Montblanc Generation as a gift... is it genuine?!

[chaimdan]

Hi,

 

I've always liked MontBlanc pens but never owned one... my wife bought me one for my birthday, the Montblanc generation the looks of which I really like, but we were both quite disappointed with the feel. We thought a montblanc would be heavy and feel like it's made out of more than just plastic, but the one we got doesn't... it's very light, and just doesn't feel impressive....

 

Is this how the Generation series montblancs are meant to feel? Should we have looked at a different series? we really liked the look of this one..

 

My wife didn't know better and bought it online (from a non authorized dealer - jomashop.com)... they do claim everything is genuine and their bbb ratings are good..

 

Any help greatly appreciated...

[Kaych]

I can't say whether its genuine or not without more information like pictures, but I can tell you that MB's are lighter than you think! It is indeed made out of plastic (called "precious" resin), not metal. I too was first put off at first when I held my first MB.

 

Basically all the regular production pens feel likes this (i.e. the Meisterstuck flagship line, generation, boheme, etc.). That's not to say that its cheaply made. I've dropped my MB on a few occasions on hard floors and it's still in fine condition.

[chaimdan]

Thanks for the quick reply, greatly appreciated...

 

Are there any MB you know of that have a heavier feel to them?

 

Or am I out of luck? I was really expecting something that feels expensive, if I was told this cost 2 dollars and was from china I wouldn't have a problem believing that...

 

Thanks

[AltecGreen]

Thanks for the quick reply, greatly appreciated...

 

Are there any MB you know of that have a heavier feel to them?

 

Or am I out of luck? I was really expecting something that feels expensive, if I was told this cost 2 dollars and was from china I wouldn't have a problem believing that...

 

Thanks

 

 

In the pen world weight does not equate to being expensive. Many of the most expensive pens in the world are light. The funny thing is that a cheap $2 pen from China has a better chance of being heavy whereas a $10K pen could be light as a feather.

 

If you want a heavy MB, try one of the pens with a metal body (solid sterling or solid gold) or one of the LE pens. If you want a really heavy and expensive pen, try a solid sterling pen from Conway Stewart or the Stipula Bernini.

[Michael R.]

From my experience the Generation (also the plastic Noblesse Oblige) feels different (lighter and less precious) compared to the Meistersück pens.

 

I'd say they are made from a different plastic.

 

Also I've noticed that both Generation pens and Noblesse pens scratch easier than the Meisterstück pens.

 

More affordable pens are made from more affordable materials.

 

Besides that the Generation usually is a nice writer.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[Silvermink]

In the pen world weight does not equate to being expensive. Many of the most expensive pens in the world are light. The funny thing is that a cheap $2 pen from China has a better chance of being heavy whereas a $10K pen could be light as a feather.

 

The Chinese makers actually exploit the "heavy = expensive" thing by putting lots of brass in their pen bodies, which are frequently kind of... leaden. I've actually developed a reverse association to most people's, where I pick up a very heavy pen and think, "huh, this feels like a $5 Chinese pen".

[CS388]

I once owned a large heavy German pen called Diplomat (Nothing to do with Montblanc)

 

Not sure if they still exist, but it was large, heavy to hold and sweet to write with.

 

I think it's weight turned out to be it's downfall. I dropped it onto concrete and it sheared completely in two just above the barrel threads. I'm sure a lighter pen would have just bounced.

[jar]

The resin based MBs are relatively light. The Generations series is the most recent example of a line of pens that first came out in the late 50s. The metal pens of course are heavier.

[chaimdan]

Thanks everyone for your replies... I would like to have the authenticity validated.... any idea what type of stores can do that for me?

 

I will have a camera in a couple hours and can upload some pics as well. In the meantime here are some things I noticed about the pen:

on the band of the clip it has a serial number starting with "VT" and then 7 digits

Under the clip is says Made in Germany and has some type of logo/sketch difficult to tell what it is

 

Any other things to look out for?

