The Jotted Line

It is rare to come across a personalized gift that can be both a wildly intimate and thoughtful gift or be professional with the appropriate level of intentionality and distance...something you can give to a beloved family member or at an office Christmas party. And that is where engraved pens shine as a pinnacle of a personalized gift. They communicate depth and practicality, sentimentality and function. And that’s what I want to explore in this ultimate guide to engraved pens. I'll be discussing:  Chapter 1: What Is a Personalized Gift? Chapter 2: Engraved Pens: The Perfect Personalized Gift Chapter 3: Engraving: What it is and why it's awesome. Chapter 4: Luxury Pens: The Standard in Meaningful Gifts Chapter 5: Pro Tips for Shopping for Engraved Pens (And Other Gifts) Chapter 6: Unwrapping Meaningful Giving with Personalized Pens    Chapter 1: What Is a Personalized Gift? A personalized gift is any gift that has been modified for a specific individual. Personalized gifts tend to be of more symbolic and have greater personal value (just like those gas station keychains with your name on them), but there are also gifts of a finer quality and of more monetary value. Something key to understand here is that symbolic and monetary values are not necessarily linked. What I mean is this: a personalized gift for your loved one is not going to be more meaningful just because it's more expensive. While that can be the case, it's not always. Why should I give personalized gifts to my loved ones? Because personalized gifts are personal, they communicate a deeper value than most any other "unpersonalized" gift. Yes, there's really no such thing as an "unpersonalized" gift because when we give gifts, we give gifts that are relevant, unique, or fitting to the person to whom we are giving them. There's an irreducibly personal aspect to all gifts. If we didn't do this—if we gave a gift that wasn't fitting to the person to whom we are giving it—it wouldn't be a matter of personalized vs. unpersonalized gifts; it would be a matter of a good gift vs. a bad gift. Custom gifts just go the extra mile in emphasizing the personal and unique aspects of all gift-giving. Where can I find personalized gifts? There are two major ways to find personalized gifts: Make your own custom gift Buy a custom gift product Unless you are one of those people who naturally thinks of amazing gifts, the place to start looking for custom gifts is Google. When you search "personalized gifts" or "engraved gifts" in Google, you might get overloaded with options. Here at Dayspring Pens, we offer a number of other personalized product options. You can also check out my complete list of 101 personalized gifts for more options. Chapter 2: Engraved Pens: The Perfect Personalized Gift    What are personalized pens? Like gifts more generally, personalized pens are pens that have been modified in some way to fit the person to whom you want to give them. Why are personalized pens really the perfect gift? The biggest reason that personalized pens make the perfect gift is because they perfectly balance symbolic value and monetary value I talked about earlier with functional value: you get the biggest bang for any amount of buck. Giving a pen as a gift communicates trust, care, and the value of intellect. It gives the means to put these abstract ideas into concrete practice. Pens can also represent particular aspects of your loved one's personality. A personalized pen only amplifies the communication of one's value in another. It sends your message loud and clear. And it's really very simple: pens are uber functional. And according to the Danish professor of design theory, Mads Nygaard Folkmann, what is "functional and [what is] symbolic in design are not easily separated." This is especially true in regards to pen design. And you can give all this to your loved ones without breaking the bank. I've written elsewhere about why personalized pens make great gifts: Let's take a quick look at just 5 of these reasons: 1.) Personalized pens fit any budget As I said before, symbolic and monetary values aren't necessarily tied up together, and an engraved pen shows just how that's the case. You can get the same level of symbolic, meaningful care for pretty much any price (from a $2 pen to a $5,000 pen). There’s so many engraved pen options in various ranges, so don’t think that this is just a bougie person’s gift, reserved only for the well-to-do. 2.) Personalized pens fit any gift recipient Custom pens are a pretty gender-neutral gift, and they’re timeless. Plus, everyone uses a pen; whether you’re a working professional, a student, or a chronic journaler, an engraved pen is a pretty ubiquitous tool. What makes the real difference is luxury plus personalization. 3.) Personalized pens reduce stress Studies show that using pens over a computer will reduce stress and anxiety. That’s such an awesome, easily engaging activity to help keep the Mondays away. 4.) They are quintessential study tools Studies show that pens are especially key to good study habits. Students use a pen every day, whether that’s to take notes, underline words in a book, write your signature, or outline a paper. A personalized pen makes a special focal point for good studying. 5.) Engraved pens more meaningful Just compare these phrases in your mind: “I gave my loved one a nice pen” vs. “I gave my loved one a nice pen with their name engraved on it.” The difference is there in the intuition that a personalized pen communicates the value that you have in your loved one waaaaaaaay better.  How are pens customized? Pens can be customized in a few different ways. Custom design Clip Emblems Imprinting Engraving Custom Design You might be able to collaborate with a pen manufacturer or even with some small businesses on sites like Etsy or locally, to custom craft your entire pen. Most companies (like AT Cross) will not design an entirely new pen for you, but they will add a custom color or appointments to a pen they have already designed. Clip Emblems Clip emblems allow you to cast an additional piece of metal or plastic and attach it to the clip. These make pens incredibly compelling promotional items for corporate bodies. Imprinting Imprinting is one of the most affordable options for personalization, provided you get your pen in bulk. This process acts like a copier and "paints" the design onto the pen. All the pens you've snagged from that mug at your bank were probably imprinted. It's a common option if you're looking for promotional items. Imprinting is usually super cheap in bulk, and you have a lot more color options. However, it can scratch off after a while. Engraving By far the most affordable option for personalizing gift pens is engraving. Engraving will cut into the finish of the pen to leave a permanent design. That's really the biggest benefit of engraving: permanence. Because engraving is permanent, the most commonly engraved pens are luxury pens made out of metal, wood, and high-quality plastics.   Related Reading: How to Make an Unforgettable Impression With Engraved Pens   Chapter 3: Engraving: What it is and why it's awesome. In this chapter, I’ll give you an overview of the entire engraving process, and you'll see you why it’s so awesome.  You can find out everything there is to know about engraving process by reading my other article on it. Laser Engraving Laser engraving is a really fun, science-y service in which laser light is put to a practical task. It’s like turning light into a really precise, semi-dangerous paintbrush.  To understand what I mean, let’s take a look at lasers first, and then we’ll talk about how they work as tools for custom engraving.  What's a laser? Because I'm not actually a scientific expert on lasers, I’m going to let Neil Degrasse Tyson tell you about them first; he might, just might know more about them.  So basically, LASERs (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) are a really focused beam of light shot through particular materials (like a ruby) and conducted by mirrors. While most everyday lasers can’t hurt you too bad (unless you're staring right into them), the amplification process can make lasers EXTREMELY powerful and potentially dangerous. Just think: lightsabers. How does a laser engrave stuff? Check out this overview from Trotec about how simple laser engraving really is. A laser engraving machine is basically just a really powerful laser connected to a computer that moves the laser over a pre-established grid.  Put an object, within that grid and the computer will move the laser over the object and engrave it. So, say you have a set of ballpoint pens and you want to engrave them. You put it within a fixed position within the grid, tell the computer where they are, and then you basically just hit “the big red button.” Voila! It engraves, focusing all that powerful light into the specified domain on the grid. And it looks like this: What's so special about laser engraving? Laser engraving makes a gift special for a number of reasons. First, the engraving is permanent; it’s not going to come off eventually like paint or a sticker. It is mechanically done so everything will look neat and uniform. Engraving by hand can be a really awesome method, but it requires years of training and skill to execute properly. Laser Engraving will give you the same solid result every time. It also looks aesthetically pleasing: it’s not gaudy, kitschy, or loud. It just sort of speaks for itself. Engraving, like any personalization, takes something relatively ordinary or mundane (like a pen) and makes it something memorable and cherished. It's one thing to have a pen. Its another to have a pen with "I love you" engraved in your Grandmother's handwriting. In a practical business sense, it can also remind people of your brand and your relationship to them. Think of a promotional pen engraved with the name or logo of the law firm that helped with the contracts for your first house. Maybe you use it when you are thinking about building an addition and it reminds of the experience you had with that company.  Related Topic: How Much Does it Cost to Engrave a Gift?: Personalized Gifts on a Budget What can I get engraved on my pens? Within certain parameters, pretty much whatever you want! But words are the most common custom aspect to get engraved on pens. A popular choice is just getting the name of the recipient engraved on the pen. Other options include short, meaningful phrases. I've compiled a pretty extensive list of phrase suggestions to help you with this. The size of pens can make it difficult to engrave a long, detailed message (about 25 characters is standard for most engravings), but actually trying to communicate within seemingly tight constraints can expand the sense of resonant meaning that your gift has. You can get 2 lines of engraving and even a double-sided engraving if you so choose, and that will expand you options. A logo, design, symbols (I've seen a lot of emojis), and handwriting are all options for engraving as well! Need ideas on choosing what to engrave on your pens? What else can I choose for personalizing my engraved pens? Font type An engraving business will often have a selection of fonts they have the rights to use that the customer may choose from. You will often see a Script like font, a Block font, and something in between like Times. If you have your own proprietary font you would like to use, you will need to make sure you have the rights to use the font, communicate that to the engraving company, and send them the font file. Engraving color There are two major distinctions in engraving styles: standard and deep cut color filled engraving. Standard will simply cut into the finish of the pen to reveal the colors of the barrel underneath. Deep cut color fill applies a lacquered paint to the engraving to create contrasting colors.  Logo Engraving If you have a particular shape, pattern, or drawing that you want engraved, logo engraving will be the best way to do it. You can even engrave handwriting in this process! We'll talk more about engraved handwriting in the Pro Tips Chapter. The table below highlights different engraving styles and font options for gift pens: Engraving Style  Description Example Script Elegant and cursive Block Bold and clear Times Classic and stylish Logo Custom logos or emblems     Chapter 4: Luxury Pens: The Standard in Meaningful Gifts In this chapter, we're going to explore everything there is to know about luxury pens. Why? Because luxury pens are the best option for personalizing—and especially for engraving. Let's begin. Are luxury pens good gifts? Well, yeah! Luxury pens make great gifts for all the same reasons we've already talked about, minus the personalized touch, but additionally they possess all-around classiness and longevity. They stand out, they help get basic tasks completed, they last, and they feel special. But do people even use luxury pens anymore? Absolutely! According to the Chicago Tribune, despite the dominance of digital media, the luxury pen market is up about 5% in the US and Europe largely due to the luxury pen transitioning into the gifting world. Pen sales are also growing in emerging markets like Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East as literacy and education levels rise. Even if you use your phone, tablet, or computer for most note-taking and letter-writing, there are still quite a few moments in life that require a pen like signing doctor's notes, contracts, etc. In the big moments, like signing for your first house or a birth certificate for your first child, a luxury pen just has a more beautiful gravity to it than a Stick Bic. Why do people still use a fancy pen? The simplest answer is that some people still use a fancy, metal pen because it will last longer. Metal is a harder, more durable material compared to plastic or wood. A metal pen, like the mighty fountain pen, won't decompose or wear out the same way a pen made of more other materials might. It tends to have a heftier weight to it which can lead to greater comfort. This is because weight and balance have as much to do with writing comfort as an ergonomic grip and pen barrel size.  Ideally, you want a pen that fits nicely in your hand with the weight evenly distributed so you don't need to force the ink flow onto the page by pressing down too hard. A luxury pen usually provide this for users with ease. Are high quality pens really worth the price? High quality pens are worth the price when you consider a couple of points: the quality of your writing experience how long you'll keep the pen the environmental impact of production waste the personal impact of gifting them and how appropriate they are as gifts Luckily, the price of high quality engraved pens varies widely, so the real question is: what's your budget? You can find high quality pens, like my favorite, the Parker Jotter, for a price as low as $20. The key is finding the right pen for your needs. How are you going to use this pen? What do you need to write? What kind of feeling do you tactilely enjoy in a pen?  Further Reading: Are Luxury Pens Worth It? What's the best luxury pen to get as a gift? Based on what I've said so far, there is no objective "Best Luxury Pen," but there are a lot of incredible luxury pens that could be the best for you. You check out my article on How to Choose a Luxury Pen for an in-depth dive to finding the perfect pen for you or your loved one. But let's take a look here at some of what I say there. Essentially, when you're looking to buy a nice engraved pen, you want to consider the following points: Let's take a look at each of these points one-by-one. Writing Style Writing style is one of the first questions you'll face looking for a nice pen. You want to get the right style to get the most fitting writing experience for you or your loved one. Check out an Ultimate Guide to Pen Writing Styles in order to completely break down all the aspect of the three major pen styles. The three basic styles are: ballpoint pens rollerball pens fountain pens Ballpoint Pens Ballpoint pens are the most common pen type. They have a little ball in the tip and use an oil-based ink that sticks to pretty much any surface. Rollerball Pens Rollerball pens are the perfect middle ground between ballpoint pens and fountain pens. Like ballpoint pens, they have a rolling ball in the tip, but like fountain pens they tend to use water-based ink instead of oil-based ink. Fountain Pens Fountain pens—those fancy, fancy pens with the nib. The mechanics of the fountain pen nib are pretty wild; they sort of use air pressure the release water-based ink from the nib. It's really cool.   