Ballpoint Pens

Ballpoint Pens

The ballpoint pen (or biro/ball pen) is probably the most widely used pen in the world. Millions are made and sold every day worldwide, and you can be sure one is within reach somewhere nearby. A few years back in time in the year 1888 a man by the name of John J Loud, a leather tanner, was granted the first patent for a ballpoint pen. He wanted a pen which was able to write on his leather, a feat which the current fountain and quill pens were unable to accomplish. The design was fairly simple, a tube containing ink with a small metal ball blocking the end to contain and distribute the ink. The ink would stick to the ball, which then spun as it was drawn across a surface which pressed the ink into the surface.

Only 50 years later did László Bíró, a Hungarian newspaper editor, contribute to this creation with his viscous ink formula. Frustrated with the amount of time spent refilling ink and cleaning up smudged pages, he noticed that the ink using in newspaper printing dried quickly leaving the paper dry and smudge free. He decided that he wanted that ink to be used in his pens so he gained the help of his brother György, a chemist, to help develop the ink formula. He coupled the ink with a ball-socket mechanism which stopped the ink drying from the inside the reservoir, whilst allowing a controlled ink flow. Biró filed a British patent on 15 June 1938, which eventually lead to the ballpens we know and love today.

At The Online Pen Company we stock a wide selection of quality pens including the finest ballpoint pens available for purchase, most of which come presented in a gift box. If you are searching for a ballpoint pen which boasts design and functionality, then perhaps a LAMY, Diplomat or Faber-Castell pen would meet your requirements. If you are looking for a little luxury, then perhaps a Caran d'Ache, Visconti or Cross pen would be to your tastes. Alternatively, if you are more of a traditionalist, then perhaps a Parker, Waterman or Sheaffer pen would be best.

Parker Vector Ballpoint Pen - Red

RRP: $14.41 - Save 26%

$10.68

Strong red resin and durable stainless steel make for a great looking pen that is built to stand everyday use.
Parker Vector Ballpoint Pen - Blue

RRP: $14.41 - Save 26%

$10.68

A popular choice, this Vector ballpoint offers stand-out design finished in glossy blue resin and stainless steel.
Waterman Exception Ballpoint Pen Slim - Black Lacquer Gold Trim

RRP: $353.65 - Save 36%

$225.54

Beautifully contrasting silky black lacquer finish with luxury gold plated trim in a slimline style.
Waterman Exception Ballpoint Pen Slim - Black Lacquer Silver Trim

RRP: $353.65 - Save 36%

$225.54

Coated in glossy black lacquer and finished with silver trim, this exquisite slim ballpoint pen is true class.
Waterman Exception Ballpoint Pen Slim - Blue Lacquer Silver Trim

RRP: $353.65 - Save 36%

$225.54

Lives up to its name, an exceptional ballpoint pen in beautiful blue with luxury silver trim.
Waterman Carene Ballpoint Pen - Essential Black Gold Trim

RRP: $252.23 - Save 34%

$166.82

Part glossy black lacquer and half patterned gold plate, this ballpoint pen is a luxury combination.
Waterman Carene Ballpoint Pen - Essential Silver Chrome Trim

RRP: $314.95 - Save 36%

$200.18

Luxury silver plate with a fluid waved pattern all along the barrel and cap, finished with bright rhodium plating.
Waterman Carene Ballpoint Pen - Contemporary Black and Gunmetal Chrome Trim

RRP: $252.23 - Save 34%

$166.82

An outstanding ballpoint pen with a curved black lacquer body and engraved gunmetal cap section.
Waterman Carene Ballpoint Pen - Contemporary White and Gunmetal Chrome Trim

RRP: $252.23 - Save 26%

$186.84

A modern two-tone finish for the Carene with a bright white lacquer and patterned grey gunmetal finish.
Waterman Carene Ballpoint Pen - Black Sea Chrome Trim

RRP: $186.84 - Save 37%

$117.44

Stylish and timeless, the Carene's curved body is finished with gloss black lacquer and bright palladium trims.

This pen can be engraved
Waterman Carene Ballpoint Pen - Black Sea Gold Trim

RRP: $186.84 - Save 37%

$117.44

Inspired by the ocean, the Carene's curved style looks fantastic in this stylish black and gold combination.

This pen can be engraved
Waterman Carene Ballpoint Pen - Charcoal Grey Chrome Trim

RRP: $186.84 - Save 37%

$117.44

Understated and beautiful, this dark grey satin feeling lacquer and cool palladium plated trim is quietly stylish.

This pen can be engraved
Waterman Carene Ballpoint Pen - Marine Amber Gold Trim

RRP: $186.84 - Save 37%

$117.44

Luxury deep amber mottled lacquer and precious gold plated trim make for a ballpoint pen with true elegance.

This pen can be engraved
Waterman Carene Ballpoint Pen - Glossy Red Chrome Trim

RRP: $186.84 - Save 37%

$117.44

Make a statement with this gorgeous glossy red ballpoint with sleek lines and precious palladium trim.

This pen can be engraved
Waterman Carene Ballpoint Pen - Frosty Brown Chrome Trim

RRP: $186.84 - Save 37%

$117.44

A very classy brown lacquer with slight grey tones beautifully complimented by cool palladium trim.

