Help Me Confirm The Authenticity Please!

[MrSlevinKelevra]

Thank you for all your initial thoughts on my original thread:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/243480-help-me-confirm-the-authenticity-please/page__p__2649335#entry2649335

 

Rather than bury these snaps at the bottom, thought I would start a fresh thread with the photos I was able to take last night.

 

Pen in question:

Montblanc Noblesse Oblige Rollerball Pen Black & Gold Boxed

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190816076952

 

My main concerns:

 

Rattling refill in chamber.

Engraving says GERMANY and not W.GERMANY

Black part of the pen feels cheap and doesnt feel cool/smooth like resin/standard finish of my other Noblesse pens.

Case is incredibly cheap looking and feeling, including a poor quality logo (and none of my other Noblesse came in one like it)

 

Here's the pictures:

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img855/9061/photo52f.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img268/1572/photo6z.JPG

http://imageshack.us/a/img199/9841/photo5ug.JPG

http://imageshack.us/a/img811/6812/photo3ho.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img718/4897/photo42c.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img692/5764/photo33nlb.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img594/5876/photo22rr.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img534/3640/photo2apj.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img138/9998/photo4vif.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img138/2743/photo32os.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img109/8332/photo23hy.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img813/6264/photo1hw.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img802/9316/photo12i.jpg

[MrSlevinKelevra]

This image is trying to show the amount of space there is between the refill and the walls.

 

I was told that even a ‘mil’ or so gap wasn’t a good sign, but this pen must have 2mm gap – as it has *that* much movement in the body.

http://imageshack.us/a/img718/4897/photo42c.jpg

[MrSlevinKelevra]

Considering my feedback and eBay experience, you think I would have checked his feedback profile rather than just checked it said "100%" next to it (which it does). But in 2009, some bloke left a negative for a fake jumper.

 

Losing more confidence.

[Chrissy]

I see no reason to suspect your pen as being anything but authentic.

 

Some pens do have parts that rattle. The mechanical pencil often rattles. The sound is said to be where the word 'Pix' originated from.

[JLS1]

I tend to agree with Chrissy, but I hesitate because mere absence of evidence that this pen isn't a fake doesn't necessarily prove it's genuine. After all, it's not like counterfeit MB rollerballs haven't been circulating for a while...look at the MB Starwalker fakes that end up at Costco. I still maintain that the only way to prove the pen is genuine is to take it to MB and ask them to see if it's a fake: if they say it's genuine, it's genuine - case closed.

 

With that said, the OP seems to believe that this isn't a genuine MB; I'd suggest that if you believe strongly enough that you've received a fake MB, contact the seller and/or open up a file with eBay to see if you can return the pen and get your money back.

[Casexx]

Isn't this pen a ball point and not a rollerball? I have a generation platinum ballpoint that has a slight rattle but I am assured that it is authentic - just on the low end of the scale of Montblancs pens.

Edited April 4, 2013 by Casexx

[orfew]

It looks like the real thing to me.The Noblesse Oblige were lower end pens, I cannot see a counterfeiter taking the time to copy one.

[MrSlevinKelevra]

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

Really helpful – and you’re right, its £75 worth of pen, I shouldn’t expect the earth.

 

But that being said, I'm going to attempt to return as I'm not 100% happy with the purchase (the rattle and the cheap feel of the pen plastic/resin, just makes it ugly to write with).

 

I've just nipped out and bought a Le Grand Platinum Fountain Pen (for retail – eek!) from a local jeweller that my missus had a £50 credit note for… So made sense.

 

But that might go back too, as there’s another nice Chopin pen, local, ending soon on eBay, so I want to keep an eye on that too

 

The Le Grand is beautiful though, its like writing with silk – and exactly as id expect a MB Fountain Pen to be (its my first MB Fountain)

[orfew]

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

Really helpful – and you’re right, its £75 worth of pen, I shouldn’t expect the earth.

 

But that being said, I'm going to attempt to return as I'm not 100% happy with the purchase (the rattle and the cheap feel of the pen plastic/resin, just makes it ugly to write with).

 

I've just nipped out and bought a Le Grand Platinum Fountain Pen (for retail – eek!) from a local jeweller that my missus had a £50 credit note for… So made sense.

