Mont Blanc

[shadow]

What're some good Mont Blanc fountain pens? Price isn't a factor; only quality. Thanks.

[meanwhile]

This is almost a standard froum reply - even I have learnt it in the last month:

 

If the quality is what you're after, then most people would say that you shouldn't buy a Mont Blanc - there are a couple of models with much better reputations than the rest of the range (the 149?) but you might want to consider a contempary Danitrio, Sailor, Bexley, Stipula, Pelikan or Parker (the Duofold or 100) instead. Or vintage Sheaffer Balance or Parker 51.

 

Otoh, taste is very personal and I'm sure that if you must have a pen with that white star someone will be able to help you - be very careful where you buy: MB is probably the most counterfeited brand.

[TheNobleSavage]

I love my Meisterstuck 149 and my wife loves her Meisterstuck 147. They are great pens, they write well and feel great in my hands. Not everyone cares too much for them due to mass marketing and some issues with the construction of the barrels in the last few years. As for now? I dont know, I would assume that they have worked it out but I cannot be 100% sure. They are expensive and the big thing here is that you can get a pen comperable for a lot less money. You are buying the name and the prestige of owning a MontBlanc.

 

I have an older model from the late 70's mid 80's era and mine is solid as a rock, same with my wifes 147. I bought mine used, so I saved a lot of money. You can buy them used in excellent shape for around 250.00 to 350.00 (149) which is much cheaper than it would be brand new. Becareful buying Monblancs off of Ebay, there are a lot of fakes out there and if you are not careful, you can be had!!! IF the deals looks too good to be true, then it probobly is!!!

 

There are people here who absoutley hate them and there are people who swear by them. It is personal taste and if that is what you want, then go for it. I couldnt ask for a better pen!! The nib is smooth, no skipping, starts up after a long period of not using it, High ink capacity and an oversize pen.

 

Good luck

 

TNS

[OldGriz]

I won't comment on quality or long term writing ability since I have only written with a friend's MB a couple of times...

I will say IMHO.. definately overpriced... you are paying more for the name and advertising and bling value than the pen value...

Now, on the other hand... get a nice old vintage MB and you will have something worth keeping.

[Piano Player]

The classic is the 149--big piston filled pen. I have one, and it writes very well.

 

A lot of the Limited Editions ("LEs") are also very nice. I own a Leonard Bernstein. I used it practically every day for years, and its surface retains the MB shine. (I hear that is what makes it brittle) The LEs tend to have a higher price, but give you more interesting design options.

[wspohn]

I don't go for 'limited editions' much, but I do use both a 149 and a 144 for writing instead of just looking at and they are both very nice writers. The 149 is going to be a tad large for some hands, mind you so if that is the model you are thinking about, try it out before you buy.

 

Like Rolex, I don't think I'd ever buy a Montblanc on ebay - too much chance of getting scammed.

[Macuser]

I think the StarWalkers are to drool over!

[rustynib]

Hello all,

 

My Montblancs are fine writers, but the price is to high for a simple black plastic object with a metal point. A 146 would be my best choice, from experience.

If money is no problem I'd go for the red Hemingay special, nevertheless.

 

rusty

[Scottish007]

I HATE Montblanc! Hate is a strong word, but they screwed up the repair on my limited editions. I will never buy a pen from them as long as I write!

[MartiniPundit]

I have an MB Chopin which is a joy to write with. It may be overpriced by some lights, but it's beautifully balanced, lays down a perfect line, and starts up without fuss.

 

I can't comment on MB service as in fifteen years of constant FP use, I've never needed to have a pen repaired.

[NG-Huy]

You are buying the name and the prestige of owning a MontBlanc.

Everything is said in this sentence for my part

 

Mont Blanc is synonym of luxury. I have two, a Boheme and a Meisterstuck, okay they write well but they are too overpriced. You can have same quality or better quality and pay less with a Platinum or a Sailor for example.

 

I own MontBlanc pens only because of prestige.

[John Cullen]

As you can see, people have many different reactions to MB. I have several 146's and 149's and all funtion perfectly and are very smooth writers, though the 149's tend to be wet writers for their nib sizes.

 

I think the small 144 (??? or 141??) was the one that cracked around the nib.

 

The 146 and 149 are probably not any more likely to crack than any other pen, though of course people do have stories about problems just as they do with any brand.

 

If you look around at pen prices, you will see that their prices are not that far above others. I can not comment on service as I have not used it.

 

Just my experiences, j

[wspohn]

I own MontBlanc pens only because of prestige.

I think I can fairly say that I own nothing due to the prestige the items in question might be (wrongly, IMHO) thought to confer on the owner.

 

I don't own a flashy new Ferrari (even if I could afford it) - I own a 37 year old Lamborghini no one has heard of - and it is brown. I have a few other cars - another hobby of mine - and most are similarly obscure.

 

I don't collect and wear new Rolex watches - I collect and use 20 - 60 year old Longines and Le Coultre.

 

The only reason I own a couple of Montblancs is because they were offered on the points programs of credit card companies and I didn't want anything else in their catalogues.

