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.

🤣🤣🤣

The preferred writing instrument of Charles Dickens, presumably.

People spend far more on things they like, eg bags, why not a pen?

But if you do that, how can you humble brag about your expensive pens on Mumsnet?! ;)

MN is great for inverted snobbery! People have spent far more for the opportunity to see two middle-aged, scruffy Mancunians 'sing' next year and that's considered a good thing, had that been spent on an evening at the Royal Opera House no doubt many would consider it 'elitist' !

But a good many are not too, are they not allowed opinions or possessions?

Is it not compassionate to respect the fact that others are in fact entitled to speak on things relevant to them, without always having to centre the delicate sensitivities of those actively choosing to be triggered? Especially on a forum explicitly open to those from all walks of life?

A poster ought not assume the authority to police what others can and cannot discuss.

I used to love coloured ink back in my proper pen days. Those days are long gone, though.

A reliable pen is a thing of joy, but for me perhaps elevated by its transience.

But at least the pen is better value than an oasis concert ticket, and will last longer.

I once worked in a high end store in London and someone spent 84k on a pen!

Think how much lovely VAT that generated

Glad you've got sorted.
I know some people have been snarky about how much you've spent on a pen, but if you can afford it and it's something you get pleasure out of, then why not? You're not hurting anyone or anything.

I handwrite daily as I keep a daily diary (I have done since I was 16 - now 47 - and it's a habit and part of my daily routine). The handwriting also helps with my degenerative condition as I get weakness in my hands due to my nerves being trapped in my vertebrae and handwriting helps keep my hand "trained" - although (luckily for me as I can't afford so much for a pen, lol), I'm happy with my Bics - especially blue ink. I also find some pens very difficult to write with as I'm left handed, so fountain pens are a no-no for me unless I rip the page to shreds and pens that are quite thick are a no-no for me too.

I am struggling financially and I’m not upset by this post or the OP spending that much on a pen. When I was young I was given a Parker pen and I loved it, the way a nice pen writes is so different! Plus it’s nice to see someone writing and enjoying the process, we rarely write these days.

Lovely pen, lovely writing OP - coming from someone who will likely never afford such a pen. Spend your money where you want, no aggro here.

Love pens, specially ink pens, currently using this Waterman with deep purple ink every day, also have Cross and Mont Blanc.

I can't believe a thread about a pen could be this entertaining.

Thank you, OP.

I don't consider it a good thing, I think the people who spent ridiculous money on Oasis tickets are morons.

But I don't know, perhaps I am slightly envious of the ability to spend £620 on a pen whilst I sit here using my freebie work conference biro....

Get a fountain pen with a converter. Diamine do a fantastic range of ink colours at a very reasonable price.

Then start looking at brands like Vinta and Wearingeul. There are shimmer inks, sheening inks, shading inks, scented inks. I'm currently eyeing up the Octopus Fluids sheening inks. I love Petrichor and Abalone, both by Troublemaker inks, with beautiful shading.

I use my pens for work and journaling - it's nice to take minutes in work meetings, or just write a to do list with a nice pen with a beautiful coloured ink in it.

I used to write in brown ink all the time, but it became difficult to get cartridges in anything other than blue or black. I do have a pot of brown ink though.

I got a Waterman as my leaving gift from my last job. I use it quite often, but then I still write proper letters.

Going through the admin side of a bereavement, I really appreciated that the registrar and funeral director had decent weighty pens. Felt fitting.

Hope you find what you need op and get much more enjoyment from your own.

I am absolutely intrigued as to how you connect how someone is writing with the pen they use? that isn’t how pens work you know, even the really expensive ones don’t write for you.

if the op had come back and said actually I’m disabled and I struggle with writing would that be acceptable?

A lot of people are given pens as gifts, or inherit them; op has an expensive pen but may not necessarily have bought it themselves.

Even if they had bought it with their own cash it doesn't mean it's a waste of money because a good pen that writes well and looks and feels beautiful all last a lifetime and longer if you look after it.

My dad spent £3K on a fancy electric guitar when he could have bought one for less than £100. My mum bought an all-singing, all-dancing, fancy pants electronic sewing machine when all she does is hem trousers up every now and again. Does it matter? Not really.

I think PP are missing that the pen brings the op joy, and makes writing a pleasure
It's the same as a pair of diamond earrings, designer shoes etc etc would bring joy to another woman
Personally I'm on disability benefits and my favourite pen is a pilot v5 but the principle is the same

Check out Diamine, they definitely do brown ink cartridges, and you'll likely have a choice of shades.

This was back in the days when I was st school/uni and just using a WHSmith cartridge pen.

I think that people from all walks of life should be able to post on here and it provides so much value to discussions.

But PP is right here OP.

The decisions you made have impacted the response you have received and the you just haven't been very classy about it all.

Mentioning the name of the pen without the price would have been appropriate.
We all know the brand is expensive, but declaring the exact amount in the title is tacky.

It wasn't your post but the way you went about it.

I celebrate people who have beautiful things and I don't think you should be ashamed of your pens... but also remembering the situation of others and showing compassion would go a long way.

I am in pretty desperate circumstances with my finances right now and feeling beyond anxious and hopeless.

I'm not sure what my future is going to look like... but your post wouldn't have bothered me if you had approached it a bit differently.