Pens of Note - Krone
A number of the Krone pens are aimed for collectors. Afterall, some that are $16,000 per pen are not used for everyday writing, at least not amoung the people I know. I use my pens everyday. To me, my pen is an expression of me. Krone creates good quality pens and I am pleased to have them in my collection.
Krone Fiction
At the first meeting in which I used my Krone Fiction the pen sparked a conversation. It was hard to get the meeting back on track!
I have the Fiction in the picante colour scheme -- bold burgundy and yellow stripes. The swirls of micro-striped resin truly create a very distinctive look. The pen also comes in the Truffle model with green and turquoise blue colours.
I found the pen to be of a good size. Sitting closed, the pen is 5 1/4" in length. Writing with the pen, with the cap posted, it is 6". When posted, the cap sits snugly on the pen.
The 18 karat two tone gold nib is very smooth and the pen nicely glides across the paper leaving a solid line of ink. I have a broad nib in the pen and it has character. An easy pen to write with. Some broads can be like a paint brush, just too much ink flowing, but this nib leaves a distinctive sharp stroke. Nibs for this pen are available in Fine, Medium and Broad.
The pen has a piston fill mechanism. The screw-type piston plunger is accessible when you remove a small cap at the end of the pen.
Turning the piston mechanism anti-clockwise expels ink, and turning clockwise draws ink into the pen. Return the screw cap to the pen and all the filling mechanism is out of sight.
I would rank the amount of ink the pen draws as medium and of a sufficient quantity for the size of nib. I have been using the pen at a number of meetings, with a fair amount of writing. I found the ink capacity of the pen is reasonable. Of course, fill up your pen in a meeting and a whole new conversation takes place! People really like to ask questions about this pen!
The clip of the pen has a snug feel, and there has been no problem clipping it into a dress shirt pocket. The size of the clip looks well proportioned for the pen itself - and that is important to the overall look of the pen. (Clip is 1 1/4" in length to a 2 1/8" cap.
From information Krone released on the pen, they had hoped it would be mesmerizing to the eye and smooth to the soul. At its first debut the first comments received were that the pen “had a lot to look at”. So I guess Krone was successful!
The Sterling
My other Krone pen is The Sterling. Described in the pen catalogues as “simplicity and elegance” I can only say the description is very apt.
I have quite a few pens, but using this classic looking sterling silver pen is consistently resulting in compliments. Made with solid .925 sterling silver the pen is sleek but is of substantial size. This pen has weight.
The etched design runs the length of the pen except for the nib section. This gives the pen a classic look and I find it helps with the feel and grip of the pen. The etched design also helps to ward off the “finger print” issue that silver pens can have when there is no pattern.
The pen is 5 3/4" in length with closed with the cap on. With the cap posted, the pen is 6 3/4" long. With this pen I have been using the pen without posting cap. When the cap is posted, it needs a slight twist to help sit firmly on the pen. You will probably find at 5 1/4" inches without the cap posted it has a good length to rest in your hand.
The pen clip, always an important consideration when I view a pen, is of a good size (1 3/4" to a 2 3/4" cap). There is enough spring to the clip to securely be clipped in a shirt pocket.
The pen uses a cartridge or convertor fill mechanism. Twisting off the nib section from the body is very smooth. A good metal to metal screwing mechanism. A regular size converter enables you to use any ink you wish.
So for me, 2009 started off on the right foot. My two Krone pens are "regulars" as I make the selection of pens to accompany me for the day. Now, when I see the next profile of a Krone pen in one of the pen magazines, I will be looking at the ad from the eyes of an owner of a Krone pen. That feels good!
Information on the Krone Pen Company is found in the Companies Section.
