But by 1990 the Parker "75" was closing in on its twentieth year, and it's high end cousin, the Parker Premier (that shared many finishes with the Parker "75") was soon to turn ten. Other high end pens, like the Classic, had been around since 1982 (even though it was slightly redesigned 1988 as the Parker "95"). Parker decided that it was time to retire the old work horses and launch a new top line fountain pen. During the 1980's Parker had relied heavily on the Jotter for the low end ball pen market and the Classic for the high end ball pen and roller ball pen market. By the late 1980’s Parker felt that they needed to revitalise the $10 to $100 gift market and commissioned Hollington Associates in London to design a completely new ball pen and pencil. As a result of this The Insignia was introduced in 1991. The principle designer of the pen being Geoff Hollington.

Now Parker again contacted Geoff Hollington and asked him to come up with a fountain pen design that would be versatile and attractive enough to replace the Parker "75". Hollington worked closely with Parker's engineers to make sure space was efficiently used and that writing performance, cap fit, pushbutton action for the ball pen version and so on were optimised. His long experience with different materials and the knowledge of the basic construction of the pen, ABS plastics, acrylics, brass, stainless steel, silver and gold made the cooperation work well.
— Pens are very, very simple products in some ways: the have rotational symmetry, their size is constrained by ergonomics, as is the shape to a large extent; they are very well evolved - the clip for instance works well in pockets and bags and it stops the pen rolling off the table. So when designing a pen you have only a small space in which to move. Add the need for strong brand authenticity and the space becomes very tight indeed. That’s why, in my opinion, properties like proportion, balance and elegance are very important, Hollington says.

The 1994 Sonnets, from the top:
Fougére,Athenes, Chinese Laque Vision Foncé, Chinese Laque Ambre, Cicelé, Cascade Gold, Cascade Silver, Laque Indigo, Laque Moonbeam, Laque Firedance, Laque Solid Black, Dimonite G, Laque Autumn red, Laque Forest Green, Laque Midnight Blue, Matte Black, Flighter GT and Flighter CT.

He explains that the Sonnet was intended to be ‘the classic Parker’, a truly timeless product, so he went for a really well proportioned cigar shape, clear but updated arrow clip, a generously sized nib and, from the engineers, state of the art writing performance. He of course later went on to design the price winning Parker "100" and the Frontier.

The strategy was to offer the Sonnet in several designs, priced accordingly, so that one model could be offered in a wide price range.
There were four different nib styles designed to be fitted on the different price ranges. The top line Sonnets had an 18K solid gold two-tone nib, highlighted with rhodium plating. The next level had engraved 18K solid gold nibs. The next price range had 23K gold plated stainless steel nibs and the cheapest Sonnets were fitted with Stainless steel nibs. Nib grades offered were: Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, Extra Broad and the customer could also order special nibs, such as oblique and italic versions.

     The Fougére was a silver patterned pen with gold filled trim. It had a broad cap band and was offered as a fountain pen, roller ball, ball pen and a 0.5 mechanical cap on- cap off pencil. It was fitted with the two-tone 18K solid gold rhodium nib.

     The very attractive pattern Athenes, that had previously been used on the Premier pens, had deep cut vertical engravings in a 23K gold plated body creating a pinstripe black laque effect. The trim was also 23K gold plating. This also had the two-tone solid gold and ruthenium nib and a broad cap band.

Two more laque designs were fitted with the two-tone solid gold and ruthenium nib:

     The Chinese Laque Vision Foncé ind dark brown with 23K gold plated trim and a broad cap band.
     And the Chinese Laque Ambre, in light brown also with 23K gold plated trim and a broad cap band.

     The Sterling silver Cicelé, had the engraved solid gold nib, without the rhodium plating but also had gold plated trim and a thin gold band on the cap lip. The timeless Cicelé design would prove to be the most successful also among all the Sonnet models.

The Sonnets new in 1998: Cicelé, Cascade Gold, Cascade Silver, Premier Blue Laque, Premier Green Laque, Premier Red Laque, Premier Solid Black Laque, Chinese Laque Red, Deep Blue Laque, Red Laque and Green Laque.

An unusual black laque Sonnet with a broad band and chrome trim.

