The Heiko Primus refutes the prejudice that there were no luxury writing instruments in the GDR: it is a particularly beautiful fountain pen which was somewhat more expensive but worth its price. It was popular not only in the GDR and the Comecon area but also in the West, where it was readily used as a promotional gift — accordingly it is often found with Western advertising imprints. East German firms also handed it out at trade fairs to particularly good customers, e.g. with imprints such as 'Greetings from Jena' from Zeiss. The Heiko Primus existed in various colours, including red.