If what you are looking for is to impress through a gift, there is no shortage of options in the shops and department stores that fill every town and city. However, no gift impresses more than style, sophistication and reminiscence of the cultured society of the past. While there is a wide variety of unusual gifts for men and women, among the most appreciated are writing instruments, not only for their design and value, but for what they communicate.
The fact is that such items reflect well on both the giver and the recipient. While modern pens are impressive in their own right, finished in silver, gold, and stainless steel, and some even wrapped in exotic snake skins, the pens of yesteryear suggest the kind of refined civility lacking in the worlds of today
Fuente thinks, in particular, represents the mundane and the erudite. They require a technique in their use that is both skillful and masterful, and they are designed to work seamlessly across the page. Such a gift suggests that the giver’s impression of the recipient is that of a mature person, a learned and worldly being. And as far as the recipient is concerned, the person from whom you received such an eye-catching gift has shown care and consideration in choosing it, something only those with good taste can demonstrate.
Add to that the accessories that can complete a writing set, and the picture grows. Such items are ink blotters, desks, inkwells and ink sets, quills for antique effect, and portable writing boxes. The list of writing artifacts that can be added to the pen is long, each with a specific value beyond the figure written on its label.
In both cases, there are a variety of options that any buyer can examine before making a purchase. Any stationery store will have a large number of pens for sale at a variety of price points, and while this may suffice for most people, a discerning shopper will be looking for something more special.
Often it all comes down to the nib, literally, as pens can come in ballpoint, ballpoint, and fountain pen designs. Preferences are also decided on the barrel of the pen, which can vary in thickness and shape, or the weight of the pen in the hand, with some of the heavier models being preferred for their continuous movement.
When it comes to fountain pens, prices can run into the thousands of pounds, with caps made from solid sterling silver and nibs that are as intricately engraved as they are designed. Nibs can be made of 14-karat gold, steel, or chrome-plated, and can be broad or fine. Barrels come in a variety of metals, carbon fiber, and even wood.
Of course, the writing boxes add a truly authentic old world feel and the timeless sophistication that it permeates. These items contain everything you need to store pens, ink, paper, and envelopes, all neatly organized in a box that’s available in a variety of wood types. These boxes are specifically designed to reflect the elegance of the Victorian era, with special contents including a range of the highest quality paper and reservoir nibs. The inks are available in a selection of colours, with wooden blotters often sporting brass knobs and finishes.
Designs can vary in size dramatically, but the most impressive is probably the portable field desk, a portable box that, when the lid is lifted and unfolded, becomes a desk that sits comfortably on your companion’s lap. user. Quality paper, inkwells and, of course, pens to suit such a classic design, are all packed inside to provide the refined writer with everything they need.
It may be true that giving such items is unusual, but unusual gifts for men, and of course for women, speak volumes. While more traditional types of gifts may be appreciated, unusual ones, like the kind of beautiful fountain pens and writing boxes discussed here, are treasured as a reminder of shared respect and gratitude.