Piguet Genève Sets Its Sights On Affordable Luxury
Share
Nancy Olson Contributor Writer, editor, publisher and fan of all things handwritten.
I love the fact that pen companies may be found all over the world, proving that writing and writing implements are globally inspired—and make good business sense, too. And here’s a brand I just recently discovered, Piguet Genève, whose multi-national presence includes headquarters in Geneva, logistics in Istanbul, and a business office in London.
The company was originally founded in 1959 in Geneva by Albert Friedrich Piguet, whose intention was to produce high-end pens at an affordable price. Piguet was born in Neuchâtel, but spent most of his life in Geneva, where he followed his entrepreneurial spirit. World War II intervened, causing a multi-year delay of his plan, but he ultimately established the “Atelier Mécanique d'Albert Friedrich Piguet,” thus fulfilling his dream
“Piguet’s best known pen drawings are of his first collection: Taurus,” says Samet Memişoğlu, who purchased the brand in 2019. “His convictions enabled him to create an exceptional product, [and] through his relentless energy, the brand got off to a promising start.”
But there were challenges ahead.
“It was 1970s when the notorious Quartz Crisis occurred in Switzerland. Piguet’s workshop also suffered from the crisis and had to be closed,” explains Memişoğlu. “Having retired from the arduous adventure of manufacturing pens, Albert Friedrich Piguet spent the last years of his life in Lucerne with his wife and grandchildren.
“But Piguet’s original creativity and ingenuity remain and have steadily increased,” says the 35-year-old businessman. “Since 2019…the company has manufactured a wider array of writing instruments than it did during its formative years.”
Pen in Hand
Memişoğlu, who has been responsible for the design of most of Piguet Genève’s pens for the past few years, says he became enamored with writing instruments following stints at Montblanc and Montegrappa after graduation from college.
“During these times I traveled a lot and I visited almost all the luxury pen manufactures. I fell in love with pens,” he explains.
With a preference for large pens and a love of a good nib, Memişoğlu says, “I use our Black Taurus pen with a broad nib on a daily basis. I always sign documents with it, and it’s a cool pen for daily use.”
The Pens
Adhering to the company’s goal of providing affordable luxury, the resin pen collections range in price from $250 to $3,000. The series is available online and in retail shops all over the world, including the U. S.
The Taurus is the centerpiece of the collection, no doubt in a nod to its historical significance. It comes in a variety of stunningly vivid resins, such as orange, violet, green and red. Each cartridge- or convertor-filled fountain pen offers gold-plated trim, a screw-on cap, and a medium-size steel nib. Rollerball pens are also featured.
Various limited editions, using precious metals and fitted with 14-karat gold nibs, are also among the company’s offerings. One such pen is the 100-piece Count of Geneva, produced for the brand’s 63rd anniversary this year. Count Rudolf of Geneva, as he was known, also forms the logo of Piguet Genève, thus his image and ideology are of particular significance. The pen comes in an intricately engraved wood presentation case.