Material A luxury pen can come in a number of different construction materials. Material has a lot to do with the tactile feel, weight, balance, and overall writing experience of a quality writing instrument. The major ones are made of precious metal, chrome, wood, and high-quality plastics. Obviously, certain materials (like precious metal) are going to cost more, but you can definitely find some sweet deals on high quality materials. Price Point Buying a luxury pen might seem like a waste of money, but it's not. As stated before, you can find luxury pens in any budget range. There's luxury pens in the $12-$30 range that will last you forever, but on the other extreme end of prices there's also one-of-a-kind special edition pens in the $1,000-$5,000 range. You just need to be clear about what you're looking for and why. Uniqueness Almost every luxury personalized pen is going to stand out from mass-produced pens in some way. Unlike symbolic value, uniqueness is predominately tied up with monetary value. The more unique your pen, the more likely it is that you'll pay more for it. Additional Services This tends to be warranties, gift boxes, extra ink refills, free engraving of pens...that kind of a company offers with the purchase. A note that's relevant to uniqueness, the additional service of engraving really is the most affordable way to set your pen apart from others. But be sure to check with the vendor or manufacturer to see if they offer little extras onto their products (like monogramming, marking, logo rendering, or custom pieces) that you can make your purchase way more impactful.   FIND YOUR LUXURY PEN   Chapter 5: Pro Tips for Shopping for Engraved Pens (And Other Gifts) Here's a shortlist of pro tips for shopping for an engraved pen: Engraved Handwriting I can wax poetic all day about engraved handwriting. Why? BECAUSE ITS SO FREAKING AWESOME. Engraved Handwriting takes a sample of handwriting and engraves it on a pen. It's the ultimate, uniquely personal form of engraved pen. Just a couple of true stories to show you how great it is. Example 1: A mother's signature I had a customer call to order 6 pens for his siblings with his mother's signature engraved on the cap. Turns out, she had just passed away and he wanted to give them to the family at the funeral. If that isn't the height of a thoughtful, beautiful gift to honor the memory of that woman, I don't know what is. Example 2: New papa! In 2019, Sam (one of our staff) had her first child. For Father's Day, she gave her husband a Waterman Hemisphere rollerball pen with a handwritten "Happy Father's Day" and a little stick figure drawing of a baby engraved on it. In 2021, they had their second child, and she added another little engraved stick figure to the pen cap. The plan is to continue the tradition with every child they have! If that isn't just adorable... Example 3: Bring out your Historical Figures! So maybe the handwriting of you or your loved one isn't something you want to see on your pen. How about the signature of a favorite founding father or classic author? If a signature or sample of handwriting has entered the public domain, places like Dayspring Pens can get them engraved on a pen. Just think of the gift opportunities: a copy of A Christmas Carol and a pen with Charles Dickens's beautiful signature. Pen sets With an engraved pen , you can save a lot of cash and get an extra matching pen to boot. Often times, sets come as pairs of ballpoint pens and a pencils. However, you can also mix and match with a combination of ballpoint, rollerball, fountain, or gel pens. Promotional Pens Promotional pens are those used to promote a business or product. What you will generally find online if you are searching for a promotional pen will generally be the bulk pens produced with the logo or business information of a company, often handed out at a register or a conference. Really, promotional pens can be on a spectrum from the cheap plastic throw-aways to luxury writing instruments specially engraved for a corporate client you might be courting. Rush production If you need your customized gift quick, rush production and expedited shipping are going to be your best friends. Prices will vary on these services from business to business. Make sure your desired order meets the following criteria: Your order is available for rushed production - some things just can't be done quick no matter the amount you are willing to pay. Shipping can be expedited if you need that extra oomph to get it in your timeframe The business offers wrapping, gift notes, etc. if you know you won't be able to add those special touches yourself. Chapter 6: Unwrapping Meaningful Giving with Personalized Pens   In this chapter, I’m going to give an overview of gifting an engraved pen—that is, how to give and how to make giving extra special. You can also apply a lot of what I'm going to say to other sorts of gifts as well. It's just good general advice. When do I give engraved pens as a gifts? Pens are usually given during occasions of transition or landmark moments, at the accomplishment of worthy endeavors or the undertaking of new ones. Practical examples include graduations, job promotions, anniversaries, Christmas, and birthdays. They're often great for people who step into new responsibilities, like young people starting or graduating from college. How do I give an engraved pen as a gift? That's easy: focus on wrapping and leaving a really well-thought-out gift note. Wrap your pen appropriately, either in a bag or in wrapping paper. For my eco-friendly readers, these reusable wrapping fabrics are so cool. The gift note is what really seals the deal on a good engraved pen. What you write in it is important, so maybe consider these 3 points: Write about what you value in your loved one Write about why you got them an engraved pen and write about why the engraved pen represents what you value in your loved one. If all goes well, I think writing about this will make your engraved pens an even more memorable gift.  Discover More: How Do You Gift a Pen?: 3 Things to Do After Ordering a Personalized Gift   Why you should write your gift notes by hand Here's the kicker: write your note by hand (and yes, even if you have terrible, chicken-scratch-looking handwriting.) And here's why: Writing your note by hand shows you took time to spell out (literally) what you think about your gift recipient. Say you gave your loved one a set of engraved ballpoint pens, a handwritten note makes a great compliment to a gift like that. It's that simple. Conclusion A personalized gift is designed to be uniquely modified to fit your gift recipient. Whether you are looking for a super cool shower curtain or personally engraved ballpoint pens, there are a myriad of options and creative ways you can celebrate the people in your life. But with an engraved pen, you can give something functional, symbolic, and one-of-a-kind that doesn't break the bank. I hope this has helped with your gift-buying process! For more information about engraved pens check out our website Giftpens.com or any of our other articles on giving custom gifts. But now it's your turn! Let us know what you love about your engraved pen and what pro tips you'd offer to other buyers in the comments below! Sam Di Nardo is an author for Dayspring Pens, where she has honed her expertise in ballpoint, rollerball, gel and fountain pens since joining the team in 2018. From her initial role as an Engraver to becoming the Production Manager, Sam's journey has been marked by her passion for the history, manufacturing, and the unique value of gifted writing instruments. A graduate of Regent University with a degree in English Literature and a special interest in Old Norse literature, dive deeper into Sam's world and discover why she's your trusted guide in the realm of gift pens. Follow Sam on LinkedIn.

I have been an avid fan of Pilot fountain pens since I first wrote with the Pilot Metropolitan many a year ago. And I am now ecstatic to say that Dayspring Pens is now offering Pilot Fine Writing pens, personalized with custom engraving. Some might be saying…who is Pilot Fine Writing? Is that the same as my trusty Pilot G2? The answer is yes! And in this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Pilot Pen and which custom engraved Pilot fountain pen you can now find at Dayspring Pens. Pilot Fountain Pens Originally founded as Namiki Manufacturing, Pilot Pen began with the mission to create an entirely Japanese fountain pen. Starting with precision internal mechanisms and beautiful hand lacquered maki-e exteriors, Pilot Pens quickly became the brand for luxury fine writing fountain pens. Namiki Pens: Namiki still creates handmade, one-of-a-kind maki-e fountain pens. What is so incredible about Pilot Pens is that they not only continued to make high quality fountain pens, they also became synonymous with excellent writing from any style of writing instruments from the number one selling rollerball, the G2 to the ergonomic Dr. Grip Ballpoint. Despite the dominance of their value lines, Pilot has continued to innovate and perfect the fountain pen. In fact, their fountain pen nibs are still considered to be the best fountain pen nib you can get without getting a nib personally ground by a nibmaster. And each fountain pen has a unique nib design specific to the needs and purpose of the pen, making each pen a completely different writing experience. That said, each writing experience is honestly excellent not just at the high level luxury tier like with Pilot Custom series, a pen known as a favorite daily go-to by authors and physicists alike, but also at the entry level tiers like the Pilot Metropolitan or the Pilot Kakuno, considered to be two of the best beginner fountain pens on the market. There really isn’t another fountain pen company quite like Pilot Pen. So what Pilot fountain pens can you find at Dayspring Pens? Pilot Fountain Pen at Dayspring Pens I am thrilled to say that Dayspring Pens will now offer five different collections from Pilot Fine Writing, all available with custom engraving. Pilot Metropolitan Pilot Vanishing Point Pilot Decimo Pilot Grance Pilot E95s TRY PILOT PENS TODAY Each of these pens will come ready to write with an ink converter and ink cartridge for the fountain pens and black ink inside the ballpoint and rollerballs, all in a Pilot gift box. Let’s take a look at each of these pens. Pilot Metropolitan As I mentioned before, the Pilot Metropolitan is the beginner’s fountain pen. Why is it such a good way to break into the fountain pen world? It's unbelievably usable, durable, and well designed all under the $30 price point. The stainless steel nib offers the trademark Pilot springiness that gives just a little line adaptation without being super flexible (a feature known to fountain pens, but off-putting for beginners). The lacquer grip is comfortably sized. The ink is wet and flows easily. The barrel is balanced and weighted. All these things are very important because they mean gravity and the movement of your hand do the actual writing for you, not pushing down on the tip to press ink out of the pen (here’s looking at you ballpoints). I have been using fountain pens for over a decade now, meaning I’m not quite the beginner I once was. And I am very happy with some of the high end pens I use…that being said, do you know what pen I keep on my desk ready to jot quick notes with at all times…it's the Pilot Metropolitan. Whether you are an old fountain pen enthusiast with your favorite bottled inks lined out for display or a novice curious to give a fountain pen a try without committing to a major price tag, the Pilot Metropolitan reigns. And if you are looking to give a fountain pen as a gift, but you don’t know too much about them/you want a budget-friendly gift pen…choose a Metropolitan. CUSTOM PILOT METROPOLITAN COLLECTION And if you just want to add a new pen to your collection and you don’t have one…choose a Metropolitan…look at how nice it looks engraved… Oh, and you can also get it as a rollerball or a ballpoint pen so that’s pretty cool. Gold Fountain Pen Silver Dot Fountain Pen Silver Dot Rollerball Pen Silver Dot Ballpoint Pen Black Fountain Pen Black Rollerball Pen Black Ballpoint Pen Pilot Vanishing Point Next up, we have the personalized Pilot Vanishing Point. This is the “Capless” fountain pen that took the world by storm in the 1960s. That’s right. It is a fountain pen that retracts. It’s hard to get much cooler than that. Now, there is a good change you have heard of the Vanishing Point before because it is such an excellent fountain pen that it tops a lot of lists for best fountain pens. What you need to know about this pen at Dayspring Pens is that it is custom engraved, medium point nib, and available in the following finishes: Black with Gold Trim Black with Rhodium Trim Blue with Gold Trim Blue with Rhodium Trim White with Black Trim Each nib is 18k gold, even if it is ionized to appear black or rhodium-plated to look silver (talk about a real cool kid move covering 18k gold for aesthetics). TRY A RETRACTABLE VANISHING POINT TODAY The Vanishing Point is a large barrel pen so keep that in mind when shopping and, since the clip is in the grip section, it can take a little getting used to holding/writing with the pen, but once you get the hang of it, I promise it will not disappoint. This is a professional’s pen that doesn’t have to make a big, flashy statement, perfect for a boardroom and an office setting where quality and precision matter more than grandstanding. Pilot Decimo If you are concerned that the large barrel of the Vanishing Point may be a little bit too much, Pilot has also created a lovely slim version of the “capless” pen with the Pilot Decimo. The same soft nib, 18k gold flexibility and line variation, the same medium nib size, the same delightful click-action, it’s all here in the Decimo. The barrel sizes down by about 30% so a much more medium barrel pen. I actually prefer the Decimo. Available in Black with Rhodium Trim and Pearlescent White with Rhodium Trim, the Decimo and the Vanishing Point are like the quintessential his/her gift pen duo. And I find there is something about the more slender design of the Decimo that feels more sophisticated and balanced. CLICK WITH A PILOT DECIMO Learn More: How to Fill Your Fountain Pen Pilot Grance The most premium Pilot Pen addition to the Dayspring Pens selection, the Pilot Grance epitomizes that unparalleled tradition in pen design paired with finesse in writing quality. It is a classically influenced pen that delivers the style and elegance of professionalism while showing off what a Japanese fountain pen can really do. The details are everything with this pen, from the gold and black lacquer bandings to the clean balance to the easy 14k gold nib. Choose between a Pearlescent White Lacquer finish or a Black Lacquer finish, both custom engraved with your personalized message or corporate logo. Some pens speak for themselves, so try a Grance to hear what it has to say. GIFT A PILOT GRANCE Pilot E95s In my personal opinion, I saved the best for last with the Pilot E95s. I mean, it's all the precision, innovation, and finesse of Pilot Pen in a pocket pen…a beautiful, vintage-inspired, pocket pen. I drooled over the E95s (specifically the burgundy finish) for years, putting it perpetually on my Christmas/birthday list, and when I finally tried one it was as lovely as I had always dreamed. First, there is the beautiful design. It feels like I found a piece of history, not that I bought a brand new pen. Next, there is the nib. It’s springs, its 14k gold, it’s inlaid into the barrel of the pen, and it creates an adaptive writing line that made me ask people for things to write to use it more. Last, there is the enclosure mechanism. Why am I talking about an enclosure mechanism? Because it is delightful. The pressure cap slow-closes down into