The 7 Most Expensive Pens in the World

Do you like to journal by hand? Is doodling a way of life? Are you writing a novel on the riverbank in the 1600s? These are all equally valid reasons to buy a pen, but how much should you spend on one? Five bucks? 99 cents? Eight million dollars? 

“Luxury” pens are preposterous, and you won't believe what these things go for. My morbid curiosity got the best of me as I was searching for the world’s most expensive pen, so perhaps yours will, too. Here are seven nonsensically priced pens, for your reading horror.

Price: $86

Let’s start light. This pen, which does the same thing as all the other writing instruments you’ve used in your life, costs nearly $100. That’s about $99 more than I’d be willing to pay for a pen. If you too think this is a crime, just strap in.

Price: $500

Expensive fountain pens are one thing, but expensive ballpoint pens? We are now up to $500 for this writing utensil. “Platinum-coated details” is the closest thing I can find to a selling point. You better be about to sign the Declaration of Independence if you’re buying a pen for this much money.

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Price: $1,115

You’ll see Montblanc pens on this list a lot, and that’s because they specialize in luxury pens, watches, and other one-percenter stuff. You can scour the product details looking for what’s so great about this $1,115 option, but I’ll summarize here for you: Nothing. It’s a blue pen.

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Price: $13,340

Only a grand for that last pen, you say? You’re right, and we can crank that price up quite a bit. Say hello to the Montegrappa Tutankhamun Limited Edition Rollerball Pen. I’m aware you can’t really see the pen too well in the photo, but how am I supposed to skip this image of the over-the-top display? 

This box set kills me. Imagine if you were at somebody’s house and you asked to borrow a pen. And then imagine that person said, “Yeah, one minute,” returned with this monstrosity, set it down in front of you, and added, “Careful with this pen, if you don’t mind. It cost, like, um, well, it cost $13,000.”

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Price: $534,000

Though this pen is not currently up for sale (shame, right?), it was once on the market for a measly $534,000. The body of the pen is themed, too: It commemorates the first known ascent up Mont Blanc mountain in France in 1786.

I assume that climbers Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard turned to each other on that fateful day and discussed their dreams that one day this journey would be commemorated the right way. The only way. With a half-million-dollar pen.

Related: You Won't Believe How Much These Collectibles Fetched at Auction

Price: $1,500,000

A milly and a half for a writing tool that's supposed to remind you of a watch. Apparently, 10:10 is the most aesthetically pleasing time to look at on a clock. Oh yeah, and it's made of 18-carat white gold and covered in over 850 diamonds.

Price: $8,000,000

I don’t know, y’all. What could I possibly say that would make you think this is worth it? Do the 945 black diamonds and 123 rubies make any difference to you? What about the heaven gold nib at the top? "Fulgor Nocturnus" sounds like a spell, which is good because this better be an actual magic wand in order to deserve that price tag. A Shanghai charity auction saw this “pen” sell for $8 million. I hope whoever won it never gets robbed.