Montblanc - around the world in 80 days

[colormind]

@Frank C, @como, @maclink: Thank you very much for your nice and helpful comments.

 

Yes, the 146 is definitely an excellent size. That's why I typically prefer it over the Classique. However sometimes the Classique size is pretty practical. So I was very confident during the recent month that my next MB would be a second Meisterstück Classique. But now it seems that a broad nib is partnering much better with a Legrand than a Classique. I always found the inkflow on 146s a little better because of the piston mechanism. I don't had in mind that a broad nib requires exactly that to perform as its best. 

So, I am still sticking to my idea that I would like to add another Classique to my collection soon. But I will better avoid anything broader than medium.

 

In the meanwhile I will enjoy my new Around the World in 80 Days Le Grand with my first broad nib a lot. It is a very beautiful piece and it writes like a dream. On some papers it writes so smooth that you think you are writing on glass or on another completely plain surface. Wonderful. And I have to add that the complementing Around the World in 80 Days blue ink is very appealing, too. Montblanc Petrol Blue is one of my favourites. The new ink is very similar to my eyes, but with a little more sheen and some added character. And it flows better as well. Very nice.

 

So, thank you very much. I am really appreciating your kind words!

 

Cheers

colormind

[Frank C]

13 minutes ago, colormind said:

@Frank C, @como, @maclink: Thank you very much for your nice and helpful comments.

 

Yes, the 146 is definitely an excellent size. That's why I typically prefer it over the Classique. However sometimes the Classique size is pretty practical. So I was very confident during the recent month that my next MB would be a second Meisterstück Classique. But now it seems that a broad nib is partnering much better with a Legrand than a Classique. I always found the inkflow on 146s a little better because of the piston mechanism. I don't had in mind that a broad nib requires exactly that to perform as its best. 

So, I am still sticking to my idea that I would like to add another Classique to my collection soon. But I will better avoid anything broader than medium.

 

In the meanwhile I will enjoy my new Around the World in 80 Days Le Grand with my first broad nib a lot. It is a very beautiful piece and it writes like a dream. On some papers it writes so smooth that you think you are writing on glass or on another completely plain surface. Wonderful. And I have to add that the complementing Around the World in 80 Days blue ink is very appealing, too. Montblanc Petrol Blue is one of my favourites. The new ink is very similar to my eyes, but with a little more sheen and some added character. And it flows better as well. Very nice.

 

So, thank you very much. I am really appreciating your kind words!

 

Cheers

colormind

Glad to hear this worked out. I used a 146 as my essay exam pen in school. For lots of writing, I preferred it to a 144 or a 149. At this point, I think I prefer writing with 149s, but I don't have to answer essay questions any more. 

[flaneur]

38 minutes ago, colormind said:

it seems that a broad nib is partnering much better with a Legrand than a Classique

You've ended up with just the pen I've been admiring for a few weeks now. For better or worse however, I've picked up an Egyptomania in xf for now. I may have to sell off a couple of extras to hasten my purchase of the ATW.

Anyone here have any idea how long this series will likely be out for? I suppose it will move out of production in early 2022 but hope I am incorrect. I may have to order it sooner than later.

[colormind]

10 hours ago, flaneur said:

You've ended up with just the pen I've been admiring for a few weeks now. For better or worse however, I've picked up an Egyptomania in xf for now. I may have to sell off a couple of extras to hasten my purchase of the ATW.

 

An Egyptomania in extra fine seems to be an outstanding pen. Congrats. That makes me wondering why I don't have an extra fine in my collection yet.

 

However just in case maybe anybody is interested in some comparisons of the Meisterstück Around the World in 80 Days. I made some photos ...

 

Here a writing comparison with my other Montblanc piston filler pens, all filled with different blue Montblanc inks. The "80 Days" is the 4th and filled with the "80 days" ink. Below you can find the very similar MB Petrol Blue. So you are welcome to compare them directly. (Written on Gmund paper)  

 

 

Here the Around the World in 80 Days is hanging out with the 146 gang (Ultra Black Le Grand on the left, Unicef Le Grand on the right):

 

Here the trio in some more detail:

 

And here the Around the World in 80 Days is watching its smaller Meisterstück brothers (Mozart and Ultra Black Classique):

 

And finally it is meeting some famous buddies and "Great Characters" (JFK and The Beatles):

 

Cheers

colormind

[NoType]

colormind, you have so ably demonstrated one of the raison d’être of this forum — the sharing of not only Montblanc pens and inks, but the generous contributions of one’s experiences with them both — that I am left very deeply in your debt, marvelling at the captivating images of different lovely pens against a backdrop of the quintessential writing sample comparing five different blue inks of which I had only a passing awareness and with which been heretofore unfamiliar.  Am wunderbarsten!  The variety of nib widths properly convey the characteristics of hue and shading the different inks boast, while the grouping of pens in various assemblages is most charming, as well as illuminating, for I had no idea that the JFK was so much larger than the size of a LeGrand.  Thank you for your post.

