New Montblanc pen designs; Rambling observations

[Uncial]

20 hours ago, Wael El-Dasher said:

1. What happened with Montblanc pens and their designs and how did we get here. From Hemingway to today, when did this change happen, are we witnessing a new phase?…etc.

 

Someone in the industry of selling 'luxury' pens once told me a few things I thought were interesting. He said MB was like Rolex - a highly recognised name but actually solidly mid tier in the grander view of things. He claimed the change of design aesthetic in MB had to do with appealing to rapidly changing continental tastes, especially in respect of strong colours. He also noted that fountain pen use had become more of a private ritual, a kind of personal pleasure at the desk rather than something you kept in a shirt pocket to scribble the crossword on the train or write a quick cheque (if anyones does that anymore). So the design aspects of the pens have veered into that idea of private, ritualised and personal pleasure in which tactile, colourful and novelty elements play an important role.

[Wael El-Dasher]

8 hours ago, The Mustard said:

 

Metal sections really don't bother me at all, in fact i would say that I probably prefer them from an aesthetic perspective and am indifferent from a practical viewpoint. Step downs, as @Wael El-Dasher rightly points out have received plenty of unfavourable comments here but also don't bother me at all - probably because I hold a fountain pen way too far down the section - probably explaining my indecipherable hand writing - if my English teacher from primary school learnt that I am interested in fountain pens today she would laugh her cotton socks off!!

 

@Arcadian - many congratulations on your purchase, that is a stunning pen, oozes gravitas, enjoy! 

There was something I also noticed is slowly fading away as more pens use metal sections and threads, and that is the ink windows. Irrespective of how useful they are, I do love the stripes of Montblanc's ink windows. I used to have a lovely 146 Geometric champagne gold pen with the MOP star. I wasn't getting much use, so after a year of just sitting in the pen box, off it went up for sale. During my recent visit to Montblanc boutique, I saw that now it's available in both champagne gold and silver. Immediately I got excited at the prospect of a silver version but realized that with the new metal section, the new version has no ink window and no MOP star. That was sad to see. 

 

I do wish they keep their signature ink window as a design feature to at least give the perception of functionality. 

 

Cheers

 

Wael

[Toll]

I thought I would share that in my inbox today was an email from Montblanc with links to five short videos about the early years of Montblanc (or, Simplo to be more precise) and the design and marketing imperatives. In many respects, the video content is like that found in the book, Inspire Writing. I hope some of you see the videos — some relevance, I believe, to this conversation. Montblanc appears to be committed to its writing roots and able to recite history with a modern flair. Typically Montblanc. 

[Wael El-Dasher]

1 hour ago, Toll said:

I thought I would share that in my inbox today was an email from Montblanc with links to five short videos about the early years of Montblanc (or, Simplo to be more precise) and the design and marketing imperatives. In many respects, the video content is like that found in the book, Inspire Writing. I hope some of you see the videos — some relevance, I believe, to this conversation. Montblanc appears to be committed to its writing roots and able to recite history with a modern flair. Typically Montblanc. 

I’d love to see the videos. Can you share the links? 

[NoType]

On 11/18/2021 at 8:23 PM, Wael El-Dasher said:

NoType,

 

I hold all their pens in high esteem, irrespective whether they appeal to me or not. Even the Moctezuma, a pen that still shocks me as something Montblanc would make, is still a magnificent piece of art. I admire its craftsmanship and detailed execution. But at the same time I recognize that it would be hard to take notes during a work meeting with that pen 🤷🏻‍♂️. So it’s really a lovely piece of art that happens to also write. In essence, the fact it’s a pen is secondary for it’s existence. 
 

My interest here is really two fold:

 

1. What happened with Montblanc pens and their designs and how did we get here. From Hemingway to today, when did this change happen, are we witnessing a new phase?…etc.

2. How do we, as fans of fountain pens and other writing instruments, feel about these different pens. Do we gravitate towards one era or another? How do we feel about the changes with Montblanc?…etc.

 

I found an article, though it’s topical and lacks any real depth, it outlines some basic observations.

 

https://www.8ways.ch/en/digital-news/marketing-lessons-montblanc

 

cheers

 

Wael

Wael El Dasher, yes, I can agree that Montblanc pens are worthy of admiration regardless of whether they attract one’s custom.  The Moctezuma is a prime example of a noteworthy design that I will likely need to see in person to fully appreciate; the colour schemes of both the 4810 and 888 don’t strike my fancy, but there is much detail to study in these objects that write.

 

The thread you have begun here has succeeded in fostering a discussion addressing both points 1. and 2. Thank you for including the link to the article on Montblanc marketing.  One line that struck me: “Things have changed a great deal since Montblanc first launched onto the scene and today the company faces the enduring challenge of appealing to a market that doesn’t truly appreciate the value of a beautiful pen.”
 

