2011 Pen of the Year - Jade

The 2011 Pen of the Year uses Russian jade, a precious stone with a history going back several thousand years. In its highest quality it is more costly even than diamonds. Jade was formerly reserved for emperors, kings and high-ranking nobles and was revered in the Far East as the "Stone of Heaven". 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 jewelers 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 jewelry. 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 manufactury. 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.

Each individually numbered pen comes in an exclusive wooden case. The green lid, polished repeatedly to a high gloss, perfectly reflects the colour of the jade. The accompanying certificate bears the personal signature of Count Anton Wolfgang von Faber-Castell, attesting to the limited edition of the Pen of the Year 2011.

Fountain Pen - Limited to 1,761 pieces in honor of the 250th Faber-Castell Anniversary.
*The 2011 Pen of the Year is no longer available.