New Montblanc Bespoke Service

[RockFL]

Although the Luxist article repeatedly refers to the Montblanc nibs as "nips" this seems like an exciting new service from Montblanc at a surprisingly reasonable price (just over 600 Euros). A brief description from the Luxist site:

 

"Montblanc has always offered a number of pen nip sizes depending on a writer's preferences, but the new service will include a unique personalized writing evaluation to designed to identify how someone writes, what the best type of pen size is for them. It also involves the creation of a one-of-a-kind fountain pen nip made for you at the Montblanc pen manufacture in Hamburg, Germany."

 

A link to the article is here:

 

http://www.luxist.com/2010/10/31/montblanc-now-offering-bespoke-pen-making-service/

[mohanjude]

I hope this is true. I wonder what the computer would recommend as I always have my nibs reground to 1.2mm cursive italic.

 

At 600 euros it is nor cheap but it would be certainly worth seeing what it recommends.

[kaisede]

Thank you for posting this information.

 

I was just thinking about asking if MB would cut an right side oblique nib for me. Now I see this can be possible.

[yachtsilverswan]

I wonder whether the customer is restricted to the recommendations of the computer software analysis - or whether the customer can ask for any nib within a skilled Nibmeister's portfolio.

 

I doubt the computer software is programmed to do more than measure the height of customer written miniscules - and recommend a "custom" nib width to produce proportionate handwriting without filling in the loops.

 

The software could measure the speed of the customer's writing and then recommend a "wetness" ink flow setting to match.

 

And perhaps the software will recognize when a customer was rotating their pen to recommend an oblique nib - though I would suspect the sales staff would be better able to see that the customer was rotating their pen on the paper.

[stevlight]

I wonder if I can "draw" for the computer and see what it recommends!

[Silvermink]

Nips? That's so cute!

 

600 euros seems kind of expensive when you can get a nibmeister to do you a custom grind for under $100, though I get the feeling people who know what nibmeisters are probably aren't the primary target market.

 

EDIT: Though I see they'll do you a custom engraving, too, which is pretty cool.

Edited November 1, 2010 by Silvermink

[tanalasta]

Ouch. That is kinda expensive.

 

There is an artice on the service in the October issue of PenWorld magazine. I've since given my copy away ... and allowing for copyright restrictions cannot reproduce it.

 

However, the author describes writing on a computerised pad three sentences (given by MontBlanc ... I can't remember them but they were flowery pro-MontBlanc type sentences). The system then measures handwriting speed, height, nib rotation and variability, pressure and recommnds a nib to suit.

 

The author will update the article once he receives his bespoke nib.

 

Personally, most MontBlanc nbs write fine for me right out of the box! As do most of my pens... yet they all have different characteristics. So I'm not sure how much 'better' a bespoke nib will be.

[FredRydr]

The concept is that Montblanc will maintain your nib description like a bespoke boot maker keeps your last, or a bespoke tailor keeps your measurements. When you order another fountain pen, the nib will be made to your specifications.

 

There's nothing wrong with using technology that works, but it shouldn't be the cornerstone of their advertising. The computer end of it may be interesting, but it seems to me that pride in old-fashion craftsmanship would be a better marketing tool for Montblanc. I suspect if Saville Row bragged about computer laser cutting of fabric in bespoke suits, rather than emphasizing traditional hand-sewing, sales would drop off.

 

Fred

[razr]

600 euros to tell me how to write w/a FP? Nah, I don't think so.

[gctoto11]

Yeh this thing is true. I tried it in a montblanc boutique in hong kong.. they let you do an initial free test to see what kind of nib suits you. (that free test, of course, is to lure you to get the customized nib) but no i won't fall for it.. 600 something pounds is too expensive...even for a customized nib

[rockspyder]

English is not my first language either, but there are few things that create such a bad impression as incorrect spelling...and even fewer things are as impressive as correcting the errors! In the present version of the Luxist article, "nib" is now correctly spelt. Hats off to such finesse :clap1:

[NABodie]

Maybe I'm old fashioned but going in and trying a few pens out to see for myself which writes better seems alot simpler.

[DetlevCM]

Hmm... interesting idea, but in a way I have a feeling that that's just a scheme to making more money.

 

On that note, I don't think this would work for me.

I write differently with a B nib compared to an M nib - and I can write in several font sizes too.

 

At uni I write in 5mm squares M or B, if I were to write on plain paper I write larger.

But then should I write in my plain paper Moleskine Notebook I write smaller again.

 

I'm pretty sure that most people here would act similarly - their writing size and even style will vary to some extent depending on what they are writing.

[mongrelnomad]

Does anybody know which Hong Kong boutique offers this service (and if the price is still the same €600)?