The above is a thought-provoking statement that sheds a little light on the milieu in which Montblanc now finds itself, and goes some way to provide context to the aforementioned proposed categorization of three design phases for the Writers Edition and Patron of Arts collections, to say nothing of the proliferation of other series, including the Ateliers Privé (i.e., 2009 Axis Mundi Taipei 101); Artisan/Painters & Sculptors (i.e., 2007 Joan Miró LE76); Donation Pen (i.e., 1996 Leonard Bernstein); Great Characters (i.e., 2009 Mahatma Gandhi LE 241 & 3000); Signs and Symbols: The Legend of the Zodiacs (i.e., 2016 Monkey LE512); Signs and Symbols: A Journey Among Dragons (i.e., 2017 Water Dragon LE88); Skeleton (i.e., 1999 Meisterstück 75th Anniversary); and Special Edition (i.e., 2013 Tribute to the Mont Blanc) collections, among many others.

 

There is evidently no shortage of beautiful Montblanc pens, but might there be a paucity of admirers, in these modern times?

[Karmachanic]

6 hours ago, NoType said:

There is evidently no shortage of beautiful Montblanc pens, but might there be a paucity of admirers, in these modern times

 

Paucity of admirers would indicate a disconnect between the design/marketing departments of Montblanc and the market.  From my side it looks like they increasingly market pens to a particular niche demographic.

 

Overdone unnecessary elaboratation for its own sake does not appeal to me.  The six MB pens in my possession look like fountain pens, not decorative ornaments.

[Toll]

7 hours ago, Wael El-Dasher said:

I’d love to see the videos. Can you share the links? 

Not sure I know how to do that but I can try. 

[Toll]

Let’s see if this works. 
 

https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/discover/campaign/montblanc-signed?utm_campaign=MTBHQ-AD-RET-CO-11-2021-V1-NA-ENGMT_13_WHATSNEW-EMA-DIR-JRNBR-INM-SFMC-COR-EN-NA&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=EMA&utm_id=164039&sfmc_id=1002637130

[Toll]

Okay — that seems to work — five videos, each less than two minutes long, I think. 

[Wael El-Dasher]

4 hours ago, Toll said:

Let’s see if this works. 
 

https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/discover/campaign/montblanc-signed?utm_campaign=MTBHQ-AD-RET-CO-11-2021-V1-NA-ENGMT_13_WHATSNEW-EMA-DIR-JRNBR-INM-SFMC-COR-EN-NA&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=EMA&utm_id=164039&sfmc_id=1002637130

Thanks @Toll! That was fun to watch and really shows how, like other household luxury brands, Montblanc is meticulously and constantly shaping and framing their brand to keep us viewing them in a the light they paint for us. Very good stuff. Thanks for sharing. 

 

cheers

 

Wael

[Wael El-Dasher]

11 hours ago, NoType said:

The thread you have begun here has succeeded in fostering a discussion addressing both points 1. and 2. Thank you for including the link to the article on Montblanc marketing.  One line that struck me: “Things have changed a great deal since Montblanc first launched onto the scene and today the company faces the enduring challenge of appealing to a market that doesn’t truly appreciate the value of a beautiful pen.”

@NoType,

 

Yes, that line did jump out at me and it did confirm what I suspected all along. I believe the seed for Montblanc's rebranding started in 1997 when created their watch division. It took time for their vision to come together. It wasn't really until 2003, when Richemont Group bought the Fabrique d'Horlogerie Minerva SA and had access to their own watch movements that their watch division became a more serious contender. 

 

This might be a coincidence but that timeline aligns closely with what we've observed in our discussions of the first shift with their WE pens at least. 

 

Mind you this is just an observation, but I believe that within the corporate culture, change happens by osmosis and what's happening in one division of the company, begins to influence the other divisions thinking. When considering @Toll videos and the marketing discussion that went along with that, it's clear to me that this was a company wide marketing plan that "we're no longer The Art of Writing company, but we're a luxury brand. 

 

Add to that @Uncial's comment "MB was like Rolex - a highly recognized name but actually solidly mid tier in the grander view of things." shows how it's even trickier for Montblanc to balance themselves at that sharp edge of being a luxury brand that's also mid-tier because really, their parent company, Richemont Group, owns so many brands and each brand must neatly fit within their portfolio with probably the smallest of overlaps. 

 

I am really enjoying these rambling conversation and very happy to see many FPN members are engaging. 

 

Cheers

 

Wael

 

 

[Uncial]

I think they do manage to make some things in the high end market and push out of mid tier but they do it in a way that personally I find a bit vulgar. This is where the comparison with Rolex is actually incredibly close. When Rolex punch above their weight they just slather a watch in glue and dip in a tub of diamond dust. Some folks seem to love that sort of thing but it will simply never ever compete with the understated elegance of Patek or Audemars Piguet and the like. MB do something similar, but admitedly with a bit more craft and thought, with the likes of their high artistry pens but its still the mid tier standard line that's their bread and butter.

