AIBU to think I will never get a refill for my (£620) pen?

[MelanieD29]

I have a few pens that I use, one of my favourite being my Chopard Brescia. The pen still sells on Chopard's website, but I am finding it hard to source refills for it.

www.chopard.com/en-gb/rollerball-pen/95013-0439.html

I'm in a bit of a panic now as I installed my last cartridge for it today. It writes lovely, but worried as have ran out of refills for it now. I normally use a Parker Duofold or Cross Townsend for day-to-day use, and my Brescia normally only comes out when signing important things (quite sentimental!).

Does anyone have ideas as to where I can source refills for the Brescia? I can't seem to see them for sale on Chopard's own website, and Selfridges didn't have any in stock when I visited recently.

You spent £620 on a pen?

Worst coming to the worst, are there any interchangeable (generic) refills that are similar in size and shape to Chopard's "easyFLOW 9000"?

Yes. I have a few pens like this, but this is my only Chopard and can't interchange the refill I have for the other ones with this. The Brescia is one of my favourites, but I like the Duofold or Cross Townsend for more day-to-day use.

These ones?

amzn.eu/d/6GJdaTa

My partner says Schmidt make a wide variety of rollerball refills. Maybe they have something suitable?

As Chopard are still selling the pen on their website, could you email them to ask if they can advise on where to buy cartridges?

Struggling to see how the price of the pen is relevant to the refills.
And surely contacting them directly would be more useful than posting on Mumsnet?

Or these?

cultpens.com/products/retro-51-easyflow-9000-ballpoint-conversion-refill-3-pack?variant=43185200824563&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD5GXwNpASzKub5fKDBVaD-aSTI8d&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlvW2BhDyARIsADnIe-LSeGnopV1R3NuuKfzR1NEUBoB2Li5kVbtXH_QD0DuTIArrPdZeEA8aAojDEALw_wcB

Wouldn’t calling Chopard be your first port of call?

@MontagueLeo @GrumpyOldCrone Ah, fantastic - you have saved the day! Thanks so much. I didn't realise the "easyFLOW9000" was made by Schmidt. Wonderful, thank you both so much! :)

There's a phone number on their website. Probably easiest to give them a call.

Was going to, but I started my last one yesterday so have been thinking about to over the weekend and just wanted some thoughts or alternatives in case of the worst and it would be hard to get more. That's the great thing about Mumsnet in a way - lots of people here can think of things I wouldn't have. Had no idea that the cartridge name was generic. My other pens have different size cartridges.

My my. I've bought cars for £620 in my time 😂

What is it about a £600 pen that makes it worth £600? Not snarky, genuinely curious.

You’re a brave, brave woman, @MelanieD29 . Coming onto AIBU to reveal you have multiple pens costing north of £600 a pop.

Ever entered the lion’s enclosure at the local zoo?

Not going to lie, my 15 year old has better handwriting using a Bic

I wish I had the brain that could keep a pen for longer than 5 minutes. I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever run a pen out!

Do Schmidt also do something generic for the Cross Townsend (in rollerball) too?

I use this more (day-to-day) and this is another where I have found it increasingly hard to get refills. I am okay for now as I have a stock left of them, but got worried as John Lewis stopped selling the refill for this a while back in store.

www.iguanasell.co.uk/products/cross-townsend-rollerball-pen-platinum-silver-polished-resin-at0045-1?srsltid=AfmBOorjjWkvxR5Gwi2LihuKLC7mgfZ3Sz7ktiMejr22K4lrZYpNJY8wqkI

Cross are not selling the rollerball version on their website anymore. I like this one as the Cross Townsend is the same pen that American Presidents use to sign their paperwork.

https://cross.com/en-gb/collections/townsend?srsltid=AfmBOopeFtW8TtKNigffFWmEVtdFrWWF7xN0edd4roaSAxMyo5a1C9nm

How do you even use up a cartridge, let alone more than one, if you only use the pen for signing documents?

Alright, that was uncalled for haha! I only scribbled the date to show how the pen writes - I write better normally. Although that said, am typing more and more these days. Maybe that's why!

There are some specialist pen websites. They might be able to advise, or even have something on their websites.

Writing with a really nice pen is a joy, feeling the ink running smoothly over the paper.

I’m also intrigued by why you write so much with a pen as opposed to on your computer. I find I hardly hand write at all nowadays — and I regret it.

I will no longer resent paying £4 in Tesco for 10 zebra Z-grips.

Decent pen they are. DH I'd always stealing one.

Mainly for notes and things like that, which is why I get through a good few cartridges.

I'm wondering what you do for a career that involves so much writing. I love pens but struggle to find a use now.

There is a pen sub Reddit.

I see you've answered my question while I was posting.