Why I Don't See That Many Montegrappa Supporters?

[skibunny]

I realized that there are a lot of postings on Parker, Montblanc etc.... Why is Montegrappa not so popular?

[The Blue Knight]

There are many reasons such as:

 

1. If you are paying £500+ for pen I'm sure most people would go for a brand that is far more well know.
2. There is a large number of high end Italian pen companys which offer a similar package at a similar price e.g. Visconti, Omas and Aurora.

 

Put it this way if I had £500 to spend on a pen there are at least 5 or 10 brands that would come to my mind before Montegrappa

Edited February 9, 2014 by top pen

[watch_art]

Could be that you're in the wrong forum.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/forum/88-italy-penne-stilografiche-della-bella-italia/

[jar]

Ignorance plays a big part.

 

Another reason is that Montegrappa seems to believe that the traditional Western markets (the USA, UK, Europe, Canada) will not be significant growth areas and so they concentrate on China, South America, Russia, Malaysia, the ex-Soviet Bloc nations, Africa and the Middle East.

[Albinoni]

While on the subject of Montegrappa I do like Montegrappas dont get me wrong, but I dont like that new Sylvester Stalonne Montegrappa, sorry but its just too overly done and way too overpriced if you ask me, yullk not for me thats for sure.

[raging.dragon]

While on the subject of Montegrappa I do like Montegrappas dont get me wrong, but I dont like that new Sylvester Stalonne Montegrappa, sorry but its just too overly done and way too overpriced if you ask me, yullk not for me thats for sure.

 

I feel the same way about alot of the Montegrappa limited editions. On the other hand, I like pretty much all their their regular production pens; however, each has some feature or characteristic that puts them on my so close, but not quite list.

[humblescribbler]

I own two Genio Creativo, the Stradivari and the Modigliani. They are both smooth, trouble-free and wonderful writers, but I use them less these days because the metal sections -- combined with their heft -- cause them to tend to slip under my fingers after 20 minutes or so. Thus I am now ambivalent about them both, wondering -- since I write with all my FP's -- whether to say goodbye or keep pulling them out for short writing tasks.

 

I've not been tempted at all by the most recent offerings from MG, including the latest of the GC line, the Salvador Dali.

[Tombstone]

While on the subject of Montegrappa I do like Montegrappas dont get me wrong, but I dont like that new Sylvester Stalonne Montegrappa, sorry but its just too overly done and way too overpriced if you ask me, yullk not for me thats for sure.

 

Yar already explained the most important part - as a short evidence: while I had no possibility to sell my "Eternal Bird" inside Europe, it took just a blink to get him sold to Asia...

[Edwaroth]

I have only seen one Montegrappa that I would ever consider buying but for the price. Most are not that appealing to me and I suspect many feel the same.

[richardandtracy]

I have never seen a Montegrappa I really like. Also, I'm not sure I've seen a Montegrappa I would regard as good value for money, even if I did like it.

However, I am not against the brand per se. The Elmo & Fortuna pens aren't a shape I like, the Parola looks like a bit of a kit pen with its metal thread insert - as do the Espressione pens. No. The 'House' style is just one which doesn't attract me at the moment. I tend to prefer the current Onoto & CS house styles.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[skibunny]

Could be that you're in the wrong forum.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/forum/88-italy-penne-stilografiche-della-bella-italia/

Thanks for the link?

[skibunny]

Ignorance plays a big part.

 

Another reason is that Montegrappa seems to believe that the traditional Western markets (the USA, UK, Europe, Canada) will not be significant growth areas and so they concentrate on China, South America, Russia, Malaysia, the ex-Soviet Bloc nations, Africa and the Middle East.

In Malaysia they have pull-out their dealership also. The nearest service centre is Singapore.

[Tombstone]

I have never seen a Montegrappa I really like. Also, I'm not sure I've seen a Montegrappa I would regard as good value for money, even if I did like it.