Four high end laque designs in black and coloured fire-like swirls were also offered with the solid gold nib, thin cap bands and 23K trim:
     Laque Indigo
     Laque Moonbeam
     Laque Firedance
     Laque Solid Black

     The next price level down saw the 14K Dimonite G a 23K specially goldplated pen in a striped design with a gold plated stainless steel nib.
     In black and coloured marble designs the Laque Autumn red had a 14K dimonite trim and the gold plated stainless steel nib. As did the
     Laque Forest Green, the
     Laque Midnight Blue and the
     Matte Black.
There were also two Flighter (stainless steel) models offered:
     Flighter GT (gold trim), which had the gold plated stainless steel nib and the
     Flighter CT (chrome trim) which had the stainless steel nib, without the gold plating.

Four new Laque designs with water-like swirl pattern were offered:
     Premier Blue Laque
     Premier Green Laque
     Premier Red Laque
     Premier Solid Black Laque

They also had their lower priced alternatives with 23K goldplated stainless steel nibs and a thin cap band:

Three Laques in a striped wood-like pattern:
     Deep Blue Laque
     Red Laque
     Green Laque

These replaced the Laque Indigo, Laque Moonbeam and Laque Firedance which were discontinued. The Chinese Laque Vision Foncé and the Chinese Laque Ambre were also discontinued and replaced with a new
     Chinese Laque Red

In 2001 the name Dimonite G was dropped and the gold plated pen was referred to only as 14K Gold plated.
The Athenes was discontinued.

The 2003 Parker Sonnets: Cicelé, Tartan GT and ST, Laque Black GT and CT, Laque Ocean Blue, Laque Verdigris, Laque Ruby Red, Matte Black GT and CT,
Flighter GT and CT.

The Laque black, Matte Black and Flighter models now all had a choice of trim:
     Laque Black GT
     Laque Black ST
     Matte Black GT
     Matte Black CT
     Flighter GT
     Flighter CT

And three new Laque pens were introduced:
     Laque Ocean Blue
     Laque Verdigris
     Laque Ruby Red

This line-up remained until 2007, when a new design was offered:
     Monochrome, in an angular design
This must have been unsuccessful since it was discontinued within a year, making it the most illusive of the Sonnet designs.

     Chiselled Chocolate
     Chiselled Carbon
     Gold Lustre and the
     Silver Lustre

The Ciselé remained while the black laque models were renamed
     Laque Deep Black GT and
     Laque Deep Black CT, probably to chime with two new laque designs:
     Laque Deep Blue and
     Laque Deep Red
     The Matte Black GT,
     Matte Black CT,
     Flighter GT and
     Flighter CT also remained

     Dark Grey Laquer

The Sonnet has proved itself as a worthy successor to the Parker "75", even though some pens have been known for having problems with the ink feed and drying out if left un-capped for some time. A problem that seems to affect the fine and extra fine nibs mostly, but still is problematic enough to give the model a bad reputation among collectors. A good pen should write as it comes off the production line and the nibs shouldn't have to be set after purchase for the pens to work properly.

Well also pushing twenty years, it will be interesting to see if Parker is going to retire the Sonnet in a few years, in favour of a new top line design. A safe bet would be that this new pen also will be offered in the sterling silver Cicelé pattern.

Cheap pens made in China might be good for bulk revenues, and as a super premium line, the Duofold Centennial models are excellent, but too expensive to find new writers. In my opinion Parker is losing the young customers and need to come up with a new high classed model, re-designed inside and out, but not based on any old winners. Parker needs a new conceptual "51", which will create a buzz and also write smoothly, always and forever. This to capture the publics eye and to bring the legacy of the true Parker penmanship forward into the future, or the Parker brand will die.

Dare we hope for a new Hollington pen?

Tony Fischier September 2010

The 2007 Parker Sonnet Monochrome.

New Sonnets 2008: Chiselled Chocolate, Chiselled Carbon, Gold Lustre, Silver Lustre, Laque Deep Blue and Laque Deep Red.

Sterling Silver Cicelé (1994-)
Cascade Gold plated (1994-2002)
Cascade Silver plated (1994-2002)
Flighter GT (1994-)
Flighter CT (1994-)

Chiselled Tartan GT (2003-2007)
Chiselled Tartan ST (2003-2007)
Ocean Blue Laque (2003-2007)
Verdigris Laque (2003-2007)
Ruby Red Laque (2003-2007)

Monochrome Angular (2007)
Chiselled Chocolate (2008-)
Chiselled Carbon (2008-)
Gold Lustre (2008-)
Silver Lustre (2008-)
Deep Blue Laque (2008-)
Deep Red Laque (2008-)
Dark Grey Laque (2010)

The 2010 Dark Grey Laquer Parker Sonnet.