The Pelikan M250 Black occupies a distinctive position within Pelikan’s hierarchy of writing instruments. Introduced in 1985, it was designed to sit above the more accessible M200 whilst remaining below the more luxurious M400. In essence, the M250 may be viewed as a bridge between Pelikan’s entry-level offerings and its higher-end Souverän series, combining practicality with touches of refinement.
Like the M200, the M250 shares the same size, dimensions, and lightweight construction, making it comfortable for everyday writing and particularly suitable for extended sessions. Both pens are crafted from polished resin, a material that offers durability as well as a lustrous, scratch-resistant finish. The most striking difference, however, lies in the nib. Whereas the M200 carries a reliable but modest stainless steel nib, the M250 was fitted with a 14-carat gold nib, lending it a distinctly more refined writing experience. This change elevated the pen from an everyday tool to a writing instrument of character, capable of pleasing those who value smoothness, responsiveness, and a touch of softness in their line.
Comparing to the M400, the M250 reveals its deliberately restrained positioning. Both the M250 and M400 are equipped with gold nibs, yet the M400 typically received Pelikan’s finely decorated, partially rhodium-plated nibs, with more elaborate engraving and a greater range of nib widths available. The M250, by contrast, retains the clean simplicity of the M200’s design, merely enhanced by the presence of the gold nib. In short, the M250 provides the refinement of gold without the embellishment of luxury.
The design itself evolved over time, with two principal styles. The pre-1997 variant, often called the “old-style” M250, featured a derby-shaped cap top, two slim cap bands, and a plain piston knob without decorative ring. After 1997, Pelikan modernised the model with a crowned cap top bearing the Pelikan logo, a single broader cap band, and the addition of a trim ring at the piston knob. This later “new-style” form presented a sleeker and more contemporary appearance, closer in spirit to the higher-tier M400. Collectors today prize both variants, though the old-style carries particular charm for those who admire traditional Pelikan aesthetics.
As with all Pelikan pens of its class, the M250 employs a piston-filling mechanism, celebrated for its durability and its generous ink flow. The reservoir holds approximately 1.2 millilitres, sufficient for most writers whilst maintaining the pen’s slender and balanced profile. The piston system itself is an enduring feature of Pelikan’s engineering, offering not merely function but also an enjoyable tactile ritual in the act of filling the pen.
Production of the M250 came to an end in the early 2000s, around 2005, leaving it with a relatively short lifespan compared with other Pelikan models. Its discontinuation, however, only increased its appeal, for it remains a pen that straddles two worlds: more refined than the steel-nibbed M200, yet more modest and understated than the luxurious M400. Collectors and writers continue to seek it out, not least because it represents excellent value: one acquires the smoothness of a gold nib and the reliability of Pelikan craftsmanship, but without paying the premium commanded by the Souverän line.