First Montblanc, Is It Genuine Or Fake? Please Help

[Leocuellar]

Hi everyone, new user here and also new in the fountain pen world. I just bought this mb meisterstuck on ebay, I haven't paid for it yet and I am very suspicious about its authenticity. I asked the seller directly and he told me he is the first owner and he bought it new, and he told me is genuine, but I want confirmation from other experienced people like I am sure some of you guys are.

 

Here are the pics he uploaded, please help me:

 

http://s13.postimg.org/dal2m0evr/image.jpg

http://s13.postimg.org/80g3upumv/image.jpg

http://s13.postimg.org/g3ea61f87/image.jpg

http://s13.postimg.org/dksl5cthz/image.jpg

http://s13.postimg.org/sfh6jj32v/image.jpg

http://s13.postimg.org/tghf8nk2f/image.jpg

[KBeezie]

Does it have a piston filler? If so... picture of that? What is it listed as? What's the seller's feedback history like? etc.

 

Edit: I'm guessing it's this one you won for $142 or so.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MONTBLANC-Black-Meisterstuck-4810-Fountain-Pen-14k-Gold-IMMACULATE-/161485953944

Edited November 24, 2014 by KBeezie

[Leocuellar]

Hi KBeezie, thanks for replying. Yes, is the one in the link, the seller has 100% positive feedback but doesn't look like he has sold pens before. I don't know if it has a piston filler, shoud it have one? Reading more on this forum seems to be a 144 and that makes me feel a little better, because what looked more suspicious to me was the golden ring at the edge near the tip but seems like all 144's have that golden ring. Does anythink look suspicious to you in the pictures?

 

Also, do you think the price was the average for that model?

 

Thanks, Leo

[KBeezie]

Hi KBeezie, thanks for replying. Yes, is the one in the link, the seller has 100% positive feedback but doesn't look like he has sold pens before. I don't know if it has a piston filler, shoud it have one? Reading more on this forum seems to be a 144 and that makes me feel a little better, because what looked more suspicious to me was the golden ring at the edge near the tip but seems like all 144's have that golden ring. Does anythink look suspicious to you in the pictures?

 

Also, do you think the price was the average for that model?

 

Thanks, Leo

I don't know that much bout the used Montblanc pricing, however doing a quick search for "Montblanc 144" on ebay then checking the box for "Completed listings" shows a large % of the green prices (meaning sold/purchased) seems to be around $100 to $175. So only based on that I would say it's within the expectation for a black one that doesn't have anything special about it (ie: limited edition, etc).

 

Far as knowing if it's a fake from just the pictures, usually can never tell 100%, the nib and such looks imprinted deep enough (but it'd be much easier to see in person, or with better lighting), but the only 100% sure-fire way to know is to send it off to Montblanc for authentication (or if you think it needs tuning/repair, can pay the usual fee to have that done, in which case if they find it's not authentic they'll usually send it back with a letter stating so, least in the US, in other countries they might have the legal rights to destroy a counterfeit).

Edited November 24, 2014 by KBeezie

[meiers]

It looks like a 144.

[Mister Mont Blanc]

Ues this is a 144 which uses cartridges or a converter. If you take some better photos once you receive it, we could definitely help more with authenticating it. Unfortunately, this is a widely faked Montblanc model but you didn't overpay for it which is good.

[daddyburns]

The top looks real, with what looks like pic under the clip, although you can't make out the detail.

 

I take it the 144 is not a screw top?

[Mister Mont Blanc]

The top looks real, with what looks like pic under the clip, although you can't make out the detail.

 

I take it the 144 is not a screw top?

Correct, the original Classique (144) was a push-on cap before the screw-on cap version.

[Leocuellar]

Thanks for all your replies, the pen is now on its way to me, once I receive it I will post some better pictures.

 

Thanks,

 

Leo

[Chrissy]

It's a 144 or Classic so it isn't a piston filler. It should have a converter and it also takes cartridges.

 

If you send it to Montblanc to be authenticated then they will return it to you whether it's authentic or not. It remains your property so they can't destroy it.

 

FWIW it looks authentic, but a picture of the feed and the converter would be good

[KBeezie]

If you send it to Montblanc to be authenticated then they will return it to you whether it's authentic or not. It remains your property so they can't destroy it.

I know it's true in the USA, but is it true for most of Europe? Reason I ask is there seems to be mixed responses saying that MontBlanc will destroy the pen if they believe it's a counterfeit, but for legal reasons I know they can't/won't in the US, just not sure about other locations.

[Leocuellar]

OK at last I got the pen and had some time to clean it and take a few pics, I got to tell you that it feels very good, it looks super neat and high quality to me, and it writes super smoothly, but I don't know if my own experience is a good reference because this is the first Montblanc I ever hold in my hands so I don't have any reference point. Please take a look at these pictures and let me know if you think anything looks suspicious. Also I have a question, is there any way to know the manufacturing year of a pen from the serial number? Thank you!

Leo

 

http://s24.postimg.org/mu1p5p9cl/B01.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/v7bze3xxx/b02.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/9i8hwi6c5/b03.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/k90pvx9cl/b05.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/gzhpbpvv9/b06.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/5xcmda1sl/b07.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/auq6ye3rp/b08.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/vp74tynit/b09.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/51kqbkhhx/b10.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/y58y7t5lh/b11.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/hwspybwr9/b12.jpghttp://s24.postimg.org/hwspybwr9/b12.jpg

[sd10521]

I'll give my vote for authentic.

By the way, nice lighting on those photos.

[Jbloodwo]

Will the flashlight trick work on this model?

[jar]

Will the flashlight trick work on this model?

 

If you are talking about shining a light through the plastic then it will work but likely tell you nothing. Newer fakes also show a ruby red.

[Mister Mont Blanc]

The serial number itself can't tell you a year of manufacture but the style of serial number can give you a reference. Example- no SN usually means before or around early 90's I believe, then two letters followed by six numbers was next XX123456. I think the next change was two letters followed by seven numbers XX1234567 then the most recent format is more letters than numbers like MBA1BCD2E. In the latest format, I've actually seen most SN start with "MB"

By the way, wonderul pictures and nice acquisition!

[Jbloodwo]

 

If you are talking about shining a light through the plastic then it will work but likely tell you nothing. Newer fakes also show a ruby red.

yes that is what i was referring to. kind of a bummer that the plastic the fakes are using is now also showing that deep red.

[CS388]

From the pictures, I'd say all looks well. Nice.

 

But, really, you should ask these questions BEFORE you buy.

 

Enjoy.

[Leocuellar]

Hi CS388 I actually asked before paying for the pen. And I also asked the seller about the authenticity and he assured me that he was the original owner and bought it from an authorised dealer. Unfortunately I was unable to post quality or detailed pictures until I had the pen in my hands, but everything led me to think it was genuine before buying it, that's why I decided to pay for it.

 

Thanks to everyone else for your comments!

[I like mango cheesecake]

Yes it's a genuine mb. It took less than two seconds to figure that out from your pics