Top 10 Pen Brands in the World

There is no denying that pens have been a very important part of our history. From signing important historical documents to writing love letters, from the arts to the sciences, our love for a good pen has been cemented throughout history continuing even through the digital age. 

Despite the ever-increasing presence of screens and innovative technology in our lives, pens remain a staple with unwavering popularity continuing to endure the rise of the mouse and keyboard.

With the fierce competition from many different brands, it can be hard to know which brands are the best, however, we’re here to help! Let’s take a deeper dive into the world of pens and look at the top 10 brands in the world, in no particular order. (its actually 11 brands, we cheated and added an extra one)

Cross Pens

Cross pens, manufactured by the A.T. Cross Company is America’s oldest manufacturer of writing instruments, with history expanding back 175 years. The company was founded in 1846 by Richard Cross in Providence, Rhode Island. The first products made by the company were ornate gold and silver casings for wooden pencils, they then went on to develop mechanical pencils, fountain pens, and ballpoint pens.

Cross writing instruments have been designed to be easily refillable and reusable for a lifetime of enjoyment, this is guaranteed across all of their pens. To uphold the trust of its customers throughout the years, Cross offers an industry-leading Lifetime Mechanical Warranty, setting them apart from other brands. All Cross writing instruments come with a guarantee against mechanical failures, regardless of age and any writing instrument requiring service under this warranty is immediately replaced with a similar or equivalent item. 

With growing success over the years and becoming a million-dollar brand, Cross has now become a global leader in the fine writing industry, with one of its biggest achievements being the main supplier of pens to the American White House since the 1970s.

Parker Pens

Parker Pen Company was established by George Safford Parker in 1888. Parker had a background as a teacher of telegraphy and did not start as a pen maker. In addition to his teaching income, Parker started selling pens for the John Holland Pens Company, his students becoming his main purchasers.

Parker was inspired to create his own fountain pen, due to the lack of availability of good quality pens that wrote well and did not leak around that time. Parker has now written its way into many homes, classrooms, and offices to this day. As the company continued to develop, many creations joined its repertoire including: Parker Sonnet, Parker Vector, Classic, Arrow, and Parker Jotter, which became U.S president John F. Kennedy’s favourite pen.

Associated with excellence, Parker continues to stand strong to date, expanding to include refills and inks in its product lines.  Parker features in our blog 'The Ultimate Fountain Pen Guide' and the History of the Fountain pen for a number of innovations improving the Fountain pen.

Montblanc

Image Source: https://precisionwatches.com/montblanc-meisterstuck-and-starwalker-pens/

Montblanc has established itself as one of the leading creators of luxury writing instruments. Founded in 1906 by designer August Ebesteirn in partnership with Alfred Nehemais, a Humburg banker, they came together to develop a range of simple-to-use fountain pens. The company was soon taken over by Wilhelm Dziambor, Christian Lausen, and Johannes Voss, who set Montblanc on a journey to becoming a worldwide brand.

The German company now has a diverse array of products, expanding from luxury pens to also include; jewellery, perfume, watches, sunglasses, and leather goods. It has now become a global leader in luxury accessories.

There is no denying Montblanc puts the ‘E’ in exclusivity when it comes to their limited edition collections like the High artistry edition, the Meisterstrück edition, or the Great Characters, cementing its place as one of the most premium brands on this list.

Sheaffer Pens

Sheaffer was founded by Walter a. Sheaffer in 1912, fast-forward through the years the company still proudly continues the tradition of innovation and quality craftsmanship that Sheaffer had envisioned from the beginning. The company first started as a small backroom business with only 7 employees and throughout the years grew into one of the top designers and manufacturers of writing instruments and creative tools. The American-grown company continues to set the bar above its competitors, creating products that inspire creativity.

Sheaffer continues to innovate by introducing new lines of creative, colourful, and high-quality tools of expression, teaming up with creative minds and artists from around the world and allowing them complete freedom of expression.

Pilot Pens

Pilot began life in Japan by two marine engineers Ryosuke Namiki and Masao Wada in 1918, known originally as Namiki Manufacturing Company and later as Pilot pen Co Ltd. 

Pilot Pens are one of the largest stationery companies in the world, stating on their website:

"Your custom has allowed us to achieve the title of “world’s number 2 brand in writing instruments” and we thank you sincerely for this. " - PilotPen.co.uk

With such rich history and a reputation for aggressive innovation to improve their products, it is no surprise they are such a successful and popular pen company worldwide. 

In 1964, Pilot released the Capless, a fountain pen that has a fully retractable nib, just like a clickable ballpoint pen, and therefore doesn't require a cap making the pen more efficient and user friendly.    So popular was this pen, that it is still going strong today.

In 2007, the Pilot Frixion was released and it became an immediate success.  Using thermosensitive ink, the pen has the ability, with the use of its eraser, to remove ink from the page.  Users have embraced the freedom to make mistakes without the fear of permanent marks, and this unique feature has made FriXion a staple in classrooms, offices, and homes worldwide.

Aurora Pens

1919 marked the birth year of the pen brand Aurora. Founded in Italy by Isaia Levi, Aurora became the first true Italian fountain-pen company, displaying high levels of craftsmanship and quality throughout the years in the pen-making business.

