Tibaldi Pens for Bentley

The value of exquisite penmanship may be fading in the digital age, but the bespoke writing instrument has remained a respected art form.  The penmaker Tibaldi of Italy began to collaborate on a collection with Bentley in 2007. The collection has grown to a substantial size with pens that are designed in the spirit of Bentley’s vehicle lineup including the Azure, Brooklands, Continental, Mulsanne and the Supersports. Tibaldi and Bentley also produced  a smaller Slimline pen and a limited edition pen that commemorated the 60th anniversary of Crewe. The pens are offered in an array of surfaces such as the Azure 18 karat Rose Gold or the Mulsanne Burr Walnut Sterling Silver. The Supersports is produced in a limited edition of 630 ball point pens and 630 roller pens, a number based on the horsepower of the powerful Bentley Supersport model. Each of the signature collections has nuances that incorporate Bentley design cues.

The Mulsanne Pen won the Most Exciting Motorsport Pen at Pen World’s 17^th Annual Readers’ Choice Award in July. It is inspired by a corner of the Le Mans track. The pen is made with knurled bands and is stamped with the Bentley starter emblem. The pocket clip is fashioned after the vehicle’s switch  gears. Only 90 pens of each style and surface were made for the collection.

Tibaldi was founded in 1916 in Florence, Italy. The artisan's technique bears similarities to the work of a watchmaker. Tibaldi uses a patented filling mechanism based on a derivative of phi -- 1.618. This number dictates the ratio between the pen cap and visible portion of the barrel. The pen case and certificate also incorporate phi. Tibaldi signatures include a clear ring around the barrel and a tie-shaped clip. Tibaldi prices are not advertised, but online dealers listings range for about $1000 to upwards of $40,000 on the high end.