Mont Blanc Jules Verne

[BasingstokeMick]

I have a dilemma which on the face of it, sounds obvious to resolve i.e. Mont Blanc never made a red Jules Verne so it's obviously a fake.

However, this particular pen looks in every way, the genuine article. I'm not an expert or a dealer so don't know too much about them but have always wanted a genuine Mont Blanc.

I saw an advert in the local free ads and paid £200.00 for this pen. The guy was genuine and told me that the pen had been bought by his ex when she was on a business trip in the USA; he'd never used it. I'm pretty sure that he had no doubts of it's authenticity. Even if it does turn out to be a fake, it's worth £200.00 of anybody's money judging by the workmanship.

So here's the dilemma in summary

 

1) Cannot find any reference anywhere to a red Mont Blanc (all blue)

2) The pen itself looks and feels to be of very high quality and has a serial number and the "Jules Verne" logo engraved on the pen. I don't just mean it feels like a "good" pen. The amount of work that's gone into this pen doesn't make sense if it's not the real deal. I can't see how it could have be made much cheaper than a real one.

3) The service guide is embossed and again "feels" too genuine

4) The international warranty certificate is not signed or stamped by a dealer which is obviously a concern but again, it looks absolutely genuine (to me anyway).

5) The box has the classic "split" either end of the pen recess which again, I think, alludes to a genuine box.

 

If anybody can help in any way with this, I'd be extremely grateful. I'm just reluctant to start using it if it turns out to be a rare item.

 

I've attached some picture but can upload some more of any specific parts or documents that might of help.

 

Thank you.

[meiers]

Check the material of the nib. Is it gold?

How do you fill this pen? Is it a piston filler?

How does it write and perform?

 

I am convinced it is a fake. Montblanc never produced a red Jules Verne.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/127613-a-red-jules-verne/

Edited December 27, 2019 by meiers

[Beechwood]

The idea of the Jules Verne being in blue is with reference to the writer's best known work, a red pen would therefore question the pens authenticity.

 

Sorry to say that MB pens are still being copied in huge numbers in China, there are sellers in Singapore who have pens that are very close to the original MB pen and the Jules Verne remains one of the most popular, they sell in Singapore for less than £25, as is suggested, how the Chinese produce a good quality and detailed pen for such a low price is a mystery, one of the cost cutting measures is the adoption of a cartridge converter as opposed to a piston filler, as suggested by Mr Meiers.

 

Regret that the box you have is not original, not even an MB box.

 

My only advice would be to use it as a pen and get some benefit out of it.

 

Some pics are attached of a Montblanc Jules Verne

[meiers]

How about getting a refund?

[Zdenek]

I think it something like that: https://www.dhgate.com/product/high-quality-luxury-mb-black-blue-color-fountain/402360724.html

 

... even the serial number is the same.

Edited December 27, 2019 by Zdenek

[Michael R.]

Not real ... look at the nib.

 

Usually those are sold for around $ 30.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[BasingstokeMick]

Thanks for all your help guys, it's really appreciated; not what I wanted to hear but makes absolute sense.

 

I'm just astonished. There's a link above to one of the easily identifiable copies on eBay and this one is nothing like that. It really does feel like a quality article. And looking at the pictures of a genuine Jules Verne, I can't tell the difference apart from the colour (and the box which might be the clincher))

 

To answer a couple of questions, it's a piston-plunger ink insert which even has Mont Blanc engraving on it. It also came with a box of Mont Blanc cartridges.

 

The nib is not gold unless it's plated. It's silver in colour but when I look at the pictures posted by Beechwood, the nib is silver on that one too.

 

I totally understand that everything points to it being a fake, especially the red colour but it's just the "feel" of this thing that is still giving me doubts.

 

I'm not disappointed at all if it definitely is a fake, I just don't want to devalue it by use if it does turn out to be a limited edition or whatever.

 

As I said in my original post, apart from it being a copy (if it definitely is) then it's worth £200 for the amount of effort that's gone into it!

 

Is there anywhere I can send it for a hands-on evaluation that any of you know of? Quite happy to pay a valuation fee. I just want to get this settled so I can either use it, or put it in museum.

 

 

[Beechwood]

I must admit that someone brought me one of these pens from Singapore, the pen was well made and had a good feel to it. Like your own, the pen had a cartridge converter - this was the clincher in proving it was a fake, all the other points just added to the confirmation.

