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| What You Will See at the 2007 Miami Pen & Watch Show July
13-15, 2007, at the Biltmore Hotel ELEGANT
PENS AND WATCHES
Today, computers dominate the way we write. Microchips help us keep time. But when the cold keyboard and flashing digits can be avoided, more and more of us enjoy the old-fashioned pleasure of writing with a fountain pen or wearing a fine mechanical watch. Like custom made suits and handcrafted jewelry, good pens and watches have become must-have accessories, objects to be proudly displayed…or quietly treasured and enjoyed.
Is it a throwback to the old days? Undoubtedly, yes. Status symbols? Sure. We like the way a good pen looks in our pocket or impresses when we brandish it and ceremoniously remove the cap (Isn’t the pen mightier, after all?). And if the watch on our wrist also draws admiring glances as we gesture or write, that’s part of the reason we chose it. Of course there’s more. A distinctive fountain pen or watch is a very personal item that expresses our individuality. We love the way a carefully chosen pen fits our hand, glides across good paper and reacts as we write, leaving infinitely varied lines and shading that express not only our words, but our mood, our feelings, even our very personality. And a fine mechanical watch is more than jewelry. Its tiny, ticking movement is a wonder of precision and craftsmanship, and a constant reminder of the value of human ingenuity. It helps us keep up with the world…or just enjoy life in our own time.
July 13-15: A full weekend of fine writing instruments and watches. The weekend of July 13-15, pen and watch enthusiasts, collectors, and dealers from across the country and around the world will gather at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables to display modern and vintage writing instruments and accessories, watches, and related items in all price ranges. It’s an opportunity to see, try—and purchase—some of the most beautiful and expensive pens and watches ever made. Enjoy the workmanship of the most expensive models. Or find affordable “user” pieces that just look and feel good. In fact, you’ll find more fine pens and watches than most people have ever seen in Miami at one time. As interest continues to grow, The 2007 Miami Pen & Watch Show promises to be more interesting than any time in its 14-year history. If you’re one of the ever-increasing number of folks who enjoy fine pens, this weekend offers an opportunity to see and try thousands of vintage pens from every era and modern pens, ink, and writing accessories from every major manufacturer. You can bring your own pens—or your parents’ and grandparents’ pens—for free appraisals, to sell or trade, or to have them repaired and restored. Many repairs can be done while you wait. And if you appreciate the exquisite workmanship and functionality of a fine watch, you’ll also find a terrific range of timepieces, including classic automatics, multi-function chronographs, elegant dress watches, simple vintage wind-ups and some of the most exquisite modern quartz-movement watches made today. Yet because of the informal and frankly competitive collectors show atmosphere, you can find real treasures at surprisingly favorable prices.
Friday and Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday from 10 to 4, the public is invited to the elegant Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, where you’ll find approximately 60 tables featuring many of America’s most respected pen and watch dealers and collectors, and pen manufacturers from around the world. Admission is $8.00 at the door each day, or $25.00 for a full-weekend Platinum Pass that admits you to early trading and pre-show events on Friday, plus dealer setup on Saturday and Sunday. Children 13 and under will be admitted free with a paying adult, and will also receive a free commemorative fountain pen. 2007 marks the 14th year of this growing show. The increasing popularity of this and other such shows that take place around the world, is largely the result of the surprising resurgence of interest in quality writing instruments, and elegant handcrafted timepieces. Since the early 1990s, older pen manufacturers and watch makers, both here and abroad, have been bringing out new lines in all styles and price ranges. Many have even resurrected some of their classic models using today’s technology. What’s more, a new generation of pen and watchmakers are introducing exciting new concepts and some captivating variations on the old ones. You’ll find many of them on display—and for sale—at the 2007 Miami Pen & Watch Show.
The Biltmore provides the perfect setting. The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables is a big part of what makes this show so special. It was built as a Grand Hotel during the Roaring Twenties, and was famed for its luxury even then. The Biltmore was a playground for the wealthy and a retreat for royalty, both Europe’s and Hollywood’s. We can only dream about the exceptional pens that must have come through the Biltmore’s marble columned lobby and frescoed ballrooms in the pockets and purses of such guests as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, assorted Roosevelts and Vanderbilts, Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, and even Al Capone. It’s still one of the most elegant historic hotels in the country, and a perfect setting for the luxurious items you’ll find on display at The Miami Pen & Watch Show.