[The Mustard]

JFK Navy is one of my favourite blue inks but it’s knocked out if the park by the Old Glory in the samples above, I wonder if that’s because you were comparing a fine nib with a medium? I’d love to see those inks swap pens @colormind if you have the inclination?

 

this is a good thread, I’m delighted that you got to a happy place in your quest and thanks for making me aware of the Ultrablack pens, they require further investigation! 

[flaneur]

@colormind Thank you for this. I had been reluctant to purchase the ATW model in part because under the glare of jeweler's lights the blue looks too light, almost a tad sickly. Your pictures are among only a few others I could find showing the pen in normal lighting, and confirming that it is a desirable darker, navy blue.

 

Many thanks &  best wishes on your significant birthday!

[colormind]

Thank you very much for your lovely feedback. Purchasing a new Montblanc pen is always a significant spending for me and I am using all of my pens for my daily writing on different papers and in different situations. Thats why I am always seeking for good real live experiences and impressions about its look, their performance and writing image to make my decisions carefully. As I am appreciating these reports and thoughts, it is my pleasure so share mine with the community as well. Very glad to hear that you find them helpful a bit.

 

I would like to add two more comparison pictures. @flaneur: I totally agree with the lighting at the shops which is not really helpful at all to get a impression of the color. So I made pictures of the Around the World in 80 Days together with the JFK and with two other pens - but this time with no artificial light and on a neutral light grey background:

 

 

 

As you can see, the JFK is by bar the darkest blue. A really nice navy blue as it should be. I was very sceptical when the Around the World in 80 Days was announced, because I thought it was way too flashy. And I was not the biggest fan of the blue of the Petite Prince for example. But here you can see that it is not as dark as the JFK but still a nice darker blue. And if I am right it is not as warm as the Petite Prince. It has a little cooler blue color tone.

 

For comparison I brought the new Caran d'Ache rollerball with the two MBs on these pictures which has definitely a lighter blue color. And you can find the Caran d'Ache Klein Blue pencil which is a very flashy solid Ultramarine. When I saw the new Montblanc first on online pictures and videos and even under jewellery light, I thought it would go into this Ultramarine or maybe an Indigo or Royal blue direction, which I would not have liked for a Meisterstück. But this color is very classy I think and there is still enough difference to the JFK.

 

@NoType: I made the second picture from the top. So you can get a better impression of the size difference between a Le Grand 146 and the JFK. Yes, the JFK is larger but only a little bit. Maybe the perspective of my earlier picture was not the best to compare the sizes nicely.

 

Very interesting that you mentioned the look of the JFK ink in the JFK pen, @The Mustard. When I did these comparison I started to think about the performance of the JFK. It is clearly the finest nib of all my Montblancs fountain pens. The JFK ink was always one of my favourite inks. Fortunately I got another 3 boxes when I realised that is is no longer available. But I have to say that I always find it a little dryer than other Montblanc inks. So maybe it is not the best partner for my JFK pen. Yesterday I put the StarWalker Blue into the JFK to compare it. And I have to say that even with that ink it writes not as wet as it should be for me. So I am even wondering now, if I should send the JFK to a nibmeister to increase the inkflow. Is maybe @Appelboompen a good address to do this? Unfortunately I never dealt with them before with buying and service, but It seems that their nibworks is very good.

 

And you are right: The Elvis Presley Old Glory Blue is simply amazing: Excellent flow, wonderful color tone and a splendid partner for the Beatles pen. To be honest: I never tried it in other pens yet. But this sounds to be fun. Just give me a couple of days and I will put the Old Glory Blue into the JFK (or other pens) and the JFK in into the Beatles. Let's find out. Would be a pleasure to share those impressions, too.

 

Cheers

Colormind.

[NoType]

colormind, this new post is just what all of us needed to supplement your information on pen size, the particular tone of the blue of the “80 Days” pen, and the characteristics of the JFK ink.  Your overhead shot reveals that the JFK pen is indeed not as long as it appeared to be in the previous photo, and I thank you for clarifying this.
 

Unfortunately, others will need to advise regarding nibmeister recommendations, but I look forward to your ink performance findings for Old Glory in JFK and JFK in The Beatles.  Your impressions are both informative and entertaining, making this thread a joy to read.

 

 

[flaneur]

@colormind as @NoType has mentioned, this is invaluable. Thank you for the pictures and analysis! 

I have to say, the appeal of this pen for me is that the detail is present if one looks for it, but it looks like it can fly under the radar in normal use. I may have to expend a significant wad of cash on one of these in the near future...

 

As far as nibmeisters, I have tried several and now only use Mike Masuyama. His work is always perfect, and the pens come back adjusted to write with no pressure, as the nib touches the page, without being excessively wet. I cannot recommend him too highly.