| Engraved pens make a superb gift. They allow you | | | | surfaces and leather. Pens with a distinct pattern do |
| to personalise your chosen pen, making the gift | | | | not take an engraving well because it clashes with |
| meaningful and special. Engraved pens are ideal for | | | | the pattern. It is usual practice for the message to |
| occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, | | | | be engraved horizontally down the barrel, although it |
| valentines, father's/mother's day, retirement, or | | | | is possible to engrave around the barrel as well. The |
| merely to say you care. A pen is an ideal gift to | | | | location of the engraving can vary from pen to pen. |
| engrave as it allows a good sized message down the | | | | In some cases the message is engraved on the cap, |
| barrel of the pen. In addition, the engraved message | | | | because the barrel is unsuitable. The font size of the |
| can be viewed whilst the pen is in use. | | | | message is dependant on the size of the pen. If the |
| One of the most important considerations when | | | | pen is chunky then the pen suits a bigger font, whilst |
| purchasing an engraved pen is how different surfaces | | | | slimline pens suit a smaller font. |
| engrave. Pens with a lacquer finish (e.g. black pens) | | | | Most engraving machines today utilise computerised |
| have a colour varnish that coats the main body of | | | | laser technology, which uses pinpoint accuracy to |
| the pen (usually in brass). When such a pen is | | | | engrave a pen. The pen is clamped into the engraving |
| engraved, the lacquer is chiselled away to reveal the | | | | machine, and the engraveable area is defined via a |
| surface underneath. Consequently the resultant | | | | guidable laser. This area is translated onto the |
| engraving is usually in a gold or silver colour. The | | | | computer screen, where you can type in the |
| advantage is that the engraving stands out very | | | | engraving message. Most engraving machines have a |
| clearly. The disadvantage is that the engraving does | | | | large range of fonts available, ranging from fancy |
| not always match the trim of the pen. Stainless steel, | | | | decorative fonts to classic Roman fonts. The |
| solid silver and chrome pens engrave directly into the | | | | Gravograph machine engraves individual lines to |
| surface of the pen, producing a very tasteful | | | | create the letterform. Some letterforms are made up |
| engraving. Stainless steel is a very hard surface and | | | | of just one line, which gives a subtle result. Other |
| thus does not produce a very strong engraving. In | | | | letterforms are made up of 2 to 5 lines, giving a |
| addition, if the chrome surface is brushed, the letters | | | | bolder effect. Once the message to be engraved is |
| do not stand out very clearly. Carbon fibre, a popular | | | | entered on the computer, the engraving depth is set |
| material for pens, can be engraved into. The trick is | | | | which determines how deep the diamond cutter |
| to rub silver or gold leaf into the engraving so that it | | | | engraves into the surface. The deeper the engraving, |
| can be read. | | | | the bolder and more noticeable are the letterforms. |
| Surfaces that cannot be engraved include uneven | | | | |