The pen of the year 2012 is a combination of gold leaf and ancient wetland oak. It costs 4,695 USD which is understandable since the oak barrels gold overlay is applied by hand. The oak is also unique and it takes long, long time for it to become good enough for a pen like this. Some oak pieces has been buried over 8 000 years in German bogs and marshes. The Golden Fleece, the Nibelung Hoard, El Dorado has always been something people have decorated themselves with and fought over. When the pen is ready, it’s put in an exclusive black wooden case with a certificate by Ernst D. Feldmann who attests the to the 24-carat gold and the 1700 years old german oak. He also attests that the pen belongs the the 1500 limited edition fountain pens that Faber-Castell has made. It’s now the 8th generation Count Anton Faber-Castell running the company and the “pen of the year 2012″ release is proof that they are still in the game.
All the 14-carat gold applied by hand on the wetland oak is an amazing craftsmanship.
