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Quick answer
The Parafernalia Revolution is a ballpoint pen from the Milan design brand Parafernalia, designed by Sergio Carpani in 1978. Its barrel is an open frame of three anodised aluminium rods, 113 mm (4.4 in) long and 12 mm across, built from 31 parts assembled by hand in Italy. It takes a Schmidt S700 refill.
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The Revolution in Arancio (orange), to scale at Parafernalia's 113 × 12 × 12 mm.
Anodised aluminium (Parafernalia); Gessato also lists ABS
Price range
$$$$over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Colors
AlluminioAluminium
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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 product page says the Revolution's 31 parts are made entirely in Italy and the pen is assembled completely by hand. 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 26, 2026. The 11 colours on Parafernalia's Revolution Sfera page, with the maker's Italian names; all are anodised aluminium. Gessato's US listing has 11 colours too, with Bronze in place of Palladio. Tints were sampled from Parafernalia's product photos of each colour. 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 Revolution at 113 × 12 × 12 mm in anodised aluminium; it publishes no weight.
It says the pen has 31 parts, made entirely in Italy and assembled by hand, and that Sergio Carpani designed it in 1978 to mark the building of the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Parafernalia's shop sells the ballpoint in 11 colours at €65 (about US$73), and a 0.7 mm mechanical pencil version in 10 colours at the same price.
The refill Parafernalia lists is the Schmidt S700 A3 ballpoint refill in medium, not a Parker-style refill.
In the US, the Gessato Design Store, which ships from New York, listed the Revolution ballpoint in 11 colours on October 26, 2026.
What is the Parafernalia Revolution?
It is a ballpoint pen whose barrel is an open frame of three aluminium rods, designed by Sergio Carpani in 1978 for the Milan brand Parafernalia. Parafernalia says the pen was conceived as a commemorative object for the construction of the Beaubourg, the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Gessato describes its three pillars and connecting platforms as architecture-inspired.
Between the rods you can see the refill and its spring. Parafernalia calls the Revolution an icon of writing-instrument innovation, and its “Parafernalia oggi” page says it is exhibited at MoMA in New York; our Parafernalia story covers the company.
Parafernalia Revolution specs
Spec
Value
Maker
Parafernalia, Milan, Italy
Designer
Sergio Carpani, 1978 (per Parafernalia)
Type
Retractable ballpoint with push button and clip
Body
Anodised aluminium; Gessato also lists ABS
Dimensions
113 × 12 × 12 mm (4.4 × 0.5 in)
Weight
Not published
Parts
31, assembled by hand
Refill
Schmidt S700 A3 ballpoint, medium
Made in
Italy
The dimensions, material, part count and refill are from Parafernalia’s product page; Gessato’s US listing gives the same size and refill. Parafernalia sells a repair kit with a spare tip, clip ball, on/off button and three screws, and says it doesn’t fit the larger Big Revolution.
What refill does the Revolution use?
Parafernalia lists the Schmidt S700 A3 ballpoint refill with a medium point, in blue or black. It also sells a chromed S700 printed with its logo, made for the Revolution. Its refill sheet shows how to change it: unscrew the black front cone, pull the old refill out and slide the new one in.
It is not sold as a Parker-style pen: Parafernalia sells Parker-compatible P 900 refills for its Patent 1 and Falter 2D, not for the Revolution. The Online Pen Company lists Schmidt’s A3 700 at 106.5 mm long and 3.2 mm across with a spring stop, so it is a slim, long refill; our pen refills explainer covers the common formats.
What colours does the Revolution come in?
Eleven anodised colours on Parafernalia’s shop, from plain aluminium and titanium to orange, turquoise and purple. The maker’s names are Italian: Alluminio, Titanio, Palladio, Nero, Blu, Turchese, Verde bandiera, Giallo, Arancio, Rosso and Viola.
Gessato’s US listing has 11 colours too, with Bronze in place of Palladio. The Revolution Sfera Italia is a separate edition in blue with green, white and red inserts, in an oak gift box, for €75 (about US$84).
Is there a Revolution pencil?
Yes: the Revolution Micromina 0.7 is a 0.7 mm mechanical pencil in the same 113 × 12 × 12 mm body. Parafernalia sells it in 10 colours, the ballpoint’s colours without Palladio, at €65 (about US$73), with tubes of 30 2B leads.
The Black Forest Pen also shows its ink through milled windows, but it is a fountain pen. The Tornado is a rollerball with a Parker-style alternative, and the Minimo is a pocket pen for planners.
Where can you buy the Revolution in the US?
From the Gessato Design Store, which lists it in US dollars and ships from New York. On October 26, 2026, Gessato listed the Revolution ballpoint at US$83 in 11 colours.
Searches on Fahrney’s and Pen Boutique turned up no Parafernalia pens, and MoMA’s Design Store site blocked our reader, so we can’t say whether museum shops carry it. Parafernalia’s own shop prices it in euros. In Istanbul, Panter Kırtasiye’s online shop lists Parafernalia pens; see our Istanbul stationery stores guide.
How much does the Parafernalia Revolution cost?
It is in our $$$$ price band, over $75 per pen, at US retail. Parafernalia’s own price is €65 (about US$73) for the ballpoint in any of its 11 colours.
Frequently asked questions
Who designed the Parafernalia Revolution pen?
Sergio Carpani, whom Parafernalia calls its reference designer. Parafernalia says the Revolution was designed in 1978 as a commemorative object for the construction of the Beaubourg, the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
What refill does the Parafernalia Revolution take?
Parafernalia lists the Schmidt S700 A3 ballpoint refill, medium point, in blue or black, and also sells a chromed S700 with its own logo for the pen. A retailer, The Online Pen Company, lists Schmidt's A3 700 at 106.5 mm long and 3.2 mm across.
Does the Parafernalia Revolution take a Parker refill?
Parafernalia doesn't say so. It lists the Schmidt S700 A3 for the Revolution, and sells Parker-compatible P 900 refills for two other pens, the Patent 1 and Falter 2D. Check your refill against the old one before buying.
How many parts does the Revolution pen have?
31, by Parafernalia's count on its product page, all made in Italy and assembled by hand. Its Revolution Italia page says 40 parts in one sentence and 31 in another; the 31 figure matches the standard model and Gessato's listing.
What colors does the Parafernalia Revolution come in?
Eleven on Parafernalia's shop: Alluminio, Titanio, Palladio, Nero, Blu, Turchese, Verde bandiera, Giallo, Arancio, Rosso and Viola. Gessato's US listing also has 11, with Bronze instead of Palladio. A Revolution Italia edition is blue with tricolour inserts.
Is the Parafernalia Revolution in MoMA?
Parafernalia says so: its 'Parafernalia oggi' page says the Revolution is exhibited at MoMA in New York. We couldn't confirm it in MoMA's online collection, which our reader couldn't open.
Is there a Revolution mechanical pencil?
Yes. Parafernalia sells the Revolution Micromina 0.7, the same 113 × 12 × 12 mm body as a 0.7 mm mechanical pencil, in 10 colours at the same price as the ballpoint, plus packs of 30 2B 0.7 mm leads.
Where can you buy a Parafernalia Revolution in the US?
The Gessato Design Store, which ships from New York, listed the Revolution ballpoint in 11 colours in US dollars on October 26, 2026. Parafernalia's own shop prices it in euros.
