You'd think that a campaign for a pen would involve some actual writing... After all, people who buy pens tend to write with 'em. And people who write are usually of the readerly persuasion as well... Whatever.

It's just there's such a rich history of pen advertising out there. From Neil French's Parker Campaign to Alfredo Marcantonio's Parker Campaign to Tony Brignull's Parker campaign... It's simply criminal not to do better than what's been done before in the category... Is it that no one has the time anymore to think deeply about the product?

Ah, well.

Carmichael Lynch usually does really great work; maybe this campaign is the result of a heavy-handed client...

well said CopyWhore, I couldn't agree with you more. (I just wanted to rhyme...)

actually I remember a not-bad campaign for similar dead expensive pens that some students did at school.
The whole print ad would have someones handwriting, and in the wee corner was a small image (sorta like the page was folded up in the corner) revealing the author and his/her pen. It started out with classic stereotypes (a punk chick writing poetry about death), other examples got more and more outrageous with famous people and love letters to their dogs. It was a great idea for a campaign that seemed to have the potential of going on forever.

Nothing wrong with this ad... Quite sweet but not earth shocking. You won't see this in Cannes or at the D&AD, but I wouldn't be surprised to see this at the New York festival.