Montegrappa Privilege Deco

[jar]

Last time I reviewed the Montegrappa 80th. Anniversary Limited Edition that was from 1992, before Richemont owned Montegrappa.

 

Today I'd like to review the Montegrappa Privilege Deco, a larger brother and a newer pen that is not part of a Limited Edition. This pen was forced on me by one of our member pushers and I have no intention of mentioning Bryant's name, so don't ask and I won't tell.

 

The pen came in a simple white outer box with grey script lettering.

 

http://www.fototime.com/E3133089EBEFD9C/standard.jpg

Inside was a grey faux leather box with white lettering, and was surprisingly heavy.

 

http://www.fototime.com/F34AB02F6A551C1/standard.jpg

Lifting the lid revealed the pen on a off white fabric.

 

http://www.fototime.com/B93C91C2FD26076/standard.jpg

The front edge of the box drops down to reveal a tray where the manual, paperwork and extra cartridges live.

 

http://www.fototime.com/0283C5A56BBDB5F/standard.jpg

The pen itself is a large but light Sterling Silver with grey marbled end cap, section and cap ring weighing in at only 45.7 grams with a full converter as opposed to my smaller 80th Anniversary that weighs over 47 grams.

 

http://www.fototime.com/D62968391ACDA8F/standard.jpg

Here is the Privilege Deco, a Montblanc 149 and the 80th Anniversary side by side for comparison.

 

http://www.fototime.com/09ED7C1C6C983EE/standard.jpg

The nib is 18K broad in gold with a platinum overlay and a Greek Key motif.

 

http://www.fototime.com/5DFB2F867A1D5BA/standard.jpg

The engraving on the body and cap is a Guilloché in an alternating wavy and straight pattern.

 

http://www.fototime.com/F8D30CE0A63360C/standard.jpg

The pen is classic Montegrappa, a smooth somewhat finer than expected line with great feedback, good balance and I hope will be as reliable as my other Montegrappas.

 

But I still haven't figured out what makes the box so heavy.

[Uncle Red]

Thanks for sharing Jar. What's the filling method, C/C? It looks like there's a clear area on the section.

[jar]

Thanks for sharing Jar. What's the filling method, C/C? It looks like there's a clear area on the section.

 

It's a C/C and the clear area is another Sterling Silver ring.

[karmakoda]

Thank You Sir, for a thorough and helpful review of a beautiful pen.

I have been curious about this Montegrappa for quite sone time and you answered all of my questions, and more.

Is it fair to ask, which do you prefer, between the 80th Anniversary and the Privilege?

Well done, excellent pen, excellent review.

[Ghost Plane]

I tried the Anniversary and sent it back as too small. Love this one. I see we share a pusher

[jar]

Thank You Sir, for a thorough and helpful review of a beautiful pen.

I have been curious about this Montegrappa for quite sone time and you answered all of my questions, and more.

Is it fair to ask, which do you prefer, between the 80th Anniversary and the Privilege?

Well done, excellent pen, excellent review.

 

Of the two pens you mention, the Privilege is of course less expensive and far more readily available although I noticed today that Fountain Pen Hospital has several of the 80th Anniversary pens listed at a great price in their back room.

 

The Privilege has a much larger nib than the 80th Anniversary, is slightly lighter, longer and has more girth. The Privilege posts by simply sticking the cap on the end of the pen while the 80th Anniversary cap screws on the end to post.

 

Both pens have the Montegrappa Broad nib but I would tend to call them more a heavy medium.

 

The low relief engraving on the 80th Anniversary is just plain stunning. There it wins hands down.

 

http://www.fototime.com/2F5B934D586B294/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/F8D30CE0A63360C/standard.jpg

It also wins in the pocket clip category with perhaps the best roller ball type clip I have ever found on any pen, even better than OMAS. It easily and securely slips over most any fabric I've tried while I find that with the Privilege I need to hold the clip out to get it over the double layer for fabric on a Carhartt Henley.

