It had been widely anticipated that we would once again see an M2xx release mirroring this years Ink of the Year though doubts had started to grow. For the past three years, announcements have come anywhere from late June to early July but always on a fairly consistent timeline. It now being early August, you can imagine the angst this has generated. Fret no more because today we have been given a glimpse of the upcoming M205 Olivine Special Edition Demonstrator as previewed by the Instagram account of H&S KIRTASİYE. The Olivine will join past special editions including the M200 Smoky Quartz (2017), M205 Aquamarine (2016), and M205 Amethyst (2015). Last years M200 was a departure from the prior releases and it appears that Pelikan has once again returned to the M205 trim style which is characterized by chromium plated furniture that has a silver appearance. Details remain sparse and I’m sure that we will learn more in short order. I would imagine that pre-orders will be available from your preferred retailer in the coming weeks and I would expect this one to be available sometime around mid September.

The Olivine M205 demonstrator has been designed to emulate this year’s corresponding Edelstein Ink of the Year release and appears to go farther in doing so than any past iteration. Pelikan has tried to capture the behavior of its namesake gemstone which, rather than being a pure olive-green, can transition from areas of lighter green to darker green before ending up at a shade of olive-green. The M205 Olivine has tried to capture this and is reported to show varying shades of green in the material. I’m sure pictures will do little justice to this effect so hopefully we won’t have to wait long to see what this material looks like in real life. In addition to the chameleonic color scheme, the pen will feature chromium plated furniture with a printed one chick logo cap top and a chromium plated crown, a single cap band, a single trim ring at the piston knob, and the traditional pelican’s beak clip. The pen will be equipped with an unplated stainless steel nib in the standard sizes of EF, F, M, and B. Because the pen is a demonstrator, the inner workings including the piston mechanism and ink reservoir will be visible at all times.

The M205 Olivine is a special edition and therefore production will be limited. Similar to past releases, it appears that there will be a matching K205 ballpoint available as well. Retail pricing is likely to vary somewhat and there is currently no word on MSRP in the US. Early reports from Europe indicate that the fountain pen alone will go for €128 with VAT (~$148.26) or €104.92 without (~$121.52). If buying from the EU, you will need to factor in roughly an additional $12 if purchasing the pen with an EF nib. While there is no word on additional pricing at this early stage, it does appear that the M205 will again be bundled with a bottle of Olivine ink in a set or available for purchase separately.

I have long been awaiting the M205 Olivine and am surprised by the effect of the color shifting material. I’m going to reserve judgement until I see one in person but I like where Pelikan has tried to take this if done properly. The stock photos appear a bit muddier than I was expecting for lack of a better descriptor. Hopefully we won’t have long to wait before we get a real first hand look. What are your thoughts on this years special edition M205? How do you think it stacks up to the past years releases? Most importantly, will you be adding one to your flock? Leave me a comment below.

UPDATE 8/7/18: Post updated to reflect that the expected availability of the M205 Olivine will be mid-September 2018. US pricing will come with an MSRP of $185 with a street price of $148. The product photos range from the darker, muddier greens to a much brighter green. Additional photos courtesy of Appelboom from the Netherlands have been added below.