Pelikan Souverän M800
Since its introduction in 1987, the Pelikan M800 has been a favorite for many pen enthusiasts and it is often considered the most iconic of the Souverän series.
Pelikan is known for the high quality and smooth writing experience of their pens, and the Souverän M800 is no exception. Despite its fairly large size, it brings a comfortable balance to most hands, contributing to its widespread popularity. Its classic design, ink capacity and piston filling system further solidify its iconic status.
At Appelboom, we have various editions of this special pen available. Browse our store and compare your favorites to find your ideal pen. Read on below if you want to learn more about what defines the M800.
Design and material
The Pelikan Souverän M800's launch coincided with the fountain pen renaissance in the 1980’s. People started to use fountain pens again for special occasions and rather than everyday products they became collector's items, with more elaborate designs and many special editions.
The M800 is one of the largest pens in the Pelikan Souverän series. In fact, it is the second largest fountain pen Pelikan has produced, with only the M1000 topping it in size and weight. Thanks to it being more accessible in size than the M1000, as well as its 18kt gold nib bringing finer writing to the table than the smaller M600, the M800 is a real crowd pleaser.
There are a lot of instantly recognizable design elements, that is if you are already familiar with Pelikan fountain pens. The Souverän M800 features the well-known resin body, embellished with two metal rings and a screw cap with the beak-shaped clip.
M805
For those who prefer silver over gold, Pelikan also offers the Souverän M805. This model comes with palladium plated trimmings as opposed to the classic gold. But apart from the change in esthetics, the M805 is exactly the same pen as the M800.
Available editions of the Pelikan Souverän M800
There have been various limited edition models of the Pelikan Souverän M800 through the years, but there are only a few lines that are continuously in production and continuously in demand:
Comparison of the Pelikan Souverän M800 to the M600 and M1000
Visually, there is not much of a difference between the larger Pelikan Souverän models; the M600, M800 and M1000. However, when you hold the three models next to each other and compare their weight and feel, it is immediately clear where they are different.
Nibs
First of all, the Pelikan Souverän M600 doesn't have the same nib as the M800 and M1000. The M600 comes with a 14kt gold nib, whereas the other two are given a 18kt gold nib, adding a suppleness that offers a slightly different writing experience.
Size and weight
An important factor to any pen purchase are the dimensions. Hand sizes are different after all, and so not all pens fit the same way. If you have small hands or simply prefer sleeker pens, then you may like the M600 better than the M800. The same goes with the M1000 for those with bigger hands or an inclination towards large fountain pens.
To illustrate just how much the pens differ in weight and size, we will compare them side by side for you:
|
Weight Length closed Length barrel Length posted |
M600 16 gram 134 mm 123 mm 154 mm |
M800 28 gram 142 mm 127 mm 167 mm |
M1000 35 gram 145 mm 134 mm 175 mm |
The Pelikan Souverän M800 vs the LAMY 2000 and Montblanc Meisterstück 146
The Pelikan Souverän M800 is one of the more popular fountain pens in its segment. Two other German pens that can be seen as its rivals are the LAMY 2000 and the Montblanc Meisterstück 146. All three are great pens in their own right, but they are different in several key areas. We will explain these differences to help you make your choice.
Price
The prices for the three pens differ greatly, so the amount you’re able or willing to spend on a pen will definitely contribute to making a selection. The Lamy 2000 will cost you around 200 euros ($230), which is a very good price for a high quality pen with a gold nib. The Pelikan Souverän M800 more than doubles this amount at 550 euros ($620). The Montblanc however, is by far the least affordable, coming in at around 600 euros ($680).
Weight and size
Because all three pens are made of resin, they vary little in size and weight. The M800 is the heavier pen at 28 gram, compared to the LAMY's 25 gram and the 22 grams of the Meisterstück 146.
Barrel lengths are nearly similar: 127, 125 and 125 mm respectively. If you prefer writing with the cap posted, the LAMY 2000 is your best option, as it is only 154 mm posted. The Pelikan is considerably larger with 167 mm and the Montblanc is somewhere in between at 160 mm.
Nib
The Pelikan Souverän M800 is the winner when it comes to the nib quality. Out of the three, it is the only pen with an 18kt gold nib, the other nibs are 14kt gold. The Lamy 2000 as well as the Montblanc 146 both offer a great writing experience, but the smooth, supple writing experience of the Pelikan M800 is absolutely sublime.
Filling system
An important feature of any fountain pen is its filling system and ink capacity. The three contenders all have a piston filling mechanism, containing around 1.3 ml of ink. Since the Lamy 2000 has a hooded nib, it is a bit more difficult to wipe clean after a refill. And if you frequently change ink colours and wish to clean your pen in between fills, it is good to know that the nib unit of the Pelikan can easily be screwed out of the pen, allowing for an easy and thorough flush.
Pelikan Souverän M800 nib sizes
The Pelikan Souverän M800 fountain pen has a rhodium-plated 18kt gold nib. It comes in four different sizes: Extra Fine, Fine, Medium and Broad. The nib unit is easily interchangeable, so if you ever damage your nib or no longer enjoy the line width of the pen, you only have to buy a new nib unit, instead of a whole new pen. This also makes it possible to buy multiple nib units and alternate between sizes for different writing styles.
How to fill the Pelikan Souverän M800
The Pelikan Souverän M800 fountain pen can be filled quite easily. It uses the same patented differentiated piston mechanism as most of the other Pelikan fountain pens. Order your Pelikan ink bottles together with your fountain pen to never run out of ink.
To fill the Pelikan M800, first empty the chamber by twisting the piston knob at the end. Dip the nib in the bottle of ink and twist the knob back. When the pen is full of ink, let it drip for a moment and use a tissue or a piece of cloth to wipe any excess from the nib. If you wish to use a different ink colour, we recommend flushing the pen before filling it up with the new colour.
Order your Pelikan Souverän M800 fountain pen online at Appelboom
A luxury pen requires a luxury treatment. At Appelboom, we always make sure that our pens are shipped with due care and delivered in pristine condition. You can easily order your pen online from our store and it will be delivered as soon as possible. Should you have any questions about our services or about the Pelikan Souverän M800 itself, please contact us.