place like your testing drawers at Ikea. It’s a dream. I love this pen dearly, but I should say it is a pocket pen, meaning that it collapses into a small portable pen. Without the cap posted on the back on the E95s it is tiny, too tiny to comfortably hold. But post the cap and you will find yourself with a full-sized, light-weight fountain pen. Engraved cross the cap, the E95s is available at Dayspring Pens in: Black Lacquer Gold Trim Burgundy with an Ivory Cap and Gold Trim Are Japanese Fountain Pens Better? After all my ranting about Pilot Fine Writing, some may ask are Japanese Fountain Pens Better? Personally, I would say yes on a whole. That quality of Japanese fountain pens for writing experience, usability, and longevity is a cut above, especially with Pilot Pens. Are there Japanese fountain pens I do not enjoy? Yes. I don’t particularly like using Sailor Pens as I find their nibs stiffer than my preference and am picky about my resin-based pen barrels. Are there non-Japanese fountain pens I do enjoy? You bet your boots. Don’t get me started on the Franklin-Christoph Marietta. It’s my baby, and I love it. (Also, shoutout to the TWSBI Eco. I see you, and I love you). Try Something New: If you like fountain pens, dive into the world of high quality paper with the Best Fountain Pen Paper But, what I always go back to with Japanese Fountain Pens and why I think they are so exceptional, is that they master every level of the fountain pen experience and deliver precision excellence. Whether you are looking for something cheap and easy or an heirloom to pass onto your grandchildren, there is a Japanese fountain pen (and honestly, a Pilot Pen) out there for you. Conclusion Buy a Pilot Fountain Pen. And get one from Dayspring Pens so you can get it custom engraved, completely unique and personal to you. You will not find a better personalized fountain pen or a better gift pen. They really are just that good. To read more about what pens I love and for help finding the perfect gift pen for you, check out some of my other articles: What are the Best Fountain Pen Brands The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Pen The History of the Ballpoint Pen And feel free to leave a comment below about your favorite Pilot Pen! Sam Di Nardo is an author for Dayspring Pens, where she has honed her expertise in ballpoint, rollerball, gel and fountain pens since joining the team in 2018. From her initial role as an Engraver to becoming the Production Manager, Sam's journey has been marked by her passion for the history, manufacturing, and the unique value of gifted writing instruments. A graduate of Regent University with a degree in English Literature and a special interest in Old Norse literature, dive deeper into Sam's world and discover why she's your trusted guide in the realm of gift pens. Follow Sam on LinkedIn.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, who took over the task of counting jobs, now lists 50 health care and medical professions alone. Professional workers in the 21st century account for 24% of all employees. All those jobs mean two things for us here at Dayspring: Opportunities to award and reward employees with our personalized, engraved, “fancy pants” pens and fine writing implements AND A plethora of acronyms and abbreviations for all those jobs and positions to include in those engravings That’s what this article is here to help you with—getting all those occupational acronyms and abbreviations right. Now, we realize we can’t give you every abbreviation and acronym for every occupation. There are over 4,000 recognized “official” ones, after all. Instead, what we have done is chosen the more popular and/or commonly used ones from the following fields: Medical Management Finance and Accounting Sales and Marketing IT Let’s get this ball rolling, shall we?  Medical Occupation Abbreviations and Acronyms Doctor of Medicine MD Nurse Practitioner CRNP Registered Nurse RN Licensed Practical Nurse LPN Certified Nursing Assistant/Aide CNA Doctor of Dental Surgery DDS Registered Dietician RD Physical Therapist PT Emergency Medical Technician EMT Veterinarian DVM A key event just perfect for gifting your hard-working nursing staff with practical, lovely, and engravable gift pens is National Nurses’ Week. It begins every year on 6 May and ends on 12 May, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Perhaps one like the model below? Cross Click Midnight Blue Ballpoint Pen Key Management Team Members Your business can’t run without the leadership at the top. They deserve all the credit and rewards you can heap upon them for keeping your management system and your firm going strong day after day.  Here are some of their more commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. Chief Executive Officer (the BIG boss) CEO Chief Operating Officer (the almost Big Boss) COO Chief Finance Officer (the money boss) CFO Chief Marketing Officer (the ad boss) CMO Chief Information Officer (the data boss) CIO October 16 is Boss’s Day every year, and wouldn’t your group of “boss” people be pleased to receive an engraved executive gift pen from you? How do you like the looks of this one? Waterman Expert Stainless Steel Rollerball Finance and Accounting Abbreviations and Acronyms Bean counters. Penny Processors. Number crunchers. Your finance and accounting professionals have their own “fun” names and terms for themselves and their department. And while an acronym like “Acct.” might be on the door or business card, there are many other recognized acronyms and abbreviations for these ledger-loving folks. Here’s a table with some of the more common ones. Chief Accounting Officer CAO Chartered Financial Analyst CFA Certified Internal Auditor CIA Enrolled Agent EA Certified Public Accountant CPA Certified Financial Manager CFM Certified Management Accountant CMA Licensed Stock Broker/Dealer BD Certified Payroll Professional CPP Certified Financial Planner CFP Registered Investment Advisor RIA Qualified (Independent) Underwriter QA/QIA Chief Compliance Officer CCO Reward your money men and women with an executive gift fountain pen, like the one below. Accountants and auditors need different colors of ink, and the various colors available in fountain pen cartridges fit the bill quite nicely.  Abbreviations and Acronyms for Sales and Marketing Professionals No business can thrive without customers, and the network of people who bring in those customers through sales and marketing are invaluable to every firm, from the mom-and-pop on the corner to the Fortune 100s. Whether you’re one of those on the corner or in the corner office 80 floors up, rewarding your sales and marketing network of champions with personalized engraved pens is always a smart action to take. Here are some common abbreviations and acronyms for those whose occupation is getting customers through your door. Chief Marketing Officer CMO Account Executive AE Account Manager AM Director of Sales DoS Business Development Representative BDR Marketing Qualification Representative MQR Lead Development Representative LDR Sales Development Representative SDR Social Media Manager/Marketer SMM Your sales and marketing team is undoubtedly made up of a group of highly trained, skilled, and creative individuals. Gifting them all the same pen may not be a wise choice. Choosing from the variety of styles and colors available in our Cross Bailey line is probably the better solution. Here’s a stylish rollerball in red lacquer finish. You can even get the engraving in several color choices, as well. Check out the entire collection. Cross Bailey Red Lacquer Selectip Rollerball Pen Here’s what one happy executive customer had to say: Information Technology Abbreviations and Acronyms Your “geek squad” is made up of individuals who are highly trained, highly skilled, and, yes, typically just a little geeky-nerdy on the side. That shouldn’t stop you from recognizing their contributions to your business’s safety, security, and success. This table shows you most of the more common IT occupation abbreviations and acronyms to take the glitches out of engraving their personalized pen gifts. Chief Information Officer CIO Chief Security Officer CSO Certified Systems Administrator CSA Certified Professional App Developer CPAD Computer Emergency Readiness Team CERT Certified Information Technology Professional CITP Certified Systems Engineer CSE Computer Science Professional Engineer CSPE A certified technician who can diagnose, repair, and administer both hardware and software systems CompTIA A+ Database Administer DBA We have the perfect high-tech gift pen for your high-tech personnel, the Cross Tech3+. It has three different writing tips, as well as a touch screen stylus in the cap end. And it comes in a fun and functional translucent red finish. Here it is: Cross Tech3+ Pen - Translucent Red Some FAQs About Our Gift Pens While we’ve given you plenty of info about abbreviations and acronyms for members of your company, and even some awesome (if we do say so ourselves) ideas for personalized engraved gift pens, you may still have a few questions. We’ll try to answer them for you, but if you have more, please leave us a comment below or contact our wonderful customer service representatives (CSRs).  How long does it take to engrave a gift pen? It takes less than a day to engrave one gift pen. Bulk orders for an entire team or department will naturally take a bit longer due to the larger number of pens ordered.  What happens if something is wrong with my order? We try our best, but we’re only human, and sometimes things do go wonky. Simply call, email, or use our contact form and we’ll do our best to correct the issue. Here’s one customer’s experience with us: Gabriela | Customer Review Oops! I forgot my ______’s big day. Do you do rush orders?  Yes, we do! You can learn all about our Rush Order One Day Business Service. Don’t fret about your forgetfulness. We’ve got your back. And with that, we’re through for today. Any questions, comments, folks we forgot? Let us know below, please. Daniel Whitehouse is the President and CEO of Dayspring Pens. He uses his expertise with premium writing utensils to create exceptional, intentional products and craft easy-to-understand articles that help both new and experienced users learn more about their writing tools. He lives in Virginia where he and his wife are raising their four children. To learn more about him and his insights about custom engraved gift pens, follow Daniel on LinkedIn.

The best personalized gifts reflect something of both the giver and the recipient. That’s why gift giving is every bit as exciting as gift receiving. Especially when it’s a personalized gift. When gifting personalized pens, the most important choice is, of course, the selection of the pen itself. Are you opting for a ballpoint? Or perhaps a fountain pen? Which brand? What color? However, once you’ve settled on the perfect pen, there’s one more key finishing touch that you won’t want to overlook: the choice of engraving font.  Choosing a Font for Personalized Gift Pens  Dayspring Pens is your expert team for customized engraving of the luxury pens. Because personalization is our specialty, free custom engraving is included with every pen purchase. Most of our orders are engraved in-house, and we offer the option of one-day engraving times. We use a CO2 or fiber optic laser engraving machine to create precise and permanent engraving that will never fade or wear away. Thanks to personalized engraving, pens make even more wonderful gifts. They’re elegant, practical, and specially-made for the recipient. With your personalized pens, you’ll get to choose up to 25 characters of text engraving on the pen cap. Let’s consider how you would like that text to appear. Font selection helps to determine how a snippet of written language is perceived. You (or the person you’re gifting for) might prefer lettering that’s understated, stylish, or stately. In this guide, we’ll review the various fonts you can choose from when engraving your personalized pens. Here are your standard font options: Engraved Block Font     Engraved Block Font Want to keep things simple? Block font is the most straightforward choice. It’s also the easiest font to read, thanks to the no-frills letter lines. Block font is a great choice if you want to personalize your gift but prefer a more subtle display. It’s also an excellent option for engraving a company name on the pen alongside your logo.  Engraved Script Font Engraved Script Font The Script font is elegant and sophisticated. Perhaps select this font if you plan to present a gift pen to an important person. The stylish lettering makes the gift feel more personal and elevates the stature of the pen.  It can also be considered more romantic if gifting for Valentines Day or a partner. Engraved Times Font Engraved Times Font Choose the Times font for a classic and stylish look. The lettering is both familiar and distinguished. If you’re gifting a pen and have any sort of doubt about what font the recipient would prefer, the Times font is your safest bet.  Engraved Cursive Font     Engraved Cursive Font Cursive isn’t dead! Well, not for signing your name, anyway. And not for engraving personalized gifts. Cursive letters take on a stylish feel when engraved on a high-quality pen. The name on the pen when displayed with this font takes on the look of a signature. That makes it a perfect choice for the lettering of first and last names on personalized gift pens.   Engraved Deluxe Font Standard Engraving Fonts The Woodmark Deluxe Pen and Pencil Set is a special Rosewood ballpoint pen and pencil duo with a personalized case. The Deluxe font comes standard with this set. It’s a distinguished lettering style that matches perfectly with the look and feel of the pen and pencil. The engraving for this set is a favorite among gift-buyers. Engraving Custom Gifts: Available Fonts For Each Pen Brand Have you already made your pen selection? Let’s see which fonts are available for your choice. Block, Script, and Times font are your standard options, available for all Waterman, Parker, Woodmark, and most Cross pens. Here’s the full breakdown of font choices per pen brand: Pen Brands Font Choices Waterman, Parker, Woodmark, and most Cross pens Cross; available as deep cut, color-filled engraving Woodmark Deluxe Pen and Pencil Set If you’re placing a corporate order, order of high quantity, or order with a logo, your font choice isn’t limited to the prescribed selection. Feel free to customize your selection by choosing your preferred font. That way, you can maintain your brand’s standards, personalized on the pens of your choosing.  Finding the Best Personalized Gifts From Dayspring Pens The choice of font is a fun detail to decide on while selecting your personalized pens. You’re not just picking out a gift; you’re helping to design it. For a closer look at each font, peruse our Engraving Fonts page. And be sure to review our Engraving Information section for answers to all of your questions regarding your engraving options.  For any special occasion, customized gifts are a great way to honor a deserving someone. At Dayspring Pens, there’s no minimum order amount, so personalized pens are an option for father’s day, graduation day, or other individual gifts. And we’re here for your corporate gifting needs, too. You can order any number of pens, each one customizable with its own text. This makes for great customizable gifts to your staff or teammates. We carry ballpoint, rollerball, fountain, and gel pens, each in a price range that suits your needs. Visit our online store today to begin designing your personalized gift order. Featured image: Pixabay Sam Di Nardo is an author for Dayspring Pens, where she has honed her expertise in ballpoint, rollerball, gel and fountain pens since joining the team in 2018. From her initial role as an Engraver to becoming the Production Manager, Sam's journey has been marked by her passion for the history, manufacturing, and the unique value of gifted writing instruments. A graduate of Regent University with a degree in English Literature and a special interest in Old Norse literature, dive deeper into Sam's world and discover why she's your trusted guide in the realm of gift pens. Follow Sam on LinkedIn.

