Time and Line
Pens and Watches in Unity
There are several common threads between the art of fountain pens and watches: both are precision masterpieces, embody timeless beauty, and represent the pinnacle of human ingenuity. Some luxury brands have combined the tools of writing with the marvels of timekeeping. Let's take a look at pen-watches!
Fountain pens equipped with mechanical watch movements are not merely functional objects but works of art that perfectly merge technology, design, and aesthetics. In this article, without aiming for completeness, I will present four outstanding examples: the creations of Caran d’Ache, Cartier, Richard Mille, and Anura Rafael. But first, it was an antique dip pen that inspired this article’s theme—with a ticking DEA mechanical watch embedded in its top section.
I managed to find the wristwatch version of the movement, likely manufactured in the early 1930s. With the advent of quartz watches in the 1970s, watches built into ballpoint pens became widespread. But just as they spread in a massive wave, they have now disappeared from the market. Let’s take a leap and explore the cutting edge.
Cartier
Cartier was founded by Louis-François Cartier in Paris in 1847 and remained under family control until 1964. The company is headquartered in Paris, although it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Swiss Richemont Group. While specializing in rings, bracelets, necklaces, and of course watches, they also produce exquisite perfumes. A lesser-known but equally fascinating product category is the pen-watch combination. Some of the writing instruments equipped with watches made by Cartier even include calendars. The limited edition item below is called the Gilt Calendar Pen Watch. Out of the 2000 ballpoint pens made, one was sold by Christie’s in 2017 for 1 million HUF.
The following antique-style Cartier piece features a classic white-dial mechanical watch with blue hands. The black lacquered "pen watch" sold in 2018 for $2,600.
Caran d'Ache Timewatch
The name Caran d’Ache is well-known in the world of luxury writing instruments. The Swiss company crafts its masterpieces with precision engineering and exceptional attention to detail. One of their unique creations, the Timewatch, is described by the company as a celebration of the passage of time and the art of writing. The pen’s design is exceptionally meticulous, paying tribute to horological traditions while remaining innovative—a prime example of Caran d’Ache's master craftsmanship. It’s remarkable how thin the section housing the watch is. And there’s no compromise on design: the pen’s nib window brilliantly echoes the watch’s dial.
Creating such a marvel required not only courage but also expertise and patience (and lots of money), which is why it took Caran d’Ache more than two years of research and development to complete the pen. To make room for the ultra-thin movement that powers the watch, Swiss masters had to redesign the pen’s original dimensions.
Looking at the pen, it’s astonishing how all 145 components were fitted into a pen with a 15 mm diameter and 151 mm length when closed. As for the mechanical movement, Caran d’Ache collaborated with Swiss watchmaker Le Temps Manufacture SA, whose ultra-thin miniature movement runs for about 40 hours per wind. The mechanism, featuring 18 jewel bearings and rhodium-coated parts, can be admired through a sapphire crystal window. The pen also includes an innovative filling system, where a miniature piston mechanism is activated through an external filling device. The introductory price was 40,000 Swiss francs—about 17.7 million HUF today. Buying six of them would cost the amount shown below.
ANURA RAFAEL Pen and/or Watch
A fountain pen that transforms into a watch—or a watch that transforms into a fountain pen, depending on your perspective. The Write Time concept was born in the mind of watchmaking engineer Anura Rafael, who has worked behind the scenes for nearly 15 years on numerous horological projects for the world’s most renowned brands. The Write Time features a rather complex construction. Developed over two years, the entire concept was designed by Anura himself and is built around an innovative tubular linear structure. Its gears are mounted vertically and driven by a one-minute tourbillon—all clearly visible through sapphire, much to the viewer’s delight.
The structure is made up of no fewer than 472 parts and has an unusual design. At the end, a large ribbed crown allows the mechanism to be wound and the time to be set. What is particularly advantageous about the design, besides the unusual dimensions, is that the time can be easily read, whether the ‘time capsule’ is on the wrist or on the end of the fountain pen. The Write Time features a leather watch strap with an 18k rose gold outer case, a case of sorts if you will. The intricately designed stylus is also made of 18k gold, and is encased in the same alligator leather that the watch strap is made of. The gold nib is available in different sizes depending on the customer's preference and can be used with either a piston filler or a cartridge. Swivel rings with a patented internal geared locking washer system make it quick and easy to attach to a bracelet or pen.
Every component of the watch, pen, and case is crafted by selected artisans from the Jura Mountains region, ensuring that this product is 100% Swiss Made. Each Anura Rafael Write Time piece is made to order, allowing the client extensive input on exactly how they want their finished item to look. This personalized, collaborative creative process offers a wide range of customization options, including the choice of materials, colors, finish, mechanism, nib, and travel case. Best of all, this means that every piece is custom-made, and no two models are exactly the same. Prices start at 245,000 Swiss francs. That’s 100 million HUF.
Richard Mille Mechanics (Almost a Watch)
His name is synonymous with watchmaking and innovation. The RMS05 fountain pen is the perfect embodiment of the brand's philosophy: a meeting of cutting-edge technology and 21st-century design. This special pen not only contains a mechanical system but also features an automatic mechanism that controls the extension of the pen nib.
When writing is finished, the mechanism automatically retracts the pen nib. The uniqueness of the RMS05 lies in the fact that it uses the same precision engineering found in watches—yet it isn’t a watch. The RMS05 is not only outstanding in functionality, but it also dazzles with its design made from carbon fiber and titanium. This is best seen in the video below. Here, a button at the end of the pen activates the mechanism fitted with a retracting tube and pipe, which extends the nib in a single smooth mechanical motion. The nib receives ink from a cartridge inserted by removing the front part of the pen, so it does not interfere with the fine mechanics inside.
The mechanical fountain pen is made of NTPT carbon, and its surface is created by layering hundreds of sheets of the material using an automatic deposition system that changes the fiber orientation between layers, making each pen unique. The material is heated to 120°C, then processed by Pro Art – Richard Mille’s in-house case manufacturer – at which point the layers become more visible. The result somewhat resembles Damascus steel, though with a more irregular and finer pattern. For its size, it’s not incredibly heavy, thanks to the NTPT carbon body. I was unfortunately unable to determine the current price of the pen. In 2016, it cost 105,000 dollars. It likely hasn’t become cheaper.
Tamás Szűcs / 2025.05.