 

Richard, allow me to proof you wrong:

 

http://www.pbase.com/image/154445095.jpg

 

http://www.pbase.com/image/154445079.jpg

 

http://www.pbase.com/image/154445058.jpg

 

At first let me say: I do not care about ridiculous list prices. When I see the 710,- Euro for a Montblanc 149 here in Germany, it takes me a couple of minutes to catch my breath, because I could not stop laughing.

 

But allow me a couple of words regarding the shown pens:

 

- the first is a Nero Uno. It's a cartridge pen in the area of the Duofold Centennial, the LeGrand Traveller or similar pens. Yes, it's not like all the others - but do you want what all the others have?

 

- the second one is a Historia - Ebonit feed, made of Celluloid. Most of the parts made by 925 Silver...

 

- the third is an Extra 1930 - and yes, the gold is real gold, 18 k to be definitive. Value for money? No problem at all...

 

So what do you think about your sentence I quoted?

 

[richardandtracy]

Tombstone,

 

The lower pen (Extra 1930) with the segmented Greek Key pattern is evocative of a Kaigelu 323 I bought (Review https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/222864-kaigelu-323/ ). I was happy to pay £11, and may have considered it worth it up to £75. Any more for a pen looking like it would not have left me happy. They both look like £75 pens to me.

The Historia, I'm sorry. I just don't like the shape. I'm sure there are nicer looking materials than the 'solidified baby sick' shown, but the overall design does nothing for me.

The Nero Uno design has a lot of flash and bling. It's beginning to look as over the top as a cheap Chinese pen. Just tries too hard in my view.

 

As I said in my original post, I don't much like the house style at the moment, and I doubt if it would be possible to make an Extra 1930 for £75 to make it adequate value for money for me.

 

Regards,

 

Richard

[dr saleem ali]

Montegrappa are beautiful pens for sure ,if someone does not like them , its a very personal !

[Tombstone]

The lower pen (Extra 1930) with the segmented Greek Key pattern is evocative of a Kaigelu 323 I bought (Review https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/222864-kaigelu-323/ ).

 

Ah, ok - but if that is the case, we better stop discussing. I respect your opinion, but I do not have to support it.

[Edwaroth]

The least expensive Espressione I have seen is 295USD...Come on, you can get a far better looking and better pen for that kind of money.

[Tombstone]

I rarely buy them new in shops (you do not find them in the area where I live), so I can just judge the price level of "used" or "NOS" - and in that "second market" I love these pens...

 

But regarding the Nero Uno from my point of view even the list price is not that much "off track"...

Edited February 13, 2014 by Tombstone

[Alex2014]

My New Esspresione in Blue Cobalt look very ellegant and attractive and is of a high quality. The steel pen, as the steel pen of Visconti VG, are both smooth and well tuned. I really love Montegrappa regular FPs having a moderate price (not equally I like the special editions which seem to me a bit kitschy). Well, I can admit that NE is a heavy pen capped (around 40 gr). I agree that the marketing from Montegrappa is somehow less present in Europe and is directed to the fashion items (at least in Romania there is only one Montegrappa shop, with an elitist offer). But being in Catania (Sicily) some months ago, I saw for the first time a Florentine Montegrappa and I fell in love with it.

Edited February 13, 2014 by Alex2014

[HandLikeAFist]

I was looking for a heavier pen, and I spent literally months on-line, looking, looking. My desires became clearer the more pens I saw. For instance, I realized that I didn't like cigar shaped pens at all, that I want the pen to be one diameter top to bottom. The more silver pens I saw, the more I liked them. Finally, I discovered the Montegrappa silver pens, and I felt I was right in my sweet spot. The big, all-sterling Reminiscence, pre-Richemont, was my baby, and through the kindness of a FPNer, I found one immediately in a Martini auction.

 

So I didn't approach the brand as a brand; rather, I decided what kind of pen I wanted, and that turned out to be a particular Montegrappa. I have since looked through many more Montegrappa models that I really, really hate, like the Stallone Chaos silliness. They give the marque a bad name.

 

My pen? Perfection, with a wonderful F nib. The Greek key engraving around the octagonal pen is handsome and discreet. Price +/- $400, shipped FedEx. Me? Happy.