Aurora now has a broad range of products, ranging from inexpensive and popular ballpoints to highly-priced limited edition pieces. From their inexpensive “Young” line pens to their moderately priced “Everyday” pens, which include Ipsilon, Style, and Magellano, there are pens to suit all budgets.

Aurora is most famous for its Diamanté limited edition writing instrument, a highly priced diamond-studded pen featuring an astounding 2000 diamonds. The pen was said to be worth at least 1 million Euros.

Lamy Pens

Founded by Josef Lamy, a sales representative for Parker pens in Germany, 1930 marked the birth year of the business when Josef Lamy purchased the pen manufacturer Orthos and started his own business. The company launched its first fountain pen ‘Lamy 27’ in 1952, the same year the company officially changed its name to Lamy, after Josef himself.

Lamy went on to launch the ‘Lamy 2000’ fountain pen in the Autumn of 1966, the fountain pen has now paved the way to the clean design ideal, which is still upheld in the creation of all Lamy writing instruments.

The Lamy 2000 fountain pen has now become an iconic pen known for its well-balanced features. It works as an impressive daily writer making it a staple in everyone’s collection.

And the Lamy Safari needs no introduction.  It is claimed by many to be their first fountain pen.  It is affordable, the nibs are reliable and can be interchanged, and Lamy often update the Safari with fun and limited Edition colours. The Lamy Safari Fountain pen made it into our 5 Best Fountain Pens for Beginners list due to its popularity.

Papermate

In 1940, entrepreneur Patrick J. Frawley saw the opportunity to improve the ballpoint pen ink due to the poor product performance in the pen industry at this time. He acquired his first company, The Frawley Pen Company, from a ballpoint pen parts manufacturer, going on to develop an ink that dries instantly. This ink would be used in their now-famous “Paper Mate” pens.

Papermate, famous for its high-quality ballpoint pens and rollerballs, offers a range of stationery with excellent durability and enjoyability for everyday use. From mechanical and wooden pencils to erasers and other stationery items, Paper Mate offers a wide range to help you find what you need for daily note-taking.

The company is always striving to keep its customers happy with new products and innovations, upholding its fantastic quality throughout, these products have become staples in pencil cases.

The company has now taken the green-conscious biodegradable approach, setting an example in the industry by making environmentally friendly stationery.

Montegrappa Pens

Founded in 1912 by Edwige Hoffman and Heinrich Helm, Montegrappa was created under the slogan "Manifattura pennini d'oro e penne stilografiche", meaning maker of gold nibs and fountain pens. Originally known as Elmo, Montegrappa started with a small group of local talents, with a strong drive to achieve excellence.

Montegrappa has played an important part in history, from being used to sign important documents during crucial moments in the 20th century to being a personal favourite of writers and novelists Ernest Hemingway and John Dos Passos.

Montegrappa has now cemented its position as one of the main manufacturers of luxury pens, specialising in a flow of limited edition writing instruments. These pens are the epitome of elegance, making them an ideal gift for weddings, corporate occasions, and other occasions.

Cello pens

Image source: https://www.cellowriting.com/category/pens

One of India’s most recognised stationery brands, Cello pens was founded in 1995, going on to become the leading manufacturer and distributor of writing instruments. Cello pens began its journey by manufacturing and marketing a wide range of classic ball pens, using imported tips and inks from Germany.

With a heavy focus on innovation and high-quality writing instruments, Cello soon became India’s most loved pen brands over the years. The company would eventually be bought by the stationery company BIC, changing its name to BIC Cello.

BIC Cello has continued to expand its product portfolio, offering high-quality products in the stationary categories like permanent markers, white board markers, mechanical pencils, fountain pens, and many more.

Pelikan Pens

In the world of fine writing instruments, one name has consistently risen above the rest, capturing the essence of elegance, craftsmanship, and innovation: Pelikan. With a rich history dating back to the early 1800s, Pelikan has established itself as a true titan among pen manufacturers.  And it is their Fountain pens that take centre stage.

Founded in 1838 in Hanover, Germany, Pelikan has consistently offered the highest standards of quality and precision in pen craftsmanship. They have seamlessly blended tradition and innovation to create pens that are not only functional but also works of art. Pelikan pens are cherished by collectors, enthusiasts, and discerning writers alike.

Each pen is meticulously crafted with precision and care, using only the finest materials. Their nibs are renowned for their smoothness and reliability and are handcrafted by skilled artisans.  Pelikan pens also deliver an exceptional writing experience. Whether you're jotting down notes or signing important documents, Pelikan pens glide effortlessly across the page, leaving behind a trail of exquisite ink.   It is for these reasons that people choose a Pelikan pen over other brands.

Since its invention, the pen has continued to be an important part of the progress of human knowledge and communication. All these brands showcase an excellent, high-class mastery of their art and craftsmanship, whilst still preserving their brand values. Here at Executive pens Direct, we are proud to offer some of these amazing pen brands in our collection and we hope this article has given you a closer look into the world of pens, shaping your decision on which brand you think is best for you.

There are so many more brands that we haven't been able to mention, and many will argue that we have missed a brand from our list.  Let us know below who you think should be added to our list below.  We may well have to compile a top 20 list.