The very first pen I ever used (once I had gotten my “pen license” back in Grade 4) was a Parker Jotter. Since then, the phrase “ballpoint pen” has come to be synonymous, for me, with Parker’s iconic design.

But what makes this pen so iconic?

It lies in the simplicity of the design. The Jotter is a clean, professional, straightforward writing instrument. The “feathered arrow” clip has come to signify this design, as has the tapered, almost bullet-like barrel. Since its introduction in the 1950s, the Jotter’s design hasn’t changed much. The technology within the pen is in itself remarkable, and shows the level of attention to detail, and the care and craftsmanship behind the design. For example, each click rotates the ink cartridge 90