This pen can be engraved
Waterman Perspective Ballpoint Pen - Black Chrome Trim

RRP: $161.48 - Save 35%

$105.43

The parallel lines of the Perspective ballpoint are finished in classic glossy black lacquer.

This pen can be engraved
Waterman Perspective Ballpoint Pen - Black Gold Trim

RRP: $161.48 - Save 35%

$105.43

Smooth shiny black lacquer covers the cylindrical barrel and gold trim is detailed with a structural pattern.

This pen can be engraved
Waterman Perspective Ballpoint Pen - Decorative Azure Blue Chrome Trim

RRP: $161.48 - Save 35%

$105.43

Cool frosty blue lacquer coupled with strong geometric detailing for a striking ballpoint pen.

This pen can be engraved
Waterman Perspective Ballpoint Pen - Decorative Silver Chrome Trim

RRP: $161.48 - Save 35%

$105.43

A distinctive structural pen design highlighted by the decorative geometric pattern in frosty silver lacquer.

This pen can be engraved
Waterman Perspective Ballpoint Pen - Decorative Champagne Chrome Trim

RRP: $161.48 - Save 35%

$105.43

Satin champagne lacquer and shiny chrome are decorated with engraved lines in a graphic pattern.

This pen can be engraved
Waterman Expert Ballpoint Pen - Black Gold Trim

RRP: $125.45 - Save 34%

$82.74

Business appropriate and understated, this shiny black ballpoint pen makes a perfect corporate gift.

This pen can be engraved
Waterman Expert Ballpoint Pen - Matte Black Chrome Trim

RRP: $125.45 - Save 34%

$82.74

Efficient and understated, the soft matte finish ballpoint is finished with a stylish chrome ring and clip.

This pen can be engraved
Waterman Expert Ballpoint Pen - Stainless Steel Gold Trim

RRP: $113.44 - Save 32%

$77.40

Ideal for everyday business use, the brushed stainless steel with gold trim is elegant in appearance.

This pen can be engraved
Waterman Expert Ballpoint Pen - Stainless Steel Chrome Trim

RRP: $113.44 - Save 32%

$77.40

Very popular as an engraved corporate gift, this substantial ballpoint pen is modern and practical.

This pen can be engraved
Waterman Expert Ballpoint Pen - Taupe Chrome Trim

RRP: $125.45 - Save 34%

$82.74

Refined in its beautiful tapered shape and its subtle neutral taupe gloss lacquer finished with chrome trim.

This pen can be engraved

The Online Pen Company: Ballpoint Pen History

Although our fountain pens often take centre stage, here at The Online Pen Company we have a wide selection of high-quality ballpoint pens, both from independent companies and well established, respected brands.

Whether you’re after style, comfort or innovation - we’ve got you covered.

With such a large selection available on our online store, we thought we’d give you an insight into the history of ballpoint pens.

The first recorded patent for a ballpoint pen was issued in October 1888 to John J. Loud, an inventor attempting to make a writing instrument that could write on rough surfaces-such as wood, coarse paper and other surfaces fountain pens could not.

Loud's pen had a small rotating steel ball which is held in place by a socket. Although the pen could be used to mark rough surfaces that fountain pens could not, it proved too coarse for letter-writing.

With no commercial viability, its potential went unexploited and the patent eventually lapsed.

The pens patents that were filed during early development are testaments to failed attempts at making the pens commercially viable and widely available as they did not deliver the ink evenly and overflow and clogging were common. If the ball socket was too tight, or the ink was too thick, it would not reach the paper properly. If the socket was too loose, or the ink was too thin, the pen would leak everywhere or the ink would smear as it was used.

Years later, the manufacture of the reliable ballpoint pens we know today arose from experimentation, modern chemistry, and the precision manufacturing capabilities of the early 20th century.

László Bíró, a Hungarian newspaper editor frustrated by the amount of time it would take to fill up fountain pens and to clean up smudged pages, noticed that inks used in newspaper printing dried quickly, leaving the paper dry and smudge free. Using the same type of ink, he decided to create his own writing instrument. To develop viscous ink formulae for new ballpoint designs, Bíró enlisted the help of his brother György.

Bíró's innovation successfully coupled ink with a ball-socket mechanism, preventing ink from drying inside the pen at the same time as allowing a controlled flow. Bíró filed a British patent on 15 June 1938.

Not long after, the Bíró brothers and a friend fled Germany and moved to Argentina, where they formed Bíró Pens of Argentina and filed a new patent. Their pen was sold widely in Argentina as the Birome, which is how ballpoint pens are still known in that country.

This new design was soon licensed by the British. They produced ballpoint pens for their RAF aircrew under the name Biro. These pens were quickly found to be more versatile than fountain pens, especially at high altitudes where fountain pens were often prone to leakage.

Since then, ballpoint pens have been been widely used across the globe as the go to pen for writing on the go.

Parker

Waterman

Faber-Castell

Lamy

Diplomat

Visconti

Sheaffer

Caran d'Ache

Cross

Conklin

Staedtler Premium

Kaweco

The Online Pen Company: Ballpoint Pen History

Help & Advice with Ballpoint Pens

Choosing a Ballpoint Pen

Ballpoint Pens Care & Maintenance