Is tobacco the new black?

Watch brand Cuervo y Sobrinos is introducing a new, lower-priced pen line call the Historiador. Produced by Italian pen maker Montegrappa, the pens are crafted from resin (available in "ivory" and "tobacco") with a choice of silver- or gold-tone trim. The clip is reminiscent of the lugs on the watches in the Historiador timepiece line. Available as a fountain pen with a 14-karat gold nib or a rollerball, each is priced at $1,395 or $995 respectively. Cuervo y Sobrinos first introduced pens to its line of luxury items a few years ago. This year, jewelry is making its debut. 

Though no photos of the pens are yet available, I did see prototypes at the recent BaselWorld trade show. They are well made: finely detailed trim, good balance (the cap is not designed to post), and all parts fit together well. My favorite is the tobacco color, which is a warm tone that is both unique in the world of pens and neutral in a more interesting way than black.

From Cuervo y Sobrinos

The Mille Miglia collection from  fine watchmaker Cuervo y Sobrinos includes a fountain pen ($2,900) and a rollerball pen ($2,500), each crafted from red resin. The decoration of the overlay, engraved with the Mille Miglia logo, recalls the typical grille of the Formula 1 cars of the pre-war era. The clip is reminiscent of the silhouette of the Esplendidos watch case—an important icon of Cuervo y Sobrino’s timepiece collection. There are just 1,609 pieces in the pen collection as a tribute to the 1,609 km of the legendary Mille Miglia race (605 fountain pens and 1,000 rollerballs pens). The fountain pen has an 18-karat gold nib and is filled by cartridge or convertor. Each pen comes in a collector box.