Product Description
Type Modern cartridge/converter filling fountain pen with hand-painted barrel.
Product Name Sonnet - Mark 1
Manufacturer and Year Parker – 1996 (the cap band is marked with the date code Y).
Length 5-1/4"
Filling System Fills via Parker style cartridges or with a converter. A brand new Parker piston converter is installed.
Color This gold and brown mottled finish was called "Chinese Laque Ambre." The trim is 23k gold plated. We've heard that this is one of the hardest to find finishes, and was only available in the first series of Sonnets. The design contains some Chinese characters which are written in red on the cap (see photos). The loose translation we understand had something to do with not being machine-made....
Nib FINE solid two-tone 18k nib is very smooth with lovely tipping. It has just slight flex to it, the springyness you find in modern nibs, not real, vintage flex. The nib is marked F on the back side. This is a later Sonnet nib which has been used. Some scratches on the sides of the nib.
Condition Near mint condition for this very beautiful, elegant fountain pen. The section has a small deep scratch mark near its bottom trim ring. All other trim pieces and the clip look great. There are no cracks, chips, dents, dings, scratches, or personalization. All imprints are crystal clear. The Chinese characters on the cap are perfect.