You already have your perfect gift picked out and ready to go, but now you need to figure out the personalized engraving to make your unique jewelry or custom pen special. I am here to help with the dos and don'ts of what to get on your engraved gifts. I have been an engraver with Dayspring Pens since 2018 and have noticed some of the big trends and faux pas of personalized engraving. In this article, I am going to focus on engraving etiquette and ideas to help you determine exactly how to utilize your custom engraving whether you are buying professionally or for your loved ones. Let's jump right in! Engraving Etiquette aka how personal should I get Engraving etiquette starts with two major distinctions: Are you buying for a professional relationship or a personal one? Your relationship to your recipient will be key to finding the perfect custom engraving. You probably aren't going to get the same engraving for your best friend or your romantic partner as you would your boss or the coworker you drew for Secret Santa. Timothy Murphy, the master engraver at Tiffany & Company, gave the perfect advice: consider what effect you wish the piece to have on its recipient. Do you want them to be thrilled? Amused? Moved? It is also useful to consider whether it’s a piece to be displayed or privately enjoyed. Start by asking yourself: Who is this person to me? How well do I know them? and, given your answers to those questions, How will they respond to a personalized gift? Professional Custom Engraving If your answers to any of those questions lean towards the gift recipient being a coworker, boss, a client or corporate customer, you will definitely want to be particular in how you choose your custom engraving. 1.) When in doubt, engrave a name Engraving the name of the individual is always a safe, timeless option. It will look appropriate on crystal gifts, a pen, a journal, desk sets...any of the professional gifts out there ripe for personalization. 2.) If the name is long or doesn't fit the gift, engrave initials Initials or monogramming are always a perfect personalized engraving for smaller items that look best with simple engravings. This could include a watch's underside, a thinner barreled pen, or the top of a briefcase. 3.) Communicate through your font selection Again, I will differ to Mr. Murphy's advice: Do you want your lettering style to suggest strength or elegance? Both? Don’t be afraid to mix styles in a message. If legibility is a priority, be wary of requesting words to be engraved entirely in any uppercase script. From my own experience, I cannot agree enough with this advice, especially avoiding an entirely uppercased script engraving. Whether you are engraving initials, a name, or a personal message, all caps script looks oversized at best and illegible at worst. 4.) Keep personal messages relevant to the nature of your relationship When selecting a special message or quotes for your engraved gifts, avoid any language that reflects intimacy. What are your interactions with your giftee? Why are you giving them this gift? If you are giving the gift for an occasion such as a retirement, career milestone, or work anniversary, cater your message to the time they have spent at the company, thanks for their efforts, or simply acknowledge the occasion. For business clients, keep your message on brand for your business. Acknowledge a special project or contract. 5.) Double check your abbreviations If you are getting name with titles or abbreviations custom engraved, make sure you have the correct titles for the person with the right initials in the proper ordering. Here is a list of common abbreviations that might help you out. 6.) Company logo engravings for buying in bulk If you are buying engraved gifts for multiple people like members of a department, people working on a specific project, or potential clients you are courting, company logo engraved gifts might be the perfect solution. It communicates exactly what brought you together and what you have in common. It can also be paired with a text personalized engraving like a name, initials, or a short message for another custom touch. The simpler your logo design, the more visually appealing it will be when paired with a secondary engraving so choose your rendering wisely. Personal Engraving Etiquette The etiquette for custom engraving for your personal relationships will be much looser than the professional side of things. The goal of personal engraving etiquette is to find the words or symbols that properly communicate the feelings you want to share with your loved ones. For engraved gifts to family, friends, or closer relationship, the key is to really think through the content you are getting laser engraved versus how you engrave it. 1.) Always personalize to the individual When giving to someone you care about, its always best to tailor the personalized engraving to the person specifically, even when buying multiple gifts. For example: if you are buying custom engraved gifts for the groomsmen at your wedding, avoid just the title of your wedding (like Smith and Logan Wedding 2019 or your wedding hashtag). Opt for a memory with each friend like nicknames or a word or symbol that reminds you of them. Are they your best friend? Dad? Mother? Are you particularly close? In most instances, this is probably not the time to get Di Nardo Family Christmas (unless your getting pens for the whole family and you all really love acknowledging your Christmas times). 2.) Choose your words carefully Are you a poet and you didn't even know it? I am obviously not. I may in fact be one of the worst rhymers in the history of the English language. If you are like me its probably best to go with someone else's words for your love message engravings. Most custom engraving has very limited character counts (you can only engrave so much). 30-70 characters would be a generous average depending on the item laser engraved. Make sure to say what is true and means a lot without wasting words. 3.) Avoid cliches Some phrases are lovely facts that aren't cliche no matter how much you use them ie: I love you. Some phrases look like you read a 14 year old's diary ie: Love means never having to say you're sorry. (that works for about two seconds...) or Time heals all wounds engraved on a watch (ouch.) If you are opting for a commonly used phrase, make sure it is meaningful to you and your recipient and doesn't clash with your engraved gifts. 4.) Handwriting Engraving This is a little thing that can make a big difference in turning a personalized gift into a keepsake or heirloom. Handwriting engraving is hands down my personal favorite. Handwriting engraving takes a piece of handwriting and engraves it directly onto the item. It could even be a small doodle, symbols, or drawings (like a little heart done by a young child). These kinds of engravings are sentimental in just the right way and are the most personal form of engraving possible. In short, this personalized engraving is one to remember. Final Piece of Advice: Check. Your. Spelling. This applies to professional and personal engravings and is the BIGGEST issue I see with personalized engraving. You think its bad on a Starbucks cup...imagine it on your permanently engraved gifts. Always double/triple check the spelling of your engraving. Whatever you send to the engraver, they will engrave, even if you spell it incorrectly. Custom Engraving Ideas aka what do I actually put Now that you have the etiquette for personalized engraving in your mind, I'm going to throw out some ideas for what to get engraved on your personalized gift. For a list of 277 engraving quote ideas, check out Michael article! I am going to stick more with general ideas and suggestions with some personal favorites I've seen through the years. Professional Engraving Ideas If you decide to get something other than just a name and company logo or are looking for something to add onto the name: Engraving ideas for Realtors, Contractors, Architects, or Closing Lawyers The buyer's name followed by their new address (John Smith 746 Geraldine Way) Homeowner Welcome Home Happy Closing Sign on the dotted line Engraving ideas for Doctors, Nurses, Veterinarians, EMTs, etc. To your health Thank you for your work You saved my life. Dr. Smith (insert name): At your cervix Engraving ideas for Bosses, Business Owners, and Managers It's a pleasure working for you 10 years of service Thanks for hiring me I'd like Christmas off Engraving ideas for Scientists You matter Engraving ideas for Teachers, Educators, or Professors Thank you for your inspiration Learn what you love, and everything else. You have taught me so much Engraving ideas for the Zombie Apocalypse Just run faster than Kevin Stay inside The doomsday preppers were right Could be worse. It could be raining. Professional Signature Engravings The handwriting engraving is still a great option for professional engraved gifts. Instead of handwriting engraving, it can also be called Signature engraving. Get the signature of the boss, doctor, or lawyer who will receive your gift. Or! Get the signature of the person who is their inspiration or favorite historical figure like this one of Dwight D Eisenhower. Big caveat on this one. Signatures of historic or public figures are only public domain after they have passed away at least 50 years ago. If the signature is before that date (1972 or sooner) it is copy written and cannot be engraved by a business. Personal Engraving Ideas aka custom engraving for the people you love You know who these people are. You love 'em. Find what's best for them. Engraving ideas for a spouse, partner, boyfriend, or girlfriend The latitude and longitude of where you met, where your wedding happened, got engaged, had your child, shared your first date, bought your first house. Is there a romantic location you want to remember with them? Here's a neat lil' secret way of sharing it. This is particularly sweet on a piece of jewelry like a ring. The name of a movie, book, author, or serious that you both love. If there quotes or small phrases that you reference together, even better! Inside jokes or phrases. For instance: my husband and I both heard our 7 month old son make a noise that sounded shocking like "My back hurts!" It's a running joke that always makes one of us laugh. Engraving ideas for a best friend, maid of honor, best man, or wedding party Inside jokes are always another go to for this one. Do you have a secret handshake? No? Make one. and then use emojis to engrave it Hashtags can be a clever medium for this one. #bestfrand4lyfe #nocap Engraving ideas for a dad, mom, godparent, or miscellaneous close family members or loved ones Best dad forever! Quotes or phrases they always say. (My dad always likes to give his parting advice "if you get hungry, eat something!) Come home! Here I would highly recommend a handwriting engraving, especially of a doodle or something. Find an old stick figure drawing you did as a kid for the person and have that engraved. Engraving Poetry (especially on personalized jewelry) Engraving poetry can be a great way of communicating your love without getting into cliches. If you aren't naturally good at poetry, here are some recommendations for people to peruse: William Shakespeare Emily Dickenson John Donne John Keats Jennifer Michael Hecht Conclusion I'm sure I am not alone in the terrifying void of realizing you need have the perfect engraved gifts for someone but not know how to personalize it just to them. Whether buying for someone in your office or in your home, I hope this article helped you with the do's and don'ts of getting personalized engraving for whoever the special person is. At the end of the day, remember! You have already gone the extra mile to make their gift memorable. Don't stress too much. Use this article as a guideline. And enjoy the process. I'm sure they are going to love it. If you have any questions or ideas for the perfect engraved gift, leave a comment below! Sam Di Nardo is an author for Dayspring Pens, where she has honed her expertise in ballpoint, rollerball, gel and fountain pens since joining the team in 2018. From her initial role as an Engraver to becoming the Production Manager, Sam's journey has been marked by her passion for the history, manufacturing, and the unique value of gifted writing instruments. A graduate of Regent University with a degree in English Literature and a special interest in Old Norse literature, dive deeper into Sam's world and discover why she's your trusted guide in the realm of gift pens. Follow Sam on LinkedIn.

Finding a personalized gift on a budget online can be a bit of a pain in the neck. Here's my proverbial chiropractic gift advice for relieving stiffness, anxiety, and dizziness, plus it can help you find the right gift! What I want to do in this article is discuss general concerns about the price of engraving and answer frequently ask questions that a lot of people have about the engraving process, and then I'll suggest a few places to look for affordable personalized gift options. First, let's talk about one of the most whiplash-inducing parts of the buying experience: money. How much does personalization usually cost? Luckily, answer is usually: not that much! It usually depends on how a company can personalize your order, whether its something like laser engraving or its something more in-depth like a completely customized item. How much does laser engraving cost? For most engraving companies (like Dayspring Pens), personalization is free. The cost is included in the price of the items. Other companies will probably only charge a small fee for engraving (usually between $3-$10). This means that personalization by laser engraving (as well as personalization with embroidery or something else that just adds little personal touch) is the most affordable avenue. How much does a fully personalized gift cost? If the company you are buying from personalizes the whole item (for example, items like bobbleheads), then it requires you to give detailed specifications. These sorts of gifts can be pricier, but, again, usually the cost of personalization is added to the total cost of the gifts. That means you likely won’t be surprised by a whole mess of added fees tacked onto the advertised price of engraving. How long does the engraving process take? It depends on the manufacturing guidelines of the company you want to engrave your gifts. I wrote an another ultimate guide to the engraving process that gives a lot of insight into what actually happens when you order an engraved gift. As far as the timeline goes… For some companies, the process can take a long time (usually 4-14 days), and it depends the availability of their products. For others, it’s usually done on or around the same day as when you ordered it. Some companies offer rush production, so you can ensure that the personalization is completed and your gifts are shipped the same day you ordered them. Just make sure your company offers this same guarantee! Gifts that require a lot more in-depth or detailed personalization will likely take longer than engraved gifts, so just be prepared for a bit of a wait. If there’s a particular day you need your gifts, purchase ahead so that your gifts can arrive on time. Don’t procrastinate! How long does shipping take? Like everything else, it depends. But most companies offer a variety of shipping methods to get your purchase to you on your timeline. What personalized gifts should I get if I'm in a rush? That depends on the company! Here’s a short list of 6 of the best personalization and engraving companies and their production and shipping options so you know what you’re getting and when: 1.) Things Remembered Things Remembered is one of the largest engraving and personalization companies out there. They're usually one of the top options on a Google search page. They say this about their production timeline: “Most orders ship in 1-2 business days after the order is placed for Standard and Express Delivery Methods. Economy orders ship within 4 days.” You have to purchase before 3pm EST if you want to get your gift shipped ASAP. 2.) Personalization Mall Personalization Mall is probably the absolute largest company specializing in engraving and personalization. They have a few different options for production and shipping. They sort of lump production times in with shipping timetables. Here's a list of their shipping options and the timeline notice that Personalization Mall has up on their website. First, there’s Economy Shipping… Typically ships within 4-5 business days. Please allow additional 6-10 business days for transit time. Then there’s Standard Shipping: Please allow 2-3 business days for personalization process and additional 3 to 5 business days for shipping time with average delivery between 7 to 10 business days after the order is placed. Then there’s Expedited Shipping… Unless otherwise specified on order confirmation page, orders ship Monday through Friday and will be delivered 3 business days after you place your order. Finally, there’s Rush Shipping… Unless specified otherwise on order confirmation page, orders ship Monday through Friday and will be delivered 2 business days after you place your order. All in all, Personalization Mall can be pretty quick to engrave or personalize your custom gifts, and they let you make a pretty accurate guess of when you’ll get them. 3.) Dayspring Pens This is us! Yay! At Dayspring Pens, we have a ton of custom engraved gift pens from gold pens to pens in every writing style. We like to think we’re a great option for your needs. Orders from us usually ship about 3 business days. Depending on production volume, it's often much sooner, but getting rush production ensures that your gifts ship the day you buy (provided you buy before 3pm EST). 4.) Zazzle On Zazzle, you can shop for gifts based on a specified date, and each product page usually tells you the earliest date it can arrive. With them, everything kind of depends on the gift, but they offer a huge selection of personalization specifications. 5.) Shutterfly Shutterfly’s production and shipping timelines are also Economy: 6-10 business days Standard: 5-7 business days Expedited: 4-5 business days Rush: 3-4 business days Super Rush (for select gifts only): 1-2 business days If all that you need is a  4x6 glossy print, Shutterfly also has a partnership with CVS, so you can purchase a print and have it ready in about an hour! 6.) Snapfish Snapfish’s production and shipping times are also lumped together. However, they don’t really seem to budge on their production time. It’s almost always a 3-day process; this is probably due to the sheer amount of orders that Snapfish gets in a given day. All in all, Snapfish can get your gifts to you in about 4 days, it just depends on how much you want to pay for shipping. Need help deciding which gifts to get? Here's some of the best engraved gifts at the best cost that I've found from all over the internet: 4 Affordable Custom Engraved Gift Ideas to Add to Your List: 1.) Beat Block Cell Phone Speaker This is such a cool gift! I always just put my phone in like a mug or a bowl or something to amplify sound, but this beat block is designed specifically to channel sound to the max without needing to be charged. Get it engraved for your gift recipient so they can pump up the jams and feel cared about. 2.) Tac-Force Knife A custom Tac-Force pocket knife with a unique monogram engraving offers a unique twist on a go-to buying option for a more-than-affordable price. For the person who always has a handy blade on them; get them an even more special one that shows how much you care. 3.) Personalized desk wedge A personalized desk wedge is the best way to either provide you with a special opportunity to make your coworkers laugh or show your real appreciation in a new way. It comes with a custom engraving at a reasonable price Custom engrave it with "World's Best Boss," or perhaps "Grand Master of the Water Cooler." Whatever works! 4.) Wedding Ring Box Get one of these to hold your fine, covenantal jewelry, and remind you of who do it for. Get both of your initials on it! People also ask me... What should I engrave on a gift? I've written a whole other article with some great examples of engraving quotes that I think is worth your time. How are pens engraved? Check out my other article on the whole laser engraving process! Conclusion I hope this article answered your question about affordable engraved gifts and production times. Let us know which affordable engraved gifts you love and why in the comments! Daniel Whitehouse is the President and CEO of Dayspring Pens. He uses his expertise with premium writing utensils to create exceptional, intentional products and craft easy-to-understand articles that help both new and experienced users learn more about their writing tools. He lives in Virginia where he and his wife are raising their four children. To learn more about him and his insights about custom engraved gift pens, follow Daniel on LinkedIn.

