How Much Will Personal Engraving Devalue A Mont Blanc

[terrymcneespen]

Just generally speaking how much will personal engraving devalue a MB Fountain pen?

 

[Guernseytim]

Are you planning on selling one?

 

It can add serious amounts of sentimental value to a pen.

 

It can detract from sales value - unless someone is curious about who the owner might have been.

[Chrissy]

It depends where it is. If someone puts one on a clip or a cap then it costs about $200 to replace the clip or cap so it's devalued it by that much I suppose.

[CS388]

As Chrissy says. Engraving could financially devalue the pen by the amount it costs for the applicable MB service to rectify it.

 

If Picasso had owned a Montblanc pen and engraved it himself, it might be a different story.

 

Enjoy.

[Frosty One]

I think it will also cut down on the number of people that would be interested in the pen. jmho

[meiers]

Unless it's a really cool name.

[BrandonA]

Hugely.

 

Why would I want to buy a pen with someone else's name on it?

 

I've never understood the need to do it. A number of my pens were bought for special reasons. I don't need to have it carved into the pen to remind me - if it's special you will remember regardless.

 

Having said the above, how likely is the pen to be sold? If it is low then and you want it engraved then I'd do it and not worry about resale.

[BrandonA]

Unless it's a really cool name.

Or common. John Smith in the UK is more popular than Brandon A. I'd be unlikely to sell to another Brandon.

[Mister Mont Blanc]

I thought about getting an engraving once, I figured I would have "Montblanc" engraved so as to not devalue the pen too much, almost like their vintage pens with the engraved cap. I think they probably offer engraving for this reason... Once it's personalized, it's less likely to be sold second-hand or if it is, they can charge to replace the engraved part. Business. lol

[KAC]

A pen as an investment, especially a common, current production, non-limited edition item? A nice illustration of the adage that, "It takes a large fortune to make a small one".

[Z-Tab]

For a user pen that's not a limited edition, it won't devalue it too much. On ebay, a 146 with someone's name on it probably won't go for remarkably less than one without. The big drop in value happens as soon as it is opened and used.

 

Any kind of rare or unique piece will be substantially devalued by personalization, unless it was personalized to a significant public figure and you can prove that that person owned and used it. A collector doesn't want a Hemingway that was etched with someone's dad's name.

[orfew]

In most cases I would not buy a personalized pen. One exception would be if the pen was a very rare example. If, for example, there were initials on a sliver overlay Montblanc safety, I would not let this dissuade me from buying the pen.

[terrymcneespen]

There are actually 2 of these that I am looking at.

#1 is described like this and has the cap engraved with 4 initials. BWJR It also notes the cartridge compartment is loose. I suppose this one has been lightly used.

An absolutely exquisite 1997 limited edition Mont Blanc “Peter I The Great” fountain pen presented in a green lacquered display box boasting a gold plaque engraved with the limited edition out of only 4810 pens issued. This pristine pen is dedicated to Russia’s reformer Montblanc, Peter I The Great, the father of Russia’s 18th century cultural revolution. The stunning pen features a dark green body embellished with gold-plated open work detailed in gold-plated laurel wreaths. The pen features a hand-ground 18 karat gold nib which is engraved with the emblem of Russian czars. Comes with International Service Certificate, green lacquered display box and original paper box which has the limited edition number.

#2 is described like this and has the same 4 initials BWJR. This one says new in box.

A fabulous 1997 limited edition Mont Blanc “Catherine II The Great” fountain pen. The stunning pen features a aubergine toned body embellished with rose gold-plated open work detailed in rose gold-plated laurel wreaths. The pen features a hand-ground 18 karat gold nib which is engraved with the emblem of Russian czars.

The person is trying to get a couple hundred for each.

I appreciate any guidance you can offer.

[dcwaites]

Change your name to Ernest Hemingway | Patrick White | [any other Nobel-Prize-winning author of your choice].

That should minimise the devaluation, may even add a little.

 

Otherwise, it's your pen. Do with it what you will.

[terrymcneespen]

The initials would be marked on this part. Not at the very top but in the gold along the clip.
http://mediacloud.saffronart.com/auctions/2012/genmanapr/mens_miaap12_00552_2_big.jpg

[Chrissy]

I would never buy a pen like that if it was engraved with someone else's initials. That is a very expensive item to fix unless you are happy to have it with someone else's initials on it

[zaddick]

There are actually 2 of these that I am looking at.

#1 is described like this and has the cap engraved with 4 initials. BWJR It also notes the cartridge compartment is loose. I suppose this one has been lightly used.

An absolutely exquisite 1997 limited edition Mont Blanc Peter I The Great fountain pen presented in a green lacquered display box boasting a gold plaque engraved with the limited edition out of only 4810 pens issued. This pristine pen is dedicated to Russias reformer Montblanc, Peter I The Great, the father of Russias 18th century cultural revolution. The stunning pen features a dark green body embellished with gold-plated open work detailed in gold-plated laurel wreaths. The pen features a hand-ground 18 karat gold nib which is engraved with the emblem of Russian czars. Comes with International Service Certificate, green lacquered display box and original paper box which has the limited edition number.

#2 is described like this and has the same 4 initials BWJR. This one says new in box.

A fabulous 1997 limited edition Mont Blanc Catherine II The Great fountain pen. The stunning pen features a aubergine toned body embellished with rose gold-plated open work detailed in rose gold-plated laurel wreaths. The pen features a hand-ground 18 karat gold nib which is engraved with the emblem of Russian czars.

The person is trying to get a couple hundred for each.

I appreciate any guidance you can offer.

A "couple hundred" seems suspiciously cheap. If genuine, I would buy them for that price. They are probably in the $1800 range normally. I wouldn't think initials would take $1500 of the value.