Graf Von Faber Castell for Bentley Limited Edition Centenary Medio fountain pen

A secret art of original aesthetics
Looking at the 2010 Special Edition, you are fascinated by the interplay of delicate engravings and elegant marbled steel parts.

Until the end of the 19th century, the marbling of steel was a sign of the high quality of a weapon, given the inimitable shine it provided. For centuries, this process was passed on by word of mouth and kept a jealous secret.

Metal surfaces were steeled by using charred leather, generating shifting color hues when cooled. To date, it has been found that up to 20 parameters converge to generate this surprising visual effect, among which are the thickness of the metal, the temperature and the cooling speed.

Shifting color hues
Extensive experience in craft work can influence results, but never accurately anticipate them. Thus, no two marbled metals are completely alike.

The metal surface is perfected according to an elaborate engraving process framed with 24-karat gold inlays. Today very few workshops can combine these traditional arts with the mastery required by the 2010 Special Edition.

Before tempering the steel, the pen of the year is engraved through a traditional process. The engraver hand chisels the dovetail guide into which the gold inlay is inserted for subsequent polishing. A final result that requires great skills and precision for perfection