 

The red colour of your pen is the giveaway, sorry,

 

If you really want to take it somewhere then there are a few MB shops around, if you are in Basingstoke, the next time you are in London there is a good MB shop very near to Bank. I doubt that they would charge for commenting and I am sure that they see fakes every day of the week.

 

Your pen is actually well made, its a useable and attractive pen after all. if you do decide to use it, I suggest you wash the pen through with some warm water with a tiny amount of washing up liquid in it.

[BasingstokeMick]

Thank you Beechwood; you're a star.

 

My son-in-law works in London sometimes and has offered to take it into the Mont Blanc shop next time he's up there. I've pretty much resigned myself however to admitting that, whilst it was a fabulous fantasy, a red Jules Verne probably isn't a realistic limited edition.

 

As you suggest, the best option is to just use it and enjoy it for what it is. I'm still amazed though at the degree of effort and detail that's gone into this thing.

 

Again, I thank you all for your help and opinions.

 

Have a Happy New Year.

 

Mick.

[Tom Kellie]

~ Such Montblanc “tribute pens” are on offer in semi-underground stalls here, near the border with Hong Kong.

Batches are sold in pink, violet, orange, green, red and bright yellow.

They are displayed in pen cups without a box, but may be boxed upon purchase.

They all feature the same serial number, if carefully scrutinized.

While the colors may be lurid, and the workmanship imprecise, the hawkers assure potential buyers that they do actually write.

Listing pricing on small cardboard placards is typically considerably less than a genuine bottle of Montblanc Mystery Black.

Tom K.

Edited December 27, 2019 by Tom Kellie

[ljz]

Considering that amount you’ve paid for, the pen would be perfect despite its solid construction if it was fitted a 14k gold nib.

 

My advise therefore is, don’t ever trust any sentimental piffle told by the seller (swindler) when acquiring an expensive pen. If it was an authentic piece, the seller would know where to search for the current market value and position the price so that maximum margins could be attained.

Edited December 27, 2019 by ljz

[Uncial]

Just be aware that if you take it to a Montblanc store they may be legally entitled to its seizure. It is unfortunately and unquestionably a fake.

[zaddick]

Lets be 100% clear... this pen is fake. The converter is fake and very likely the cartridges are fake too. All are easy enough to make. No need to waste time wondering, hoping, taking it into a boutique. Spend the time that would be wasted on those endeavors enjoying the pen or ask for a refund.

[meiers]

Welcome to the fountain pen network, Mick.

Edited December 28, 2019 by meiers

[tamiya]

I must admit that someone brought me one of these pens from Singapore, the pen was well made and had a good feel to it. Like your own, the pen had a cartridge converter - this was the clincher in proving it was a fake, all the other points just added to the confirmation.

Just curious... will fake & genuine caps interchange?

(Was gunna ask about barrel threads too, but I guess the genuine piston filler won't have user-detachable barrel)

 

 

 

Big irony is MB's latest boxes & books are now Printed in China! No more Germany

[meiers]

A wonderful question. Probably not is my guess.

I routinely throw out boxes as worthless packaging.

Edited December 28, 2019 by meiers

[jchch1950]

In many cities in Asia you can find fake MB and Rolex watches. Some of the fake pens are really cheap copies and there is no need to have a careful look but they are others that are very well made but is always something different:colours .piston fill,steel nib,etc.The price is often too good to be real.

[Tom Kellie]

I routinely throw out boxes as worthless packaging.

 

~ meiers:

 

I do likewise.

Tom K.

[BasingstokeMick]

Again, many thanks to all who contributed; I've learned a lot.

 

And thank you for the mature responses. All too often these days, vitriol and aggression litter forums so it's refreshing to find a space where grownups can discuss sensitive issues without descending into insults.

 

I'm still focused on owning a genuine Mont Blanc so happy to be guided or approached to/by a genuine dealer.

 

Mick.

[Beechwood]

If you can cope with the high cost then buying new provides you with some certainty as to the history and condition of the pen. It also means that you can try out a range of nibs on their tester pens.

 

My advice to you would be to have a day out in the City, go to the Royal Exchange and see what takes your eye. There is no doubt that Montblancs are highly priced, but also highly prized, if its what you want then go for it.

 

If you want a lower priced MB then have a look at the Classifieds section but bear in mind that if you are buying from the US there are a number of add ons including VAT and duty plus handling fees.