[NoType]

On 11/20/2021 at 9:20 AM, Wael El-Dasher said:

@NoType,

 

Yes, that line did jump out at me and it did confirm what I suspected all along. I believe the seed for Montblanc's rebranding started in 1997 when created their watch division. It took time for their vision to come together. It wasn't really until 2003, when Richemont Group bought the Fabrique d'Horlogerie Minerva SA and had access to their own watch movements that their watch division became a more serious contender. 

 

This might be a coincidence but that timeline aligns closely with what we've observed in our discussions of the first shift with their WE pens at least. 

 

Mind you this is just an observation, but I believe that within the corporate culture, change happens by osmosis and what's happening in one division of the company, begins to influence the other divisions thinking. When considering @Toll videos and the marketing discussion that went along with that, it's clear to me that this was a company wide marketing plan that "we're no longer The Art of Writing company, but we're a luxury brand. 

 

Add to that @Uncial's comment "MB was like Rolex - a highly recognized name but actually solidly mid tier in the grander view of things." shows how it's even trickier for Montblanc to balance themselves at that sharp edge of being a luxury brand that's also mid-tier because really, their parent company, Richemont Group, owns so many brands and each brand must neatly fit within their portfolio with probably the smallest of overlaps. 

 

I am really enjoying these rambling conversation and very happy to see many FPN members are engaging. 

 

Cheers

 

Wael

 

 

@Wael El-Dasher,

 

Thank you for the reminder of the dates that Montblanc offered horology product, which I agree do correlate somewhat to the dates of the apparent design phases in their writing product that have been noted in this thread.  Like a detective, I don’t really believe in coincidence, so I find your conclusions reasonable.

 

Similarly do I find your corporate osmosis theory for Montblanc’s apparent strategic shift from pen manufacture to luxury maison.  This shift is slightly complicated, I believe, by what appears to be staggered marketing positions for their different product, wherein their writing offerings seem to be top-tier (exceeded in exclusivity and pricing only by various Japanese lacquer product from manufactures like AP Limited Editions and Namiki by Pilot, as well as by specialty guilloché releases from the likes of David Oscarson), while their horology, leather goods, and jewelry offerings arguably occupy the mid-tier, beneath Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and A. Lange & Söhne for the first; Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Fendi for the second; and Cartier, Chopard, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Harry Winston for the last.  As you noted, this is a balancing act for Montblanc, since several of these brands share adjacent stalls in the Richemont Group stable, but having sibling maisons can also be a strength for Montblanc, evidenced by their collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels to source gems for the Montblanc High Artistry Taj Mahal pens.  
 

I also found very insightful, the relation above by @Uncial of remarks by the luxury pen sales individual speculating that “the design aspects of . . . [luxury fountain] pens have veered into that idea of private, ritualised, and personal pleasure in which tactile, colourful and novelty elements play an important role.”

 

 

[jmccarty3]

Recently I bought a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 4810 FP. I would have preferred the more limited edition, but the cost was prohibitive. My only disappointment with the 4810 is that the cap does not post, even though the pen is not very long. Does anyone know whether the limited edition has a postable cap?

[NoType]

On 12/28/2023 at 6:27 PM, jmccarty3 said:

Recently I bought a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 4810 FP. I would have preferred the more limited edition, but the cost was prohibitive. My only disappointment with the 4810 is that the cap does not post, even though the pen is not very long. Does anyone know whether the limited edition has a postable cap?

@jmccarty3I believe you are referring to the 2021 Writers Edition Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Limited Edition fountain pens, which were released in four distinct but related versions with numbered production of 8, 97, 1902, and 9000 pieces.  I know from personal experience that neither the LE1902 nor LE9000 have a cap that can be posted, and from photos of the LE8 and LE97 I would imagine the same holds true for those versions.  Disappointing for writers who prefer to post their pens.

[stric75]

It’s hard not to a comment on this thread, but yes, in general, things have changed away from function and elegant restraint towards kitsch and unnecessary excess. You can see it just about everywhere. Engineers, architects, designers… have been gradually replaced by marketing honjos who make the final “design” decisions. I remember reading an interview with an engineer from BMW explaining how the series 3 fad been designed to be a very comfy and solid car on 16” rims. The marketing folks in the end decided it needs to have 19” rims, simply to be trendy. When it comes to MB, Hemingway, Wilde and Christy are my favorite special/li my Ted editions of the past. The current offerings are garish (to say the least). It’d be nice to see 146/149 in different colors without any excessive metal furniture though. 

[OCArt]

@stric75 exactly my thoughts 

[a student]

@stric75 +1

[Karmachanic]

delete

[jmccarty3]

On 11/13/2021 at 10:25 AM, meiers said:

The Hemingway and the Christie are absolutely classic and  understated but overpriced in the second-hand market.  

 

I agree that the Hemingway and Christie are amazing. I am very fortunate to have both. I recently bought the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle pictured above, primarily because I love Sherlock Holmes, but also because I was able to get a reasonable price on a mint pen with an EF nib. Well, the nib is quite satisfactory, but the pen does not post, and the unposted pen is rather short for my hand. MBs that don't post are rather uncommon, so I was very unpleasantly surprised.