Glenns Pens

Krone

 

KRONE INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS.
1275 BUSCH PARKWAY BUFFALO GROVE ILLINOIS 60089
DPIET@AMER-NEEDLE.COM
TEL. ++1 847 215 0011
FAX ++1 847 215 0013

KRONE EUROPE
VMASSIMO@KRONEEUROPE.IT
TEL. +39 340 237 1019

 

Like me, you most likely have seen Krone Pens profiled in the major pen publications. Krone pens have always caught my attention and I was very pleased to have added two Krone pen to my collection. In using these pens I can speak to what it is like to have and write with a Krone.

Krone desires to have owners of a Krone make a statement with their pen.

Their goal is to create pens that are appreciated by the owner. This includes a broader range of owners than traditional pen users or collectors. Krone strives to create a special linkage between an event or person and the pen they create.

As Krone aptly states: A Krone Pen is more than just a pen.

Robert Kronenberge is the company's President and owner. He and a staff of about 50 work from their headquarters located in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Robert leads the development of the company's creative line of pens.

Kronenberge is a collector of vintage pens and historical manuscripts, his fascination with history comes across in the pens created.

The Krone headquarters is not a factory where machines and craftsmen work on the production of pens. The group is responsible for the design and then the coordination of the production of the pens that takes place at various locations around the world. This gives them the access to the best craftsmen and artists to produce their unique and high quality line of pens. In my discussions with Dana Piet at the Krone offices, I could hear the activity!

Much of the manufacturing of their pens is done in Italy for resin and celluloid pens, and in Germany for sterling silver and other metal pens. Depending on the work required, however, specific work will be done where the best skills are available. For example a number of the pens have painting work done by craftsmen in Russia.

Krone's design team is charged with the research and creativity in creating the concepts. Designs and specifications are completed at Krone'a USA headquarters before the production commences with an assigned manufacturer. It involves a considerable amount of coordination and some pens take up to two years to progress from concept to an actual product.

Krone is primarily a limited edition company. There are three tiers of pens: Tier 1 is the limited edition pens, Tier 2 are the precious metals, and Tier 3 are what could be categorized as a fashion grouping.

The historical pens give recognition to a wide range of significant people and events. The pens typically include something to link the pen to the event or person.

For example, Krone obtained authenticated strands of Abraham Lincoln's hair. Krone used those strands to produce the DNA of America's greatest President. This DNA, in crystallized form, is embedded in the amethyst stone of every Limited Edition Abraham Lincoln Pen.

The Shakespeare Pen includes a piece of the famous Mulberry tree which William had planted outside his dome at Stratford-upon-Avon.

Krone acquired some of the actual keys used by Harry Houdini. The keys were reduced to what Krone calls “magic powder” and incorporated into the sterling silver clip of the 606 limited edition pens released in his honour.

The Apollo 11 command module, Columbia, is raised in polished sterling silver on the matte finish overlay of the moon’s surface, simulating the moon’s dull "magnificent desolation." Embedded within the Command Module is the actual Kapton foil that survived re-entry and returned to Earth with Columbia on the Apollo 11 flight.

That is just an illustration of the linkage of the historical pens to people and events.

But I am not a collector. I use my pens everyday. To me, my pen is an expression of me. Krone creates good quality pens and I am pleased to have them in my collection.

The Krone collections are divided into the Historical Limited Edition lines and Couture, which has a line of previous metals and fashion pnes.

 

Krone also owns another company called Think Pens (www.thinkpens.com).

These pens are bold with contemporary designs. Aimed at a different price point this line provides the option of owning a boldly styled pen and a reasonable price point.

The fountains pens come with a one style of nib, medium; and are steel.

I can't speak personally about the pens, however, given the quality of workmanship in the Krone lines it is unlikely the company would produce anything short of the best pen for its price point.

So for me, 2009 started off on the right foot. My two Krone pens are "regulars" as I make the selection of pens to accompany me for the day. Now, when I see the next profile of a Krone pen in one of the pen magazines, I will be looking at the ad from the eyes of an owner of a Krone pen. That feels good!


Headquarters:
1275 Busch Parkway
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
Telephone: 847.215.0011
Fax: 847.215.0013

Web Site: www.kronepen.com