Montblanc 146 Vs. Aurora Optima Vs. Dupont Olympio

[nnysldrwv]

This is my first topic in this forum.

 

Since I'm a Chinese, please forgive me if there's any mistake in my grammar or spell.

 

I'm about to gradutate from colleage. I'm looking for a new pen as a graduation gift for myself (actually it's just an excuse for buying a new pen).

 

I'm temporarily considering these three pens: Montblanc 146 / Aurora Optima / Dupont Olympio.

 

The reason for considering the three pens:

 

1. Montblanc 146:

Montblanc is very famous in China, which has a very good reputation for its classic design and fabulous build. The EF nib of montblanc 146 is wellknown as it is very suitable for writing Chinese characters.

 

2. Aurora Optima:

Aurora is much less famous in China. Actually I think no one except those collect or love fountain pens know this brand. But I'm using an Aurora Hastil pen now. I love the nib of the Hastil, it feels very special. The nib feels firm when writing with it, and the ink flow varys with the pressure. So I'm fond of the nib of Aurora. I think the Optima would be a nice pen too.

 

3. Dupont Olympio

I like the laque of Dupont. And it has a very good reputation in China too. But I never tried a Dupont pen.

 

I can get the montblanc 146 and Aurora Optima in China with almost the same price. While the Dupont cost more than the other two.

 

Please help me decide. Thank you very much!

Edited June 22, 2015 by nnysldrwv

[Bisquitlips]

If it were me, I would choose the MB 146 with no hesitation.

 

Best of luck!

[Keyless Works]

The Aurora Optima would be my choice. The nibs are interchangeable and it's a very comfortable size and weight. Also the Auroloide bodies hide scratches well which the MB 146 definitely does not.

 

DuPont makes a great pen but they are heavier than I prefer.

[nnysldrwv]

The Aurora Optima would be my choice. The nibs are interchangeable and it's a very comfortable size and weight. Also the Auroloide bodies hide scratches well which the MB 146 definitely does not.

 

DuPont makes a great pen but they are heavier than I prefer.

Thank you!

 

The Aurora Optima will cost about 470 USD in China. Is the price worth it? Thank you.

[shawndp]

I would get the 146 - it is by far my favourite pen to the point that I have 3 (different era / nib widths). I use it as the benchmark for what defines a good pen - well put together, smooth writer, classic design - that sort of thing. The thing that puts me off with a lot of Italian FP's is their spotty quality control or just the notion that you have to fuss around and mod the nib to get the pen writing. I have Montegrappa, Stipula and Visconti pens and every time I get one I hold my breath that it will write properly out of the box - a $500 pen shouldn't be like that...

[canibanoglu]

I'd go for the 146 without hesitation

[Azura]

I have a 146 with ef nib and a 88 big with m nib, whereas I will go for a green optima without hesitation this time. My 146 ef is a little bit scratchy and dry. For Hanzi writing, it is not unacceptable, since I write slowly; as to English writing, it is a nightmare.

 

For a nib on the fine side, I suggest a montegrappa extra with f nib. Superb writer, buttery smooth, their fine nibs are comparable with (or even finer than) mb ef.

[Azura]

I would get the 146 - it is by far my favourite pen to the point that I have 3 (different era / nib widths). I use it as the benchmark for what defines a good pen - well put together, smooth writer, classic design - that sort of thing. The thing that puts me off with a lot of Italian FP's is their spotty quality control or just the notion that you have to fuss around and mod the nib to get the pen writing. I have Montegrappa, Stipula and Visconti pens and every time I get one I hold my breath that it will write properly out of the box - a $500 pen shouldn't be like that...

Interesting, comparing with German pens, I do prefer Italian pens. In my experience, Pelikans are okay, but my Montblancs and GVFCs give me a lot of troubles and I have no choice but to send them back to factory for nib smoothing. I have a bunch of montegrappas and 2 auroras, I have to admit they need to improve their quality control indeed, but their nibs are way better.

[gerigo]

欢迎来到我们的小世界！

 

They are all special pens in their unique way and will satisfy your writing needs very well. At this point decision comes from personal preference since they are all pinnacles of the craft of pen making.