 

It's too soon to say which I like the best since the 80th Anniversary is kinda like that old pair of khakis that you've had forever or those Docksiders that just don't ever wear out and always fit just right while the Privilege is the new kid in the gang and no one is quite sure how he's gonna play.

 

edited for applin spallin

Edited July 17, 2011 by jar

[jar]

I tried the Anniversary and sent it back as too small. Love this one. I see we share a pusher

 

Likely more than one. :ph34r: I hope to do a review on each of my Sterling Pens and likely the Y-0-L Viceroys next.

[Yuki Onitsura]

I tried the Anniversary and sent it back as too small. Love this one. I see we share a pusher

 

Likely more than one. :ph34r: I hope to do a review on each of my Sterling Pens and likely the Y-0-L Viceroys next.

 

I'll chip in with another sterling silver review when my Delta Napoleone Bonaparte arrives. Also from he who shall not be named.

 

Yuki

[jar]

I tried the Anniversary and sent it back as too small. Love this one. I see we share a pusher

 

Likely more than one. :ph34r: I hope to do a review on each of my Sterling Pens and likely the Y-0-L Viceroys next.

 

I'll chip in with another sterling silver review when my Delta Napoleone Bonaparte arrives. Also from he who shall not be named.

 

Yuki

 

Great, in the blue or red resin?

[Yuki Onitsura]

I tried the Anniversary and sent it back as too small. Love this one. I see we share a pusher

 

Likely more than one. :ph34r: I hope to do a review on each of my Sterling Pens and likely the Y-0-L Viceroys next.

 

I'll chip in with another sterling silver review when my Delta Napoleone Bonaparte arrives. Also from he who shall not be named.

 

Yuki

 

Great, in the blue or red resin?

 

I really couldn't decide so I left a poll on my blog and the people decided that red was nicer =)

 

Yuki

[Ghost Plane]

I am so jealous I can't stand it On a pen buying moratorium at the moment and those are sooooo beautiful.

[Yuki Onitsura]

I am so jealous I can't stand it On a pen buying moratorium at the moment and those are sooooo beautiful.

 

Go play with one of your Ripples. That'll make you feel better ^^

 

Yuki

[Ghost Plane]

Got the Carbon with the stub nib inked up with Eclat Saphir even as I type

[Yuki Onitsura]

Got the Carbon with the stub nib inked up with Eclat Saphir even as I type

 

:puddle:

 

Yuki

[jar]

Back to the Privilege, one thing I've learned is that if you are the type person that takes the cap on and off a lot, this may well NOT be the pen for you. It takes about three Brazillion turns to cap or uncap the pen.

 

That's not a problem for me but for some it may be an issue. It takes just slightly more than three full turns to open or close.

[Yuki Onitsura]

Back to the Privilege, one thing I've learned is that if you are the type person that takes the cap on and off a lot, this may well NOT be the pen for you. It takes about three Brazillion turns to cap or uncap the pen.

 

That's not a problem for me but for some it may be an issue. It takes just slightly more than three full turns to open or close.

 

I suppose with a pen that size, you wouldn't be whipping it out for random note jotting anyway so the three bazillion turns shouldn't be too much of a problem for most. It is a handy piece of information to have nonetheless.

 

Yuki

[Ghost Plane]

Every Montegrappa I own takes a bit extra to uncap. 6 turns for the Extras

[jar]

Every Montegrappa I own takes a bit extra to uncap. 6 turns for the Extras

 

The earlier ones like the 80th Anniversary and the 402 and 300 series seem to take fewer turns, for example only one and a half on the 80th.

[Ipsilon]

It is true that the Extra is very long to uncap. Not sure it is "necessary".

The Miya (not even one turn!) Espressione Duetto and Nero Uno (1.5 turn each) do not have this problem.

 

Y

[georges zaslavsky]

the craftsmanship on the montegrappas is just mindblowing