With its lightweight torpedo shaft and chrome-trimmed body, Platinum’s Curidas Prism Crystal wouldn’t look at all out of place on the set of Battlestar Galactica . Likewise, its integrated stand and retractable nib – unsheathed with the click of a button – lend it an irresistibly futuristic air. A distinguished and otherworldly pen for lovers of gadgets and gizmos.

Celebrating the centenary of the Otto Hutt brand, the designC really pulls out all the stops, from its sterling silver barrel to its 18-karat gold nib. Most intriguing of all is its patent-pending Pull+Twist™ refill mechanism, developed especially for the occasion. No need to dismantle and re-assemble – a simple twist of the barrel creates a vacuum in the ink chamber, allowing you to quickly and seamlessly draw ink up through the nib, refilling it in a matter of seconds. Mess and hassle free!

If you’ve ever tried taking something apart just to see how it works, you’ll get a lot of joy out of this pen. A transparent polycarbonate body allows you to see inside to the inner-workings, allowing you to easily monitor ink levels and watch its twist-action piston refill mechanism in action.

Remarkably, this pen is held together entirely by the power of magnets, eliminating the need for loose parts or springs. This also renders it functionally indestructible – a perfect companion for adventurers, explorers or adrenaline junkies.

Spies and secret agents, listen up: ‘invisible ink’ is a thing of the past now that we have disappearing ink! Pilot’s innovative thermo-sensitive ink can be removed from your page simply from the rubbing action of the pen’s integrated eraser, leaving behind no trace and none of the mess of an ordinary rubber. James Bond eat your heart out!

At first glance it’s unclear whether this is a pen or a relic from an alien civilisation. The Yoropen’s idiosyncratic lightning bolt shape is ergonomically designed to minimise hand strain for right- and left-handers alike, while simultaneously lifting the user’s hand up and away from the words on the page for increased visibility. Bold, striking and endlessly comfortable, this pen is a fantastic statement piece that doesn’t compromise on functionality.