Engraving is the process of cutting or carving a design into a hard material.

Where to buy custom pens is a common question for many. When purchasing a gift for a loved one or customized pens for business, the importance of making the right choice is paramount. Think about it: you buy a personalized pen, believing it’s the grandest idea in the world. Yet on a whim, you decide on going after cheap instead of quality. You think to yourself, “it’s just a pen, right”? What does that result in? Uncomfortable grip Poor balance when you write Unreliable ink cartridges that leak easily These are the make-or-break elements that make your gift a personalized pen they will use a cherish for a lifetime or a nice thought that gets lost in the back of a drawer only used for emergencies when a better pen can't be found.That’s why I'm bringing you the definitive guide on where to buy custom pens whether they are fancy pens for the big events of life or promotional pens to market your business.  I am going to talk about: Section 1: Where to Buy Custom Pens Section 2: The Best Custom Pens in Each Writing Style What’s more, I'm going to tell you exactly why I decided on each location, too. So roll up those sleeves, put your writing cap on, and let’s get exploring. We’ll start with the top custom pen company. #1.) Dayspring Pens Dayspring Pens is by far the best place to buy customized pens. The care and attention to detail on each order —no matter the occasion—is admirable. Just one look at the Cross Century II Medalist Selectip Rollerball Pen makes that crystal clear. Look at that pristine metal quality construction and those gorgeous plated appointments. The Cross Century II writes like an absolute dream. Moreover, it’s just one of Dayspring Pens’ many choices.   DISCOVER CUSTOM CROSS PENS   Dayspring Pens also offers remarkable pens from top brands such as Waterman Paris and Parker. Even better: Dayspring offers free engraving on each of these pens, too—in any of the following fonts. Many competitors adopt the policy of “your pen is engraved in the font you’re given.” However, this small attention to detail from Dayspring Pens is yet another sign of dedication. Related: How Does Engraving Work? The Ultimate Guide to Personalized Laser Engraving. What if you’re in a rush? There’s little waiting for your Dayspring pen. Indeed, you can enjoy free shipping to any location in the United States in as little as 2-4 days.  However, if that’s still too long of a wait, then Dayspring’s “Rush Pens” are the choice for you. Dayspring Pens offers 1-day rush pens that can get to your door before the ink has run dry on yesterday’s writings. Not only that, even if you need to shoot out as soon as your pen arrives, Daysprings gift wrapping will ensure your pen is ready to go as quickly as you are. “Excellent product and service was top notch!  The pen writes perfectly and the engraving really sets it off!  On top of that the pen was received earlier than promised.  Thank you I will order again!” — Paul, verified buyer. Looking for another shop where you can buy custom pens? Then let’s take a look at our runner-up: Vistaprint. #2: Vistaprint Vistaprint is a Dutch company that’s been around since the 90s, and while their personalized pens are a great option, they’re not the sole focus of the company. That’s because Vistaprint also offers personalized: Business cards Wall art Clothing Stickers And more This wide range of choices is excellent, especially for starting businesses looking to stock promotional material on their shelves. However, because of it, Vistaprint’s personalized pens don’t quite share the same quality and focus as Dayspring Pens do. However, that isn’t to say Vistaprint isn’t a great choice — it’s why they’re our number two! Let’s take a look: Vistaprint offers three types of customizable pens for everyday use: Premium Ballpoint Pens Engraved Pens Engraved Styluses The pens all come in one ink color—black—and while the engraved pens and styluses feature laser engraving, the premium ballpoint pen only has a full-color wraparound print, which means it may fade in time. That being said, Vistaprint’s pens are much cheaper than Dayspring Pens — so it’s expected they won’t last as long or make such a grand gift gesture as a Dayspring Pen does. However, if you’re looking to simply fill up your pen holder or purchase a loved one a pen that they can whip out in an emergency—then Vistaprint is a great option—and our second top choice. “I got 3 of these pens and everyone I gave one to loved them and I am going to have to get some more.” — Annie, Henrietta, NC. Are you looking for business pens? Vistaprint offers promotional pens, too. #3: Forever Gifts Finally, let’s take a look at Forever Gifts—a company where you can buy custom pens at the lowest prices on engraved material while offering 100% customer satisfaction. Similar to Vistaprint, Forever Gifts doesn’t just focus on pens. They also sell: Personalized jewelry Coffee mugs Money clips Phone cases And more Now, like with Vistaprint, we feel Forever Gift’s wide range of choices does take away from that focus on having the top quality pen that Dayspring Pens provides, but that doesn’t mean that Forever Gift’s pens are a bad choice. Let’s take a look: Forever Gifts personalized metal ballpoint pen is just one of their options and comes in 5 colors, shipping within 2-3 business days. You have the option to engrave the pen for free or just get it as is (if you so choose). However, if you pick the engraved option, you’re given up to 30 characters—including symbols—to make that unique gift for a loved one.  Like with Vistaprint, these pens are cheap—so they’re not going to have that same quality that Dayspring Pens have. However, if you’re only out to fill up your kid’s pencil case and want to add that spark of personality to it—then Forever Gifts is yet another winning choice. “I purchased these pens for my three grandkids as they are learning to write in script. They were so happy to see the pens in their favorite color with their name engraved on it.” — Anonymous, verified buyer. That’s it for our top 3 list. To recap, our top three custom pen companies are: Dayspring Pens. Excellent quality engraved pens with quick delivery for you or that loved one in your life. Vistaprint. Wide selection of cheap promotional pens for everyday use.  Forever Gifts. Affordable pens, available both with and without engraving. The Best Custom Pens in Each Writing Style Now for the fun part! Here are my favorite custom pens for each of the major writing styles: Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pen. Best Custom Ballpoint Pen There are three keys to a great personalized ballpoint for gifting: a durable barrel, an incredible ink refill, and a simple, refined design that engraves beautifully.   Find More: The Best Ballpoint Pen Brands  With those in mind, the Dayspring Pens Abingdon Chrome Ballpoint is a delight that hits all three.  Constructed of all metal, this lustrous chrome pen was built to withstand the daily wear and tear of being constantly in use as well as the battlefield known as the bottom of a backpack or purse.  Inside, you will find one of the best ballpoint pen refills out there, the Schmidt P900 — the silky black refill with just enough tack to stick to the page and enough oiliness to slide across it.  And when it come to engraving the Abingdon was designed for it.  Intentionally crafted for a cap that showcases any engraving with ample room by people have spent over two decades engraving pens, the Abingdon focus on clean lines and a balanced profile to bring any customization into prominence.  EXPLORE CUSTOM ABINGDON PENS   Best Custom Rollerball Pen Now for the ballpoint's liquid smooth brother: the rollerball.   Fine More: The Best Rollerball Pens to Give as Gifts For sophisticate elegance with the heritage and quality of one of the oldest pen houses out there, the Waterman Expert Rollerball pen reigns. Medium barreled, finished with precision and luxury, the Waterman Expert takes the classical pen design of Paris and makes it a piece ready for a boardroom.    The liquid black ink inside the pen adds a glossy gleam to any signature, while offering archival quality that will stand the test of time.  The Expert offers premium appointments in chrome or 23k gold that bookend a custom engraving on the cap, making this high end luxury pen completely unique to the owner.  EXPERIENCE A CUSTOM WATERMAN EXPERT   Best Custom Fountain Pen As a fountain pen user, it is easy to get an incredible fountain pen, but oddly difficult to find one that is also custom engraved.   Fine More: The Best Fountain Pen Brands But the Pilot E95 is both. Pocket-sized and portable, strikingly beautiful in design, and tipped with a tactile nib that is one of the best in the business, the E95 is incredible.  It is hard to condense all the great things about this pen into a snippet so I will just say look into what Pilot Fine Writing is all about and see the evidence of how personalize engraving takes a masterpiece of a fountain pen and elevates it a statement heirloom. Looking for Where to Buy Custom Pens?Dayspring Pens Is Your Best Bet While Vistaprint and Forever Gifts are excellent, affordable choices, they don’t quite match the same superior quality as the custom pens from Dayspring Pens. However, knowing which business to buy from really depends on your needs. If you’re looking to: Treat yourself  Impress that loved one in your life Gift a top CEO or work colleague Then Dayspring Pens is an excellent option. In fact, if you’re looking for an engraved, high-quality pen for a loved one, then we have the Definitive Guide to Buying a Personalized Gift that you can’t go wrong with. Otherwise, without further ado, contact us today to get your Dayspring Pen. Daniel Whitehouse is the President and CEO of Dayspring Pens. He uses his expertise with premium writing utensils to create exceptional, intentional products and craft easy-to-understand articles that help both new and experienced users learn more about their writing tools. He lives in Virginia where he and his wife are raising their four children. To learn more about him and his insights about custom engraved gift pens, follow Daniel on LinkedIn.

