The prestigious and long-standing German luxury pen brand, Graf von Faber-Castell, which started as a pencil factory over 250 years ago, continues to operate in the same location, in the town of Stein near Nuremberg, and remains under the ownership and management of the Faber family. Last year, the company launched a new limited edition collection, the Pen of the Year 2022, dedicated to the Aztecs – their culture, meticulous aesthetics, and spiritual rituals.
The world’s oldest gemstone, turquoise, was considered one of the most important treasures in the Aztec world. They embedded it in their dagger handles, masks, and shields. The figure of their god of death, engraved on turquoise stone, is integrated into the pen’s cap. The pen’s body is coated with diamond-like carbon (DLC) and decorated with embossed skulls, inspired by the Templo Mayor. The grip area is made of obsidian – volcanic glass formed by the rapid cooling of lava. The Aztecs used obsidian to make sword blades and arrowheads.
According to their prophecy, the Aztecs would find their new home where an eagle rests on a cactus while devouring a snake. The pen’s cap is designed in the shape of the cactus from the prophecy, and the entire story is illustrated in vivid colors inside the gift box containing the writing instrument. The edition is limited to 375 fountain pens (around 7,200 euros each) and 125 rollerball pens (around 6,800 euros each).
