I've never posted on reddit or anywhere else for that matter so please bear with me, but I found something I can't find any information about online and thought this would be the right place to ask.
I have two black BIC Crystal pens. Both are identical apart from the plastic collar between the nib and the body. One of the collars are black whilst the other one is a brownish goldish colour.
The gold collar pen smells like a normal ballpoint pen, but the black collar one has no scent at all. I also noticed the black collar pen dries almost instantly on paper, while the gold one smudges slightly more easily.
I tested this on every BIC pen I could find at home and at the office and the pattern held up every time.
I think that the collar colour is an indicator for different ink formulas. I am aware of the Easy Glide range but both of these pens are standard Crystals that you would see in a government office, school, bank, supermarket etc.
Has anyone else noticed this? Does anyone know for certain what the collar colour actually indicates? I'd love to know if there's a definitive answer.