What are the best personalized gifts? I've seen a lot of different ideas and gift guides for personalized gifts in various places. USAToday, NYT, Buzzfeed, and a thousand other places have some really great, relevant lists. What I want to do in this article is collect some of the best personalized gifts not on Amazon, from small-time gift-makers and from big-time consumer lists, which I've collected from across the web (from an engraved cutting board to individually pressed records, and from rented billboards to personalized toilet paper) in one place. This is the exhaustive list. (At least, I'm exhausted from making it.) Here's Our 103 Best Personalized Gift Ideas for 2024 1.) Custom Cassette Tapes   Cassette tapes in 2024? Might seem counterintuitive, but who for those of us who grew up listening to tapes over and over, it's a comforting throwback. Plus, you can get the tapes printed with your new, heard-it-before-it-was-cool tunes. So, for the hipster in all of us, there's these amazing custom cassette tapes. Get back to handing out sweet mix tapes to your friends. 2.) Engraved leather catchall If you're like me, the one thing you're consistently forgetting is your keys. Give someone the place where they know they'll always be, and add an extra special engraving to remind them who cares they don't get locked out of their apartment again. 3.) Avito Wine Tumblers  Wine tumblers to beat the heat. These personalized gifts will keep the good times rolling! 4.) Folded Book Art It might seem like a waste of a good book, but not a waste of memories! 5.) Engraved Wooden Watch To remember good times with good people. 6.) Wall-Mounted Bottle Opener I wish someone would get me one of these so I wouldn't have to go rummaging around for a bottle opener in my miscellany drawer. It's a dangerous business. One of the best personalized gifts for beer enthusiasts! 7.) The best personalized hats You know that friend with all the funny hats? They'll love another which really expresses their humor and style! 8.) Engraved Whiskey Stones Keep that bourbon chilled but still neat with these EXTRA NEAT whiskey stones. 9.) DivvyUp socks We all have that friend who wears the wildest socks. Add to their collection of ankle-length comedy and positive spirit by ordering a pair of personalized socks.  10.) Eco-Friendly Candle Pack There's a lot of eco waste in the candlemaking industry. Here's a simple way to cut back on it and give someone a great smelling home at the same time. 11.) Tile Mat    There's endless creative potential with one of these tile mats; you can draw funny little pictures, or just be boring and say "welcome" on it. 12.) Zip Code Pillow   For if you want to be comfy on the couch but also need to remember where you live. 13.) Personalized Children's Toolbox A memorable gift for kids! You'll only regret it if your toddler works up the confidence to "fix" that one really stubborn sink drain in the guest bathroom. 14.) Canva Stickers Give random yet personalized gifts to your friends, family, and colleagues using Canva Stickers. It could be surprise good-jobs, daily affirmations, celebrations, thank-you messages, and reminders. You could also add it to your existing gift boxes. With millions of free templates and icons, you could surely make it tailored to their personality. 15.) Personalized Cigar Cases   Be swanky and smell like Arnold Schwarzenegger with one of these cigar cases. 16.) Custom Rocketbook You can't go wrong with a Rocketbook. It's a reusable, smart notebook which still give you the classic pen and paper experience. It crosses the gap between writing your notes in a normal notebook and writing them on your phone or pad with a stylus. Reusability is one of the best features of a Rocketbook; waste reduction makes it a more eco-friendly product for a fellow employee. The mini version is just as cool. 17.) Personalized Carhartt Tool Bag The adult version of the children's toolbox. For fixing what your toddler tried to "fix" with their custom toolbox. 18.) Charging Pad and Catchall For those of us who not only lose their keys, but their phone and chargers to match. A personalized gift for organization! Lauren Bundle of Courant told me: A charging pad and catchall is a great placement gift for everyone! 19.) Beat Block Cell Phone Speaker This is such a cool gift! I always just put my phone in like a mug or a bowl or something to amplify sound, but this beat block is designed specifically to channel sound to the max without needing to be charged. This bad boy is compatible with all iPhone models and comes with the engraving at no extra cost. Get it engraved for your gift recipient so they can pump up the jams and feel cared about. Makes a great personalized gift for the holiday season! 20.) Personalized Hydro Flask Every office has a few well-hydrated H2O enthusiasts who carry their own bottle around with them wherever they go. They're very rarely seen without it. Consider getting them a bottle that matches their style and adventurous spirit. Price: From $38 21.) Personalized Hatchet You could maybe chop a tree down with one of these bad boys. Or make your groomsmen think you're way more macho than you actually are. Your choice! This personalized gift sure makes the cut! 22.) Custom Sneakers  Vans shoe company has great personalization tool. They will even stitch custom wording on the heal of most of their shoes. It's a great spin on a classic shoe. And Vans aren't the only shoes you can customize! Chaco, Nike, and Converse footwear can also be customized just for you or your gift recipient. Watch your loved ones strut home in comfort, style, and a pair of unique shoes. 23.) Custom Appreciation Boxes from Swanky Badger Personalized cigar boxes make great groomsmen gifts and Father's Day gifts. Here's an idea! Get one of these and turn it into a gift box for something other than cigars. 24.) Custom Jigsaw Puzzles Let's face it: when you're stuck in a global pandemic, one of the best things to relax is to just do a big puzzle. Maybe help someone else take it easy with a personalized gift puzzle. Or ruin their lives by just making it a photo of a blank piece of paper. 25.) Tac-Force Knife For the person who always has a handy blade on them; get them an even more special one that shows how much you care. 26.) Personalized Billboards by Fliphound I think this gift is absolutely brilliant! Billboards can be surprisingly cheap; get one near you and show your wild appreciation for a family member or friend! 27.) Personalized phone cases from Collage Does someone you know live on the edge without phone case? Is it constantly falling with speed towards the ground? A custom phone case is a good go-to. It's a small, practical item that shows you want their screen to stay in one piece. 28.) Wood Docking Station I love these personalized gift docking stations so much! They're really simple, rustic, personalized docking stations to hold various personal belongings and save your neck from looking down at your phone 24/7. 29.) Baby Baptism Block This keepsake for baptisms is, at first, a great little toy for your child. Later on, especially if you have a few more, it can become a set to place on your mantel or a bookshelf to remember the moment. 30.) Custom snow globes If they're dreaming of snowy days, get them one of these cute little snow globes for Christmas and the holiday season. It's perfect to keep at the job or at home! 31.) Playing Cards For the keen-eyed poker player or consistent champion of Go Fish, a customized deck of cards is just simple fun! 32.) Personalized Christmas Tree ornaments They might have enough, but they'll always take another! Goofy or meaningful ornaments are a solid go-to this holiday season. Get one that you think will get your friends in the spirit of Christmas.   Sometimes things just go together! Do you have someone in your life you just fit with? Your sister, bother, best friend, significant other? If so, you need this ornament! It features a bright green avocado next to a slice of toast with smiling faces and a cute banner! Get your names on the bottom of each character and the year at the top! 33.) Personalized Hammer   Get Dad a meaningful, useful present for Father's Day or his birthday. The hammer comes laser engraved to your specifications so you can really NAIL his special day. There's so many hammer puns. Like this one: "I just wrote a song about hammers. It's a real banger." 34.) Personalized Gift License Plates These are a fun way to show your appreciation for their generosity and time. If they're the type of person that's really into their car, it shows you see their passions and you want to encourage them. 35.) Create Your own PopSockets Pretty much everyone's got on on the back of their phone. Get them one that just... pops. 36.) A Personalized Pen   An engraved pen from us is a nice, affordable option!   Consider the Cross Calais Ballpoint Pen with their name engraved on the cap. It's an easy-to-choose, meaningful choice for the best personalized gift that's sure to make anyone smile. 37.) Guitar Picks There's tons of options to pick from; get them one that really strikes a chord! Chris Mathe from PickWorld shared with me, Custom picks are great even if you don’t play. Recently we’ve been getting a lot of work from beard and haircare companies who use the picks to scoop product out of the container. 38.) Chess Boards Get them something that makes people ask them, "Have you watched Queen's Gambit?" 39.) Personalized Desk Wedge   A personalized desk wedge is the best way to either provide you with an opportunity to make your coworkers laugh or show your real appreciation in a new way. It may earn you some well-deserved respect around the office.   Engrave it with "World's Best Boss," or perhaps "Grand Master of the Water Cooler." Whatever works! 40.) Personalized Jersey Check out personalized jersey's for the sports fanatic. Places like MLBShop.com and NFLShop.com have a wide selection of sports memorabilia that they're sure to love, or consider getting them a gift card towards their next purchase. Help them show their best fandom! 41.) Spatula It's a spatula. That is all. 42.) Personalized Mug For that one caffeine-dependent overachiever who talks through the steam rising over a coffee mug in the morning. Help them achieve their goals even more with a coffee mug that's got an extra-special cartoon portrait of them on it. One Uncommongoods.com's customer said: “Got these mugs for my close friends and it made the apartment feel cozier. Everybody loved how much their cups resembled them, and the size! We all use them for different liquids lol, great quality, and the designs don't fade away. Also appreciated how easy it is to personalize them and how they send you the design you confirm before they make them.“ -Sam, Iceland 43.) Classic novels with your loved one as the main character This is such a great idea! Basically they comb through classic books and replace the name of the main character with the name of whoever you want, and voila! They become the main character in what was once a Sherlock Holmes novel. 44.) Engraved Shot Glasses   A shot glass is a fun way to commemorate good times with your friends. Get a shot glass engraved with their name, title (official or unofficial), or perhaps something to remind them of that one time when someone may or may not have danced on the bar tables. 45.) Engraved Cutting Board They'll love an engraved cutting board on which to do some cutting, chopping, slicing, and dicing. Engraved cutting boards make useful, thoughtful presents for the foodie and the avid cooking show follower. Price: From $20 46.) Wedding Ring Box Get one of these to hold your fine, covenantal jewelry, and remind you of who do it for. Get your initials on it! 47.) Personalized Gift Compass Feeling lost in 2024? There's a personalized compass for that! 48.) Howard Miller Desk Set Make someone's office look extra fancy with this clock and double pen desk set. Great for lawyers! A little redundant for watchmakers! 49.) Wallets A customized wallet is special for anyone who likes cold hard cash. Or else it's just good to have. Leatherology also a great selection of personalized wallets. And there's a thousand of them on Etsy. 50.) Bendy straws! Here's a goofy one! Get their name in a Krazy straw so they look completely ridiculous drinking their kombucha or whatever it is that's healthy now but won't be in six months. 51.) Engraved Laser Pointers Give someone an extra-engaging presentation or an extra-dizzy cat with one of these engraved laser pointers. 52.) University Sweaters Get a university sweater that says more than just "COLLEGE." Get one that says like "Jim Bob's College" or "Thorbjornsson University" or something. 53.) Mouth.com's foodie baskets Well, they've done it. The fun people over at Mouth have made personalized foodie baskets, and some of their most popular items are pickles and other harder to find renditions on common food items. Mouth lets you pick your price range and the dietary restrictions of your recipient in order to find the perfect combination of pickles, Black Tea-Infused Cheese, and some vegan delights. It's like a little survival kit to keep healthy for fun foodies. Price: Varies by size of the basket 54.) Yoga Mats Get centered on a mat of your own specifications! Don't bend over backwards to get your friend to try yoga! Get them a sweet new mat to start them off right. I use one just to do savasana for like three hours at a time. 55.) Personalized calendars Calendars are a great gift for someone's office space or a place in their home. At Snapfish, you can put one of your favorite photos of them on their calendar. 56.) Drinking Horn Great Odin's Raven! It's Beowulf's very own personalized beer mug brand! Legend has it that these personalized mugs from AleHorn were cut from a ram who grazed at Yggdrasil's roots... or something. 57.) Embroidered Train Case A fancy train case to carry toiletries like an absolute QUEEN. 58.) Personalized Door Pumpkin It's okay if you're the kind of person who doesn't throw out their Thanksgiving door pumpkin until April; but here's a stylish, light-up version that will never rot! So, in theory, you could leave it out all year round. 59.) Personalized vinyl records While on the pricier side of things, we just couldn't help but add Vinylify to our list of awesome personalized gift ideas. If your loved one has a deep love for music and a love for their record collection at home, consider making them a customized record out of a selection of songs you know they just can't stop listening to. Or you can get them a more reasonably priced gift card to help them craft their own ideal record! Vinylify have been widely praised in Wired Magazine, Uncrate, and Cnet.com for their affordable and individually pressed vinyls. It's one of those needle-to-the-groove perfect presents. 60.) Toilet paper!!! I think this is one of the best gifts in the list by far. Get personalized toilet paper to create memories that just won't wipe away. 61.) Customized Neon Signs While it's a bit pricey, a personal neon sign is one of the coolest personalized items we've seen, check out these neon signs from Yellowpop. A small one might make a great addition to a bedroom, hangout spot, coffee corner, man cave, cubicle, or office space. Also, be sure to check out these Neon bar signs. For the crazy cat lady, take a look at this neon cat sign from VinaCustom. 62.) Cookbook Stand An engraved cookbook stand for the kitchen will obviously make a memorable gift for whoever makes that mean apple pie. 63.) Flower Pots These are great! Get flower pots with someone's name or your favorite quote printed on them, and watch the memories grow! 64.) Coasters Here's an easy choice for office or home personalization: coasters. Get a coaster set with characters from their favorite movies, family members, or pictures of calming landscapes from a far-off land all printed on them. 65.) Whiskey barrels A barrel with their name on it will give them a fun method for aging their whiskeys! 