Fabulous door prizes from Aurora, Omas, and Conway Stewart. Aurora Pens and Omas, two of Italy’s most respected penmakers, and the show’s primary sponsors, are providing exceptional door prizes for a Grand Prize drawing to take place around 3:00 pm on Saturday. Prizes to be awarded on Saturday include a red Omas Emotica fountain pen, a unique new model that exemplifies what’s exciting about modern pen design. This bright red beauty with its flexible-writing titanium-tip and unique dual-purpose pocket clip retails for $395. Saturday’s Grand Prize will be a limited edition Aurora Europa fountain pen valued at $750. It’s the third fine pen in Aurora’s popular Continents series; with its luminous, swirling, smoky grey and black celluloid body and rhodium-plated 18kt nib and trim, the Europa is already a hard pen to find. But you’ll see several at the Miami Pen & Watch Show. And if you’re the lucky person who’s name is drawn, you’ll take one home for free. On Sunday, The Grand Prize will be an exquisite new golden brown marbled Conway Stewart Wellington fountain pen with a $475 retail value, courtesy of Luxury Brands, the American Distributor of the old-time English pen brand. Prizes will be awarded in drawings from among all paid attendants at approximately 3 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Entrants must be present at the time of the drawing to win.
Free Calligraphy Classes. For the first time at the Miami Pen & Watch Show, show organizer Bertram’s Inkwell, is inviting show goers to attend a free 2-hour Calligraphy class, beginning at noon, both Saturday and Sunday. For just the price of admission to the pen show, the first 25 paid attendants who sign up for the class, will receive a free calligraphy pen to keep, plus 2 hours of basic instruction in the ancient art “of graceful writing” from internationally recognized calligrapher, Deborah Basel. Basel is a member of the Washington Calligraphers Guild and currently teaches calligraphy for Bertram’s Inkwell in Baltimore. According to Ms. Basel, calligraphy does not require artistic talent, just patience and a willingness to practice. Attendance is limited. Please pre-register for the seminar when you pay for your admission to the show. Sample a wide variety of pens, inks, and nib types. You can get help finding the point style that suits your hand best. Compare dozens of different ink colors and brands. Try pens, talk pens, and learn as much as you can absorb from experts and other enthusiasts who are more than happy to share their knowledge and preferences, or to help you find the pens that best suit your taste, writing style, and budget. Even if you only come to browse and learn, you’re sure to go home happy.
Exhibitors
from around the world. Besides
pen show sponsors Aurora and Libelle, manufacturers and distributors
of the most prestigious writing
instruments from
around the world
are expected to display their finest offerings.
Expect to see the best from Aurora, Omas, Libelle,
Visconti,
Stipula, Michel
Perchin,
Conway Stewart, and many others. Plus you can
enjoy the extraordinary
and often unique work of a variety of custom
penmakers. Repairs and restoration, plus a hands-on education. Master pen restorer, Roger Cromwell of Penopoly Pens in San Leandro, California will be offering expert repairs and nib adjustments to your pens—often, while you wait. You’ll be able to meet and speak with Paul Erano, the author of several popular pen reference books. And of course many well-known and respected collectors will be there, selling vintage, modern, and limited edition pens, watches and accessories.
You’ll find limited edition and one-of-a-kind pens and watches you are unlikely to see anywhere else. Some of these spectacular and often highly collectible pieces, which are often designed on a commemorative theme, can be more jewelry than pen—and command prices in the tens-of-thousands of dollars. Plus you’ll find a surprising selection of other things pen-lovers and watch aficionados long for: advertising, display items and ephemera, pen and watch cases, fine leather goods, parts and tools to do your own repairs, lead and erasers for vintage pencils, optical equipment, and an incredible selection of inks to sample or buy. See and try pens and watches you may have seen only in pictures…and many you’ve never seen at all. You can “test drive” pens, try on watches, and learn as much as you can absorb from experts and other enthusiasts who are more than happy to share their knowledge and preferences, or to help you find the items that best suit your taste, style and budget. Even if you only come to browse and learn, you’re sure to go home happy. For a better idea of the fun, look at the pictures of last year’s show. And check out www.biltmorehotel.com. where you can also reserve a room at a very special Pen Show rate. You can pre-register for the show, or reserve a table on line. Or call Bertrams Inkwell at 410 539-7367 for details. Spaces are limited, so you’ll want to make your reservations early. |
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For more information about the show Bert Oser Table
space is limited and pre-registration is advised. |
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Updated 4/22/08 - Site design by Jim Mamoulides / PenHero.com |
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