 

I want to say first that the Montblanc brand itself is a level above the other 2 because of the choices that are open to the customer in terms of nib selection, and also their ability to service their pens. However, their ordinary run of the mill 146 is probably the most boring of the 3 pens in terms of design. In my eyes its the most conservative. But in China, where status, brand and what you carry is important, it's also the one that's most recognized. I have the 146 is many guises, including those Writer's Editions and also the ones that have more unusual finishes. I would recommend one of those instead. But then again, it's purely a personal taste. As for the nib, I would say the EF nibs for Montblancs are a little strangely ground. They are really more architect's points than true extra fine. They have a true ultra fine in their custom nib range that writes closer to a Japanese fine. One other point is that Montblancs are easy to sell if no longer are enamored of the pen as most people would have heard of them.

 

The Aurora Optimas are amazing pens. I have 2 Auroras and they don't disappoint. I recently purchased an Optima in the grey Auroloid with an Italic nib, and it's currently one of my favorites. As for the above mentioned Italian quality control, I feel that's problematic in certain brand and not so much others. I find Aurora pens to have very top notch finish and eye to detail, and less prone to QC issues. Of these pens, I would also recommend the Aurora.

 

The Dupont is the most unusual of these 3 pens. It's the only one that's made purely of metal. It's also the one that starts to market itself about it's finishes. You really only get this in a Montblanc when you cross the $1500 territory. As the result is the most heavy of the 3 pens. It's also the only one that's a converter pen. I don't have a problem with it, in fact prefer these. But some people love a more complicated mechanism when we're talking about this price range. It's just a different animal altogether. Of the 3, this is the pen I would recommend the least, again only because the nib choices are just abysmal, in that you only get Fine and Medium.

 

Final recommendation? Either Aurora or Montblanc. You can't go wrong with either. BTW Where are Aurora's available in China? I was there for 7 years and don't even remember seeing anything outside of Montblancs and Cartiers.

[jar]

I have a few of all three brands, more ST Dupont pens than Montblancs and more Montblancs than Auroras. All three are very good marques.

 

Of the three, ST Dupont seems to pay the greatest attention to detail with fit and finish on parts that don't show as high as on those that do. Simply cap and uncap an ST Dupont Olympio and feel how the cap centers itself. The nibs on my ST Duponts are without a doubt the smoothest of the three brands.

 

Here is a standard size Olympio next to one of my Montblanc 146s:

 

http://www.fototime.com/64318F0EEEA1376/large.jpg

and one of my XL Olympios next to one of my 149s.

 

http://www.fototime.com/B3F8A98412D91B8/large.jpg

In my modern Auroras I have a Talentum which is cartridge/converter. It is also very well built and has been reliable with every ink I've tried in it so far. The nib is firm with less feedback than on my earlier vintage 88s and 98.

 

The Montblancs are the most recognized of the three marques but I find they get the least pocket time of those brands, but not by much. In fact right now I am using a Montblanc 147 which is the cartridge/converter cousin to the 146, the same size and feel.

 

It's pretty hard to go wrong with any of the pens you are considering and let us know which you choose.

[Calabria]

I once was close to buying a MB 146 EF but when I twisted the filler knob in the store it broke off. This allowed me to see the cheap construction on the inside of the pen. I really liked the nib though.

 

After that experience I haven't been able to get myself to buy a MB. With Aurora, I haven't had any QC issues although my Optima Demo had to be sent in twice because the resin was cracking.

 

My Optima Auroloide are definitely the best made pens I own. No problem ever, period. But I'm not sure you would like the nib - I can't fathom how it would write in Chinese characters.

 

As for status (and pens of this league are indeed also aspirational objects), I think Aurora would not be recognizable to most people. It's a brand for insiders and aficionados. Do you fit in that category?

[Frank C]

I have a few of all three brands, more ST Dupont pens than Montblancs and more Montblancs than Auroras. All three are very good marques.

 

Of the three, ST Dupont seems to pay the greatest attention to detail with fit and finish on parts that don't show as high as on those that do. Simply cap and uncap an ST Dupont Olympio and feel how the cap centers itself. The nibs on my ST Duponts are without a doubt the smoothest of the three brands.

 

Here is a standard size Olympio next to one of my Montblanc 146s:

 

and one of my XL Olympios next to one of my 149s.

 

In my modern Auroras I have a Talentum which is cartridge/converter. It is also very well built and has been reliable with every ink I've tried in it so far. The nib is firm with less feedback than on my earlier vintage 88s and 98.