 

Having said that, I enjoy writing with them, although usually at home in the case of the 149 as it is a large pen to be carrying around and I actually dislike the thought that some people might see it and think me the sort of self-inflated twit that might carry one for prestige instead of as a refined writing instrument.

 

I am not saying that all who own Montblancs (or Ferraris or Rolexes) are self-inflated twits; the incidence does however seem to be a bit higher than with those who drive old MGs, own old Omegas, and write with old Sheaffers and Watermans....

 

The one thing that does tick me off a little is that Montblanc is the only pen make carried by many jewellery stores - why don't they carry Parker, Sheaffer etc. - you are correct - not enough prestige comes with ownership. Carry the prestige makes by all means, but please also carry some of the other excellent brands!

[marklavar]

In my opinion, the 149 is by far the best Montblanc. The quality is very good and it's a great writer.

 

Overpriced? Hmmm. I don't think so. If you look at other upmarket brands like Omas, Caran D'Ache and others, Montblanc is priced in that market segment. It's an upmarket brand and priced accordingly. I'm getting a little fed up with people who keep complaining about prices of pens - cheap pens are available, but this is a market driven by considerations other than mere functionality.

[Apollo]

In my experience Montblanc pens are just as fine as any other high-end pen brand. From there it's all a matter of personal taste. Some may consider them over-priced, but that really depends on what you're willing to spend on a fountain pen. Others are of the opinion that when a pen company begins selling wallets, belts and watches, then they've lost their focus on pens. Personally, I believe that Montblanc's marketing department is second to none. Even if you don't like the hype, you've got to admit that they've done a good job in promoting and maintaining their image. Marketing tactics aside, that's something they wouldn't have been able to accomplish if their pens were junk.

[Titivillus]

I'm getting a little fed up with people who keep complaining about prices of pens - cheap pens are available, but this is a market driven by considerations other than mere functionality.

There is a difference between pens that are cheap and pens that are inexpensive. Some pens are of a good quality and priced as such other are of good quality and priced excessively.

 

 

Being able to discuss the difference is one of the reasons people post to this and other pen sites. I would hate to think that a person would be admonished for posting.

 

 

K

Edited July 19, 2006 by Tytyvyllus

[NG-Huy]

Don't misunderstand me, when I said: "I own MontBlanc pens only because of prestige.", it's my own thoughts. To me, Mont Blanc pens are more for collection means. Mainly because of the name, well in France, Mont Blanc is the most famous brand for fountain pens so it tickles my curiosity, that's why I got some... Not really a good reason.

 

Second, I find most MontBlanc designs very common and not really appealing (except for some LE and Boheme), you can find about same designs between Meisterstuck, Sailor 1911 and Platinum Presidential for example.

 

Third, when you buy a fountain pen, it's mainly because of the name because of you have heard of it somewhere from someone you know, because everyone speaks about this brand around you. Speaking frankly, who would bother buying an ugly no-name plastic fountain pen? "Mimi mini, what's that? never heard of it!". Reactions are more "ah, this is a Parker right? I know it, it's really a good pen!". Same for watches, I would never buy a no-name watch I've never heard.

 

Of course, if a brand is well-known (Sheaffer, MontBlanc, Parker, Waterman, ...), I think there are some factors:

1. Their pens are reliable, not a junk,

2. The design is nice,

3. The nib is nice,

4. The image is well promoted by the brand.

 

The more a brand is known and the more it is counterfeited.

 

To conclude, personnally, I have more feedback with my Aurora Sole, Platinum music, Sheaffer Targa and Parker 75 than my MontBlanc Meisterstuck.

 

Once again, I'd repeat, these are my own thoughts, my own tastes, you can have different ones from me (and it's normal, everyone has different point of views). I'm not really here to pick a fight with anyone, just giving my opinions

[meanwhile]

Even if you don't like the hype, you've got to admit that they've done a good job in promoting and maintaining their image. Marketing tactics aside, that's something they wouldn't have been able to accomplish if their pens were junk.

What makes you believe this?

 

Yes, if every MB broke down that would be a hard sell.. but if they are just very poor pens for the money, would most MB users notice?

[Apollo]

Of course they would. I think people who buy high-end pens are savvy enough to notice if a high dollar pen isn't worth it. There may be a few people who'll buy one Montblanc pen as a status symbol, but most Montblanc fountain pen "users" own more than one. If they were poorly made, do you really think they'd continue to buy them?

[Dan Carmell]

Interesting to note that this discussion is exclusively directed at modern Mont Blancs. Maybe that's what the initiator of this thread wanted, but I think mentioning vintage MBs is always worthwhile.

 

So, I would suggest that you look at a few 1950s Mont Blancs, especially if you like speciality nibs such as obliques and double broads, stubs, etc. Even if you don't, the quality of the nibs in that era is very good. Further, the pens themselves are quite nice. For the price of a modern MB 149, you can get a nice mid-sized MB with a #4 or even a #6 nib, a pen with real interest and character.

 

A really great pen is the MB 14, which was made from 1959 into the 1960s. Slip cap with a very distinctive cap band, fairly big (by vintage standards) and, again, great nibs. Piston filler, of course. These can go for $125-175. The 24 is the next step down in that era, same size and basic styling, just different trim.

 

best, Dan