As Retro 51 puts it, 'Life is too short to carry an ugly pen'. And we agree. Their bright colours and cool designs have more than a hint of nostalgia about them, and all their pens are made with good old-fashioned values in mind.

The Smithsonian is a retractable rollerball featuring a lacquer-coated steel barrel in a range of designs inspired by the Smithsonian, the world's largest museum. There is a knurled metal twist-action button at the end, to extend the tip, and a slotted metal pocket clip. It's supplied in a themed cylinder which doubles as a pen stand as well as a protective case.

"The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute will celebrate 50 years of achievement in the care, conservation, breeding and study of giant pandas this year. Over the last five decades, the Zoo's bears have become international icons, beloved both for their adorable antics and their ability to bring colleagues from the United States and China together to collaborate for a common goal: saving the species from extinction."

This version of the Retro 51 displays pandas exploring their native bamboo forests on the barrel. The design is offset nicely by the antique silver trimmings and each pen is individually numbered on the top ring. The Smithsonian sun logo can also be found on the finial.

Refill with either a liquid ink or ballpoint refill.