 

But that might go back too, as there’s another nice Chopin pen, local, ending soon on eBay, so I want to keep an eye on that too

 

The Le Grand is beautiful though, its like writing with silk – and exactly as id expect a MB Fountain Pen to be (its my first MB Fountain)

The 146 (Le Grand) is a great pen. If you are looking for a Chopin there is one on the classifieds section of this board for 200.00. BTW this includes the original box. (No, it is not my pen)

[Chrissy]

Actually please can I ask which part does picture 6 play for this pen?

 

The rather dark picture that says "Montblanc for sale by authorised retailers only?"

 

That picture clearly shows a fake Montblanc trademark snowcap logo as the authentic one is never black in the centre.

 

Is that part of the original ad or part of the box or something else?

[MrSlevinKelevra]

Actually please can I ask which part does picture 6 play for this pen?

 

That’s the super cheap and horrible box that it came in.

 

This is a molded/embossed print on the bottom of it.

 

I cant really describe the inside of the box, but if you were to remove the satin’y sheet, you’d be left with an empty box and a 1cm pen clip.

 

So with the sheet over it, it holds the pen, but there’s no “stuffing” or padding or anything.

 

It just seems super cheap – and nothing like the boxes I got with all my other Noblesse’s

[Chrissy]

Then that is not an authentic box. It doesn't necessarily mean the pen isn't authentic but it does tend to cast a little doubt. I would take it to a Montblanc boutique and ask them.

[MrSlevinKelevra]

What do people think of this one:

 

I've never heard of a 'Generation' but it's beautiful and very modern looking (in my book)

 

MONT BLANC Generation Ballpoint Pen - Platinum Plated - excellent condition

 

http://bit.ly/YYcp7K

[jar]

What do people think of this one:

 

I've never heard of a 'Generation' but it's beautiful and very modern looking (in my book)

 

MONT BLANC Generation Ballpoint Pen - Platinum Plated - excellent condition

 

http://bit.ly/YYcp7K

 

 

There's no way to tell if that one is authentic from the pictures but even if it was the price listed is way, way, way, way, way, way, way high.

 

It is also listed as condition new unused unopened yet in the description it says it is on a refill with no box or papers.

 

I'd run away from that as fast as I could.

[orfew]

I agree with Jar. Even if authentic the price is too high for a Generation.

[MrSlevinKelevra]

Wow - thanks!

 

Nearly walked into that one!

 

Can anyone recommend where I can get a Generation for a more accurate price?

 

Many thanks

[Chrissy]

Wow - thanks!

 

Nearly walked into that one!

 

Can anyone recommend where I can get a Generation for a more accurate price?

 

Many thanks

You should remember that the members who advise that the price is way too high don't live in the UK. There are more available on ebay.com therefore the prices are more competitive.

 

However, I'm sure you can afford to keep looking and wait for one to come up from an ebay seller who has some experience and is selling one at a better price.

[MrSlevinKelevra]

When they say 'high' at £140, are we talking offensive high?

 

Found another, currently in auction for £70.

 

Souks circa £80-90 be a more suited price?

 

I can't find any information about them in the MB website. Are they cheap feeling - or a mass produced pen?

 

They look incredibly modern, hence the appeal, but don't want to get involved if they are poor quality.

[Chrissy]

They aren't as popular as Meisterstuck Classic pens, Boheme pens or Starwalker pens. They are made to be at the lower end of the Montblanc range

[jar]

When they say 'high' at £140, are we talking offensive high?

 

Found another, currently in auction for £70.

 

Souks circa £80-90 be a more suited price?

 

I can't find any information about them in the MB website. Are they cheap feeling - or a mass produced pen?

 

They look incredibly modern, hence the appeal, but don't want to get involved if they are poor quality.

 

I'm surprised you describe that as modern but I guess it has become a "Classic" design.

 

The Generations series is the latest and most recent version of the design that first showed up in the 50s, It is a slim pen and while the earlier 50s and 60s versions covered the fill range from high end luxury models to economical entry versions, today's Generations series is aimed mostly at the Corporate and Advertising markets.

 

It's not a lower quality line but it is less luxurious. The only area of concern I know about with the Generations series pens was from a couple years ago. There were quite a few reports of the caps cracking in the corners near the top of the clip. I have not heard many such complaints recently.

 

Here are some images of 50s and 60s versions of the fountain pens.

 

http://www.fototime.com/4CF515866A3FB32/medium800.jpg