, and in reward was immortalized as a constellation in the heavens. The wondrous mane and tail of a horse are not just naturally beautiful but also to withstand the elements. Towards the end of the 18th century, horsehair began to enjoy a high status as an elegant material for chair coverings. At first it was woven exclusively by hand, but in 1872 the first mechanical loom for the coveted material was constructed. Its natural properties and the difficulty of processing mean that horsehair is still used for extravagant furnishings and luxurious fashion accessories. The barrel of the Pen of the Year 2009 is woven in exquisite quality from horsehair. The weave is done individually, hair by hair, by Dorit Berger, the only person in Germany who still weaves horsehair by hand. This platinum-plated, individually numbered, magnum sized fountain pen fills via a special plunger action mechanism and will be produced for just 12 months. The 18 carat, bi-color nib is available in medium, fine and broad widths. The elaborate craftsmanship make each Pen of the Year 2009 a unique work of art.

Petrified wood comes about in a crystallization process lasting up to 360 million years, during which wood, covered by water or ash, undergoes a unique metamorphosis. Minerals, metals, lime or even phosphorus penetrate the trees from the mighty layers of sediment. They gradually replace the wood,

but leave some organic structures in part as they are. In an environment rich in silica, petrified wood can then develop into a preliminary stage of the semi-precious stones chalcedony or agate.

Only Brazilian deciduous wood fulfills the high quality requirements for use as barrel material in the Graf von Faber Castell “Pen of the Year 2007”. Select stocks of this petrified wood have a very rare, dark coloring and are hard enough for a gemstone finish of the highest quality. The individual color hues vary from light brown, through elegant anthracite, all the way to a deep black that allows only a hint of the grain to be discerned.

Only the sensitivity of experienced gemstone polishers ensures that the unique nuances of the “stones” are shown to advantage, from cutting the hard rough stone to the masterful precision cut all the way to the final mirror finish. The master craftsmen of the world famous Herbert Stephan Gemstone Manufacture were predestined for this demanding task. Their logo embossed on each pen insures the genuineness of the fossil material. The platinum plated metal frame encases each one of the eight stones and shows off their unmistakable brilliance to best effect. The exciting combination of two materials that are so different is a unique visual and tactile experience.

This individually numbered, magnum sized fountain pen fills via a special plunger action mechanism and will be produced for just 12 months. The 18 carat, bi-colour nib is available in medium, fine and broad widths. The elaborate craftsmanship and the individual coloring of the barrel make each Pen of the Year 2007 a unique work of art.

Nature and environment have always been an important part of Faber-Castell – for 245 years they have been the world’s most prominent player in the manufacturing of wooden pencils. This year, in honor of Henry David Thoreau and the Walden Woods Project, Faber-Castell presents a limited edition rollerball made from historic ash wood salvaged from naturally fallen trees in Walden Woods. A quotation of Mr. Thoreau is etched in his handwriting on the barrel. Platinized metal caps and grips provide the finishing touches to the individually numbered, limited edition rollerball. Faber-Castell has embraced the message of Henry David Thoreau, who lived in solitude at Walden Woods for over two years. His reflections of that experience resulted in his book Walden, or Life in the Woods, which served as the root of the American environmental movement and the notion that ecological and economic interests can be balanced. The cooperation of Faber-Castell, the American Forests Trust and the Walden Woods Project is living proof of this ideal. For each limited edition fountain pen sold, a new tree will be planted in Walden Woods. Through conservation, education and research, the Walden Woods Project preserves the land that inspired Thoreau and applies his philosophy to foster environmental literacy and stewardship.Cartridge/converter fill. 18 kt gold nib.

Some materials were meant to be married, and so it is true with the black and white perfection of ebony and ivory. The dark brown, nearly black heartwood contrast-frames the creamy white of the raised guilloche ivory inlay. The polished Mammoth ivory disc set into the end cap reveals the typical texture of ivory from the outside. Since mammoth ivory absorbed moisture during the millenia it was buried in arctic ices, it has been carefully dried for 5 years to prevent cracking. Each 2006 limited edition bears an 18k bi-coloured 18k gold nib, a spring-loaded solid metal clip, and a platinized end cap to protect the knob of the plunger mechanism. Each is individually numbered and enclosed in an exclusive ivory-coloured wooden case along with the personal signature of master craftsman Jürgen Schott, attesting to the quality of the ivory.