Photo Credit: mlovesvintage
Vermeil S.T. Dupont Classique Ballpoint Pen, Circa 1970s or 1980s
Asking Price: $181.93 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)
Pros:
-Here is a vintage 1970s or 1980s S.T. Dupont Classique ballpoint pen made from vermeil – gold plate over solid sterling silver – with a red Chinese lacquer clip.
-This pen measures 5.3 inches (13.5 cm) in length.
-S.T. Dupont is a French luxury goods firm that got its start in 1872 as a maker of high-end leather goods, primarily briefcases. By the mid 20th century, the company had branched out into other personal accessories, but was best known for its superb quality lighters.
-The streamlined appearance and subtly fluted decoration of this sterling silver S.T. Dupont Classique ballpoint pen make it an iconic vintage piece.
-According to legend, in 1973 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (the widow of assassinated President John F. Kennedy) asked S.T. Dupont to manufacture a pen to match her beloved Dupont lighter. The company obliged and the result was its immensely popular Classique line of pens.
-S.T. Dupont pens have a reputation for being very robust and reliable – a highly desirable attribute when purchasing a vintage item.
-S.T. Dupont is a luxury goods brand that tends to fly under the radar. It isn’t nearly as well known as some bigger brands, such as Cartier, Louis Vuitton or Burberry. But I believe this is ultimately a good thing. It has allowed S.T. Dupont to stick to doing what it does best – producing high quality lighters, pens and other accessories.
-This vermeil S.T. Dupont Classique ballpoint pen is in good condition, with no major visible defects.
-Vintage items from the 1970s and 1980s are rapidly becoming very collectible among antique enthusiasts. And this elegant S.T. Dupont ballpoint pen, with its solid sterling silver construction and storied history, hits that niche perfectly.
-With an asking price of $182, I believe that this S.T. Dupont ballpoint pen is fairly valued and would make a wonderful addition to any vintage pen collection. It would also make a unique and unusual gift for that special person in your life.
Cons:
-Photos reveal that some interior parts of the pen have a bit of corrosion. This is not unusual for a pen that is 30 to 40 years old and could undoubtedly be corrected with a judicious cleaning.
-Some pen collecting enthusiasts might shy away from this sterling silver S.T. Dupont Classique ballpoint pen because it is not a fountain pen. While some people might prefer one kind of pen over the other, I feel that there is no inherent collecting advantage or disadvantage to either ballpoint or fountain pens.
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