Pelikan Toledo – M700 - Orginal box and Certificate The art of working with Damascene steel stretches back thousands of years. At its core, it is the craft of decorating steel or iron objects with engraved patterns. A sheet of gold is then laid over the engraved surface, and with delicate hammering, the artist fuses the two metals together. In the next stage, the piece is exposed to fire, heating it to 800°C; at this temperature, the steel darkens while the gold begins to shine with striking brilliance. This remarkable technique traveled with the Arabs to Spain, where it was perfected in the city of Toledo. In 1931, Pelikan introduced its first writing instruments decorated in the Toledo style—creations that met such extraordinary success that they remain in the collection to this day, largely unchanged in design. Today, the decorated portion of each pen’s barrel is crafted from a single piece of solid silver. The artist shapes and engraves it in multiple stages using different tools before covering it with a sheet of gold—or palladium, if a silver-toned finish is desired. Every Toledo pen is entirely handcrafted in Germany. Pelikan’s artisans bring each line to life through unique, precise movements, making every instrument truly one of a kind. Due to the high level of expertise and the many hours required to create each piece, production—although not officially limited—can never exceed 200 Toledo pens per month. If you own a Toledo writing instrument, you hold in your hands a small piece of world history. Will be shipped with a tracking number for your ease of mind. Good luck with your bidding!