 

The Montblancs are the most recognized of the three marques but I find they get the least pocket time of those brands, but not by much. In fact right now I am using a Montblanc 147 which is the cartridge/converter cousin to the 146, the same size and feel.

 

It's pretty hard to go wrong with any of the pens you are considering and let us know which you choose.

 

I have to agree with jar, here. As he has said, he is usually right, except when he's wrong. They are all very nice pens. The Duponts have excellent fit and finish. My Auroras are built like tanks. I have always liked writing with my MB 146.

 

As I just said in another post, whenever I make a list like this, I always end up with all three pens, anyway. It doesn't really matter which one you buy first.

[agentdaffy007]

No opinion about Aurora.

 

But i do own a modern MB 146 and a ST Dupont Large Olympio.

To make it short, i prefer the Olympio because the nib although stiff, is really really smooth. The grip is very confortable too. The balance is pure awesomeness. The finish is top-notch just like their lighters, cigar cutter, cigar case and ashtray!

 

The MB 146 is a plain jane pen. It writes ok, nothing more, nothing less. Good customer service and brand recognition.

 

My favorite though has to be my MB 149 from 1960 with a flex Fine nib. It is a pleasure to write with it everytime.

 

Good luck finding your pen.

[atomic_doug]

When choosing between three roughly equal pens in terms of prestige, you'll probably be doing calculations in your head like, "the Aurora supposedly has a stiffer nib than the Montblanc" and "The Dupont has better fit-and-finish than the Montblanc."

 

If there's one pen of the three you find yourself dreaming of more than the others, that's the one to get, since, in any case of the three, you're getting a superior pen.

 

In my case, I own all three and I would take the ST Dupont. You're graduating from college and the ST Dupont is a truly special pen, while the others come and go. (I've bought and sold a 146/149 at least four times before finally finding a 146 from my birth year and sticking with that one.)

[Sh.Andrews]

Have been extremely happy with my S. T. Dupont Elysee Windsor - very durable, excellent fit and finish (as others have said) and in my opinion, one of the best values out there. Here in the states, you can find a Dupont cheaper than MB. Since it is cartridge/converter, I don't ever see a need for any repairs, etc. On the other hand, I see Montblancs as being more fragile but have the best network for repairs and support, definitely a plus. No experience with Aurora.

 

Unfortunately, by asking our opinions, you might make your choice even more difficult. Regardless, they are all fine choices.

[FountainPages]

Aurora Optima EF 14k nib...only pen worth the cost, in my humble opinion. I have 146 in fine that writes more like broad from the 1970's and find it almost unusable.

Edited July 11, 2015 by FountainPages

[jchch1950]

I have the three pens and each have their own personality. In my opinion the Dupont is one of the best pens ever made even if it is cc. The Duponts come in several finishes and you can have one that you will can be quite personal.

[RudyR]

Get the 146. It seems to have universal appeal to it. Men can use it, women can use it. You probably have a repair center in China for Montblanc pens. If you need it for status, this one stands above all the rest, worldwide. My 149 is the only pen that has a permanent home on my writing desk. It sits in a nice new Meisterstuck Pen holder.

 

I personally will not buy anymore Italian pens except for Aurora. We have a distributor who has taken the responsible position of having their own service center in the US. Otherwise as far as I know, the others require you to send them to Italy to have them serviced. As yet though, I have not had much experience with them except at the stores that sell them.

 

Duponts are great pens as a lot of french pens are. They are built like tanks and I seldom hear of any problems with them. They have a a real feel of tangible toughness about them. Again, the only experience I have had with them is at a store I have worked at, but they do write wonderfully.

[max dog]

If cost and performance across all 3 are comparable, I think the 146 would be the better buy because the 146 is iconic and will hold better resale value in the long run like a Rolex or Patek. IMHO

Edited July 12, 2015 by max dog

[Keyless Works]

If cost and performance across all 3 are comparable, I think the 146 would be the better buy because the 146 is iconic and will hold better resale value in the long run like a Rolex or Patek. IMHO

I would argue that the Optima holds it's value as well. Both the 146 and Optima can be regularly bought $200-$300 second hand and both have a similar retail price (though Aurora's seems to have increased a good deal).

 

Comparing Montblanc to Patek (and even Rolex) is a very generous comparison. The way they sell and track their products is so much more complex and sophisticated than what Montblanc does.