I recently acquired an alleged Mont Blanc solid 18k Diplomat sized fountain pen. The pen seems to have correct markings, and since the pen was recently seized from a multimillionaire swindler, by the local District Attorney, I must assume the pen is authentic. Anyway, the pen nib is two color, gold and platinum. The top of the cap is also gold, with no Mont Blanc logo. The body of the pen is finished in a very delicate herringbone pattern. The pen is quite heavy. If one of you true collector/experts on this subject could give me some idea of the date of manufacture, and scarcity, I would appreciate it. I am also thinking about shipping the pen to Mont Blanc for appraisal, but I have no idea what to insure it for.

Welcome to FPN!

Are you able to post a picture(s)...pen capped,uncapped, nib close-ups?

Rick

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Thank you for the welcome! I tried to attach four pictures from the original autioneers site, I hope they are usable. If not, I can certainly take some more.

Interesting pattern! Looks like a heavy jewel's overlay.

Axel

Yes, the pen is quite weighty. Searching around the web I have found some reference to 149 size pens done in gold herringbone, but I haven't found any pictures of what they might look like.

very nice pen

Why send it to appraisel,simply go to your closest MB botique and maybe they can help you with that.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have been thinking along those same lines as there is a Mont Blanc sales facility within an hours drive of me. It's worth the drive as I really hesitate shipping without knowing what the pen might be worth. I have seen two examples of a very similar pen with a different gold decoration treatmentoffered for sale in the U.S. For this pen, (with striations in the gold, versus herringbone pattern), one seller was asking 12k, and the other 25k. Numbers like that make me nervous.
Krom101

Thank you very much.

Very beatiful pen

Oh I forgot to say this is beyond a nice pen this is the mother of all my dream pens.
I dont like solid gold pens but a solid gold MB 149 is a dream I will be able to fulfill right after I will win the lottery.
Enjoy

Thanks for the kind words. Needless to say, I did not pay what appears to be the going rate for a pen like this. The auction was an interesting story in inself. It seems that the criminal involved was a lover of all things Mont Blanc. The D.A. had a large sale of pens, pencils, brief cases, cufflinks, etc. And I bought a couple of pens at this first auction. Then the D.A. had a separate sale of a handful of items found in a safe deposit box. The gold pen was one of those. The others were the "Presidential" pen, the "Black Widow" pen, and another one that escapes me at the moment. The D.A. did not accept any of the bids on this auction, as they were felt to be too low. Then I was notified a month later that my bid on the gold pen was accepted. But only the gold pen was accepted, the other pens will be re-auctioned. Before I received the pen I really believed that I had bid too much, as from the picture, I thought I was bidding on a Classique size pen. When the pen was received by me is when I first realized that I may not have over-bid.
Krom101

Well, I went to the local Mont Blanc boutique this morning, but alas, it was a waste of gasolene. The youngsters working there had been given woefully inadequate instruction. They were adamant that Mont Blanc didn't make solid gold pens in 149 size. (I showed them on their own computer on Mont Blanc's website, that they were wrong.). They also insisted that Mont Blanc never made any product without the "snow star" on the pen cap. I offered several links to pictures on the web of authentic gold pens without the Mont Blanc insignia, but I could tell by their expressions that I was questioning their basic beliefs, and was just wasting my time. They DID offer to ship the pen to Pa. for further scrutiny, but I declined their kind offer. I think I'll wait until the next time I have to travel into New York City, on business. As I surely can find the information I seek there. But I DO thank the members of this forum for the advise I was given. It is much appreciated.

Krom101

Krom 101

Such a pen is a rarity, I would rather keep it than sell it. Rarities should be kept not sold. By the way is that car in your avatar a duesenberg model j????

regards

georges

Oh, I'm not planning on selling the pen Georges, just curious as to exactly what it is. And yes, the automobile is exactly that. 1930, I believe.
Krom101

Beautiful! Looks like a golden Jules Verne! Its too bad that no one could help you at the boutique. They are usually very helpful. I wish I someday come across such an auction...

Thank you for your kind comment. As for future auctions, eventually the local district attorney will surely be reselling the VERY expensive limited additions that the bids were refused on. I say VERY, because the bids were over 10k, U.S., but were turned down. The pens were a "Black Widow", and a "Presidential". They were both in their original boxes with paperwork. When I see the auction posted, I'll put up a link, here.
Krom101

Wow. Was this at a Montblanc boutique, Krom101? If it was, and you feel like pursuing the issue, I'd call and ask for the store manager (the general manager, not one of the lower-down ones). Explain what happened, and that if you were interested in purchasing a solid-gold Montblanc, you'll be sure to find a store with more helpful staff who know the product.

Is it possible the name of that "Presidential" pen was "The White House" ?
If you saw that pen, was it a skeleton pen with the resin a clear pastel blue, with white gold, sapphires and diamonds ?
43 of those were made.
One for each president up to the time the pens were released ( 2005 ?)

I saw one of those at the Montblanc Boutique in the Houston Galleria.

Congratulations on your new pen !
It's beautiful.

Yes sir, it was a "company store", indeed. And I believe that one of the people I was dealing with was the manager. Both people were extremely polite, and very young. And their knowledge of Mont Blanc products was only as good as their training. My objection is to that training, not the way I was treated. (Although they certainly could have spent some of their time on Mont Blanc's website to expand that training!). Ironically, I would not be at all surprised to find out that the extensive pen collection that was auctioned off originally were purchased at this very store, as I'm not aware of any other "company stores" in close proximity.
Krom101

Thanks for the kind comments. I'll check back at the auction houses "past auctions" for a picture and description of the pen. My memory isn't what it used to be.
Krom
P.S. I double checked the auction site, and you are correct. It was the "White House". The other two with declined bids was the "Magical Black Widow", and the "fourth of July.

The boutique worker's training probably doesn't extend very far past modern pens. Heck, I don't even know anything about the vintage MBs. I'd cut them some slack, but not the manager. He should know a lot about MB!
If I were you Krom, I'd do what ever I could to get my hands on the other two pens that got pulled form the auction. Two unbelievably rare and beautiful pens just show up like that means you shouldn't give up!

PRAG

You say their knowledge of Montblanc products is only as good as their training. So what training have they received? Do you really mean knowledge? We all know there are tremendous amounts of information to be learned about MB, otherwise we wouldn't be here.

I suspect their training is oriented on operating the Boutique and is more business oriented than history oriented.

Eric

Both the gentleman and lady made many references to their product training. And they certainly came across as Mont Blanc devotees. But they apparently made no effort to "flesh out" that training. And I'm sure that they viewed me as some kind of heretic, (especially the young lady). The gentleman, (manager?), was quite surprised to see the latest rendition gold pen on the parent company's website. I don't think the lady believed her own eyes. I think they were indoctrinated as much as trained.
Krom

Probably right about that. Sometimes it's as important to know where to go to get information as it is to know something off the top of your head. At least in my profession, anyway.

Eric

Absolutely true statement, as far as I am concerned, Eric. And a universal one, as well.
Krom