 

I noticed on the MB website they don't even list the generation pens.. are they discontinued?!

 

 

Thanks again

[jar]

I think the Generations series today is pretty much relegated to the business promo section. But in the late 50s to mid 60s the design was the hallmark of the Montblanc pen offerings.

[DecafAmericano]

I am the lucky owner of a MB Generation FP. I love it, despite my angst (see my "Never Again" post in this section of our Forums.... ) about resin breakage. It has broken twice, I have had it repaired twice, and it is usually always inked and in use.

 

My very best pens are light. It's important because if you write for long periods of time like I do, the heavier pens take all the pleasure and fun of liquid ink flowing across the paper. Your hand may fatigue and before you know it, you've put the pen away.

 

I will not ever buy a heavy pen, and won't even look at a pen anymore that weighs more than 20 grams.

 

The Generation line is still widely available, but I notice that most sellers have more of the Rollerballs and Ballpoints available.

[JBond]

If in doubt then you should send your pen to the service center in Texas. I sent the 149 that I bought online to them and they authenticated it at no charge.

[jar]

If in doubt then you should send your pen to the service center in Texas. I sent the 149 that I bought online to them and they authenticated it at no charge.

 

 

Welcome home.

[Pfhorrest]

Yep, the Generation should feel light and 'plasticky'. The Meisterstuck series are also light, but have less of the 'plasticky' feeling (so much, in fact, that I have suspicions the Generations barrel is mold-cast).

[SHC]

When I bought my first Montblanc it was a Meisterstuck - Chopin (145), it was very light compared to the Waterman Expert II I was used to. I sent it back and got a Starwalker Doue instead. This is a nicely weighted pen although with the cap posted it can feel a little "top" heavy.

Maybe you could go to a pen specialist shop to try different pens out for feel and weight?

[tanalasta]

As mentioned, resin pens are nice and light. This is actuall a good thing as it leads to more pleasurable extended writing and the pen doesn't feel like a dead weight in the pocket. However, brass is also a cheap metal (or else fake pens won't use it either). That said , just because a pen is made out of brass or resin doesn't make it cheap or expensive. The meisterstuck Mozart is lacquer on brass and many of the non resin starwalker also use a metal construction.

 

Should you buy a pen, always attempt to try it to see if it suits you before you buy. However, in the mont blanc range, the rubber or other metal starwalker have a heft to them.

[meiers]

I believe that the dealer you got your pen from is reputable and that your pen is genuine.

If you want a heavy MB, try the Thomas Mann Writer's Edition...

 

Going to a store and handling the various pens might help you find your pen, i.e. the one you can fall in love with.

 

I prefer light pens. Weight is not a sign of quality. That's a common misconception.

 

Matt

[weemeng]

Hi,

 

I've always liked MontBlanc pens but never owned one... my wife bought me one for my birthday,

:

:

:

My wife didn't know better and bought it online (from a non authorized dealer - jomashop.com)... they do claim everything is genuine and their bbb ratings are good..

 

Any help greatly appreciated...

 

Whether authentic or not, I won't change that pen. I would thank her exuberantly! To me it represents the thoughtfulness and the effort that one's wife went thru to get something for one's birthday. I would treasure that kind of a wife

 

I too have a green MB Generation fountain pen and you would be happy to know that it doesn't have the heft like a $1 chinese copy MB pen. It's a wonderful writer.

 

Just be careful not to press too hard when using the pen. I read that the section normally cracks near the nib where there is the sharp triangular cutouts.

[KJY]

If you want a heavy MB, try the Thomas Mann Writer's Edition...

 

Matt

 

@Matt:

I am still considering to buy the Thomas Mann. Do you know why this is a heavier FP than others. I thougt it is made of resin too?

[meiers]

Jomasshop would not sell you a fake Montblanc.

They have a good reputation.

 

Matt