Graf von Faber-Castell, Rollerball Pen of the Year 2020 - Sparta, LTD Ed. Silver Ed. 18K Nib, silver

Graf von Faber-Castell, Rollerball, Pen of the Year 2020, Sparta Limited, Silver

Graf von Faber-Castell, Fountain Pen, Pen of the Year 2020, Sparta Limited, Black Edition

Gods and Heroes

After its first edition in 2003, the Pen of the Year earned an exceptional position among enthusiasts of luxurious writing culture. As a limited edition, each edition tells stories of eras and peoples whose deeds shaped the history of humanity. The Pen of the Year 2020 is inspired by the Greek heroes of Sparta and their king Leonidas.
For centuries, the small province of Sparta was the strongest military power in ancient Greece. The discipline and invincibility of the Spartans are legendary, acquired from childhood through their rigorous training, the Agoge – translated as “upbringing, rearing, discipline.” Spartan society was militarily oriented, their destiny determined by the gods: alongside Apollo and Artemis, the courageous Athena was considered the most important deity. She stood for wisdom, strategy, and combat and was also revered as the “guardian of the city.”

Tempered and Perfect

The educational system, which every male Spartan underwent from childhood, was tough and physically demanding. Drilled in bravery, endurance, fearlessness, and self-denial, the aim was to make them the best warriors of their time. As Spartiates, they became full citizens, the ruling minority in the Spartan state, and thus elite fighters for all of Greece. Heavily armed with shield, breastplate, helmet, and greaves, they went into battle on foot. They had to acquire their very expensive armor, tailored to their own body shape, themselves. The qualities of the armor – durability, hold, aesthetics – are also embodied by the Pen of the Year 2020. Seven rough diamonds of 0.35 carats on the ruthenium-coated, matte, sand-blasted barrel of the writing instrument symbolize the robustness, strength, and uniqueness of the courageous Spartans. The milled decoration on the barrel is reminiscent of the striped armor in the lumbar region of their breastplates.

Battle and Myth

At the beginning of the fifth century BC, major wars broke out between Sparta and the Persians, who sought to conquer Greece. Despite overwhelming Persian superiority, the Greeks held their ground – and the myth of the invincible warriors was born. Essential for their defense was the helmet, made from a single piece of bronze. The Corinthian helmet type was most widespread in the archaic period. It protected the head and, with its narrow, elegant slit for the eyes and horsehair plume, intimidated the opponent. The spring-loaded clip on the cap of the Pen of the Year 2020 is inspired by the Greek helmet crest and thus by the powerful shape of a horse's neck. The gleaming cap itself, like the end piece, is polished to a high shine.

Courage and Manliness

With their reputation as an unyielding, strongest army in Greece, the Spartans were highly valued allies in the Hellenic and foreign state systems by the mid-6th century. Their battle at Thermopylae is world-famous. Leonidas confronted the superior forces of the Persian King Xerxes and managed to temporarily hold him back at a geographical bottleneck with only 300 Spartans. The brave warrior paid for his courageous effort with his life – but the majority of the Greeks retreated in time and defended the land. In battle, the large, round shields were indispensable for the Spartans, as they could protect the entire upper body. They inspired the lacquered inlay in the end cap of the Pen of the Year 2020, which shows the Lambda, the eleventh letter in the Greek alphabet. As an abbreviation for the Lacedaemonians – the historical name of the Spartan state – the Lambda emblazoned as a coat of arms on the shields of the Spartan warriors.

Perfect Fit and Powerful

The Pen of the Year 2020 was created in homage to the blacksmithing skills necessary for making the Spartans' armor, short swords, and shields. Its distinctive barrel is adorned with high-carat, hand-set diamonds, inspired by the rivets on Spartan armor. The milled, matte grip section of the writing instrument is a reference to the warriors' breastplate, shaped to conform to the body's anatomy. Details such as the milled decorations on the barrel of the writing instrument recall archaic patterns on the Spartans' protective, perfectly fitting combat attire.

Willpower and Loyalty

For years, the war raged between the Greeks and Troy, which Menelaus - later king of Sparta - fought for his beautiful Helen. Bravery, honor and loyalty were special qualities of the Lacedaemonians. The Pen of the Year 2020 reflects their legendary era: the matte, ruthenium-coated barrel, the grip section, the clip and the lambda sign are reminiscent of the majesty and sophistication of their armor. 90 rollerballs and 310 fountain pens are available. A certificate signed by Charles Graf von Faber-Castell confirms the limitations.
The exclusive writing instruments are stored in a highly polished black wooden box.

Black and High-Carat

Limited to 80 rollerballs and 270 fountain pens, the exclusive Black Edition of the Pen of the Year 2020 is released. The anthracite-colored metal barrel with a titanium PVD coating is adorned with a milled decoration, as well as 42 rough diamonds of 2.1 carats in 7 rows of 6 pieces. They are reminiscent of the rivets on the Spartans' protective clothing. The spring-loaded clip on the cap is inspired by the Greek helmet shape. The inlay in the end cap shows the Lambda character, which symbolized the warriors' cohesion on their defensive shields. The 18-carat gold nib with ruthenium coating promises a unique writing experience. The grip section cites the ancient Greek breastplates and brings the myth of Sparta and its heroes to life.

Presented with Quality

All writing instruments are kept in a highly polished, black wooden box. A certificate with the signature of Charles Graf von Faber-Castell confirms the limitations.