Faber-Castell is an unusual company in that they produce for both the mass-market and the luxury market, under the same brand name. As one of the world's largest producers of writing utensils, the German company is well-known in schools and art supply stores for their affordable pencils; yet their E-Motion Fountain Pen, at $200, goes above and beyond their pedestrian fare.

Made of black anodized aluminum, the pen's barrel is adorned with a guilloche finish. (This is essentially the finer, more manufacturing-intense version of knurling. The former is done by engraving, whereas the latter is achieved by pressing a patterned tool against the workpiece.)

The spring-loaded clip recalls the gesture lines of a sports car.

Overall, the "dynamic shape" of the design "stirs passion," according to the company. "The look and feel of the masculine aluminium barrel with its guilloche pattern mesmerises pen-connoisseurs."

The E-Motion line also includes a capped rollerball ($200), a twist mechanism mechanical pencil ($175) and a twist mechanism ballpoint pen ($132).