Parker Place Vendome Rollerball Pen in Silver Ecorce Finish w/ Chrome Trim

Description

This listing is for a Parker Place Vendome Rollerball Pen in Silver Ecorce Finish w/ Chrome Trim in new old stock condition in what appears to be the original case. Also comes with a new black Parker refill.
The World of Fine Pens and Pencils
Fountain
pens are descended from quill pens, with sophisticated metal nibs replacing the old feather quill shafts. They use water-based ink, dispensed from disposable cartridges, or from an onboard refillable reservoir called a "converter".
Fountain pens are pressure-sensitive, releasing more ink (for a thicker line) as pressure on the nib increases. Different sized nibs are available to suit different writing styles; if you're not sure which you need, start with a medium.
Calligraphy
pens are fountain pens with a different type of nib. Where normal fountain pen nibs have a ball-shaped tip that can write in any direction, calligraphy pen nibs are cut flat and so can only be pulled (not pushed) across the paper. The flat nib is needed to create letters with sharp tops, corners, and serifs. If buying your first calligraphy pen, look for one that includes a booklet of lessons.
Rollerball
pens have a ball point but they are not 'ballpoint' pens; instead they use a water-based ink that is smoother, 'wetter', and better-behaved than the oil-based ink of regular ballpoints. For this reason a rollerball ink cartridge is more likely to dry out over time. It's is also more likely to leak in your pocket or purse during temperature or pressure changes, which is why rollerball pens always have caps.
Ballpoint
pens use an oil-based ink that is thicker and 'drier' than the water-based ink of fountain and rollerball pens. Consequently, ballpoint pens tend not to dry out or to leak, and ballpoint writing dries very quickly. However, writing with a ballpoint requires more pressure and more hand exertion than with a rollerball, and the inkline is more likely to skip or clump. Many brands offer optional gel-based ink cartridges to somewhat correct these disadvantages.
If not sure which to buy
, the general guideline is that rollerball or fountain pens live indoor, while ballpoint pens are for going outdoor in pockets and purses, cars and airplanes.
Trim Options
Chrome
trim is the second most common trim used on fine pens and pencils. Like gold trim, chrome trim is applied over a base metal chosen for its strength - typically brass or steel . Pure chromium is then plated on using an electrified chemical bath or as a hot vapor.
Chromium has a very convenient chemical property: the atoms exposed on the surface will readily combine with oxygen from the atomosphere, forming chromium oxide. Chromium oxide is very hard and durable, yet also brilliantly shiny and attractive. The chromium oxide surface protects the chromium underneath it from both chemical and physical insult, and the structural metal (brass or steel) underneath that.
Chromium is not a precious metal, so chrome trims are not graded in purity the way that gold is graded in karats. Nevertheless, chrome trim is classically tasteful and will endure for generations - far longer than gold trim, if the pen is in active use.
About the English Channel Collection
The English Channel Collection was born in 2010 when I discovered my love of classic pens.
It started when I inherited a large cache of beautiful old collectors' pens -- four decades' worth of Parker, Waterman, Cross, and Sheaffer. Initially, I picked out my favorites for personal use... but soon discovered just how delightful it is to write with a truly fine instrument. Then I found the world of pen collectors like you, and I knew I had to become a part of the community.
My products are fancy classic pens from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. They are carefully stored in my house where they are climate-controlled, safe, and comfortable. I personally clean, test, and approve each pen.
I guarantee each and every pen. I guarantee that you will love the pen. If you don't, for any reason, you can send it back, no problem. I will even pay the return shipping. Any of these lovely pens is a joy to own, but if something goes wrong, then I will take care of you.