Compiled from 9 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
The Parafernalia Patent 1 is a ballpoint from the Milan design brand Parafernalia, designed by Albert Ebenbichler as a study in simplifying how a refill extends and retracts. Parafernalia lists it at 118 × 11 × 12 mm in steel and ABS, in four colors, with a Parker-style P 900 refill, at €39 (about US$44).
On this page11 sections
The Patent 1 in Arancio (orange), drawn in proportion and scaled to Parafernalia's 118 mm.
$$$$20–75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Colors
ArancioOrange
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Notes on these facts
Made by Itapec S.r.l. (owner of the Parafernalia brand since 2024, Milan, Italy). Made in Italy: Parafernalia's Patent 1 page says the production is entirely Italian. Its 'Parafernalia oggi' page says Itapec S.r.l. bought the brand in 2024 and that production stays entirely in Italy, in Milan, with its longtime production partners. Source. Price: example listing.
Colors: names per Parafernalia Italy, checked October 28, 2026. The four colors on Parafernalia's Patent 1 page, with the maker's Italian names. The page also mentions a Black Edition version, which has no separate option in the shop. Tints were sampled from the colored shell in Parafernalia's product photos; the steel strip is the same in every color. Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
Parafernalia lists the Patent 1 at 118 × 11 × 12 mm in steel and ABS, with a Parker-style P 900 ballpoint refill.
Its designer is Albert Ebenbichler, and Parafernalia says the pen came from his study of simplifying how a refill extends and retracts.
Parafernalia says the project was in the running for the German state award for design; it doesn't say whether it won.
Its shop sells four colors, Arancio, Bianco, Nero and Titanio, at €39 (about US$44), and on October 28, 2026 only Nero was marked available.
Parafernalia's page says production is entirely Italian, and a retailer, The Online Pen Company, lists the pen at £35.95 (about US$47) and marks it no longer available.
What is the Parafernalia Patent 1 pen?
It is a retractable ballpoint with a flat steel strip over a curved plastic shell, designed by Albert Ebenbichler for Parafernalia. Parafernalia’s Italian page says it grew from his study of how to simplify the mechanism that extends and retracts the refill. His aim, it says, was to join simplicity and function in a single mechanism.
Parafernalia calls the result an essential, elegant writing tool built on a metal structure. It is one of the few Parafernalia pens not credited to Sergio Carpani; our Parafernalia story covers the brand and its designers.
Parafernalia Patent 1 specs
Spec
Patent 1
Size
118 × 11 × 12 mm (4.6 × 0.4 × 0.5 in)
Weight
Not published
Materials
Steel and ABS
Type
Retractable ballpoint
Refill
P 900, Parker-dimension ballpoint
Designer
Albert Ebenbichler
Packaging
Cardboard box
Price
€39 (about US$44)
Everything here comes from Parafernalia’s Italian product page, which we translated. It doesn’t say which of the three dimensions is the thickness, so we show the figures as listed.
What makes the Patent 1’s design unusual?
Its body is a thin steel blade, not a round barrel. In Parafernalia’s photos the strip curves up from a colored shell at the point end and ends in a loop-shaped hole at the rear, with a slot cut near it.
Parafernalia doesn’t describe how the pen is operated beyond the extend-and-retract study. The Online Pen Company calls it a click-action pen. We haven’t handled one, so we can’t say how it feels.
Parafernalia adds that the project was in the running for the “German state award for design”. It doesn’t say it won.
What refill does the Patent 1 take?
Parafernalia lists its P 900 ballpoint refill, a Parker-dimension refill, as the compatible one. It sells the P 900 in medium, fine and broad points for €3.50 (about US$3.90) each. The point is stainless steel with a tungsten carbide ball, and the ink is black, blue, red or green in medium.
The Online Pen Company says its Patent 1 comes with a medium black refill, though it also files the ink as blue. Our pen refills explainer covers the Parker-style format. Parafernalia’s Revolution takes a different Schmidt refill, so check the format before swapping refills between pens.
What colors does the Patent 1 come in?
Four on Parafernalia’s shop: Arancio, Bianco, Nero and Titanio. The strip is steel in each, and the colored part is the shell.
The page also mentions a Black Edition, which the shop doesn’t list as a separate option. On October 28, 2026 the shop marked only Nero as available, so check stock before you plan on a color.
How does the Patent 1 compare with other Parafernalia ballpoints?
It is cheaper than the Revolution and the only pen here with a flat steel strip for a body. Sizes and prices come from Parafernalia’s own pages.
The Falter 2D shares the Patent 1’s designer and refill but is a flat kit pen that also works as a ruler and a pen holder.
Three Parafernalia pens at one scale, from the maker's sizes; the Patent 1 is the longest.
Where is the Patent 1 made, and can you buy it in the US?
Parafernalia’s page says the production is entirely Italian. Its “Parafernalia oggi” page adds that Itapec S.r.l. bought the brand in 2024 and kept production in Milan.
In the US, The Online Pen Company’s storefront lists its Patent 1 pens as no longer available, and we found no other US seller with one. Parafernalia’s own shop prices in euros, so shipping and import costs outside the EU are not included.
What does the Patent 1 cost?
€39 (about US$44) on Parafernalia’s Italian shop on October 28, 2026, in any color. That puts it in our $$$ price band, $20 to $75 per pen.
The Online Pen Company’s UK listing showed £35.95 (about US$47) before marking the pen no longer available. Parafernalia sells the pen in a cardboard box, and the retailer’s version came in a gift box.
Frequently asked questions
Who designed the Parafernalia Patent 1?
Albert Ebenbichler, according to Parafernalia's product page. Gessato credits him with another Parafernalia pen, the Falter 2D, which he designed with ATOdesign.
Does the Patent 1 take a Parker refill?
Parafernalia lists its P 900 ballpoint refill, described as Parker-dimension, as the compatible refill, and sells it in medium, fine and broad. The Online Pen Company lists a medium black refill in its Patent 1.
Is the Patent 1 a retractable pen?
Yes. Parafernalia says the pen came from a study of simplifying how the refill extends and retracts, and a retailer calls it click-action. Parafernalia's page doesn't explain the mechanism in words.
What is the Parafernalia Patent 1 made of?
Steel and ABS, according to Parafernalia, which also says the pen has a metal structure for durability. In its photos a flat steel strip lies over a colored plastic shell.
Did the Patent 1 win a design award?
Parafernalia says only that the project was in the running (in lizza) for the German state award for design. We found no result, so we don't claim it won.
Is the Parafernalia Patent 1 made in Italy?
Yes, by Parafernalia's own page, which says the production is entirely Italian. It doesn't name the factory.
How does the Patent 1 compare in price with the Revolution?
On Parafernalia's shop the Patent 1 is €39 (about US$44) and the Revolution €65 (about US$73), so it is €26 (about US$29) cheaper. The Patent 1 is also a little longer, at 118 mm against 113 mm.
Can you buy the Parafernalia Patent 1 in the US?
The Online Pen Company, which has a US storefront, marks its Patent 1 listings as no longer available. Parafernalia's own shop sells in euros, and on October 28, 2026 only the black one showed as available.