66.) Personalized K Cups Personalized K Cups are perfect for the "don't talk to me till I've had 4.5 sips of my Keurig coffee" friend. Write them a funny little message on them to get them up and going in the morning. 67.) My Face Pillow Well, it's a weird one, but... Yeah, this is just weird. Get it for your really weird friend. 68.) A necklace with their name on it For an incredibly affordable price, My Name Necklace lets you add a personalized touch to your friend's new gold or silver necklace. It's the perfect gift that just says, "This is me!" 69.) Engraved Cross Journal and Pen Gift Set     An engraved Cross journal and pen gift set is perfect for anyone who takes copious notes or likes to reflect in writing at the end of the day. Get this gift set for your writer friends to show them you care that they have enough space for all those big thoughts. 70.) Personalized T-shirt A fun T-shirt boosts morale! Get your recipient a shirt with a quote they love or something funny they said to you in passing that encapsulates who they are to you. Kit your friends out in personalized T's! 71.) Personalized Gift Photo Books from Shutterfly Personal photo books are a classic, and Shutterfly makes them super affordable! Collect a bunch of your favorite memories in one place to make one really special gift! 72.) Laptop Cases Give a loved one the gift of a safer laptop. Personal leather laptop cases are a classy gift for every remote worker! 73.) Monogrammed Fleece Robe from L.L. Bean Stay comfy in one of these monogramed fleece robes. Get your initials embroidered into it to add that extra personal touch. 74.) Pet Portraits An amazing gift for pet lovers! Get a fun portrait painted of your favorite family pets! 75.) Monogrammed Tote Bags from Cuyana or Madewell Both Cuyana and Madewell offer high-quality monogrammed bags. Take a look at their various buying options and find the best personalized bag for your loved one. 76.) Photo Blanket There's always someone in your life who's always rubbing their shoulders and asking if anyone else is cold. Get them the tool to combat their own personal arctic breeze! 77.) Face masks!!!! We all have to do our part during this pandemic. A personalized gift face mask helps your friends stay safe and keep their personality out where everyone can see it at a safe distance. 78.) Baby's Hooded Blanket SUCH A CUTE GIFT! Get your li'l munchkin a sweet hooded blanket for the ultimate baby nap aesthetic. 79.) Wine Glasses Whether their preference is red or white, you can't go wrong with a wine glass engraved with a funny quote, or just get your loved one's name on it. 80.) Fanny pack Fanny packs are just plain fun! Someone who wears a fanny pack usually has a lot of confidence and fun energy. Maximize the vibe with a uniquely crafted fanny pack! 81.) Bobbleheads For the ultimate Dwight Schrute fan! Custom bobbleheads make really funny desk items. It expresses humor and the ability to not take oneself so seriously—especially at work! 82.) Curated Wine Subscription Give one of these awesome wine subscriptions to go with their personalized wine glasses! 83.) Heart Necklace Give a pendant necklace for every day wear and remembrance! Other similar options include an initialed pendant necklace, or one of these awesome constellation necklaces to represent their astrological sign. 84.) Silver Domed Ring Get this sleek silver ring engraved to your specifications. It makes a really cool embellishment to stylish, bold, unapologetically ring-wearing, male fashion. 85.) Oleksyn Prannyk's Engraved Journals These engraved journals are so high-quality. We love them! Legendary Moleskine Journals covered with vegetable tanned leather and personalized with your favorite quote, name or special date. They are handmade in a small family workshop located in Mooresville, North Carolina,USA. They have a really cool, subdued aesthetic that every journal buyer is sure to love. 86.) Engraved Cufflinks   Engraved cufflinks make amazing personalized groomsmen gifts to commemorate the time they stood behind you at the alter. Keep it stylish and matching! 87.) Engraved Ring Similar to #84, you can engrave whatever image you like on one of these rings. They make a very special, unique piece of jewelry. 88.) Personalized Stationary from Curio Press   Send letters with your own name already printed with professional or personal styling on it. Curio Press is a woman-owned and -operated family business that makes every order by hand. Stationary like this really sends a message! 89.) Personalized Cheese Boards from Dust and Things Buy one of these amazing customized cheese board for charcuterie and dinner parties. Get your initials engraved on it or the family motto! 90.) The Best Personalized Gift of Beer Growlers Beer growlers are great gifts because they can be reused, and most any brewery will be more than willing to fill it up to take home. Crystal Imagery has a beautiful selection of designs and styles ready for your customization. Get it engraved with a personalized gift message or a funny picture! 91.) Personalized Candles It's sure to melt the wax around the heart of even the most difficult person in your life to shop for. 92.) Personalized Bracelet Jewelry speaks volumes to the value you place in someone you love. Get initials or names engraved on one of these for Valentine's Day and give it to that special someone. 93.) Personalized Flasks Flasks are a must-have for dry weddings and a day on the green. Get them one of these with their name engraved on it so they remember what their name is when the time comes. 94.) Personalized Rocks Glasses What's better to pair with a flask (besides bourbon) than a pair of rocks glasses! With one of these neat rocks glasses, everything will be al-rhye-t. 95.) Customized Family Tree What a super cool product! Get your family tree with all their names printed out and framed to remember all that came before and all that's growing still. 96.) 23andMe DNA Test These have been so popular lately, and they pair well will the personal family tree. Get a DNA test to see the regions of the world where your ancestors lived and loved! 97.) The Best Personalized Gift for Pet Lovers: DNA Test for Dogs And do it for your dog too! 98.) Leather Phone Case Don't let your friends fear dropping their phone anymore, but also give them the personal touch you'd want for your own phone. 99.) A loved one's face on a sticker Stick it on stuff... so they're always watching... 100.) Star Map A personalized star map makes a great birthday present and can represent the month of your loved one's birth. It's also great for science fiction nerds! 101.) Phone Charging Ports For the friend who constantly loses their charger, but also needs a little sprucing of their electronics. Customized charging ports make really simple, easy, useful gifts, and they pair really well with other tech-savvy gifts. This particular one by Classy Chargers is a Universal 5W wall charger, perfect for Apple certified cables. They even have fully customizable power banks!  102.) Printed Shower Curtains Put a high-quality photo on a shower curtain. Make it funny or meaningful! A great idea is printing the cover of your friend's favorite music album on it. Or put a picture of you and the rest of your friends on it to remind them of the crew! 103.) Finally, the Best Personalized Gift for Home Décor: A Framebridge Personalized Frame  A Framebridge frame is a great personalized gift for friends and loved ones because they immortalize their stories with a custom message on a the mat, a brass plate of the frame, or a story pocket on the back, all on a single frame.  With a Framebridge you can tell the story of past and present. Phew! That's a long list. I hope something in this list is the perfect gift for your loved one this year; at the very least, I hope it gets your gears turning about possibilities! Which of these personalized gifts are your favorite? Mine are obviously personalized pens! Let me know which ones you like best in the comments! DISCLAIMER: Dayspring Pens may receive a percentage from purchases through affiliate links. Sam Di Nardo is an author for Dayspring Pens, where she has honed her expertise in ballpoint, rollerball, gel and fountain pens since joining the team in 2018. From her initial role as an Engraver to becoming the Production Manager, Sam's journey has been marked by her passion for the history, manufacturing, and the unique value of gifted writing instruments. A graduate of Regent University with a degree in English Literature and a special interest in Old Norse literature, dive deeper into Sam's world and discover why she's your trusted guide in the realm of gift pens. Follow Sam on LinkedIn.

It's really hard to know what custom engraving to get on a personalized gift for a loved one. I've written another article on the subject that gives some strategies for coming up with your own engraving verbiage.  In this article, however, I've compiled a list here of easy, short, custom engraving go-to's that can help you narrow down the right engraving ideas for your gift recipient. In this article, you'll see my full list of suggestions along with 50 famous quotes about writing, books, pens, and more! After that, I've gathered 10 hilarious pen puns just for laughs to go along with your engraved gift. Before I jump in, two preliminary remarks to relieve any potential stress about engraving choices: You can never go wrong by simply getting their name engraved on the pen. It's simple and still super meaningful. At Dayspring Pens, you can get your pen engraved with two lines of personalized engraving to double the possibilities for quotes. This just gives you more wiggle room. (If you're interested in engraved gift pens, be sure to check out our list of best sellers.) There's no end to the meaningful phrases and powerful quotes you can say to a loved one. 277 suggestions is just NOT enough. So, these gifting ideas are really just meant to help get your gears turning as far as the possibilities. You don't have to just copy and paste from the list below. Add your own spin! So without further delay... 277 things to engrave on your gift pen I've organized all my suggestions by occasion, relationships, and occupations. Let's take it case-by-case. Engraving ideas for the Christmas season 1.) Merry Christmas! 2.) Happy Holidays! 3.) You're the best Christmas gift! 4.) From Santa 5.) Gift of the Year! 6.) You made the Nice List! 7.) Write and be merry! 8.) Joyful, Joyful 9.) In the true spirit of Christmas! 10.) Blessings this Christmas! 11.) Words are not enough 12.) With all the Christmas cheer! Engraving ideas for friends 13.) For my best friend forever 14.) You've got a friend in me. 15.) To my funny friend. 16.) My ride or die 17.) For the real one 18.) Partners in crime 19.) May your dreams come true! 20.) True friends give pens. 21.) You inspire me. 22.) Double trouble 23.) To my best pen pal 24.) Chill, dude. 25.) Friends are other selves. 26.) Friends for life 27.) Friends 28.) I'm glad we're friends 29.) The one friend I go to 30.) You help me find my keys 31.) The gifts of friendship 32.) My great friend Engraving ideas for family members 33.) My dearest 34.) I love you forever! 35.) From Dad 36.) From Mom 37.) To my favorite child 38.) To my wonderful [father/mother/son/daughter/brother/sister] 39.) I'm proud of you! 40.) I support you! 41.) You make me happy! 42.) I'm so happy to be your [father/mother/son/daughter/brother/sister] 43.) I'll always be your [father/mother/son/daughter/brother/sister] 44.) Mom wanted to get you a puppy. 45.) Rebel child 46.) The special child 47.) First in family 48.) Jen's first pen 49.) Love you Engraving ideas for birthdays 50.) Happy Birthday! 51.) It is your birthday. 52.) You're getting so old. 53.) For John/Jane, on his/her #th birthday. 54.) 105 years young! 55.) You're still 24 in my heart. 56.) In memoriam to your twenties. 57.) Thanks for existing! 58.) You're a gift! 59.) Birthday pen. 60.) A very special birthday! 61.) It's a big life to celebrate! 62.) Have the time of your life Engraving ideas for Valentine's Day and Anniversaries 63.) Love you to the moon and back! 64.) My diamond forever 65.) True love 66.) Our love is the best gift I have. 67.) You're my sweetheart 68.) My sunshine 69.) My person 70.) You are special to me 71.) Apple of my eye 72.) My forever 73.) My heart and soul 74.) Engraved on my heart 75.) Soul mate 76.) Happy Valentine's Day 77.) My favorite valentine 78.) Happy anniversary! 79.) Every year with you is perfect 80.) First in my life 81.) engraved on my soul 82.) my heart of hearts 83.) I heart you 84.) Because I can't afford jewelry 85.) my special friend 86.) our love is strong 87.) I love spending my life with you 88.) Take all my time 89.) I want a life with you 90.) I want forever with you 91.) The only one for me 92.) The one who has my heart 93.) I find myself in you 94.) First love 95.) You are loved 96.) You are everything to me Engraving ideas for Father's Day 97.) World's best dad! 98.) Thanks for being my dad! 99.) To my favorite dad 100.) To write down your dad jokes 101.) Proud to be your [son/daughter]! 102.) Best advice giver 103.) My wisened and wild dad 104.) Love you forever, Dad! 105 .) Lucky to have you as my dad 106.) You inspire me to be better! 107.) For having my back every day 108.) Your jokes are terrible. 109.) Happy Father's Day! 110.) Life advice coordinator 111.) Oil changer of the century 112.) Thanks for life Engraving ideas for Mother's Day 113.) I love you, mom! 114.) Forever the best madre! 115.) Mom of the year! 116.) Mom of the century! 117.) Thanks for giving me life 118.) My greatest inspiration 119.) You make me proud 120.) Proud to be your [son/daughter]! 121.) I love you and I like you 122.) I'll always be your [son/daughter]! 123.) Happy Mother's Day! 124.) I'll never forget your love 125.) Best mom in the world! 126.) In my heart always 127.) Have the best time! 128.) Your love is my hiding place 129.) Love gives life Engraving ideas for coworkers 130.) I wish you every success 131.) To get through Monday 132.) Thanks for having my back 133.) Best cubicle buddy 134.) King of the Water Cooler 135.) World's Best Coworker 136.) World's Best Boss 137.) Welcome to the team! 138.) Office Queen 139.) Desk Jockey of the Year 140.) For all your hard work 141.) Paperwork Pioneer Engraving ideas for work promotions and new hires 142.) Welcome to the team! 143.) To go with the new office 144.) Team Member 145.) For stepping up 146.) Hard work pays off 147.) Success is yours 148.) I wish you all the best! 149.) For your future endeavors 150.) Good job, man! 151.) Good luck in your new position! Engraving ideas for graduations 152.) You did it! 153.) Congratulations! 154.) Class of 2021! 155.) Congratulations, Dr. [John Smith]! 156.) You're done with school! 157.) To the best graduate! 158.) To my favorite scholar! 159.) University of [Cambridge] 2021! 159.) Future world changer 160.) You survived! 161.) Make it count! 162.) To sign the checks 163.) Word magician, PhD 164.) Success awaits 165.) The world is your oyster 166.) Have the time of your life Engraving ideas for award recipients 167.) Congratulations! 168.) Salesman/Saleswoman of the Year! 169.) Team MVP 170.) Company Success Story 171.) Thank you for your effort 172.) Team Player 173.) Morale booster 174.) All heart Engraving ideas for writers 175.) A writer's best friend 176.) Write every day down 177.) The write pen 178.) Make every word count 179.) For when the words come 180.) Find the write words 181.) The write life 182.) Great writers need great pens 183.) For the inspiration 184.) Focus, the words will come 185.) Poet 186.) Great poets steal 187.) Get back to your novel 188.) For your memoirs 189.) Engrave your life in history Engraving ideas for doctors and other medical professionals 190.) Best Doctor Forever Award 191.) RN of the Year 192.) Always my favorite PA 193.) Thank you for everything! 