Ex-pen-sive gift goes on sale

Jespers – a stationer based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire – is to sell a limited pen at its store this Christmas that is worth over £20,000.

The pen's price tag is £21,100 and it is one of only 38 created in the world. It is decorated with 261 white diamonds and its rim and nib are made from solid gold.

Made by Visconti, the handmade writing instrument is fashioned in Florence and comes with a resin presentation case to protect the pricey pen.

"It's a couple of stages up from a Bic biro," quipped Peter Jesper of Jespers.

He added: "It's a real once in a lifetime purchase, something that's a little bit different and it might tickle someone's fancy. It would be an absolutely fantastic Christmas present for someone."

Mr Jesper went on to state that he believed more and more people were splashing the cash when it came to stationery and regard it as they would a piece of luxury jewellery or an expensive time piece.

Due to the limited numbers of the Visconti Forgotten City fountain pen in circulation, it will only be available for purchase in Jespers' Oxford Street store in London as well as Harrods.