194.) I'll always remember your care 195.) Doctor's pen 196.) Your handwriting is bad 197.) But you're still a good MD Engraving ideas for lawyers 198.) Your handwriting is a crime 199.) JD of the century 200.) Underwriter's Pen 201.) Partner of the Year 202.) Partner in crime, sort of 203.) Deposition Master 204.) To go with your law suit 205.) Your lawyer is present 206.) Lawyer present 207.) Bickers & Bickers 208.) Know the law, know the judge 209.) Paralegal: the real lawyer here 210.) Where there's a will there's a lawsuit. Engraving ideas for psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists 211.) Mental health professional 212.) My favorite therapist 213.) Oedipal expert 214.) Forever my Freudian friend 215.) Absolutely mental 216.) How am I feeling today? 217.) I wonder what that was all about. 218.) World's least creepy psychoanalyst 219.) Piaget's Pen Engraving ideas for philosophers 220.) For the time being... 221.) Socratic Society Founder 222.) World's best philosopher 223.) World's worst philosopher 224.) Stoic of the Century 225.) platofan1994 226.) Derrida's Bane 227.) Continental philosophy forever 228.) What is wisdom, Socrates? 229.) Lover of wisdom 230.) Cogito ergo sum 231.) I think therefore I am 232.) A friend is another self 233.) For cheating the ethics exam. 234.) Anti-capitalist gang 235.) Wittgenstein's Pen Engraving ideas for clergy 236.) Pastor of the year 237.) Resident theology guy 238.) Because nuns can have fun too 239.) Preacher's pen 240.) Methodist magic 241.) Bishop Barron for the Papacy 242.) Calvinist gang rise up 243.) Always reforming 244.) Trinitarians for life Engraving ideas for inspiration 245.) The whole world's a stage 246.) Inspiration machine 247.) Live your dreams always 248.) Great things are coming 249.) Your outlook is important 250.) Good things come to those who wait 251.) Do what you want 252.) Hold onto every moment 253.) Inspiration flows in silence 254.) Apply your mind 255.) There is a way Engraving ideas for encouragement 256.) Never give up! 257.) Keep up the good work! 258.) You can do this! 259.) You've got the biggest heart 260.) Do today, tomorrow will come later. 261.) May all your dreams come true 262.) The world is so big, write it down. 263.)Every day is a new day. 264.) Take it slow 265.) Thanks for all you do 266.) Give thanks always 267.) Way to go! Engraving ideas for laughs 268.) In lieu of a PS5... 269.) Dad? 270.) Feeling stabby? 271.) Answer the phone. 272.) Momma needs a coke 273.) Breakfast: cigarettes and coffee 274.) A pen, again. 275.) #1 biscuit 276.) You guys made me ink. and FINALLY... 277.) OBGYN, at your cervix. There are a ton of other lists of engraving ideas out there as well if you need more. Check out the list from Thoughtful Impressions here, and another comprehensive list from Love, Georgie. 49 famous sayings about pens, books, and writing! Here's 49 famous quotes about all things writing to go with the gifts you engrave. Some of the quotes in here can also be boiled down to short meaningful phrases that you can get on your personalized pen, but I also suggest you use these for ideas of gift notes to give alongside the pen! 1.) "The pen is mightier than the sword." 2.) “Anyone who thinks the pen is mightier than the sword has not been stabbed with both.” ― Lemony Snicket 3.) “I cannot sleep unless I am surrounded by books.” ― Jorge Luis Borges 4.) “I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” ― Jorge Luis Borges 5.) "And all the sweet serenity of books.” ― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 6.) “My library is an archive of longings.” ― Susan Sontag 7.) “She read books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.” ― Annie Dillard 8.) "[To] the library, and step on it.” — David Foster Wallace 9.) “The world was hers for the reading.” — Betty Smith 10.) “I cannot live without books.” ― Thomas Jefferson 11.) “Books are the mirrors of the soul.” -Virginia Woolf 12.) “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” ― St. Augustine 13.) “′Classic′ - a book which people praise and don't read.” ― Mark Twain 14.) “Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.” ― Lemony Snicket 15.) “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” ― C.S. Lewis 16.) “Into the ash I dripped my pen and came out with fire.” ― Jazz Feylynn 17.) "Every moment is a fresh beginning." – T.S Eliot 18.) “Some editors are failed writers, but so are most writers.” ― T.S. Eliot 19.) "Whatever you do, do it well." – Walt Disney 20.) "What we think, we become." – Buddha 21.) "If I’m gonna tell a real story, I’m gonna start with my name." – Kendrick Lamar 22.) "Reality is wrong, dreams are for real." – Tupac 23.) "Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud." – Maya Angelou 24.) "And still, I rise." – Maya Angelou 26.) "The time is always right to do what is right." – Martin Luther King Jr. 27.) "The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” — Sylvia Plath 28.) “Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences” ― Sylvia Plath 29.) "I can never read all the books I want." -Sylvia Plath 30.) “Books were safer than other people anyway.” ― Neil Gaiman 31.) “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” ― Douglas Adams 32.) “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” ― Ernest Hemingway 33.) “There is no friend as loyal as a book.” ― Ernest Hemingway 34.) “You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” ― Ray Bradbury 35.) “I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” ― Anne Frank 36.) “Tears are words that need to be written.” ― Paulo Coelho 37.) “Always be a poet, even in prose.” ― Charles Baudelaire 38.) “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” ― Albert Camus 39.) “Write what should not be forgotten.” ― Isabel Allende 40.) “A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity." ― Franz Kafka 41.) “Writing is utter solitude, the descent into the cold abyss of oneself.” ― Franz Kafka 42.) “I write for the same reason I breathe.” ― Isaac Asimov 43.) “You can fix anything but a blank page.” ― Nora Roberts 44.) “If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.” ― Martin Luther 45.) “To write well, express yourself like the common people, but think like a wise man.” ― Aristotle 46.) “Poems are never finished - just abandoned” ― Paul Valery 47.) “What cannot be said above all must not be silenced but written.” ― Jacques Derrida 48.) “Fiction is the truth inside the lie.” ― Stephen King 49.) “The road to hell is paved with adverbs.” ― Stephen King 50.) “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” ― Pericles I hope these quotes give your gifts that extra touch of personal inspiration! 10 Pen puns to make writers laugh! I love puns. Every time a customer orders a pen from me with a punny engraving, I celebrate! That's why I've added some of my favorite pen puns here for your enjoyment. "The best pen ever made will be the second to last ever made... Because it would be the penultimate." "I bought a pen that can write underwater. It can write other words too." "What do Mike and Sulley fill their pens with? Monsters Ink." "I got into an argument with a friend about whether pens were better than pencils... I’ll admit, they had a point, but I still think the argument will be erased in time." "I decided to make a fortune with a new invention: a vending machine for writing tools! The patent is 'pending'" "Somebody stole my pen. That’s just not write." "I need some help fixing my new pen. Anyone have any tips?" "All my pens are sick. It's a pen-demic." "I wrote a bad word in my english paper, and instead of getting a bad grade, my professor just took all my writing instruments away. That was my PENalty." "Don't try to repair a broken pen. It's pointless." Conclusion I hope you found the right engraving for you! Before you go, if you're looking for affordable engraved gifts, be sure to check out our list of the best Cross pens.  Now it's your turn! Let me know your favorite engraving in the comments! Sam Di Nardo is an author for Dayspring Pens, where she has honed her expertise in ballpoint, rollerball, gel and fountain pens since joining the team in 2018. From her initial role as an Engraver to becoming the Production Manager, Sam's journey has been marked by her passion for the history, manufacturing, and the unique value of gifted writing instruments. A graduate of Regent University with a degree in English Literature and a special interest in Old Norse literature, dive deeper into Sam's world and discover why she's your trusted guide in the realm of gift pens. Follow Sam on LinkedIn.

Oh! Is it Christmas? Lots of bonding time and exchanging of gifts? Or are you and your spouse soon celebrating your anniversary? Maybe you just want to gift your employees during that end-of-year party. Or your mom’s birthday is just around the corner. Such occasions require you to get a gift. And not just any gift, a memorable one. It’s easy to get stumped over what gift you could give that’ll make a lasting impression. The solution - custom engraved pens. That’s right! But first, a fun fact: Did you know that the President of the United States signs vital documents with a different pen every time? He never uses the same pen twice. He then offers the pen as a gift to the staff who assisted him in creating that document. These presidential pens are engraved by the White House beforehand. Pretty cool, right? Today, custom engraved pens are often given out at: Occasions such as anniversaries, Christmas, graduation, weddings, funerals, christenings Promotional events, exhibitions Deal-signing ceremonies, business meetings, and much more! Personalized gift items allow your recipient to know that they are valued and unique. Engraved pens take this to the next level. They convey sophistication and classic elegance. Giving your employee an engraved pen as a gift for their team effort or good conduct is an excellent way to have them feel respected and valued. Most people have an array of pens on their desks. Are they engraved? Probably not. A personalized pen is a gift someone will treasure even when the ink dries out. The pen ceases to be just a pen but becomes a memory. And a cherished memory at that. Now, let’s help you make that unforgettable impression with custom engraved pens.  Shop Now: Luxury Customized Pens From Dayspring Pens   Factors to Consider Before You Give Someone an Engraved Pen as a Gift Production Time How fast do you require your custom engraved pens? Standard engraving is normally done within 4-5 business days. However, if you’re racing against time and you need one quickly, you can shop from the Dayspring Pens Rush Page. These pens have an engraving 1-day upgrade option available. They are shipped within 1 business day using the shipping method you have selected. It’s advisable to keep your choice of pen simple and avoid complex designs that may make the production process longer. It’s important to note that the production time isn’t inclusive of shipping transit time. Logo Engraving Information Font The message or name engraving should always be legible. This means that the font you choose plays a big role in legibility. Using the right font ensures that all the text is engraved as sharp as possible. Issues with the ink blending during engraving are minimized as well. At Dayspring Pens the standard engraving fonts that we use are Script, Block, and Times fonts. These fonts are used for all Parker, Waterman, Cross, and Woodmark items. On the Woodmark Deluxe Pen and Pencil Set, the standard font is Deluxe. For large order quantities, corporate orders, and orders with a logo, a custom font type is used to maintain the standards of your brands. “My recent experience with your organization exceeded our expectations in every way. Your website is informative and makes for easy ordering.  The Cross pens were of the quality and appearance that I expected.  The engraving was correct, flawless, and beautifully done. The attractive packaging was a welcome surprise. Shipping and receipt of the order were much faster than promised. All in all, we couldn’t be more pleased with our experience with Dayspring Pens.”- Peter, Wisconsin Imprint Color The imprint area can affect the information you choose to engrave on the new pen. So you’ll need to be cautious because too much information makes the area look messy and cluttered. Engraving comes out better when the design of the pen is one color. Because the area is small, many colors tend to become illegible. When you settle on a design we recommend that you go for the easy-to-see colors for the engraving. Colors such as orange, purple, or red might be difficult to see when compared with colors such as white or black. You need to ensure that whichever color you choose, your information or logo pops. Pen Engrave Positions Based on the shape and size of the new pen, the engraving is done on either the barrel or the cap. The standard engraving position for Dayspring Pens is on the broad side of the cap. It’s visible when held by a right-handed person. Is your recipient left-handed? You don’t need to fret. We’ve got you covered. You can request to get a customized one fit for a left-handed person. What to Engrave on a Pen Now that you’ve chosen your perfect pen for your recipient, what’s next? What message will you engrave? Here are a few ideas to set the ball rolling. You can engrave: Text. Think phone number, company name, website, and inspirational quotes. You can include a sentimental message such as “Best Mom In The World”. If the pen is a wedding gift you can have it engraved “Father of the Bride” or “Lynn Weds Sam 2020”. Names, Initials, Dates, slogan or tagline, and such.  To help create a pleasant tone for your brand, a statement such as “Thanks For Your Business” goes a long way. The text could also be specific to an occasion like “The Jackson’s Family Reunion 2021”. Or business-specific like, “Play By The Rules, But Be Ferocious”. Logo. Keep it simple when using custom engraved pens. If your logo is too detailed, you’d rather opt for text-only or clip emblems. Custom Signatures - Want to make your gift even more special? Engraving a signature is a sure way to achieve this. You can simply get a copy of your recipient’s signature and have it engraved on the cap. Cross Century II, Waterman Expert, and Cross Townsend are popular with signature engraving. “I cannot say enough about their customer service. We had pens get lost in the mail, and it wasn't discovered until 13 hours before an event was to be held. I was able to get Customer Service on the phone quickly. Dayspring Pens was able to engrave the pens I needed and immediately hand them to their UPS driver. I strongly recommend them! - Gabriela, New York  Learn More: What Can Be Engraved?   Get Your Engraved Pen Today Whether it’s for a political campaign, company, loved one, or special event, custom engraved pens are bound to make an unforgettable impression. At Dayspring Pens, we understand the significance of using a customized pen during special moments and everyday occasions. We know that everyone deserves a high-quality pen whichever the occasion and use. Writing is an art and it should be treated as such with the ‘write’ instruments (get it?). That's why we offer you a wide range of elegant, meaningful, and customized pens. Buy the perfect gift today. Featured image: pxfuel.com Daniel Whitehouse is the President and CEO of Dayspring Pens. He uses his expertise with premium writing utensils to create exceptional, intentional products and craft easy-to-understand articles that help both new and experienced users learn more about their writing tools. He lives in Virginia where he and his wife are raising their four children. To learn more about him and his insights about custom engraved gift pens, follow Daniel on LinkedIn.