Montblanc Orient Express 149 Limited Edition 1883

[PerpetualTraveler]

Over the weekend I was given the chance to see the new Orient Express 1883 limited edition 149 at my local boutique.  Given the pen has officially launched today and I was able to pick up my sealed set, I thought I'd share some photos from the opened store display set. 

 

This is the first time I have seen a 149 in a resin body other than black. I do not believe, in the 149's history, a celluloid/resin body color has ever differed from black. Additionally, the set is limited to only 1883 pieces signifying the year the Orient Express started operations. The resin body color is a rich blue/grey with yellow gold coated fittings, evidently reminiscent of the color scheme of the Orient Express train cars. Smaller batch production Orient Express LE versions have been made starting at 333 and go lower and are substantially more expensive. What I find entirely interesting is that this LE 149 falls under the purview of the Artisan category of Montblanc even though there are no gemstones and no solid precious metals (aside from the nib), only an engraved cap and a special engraving on the nib. The MB star is cream colored instead of white and the engraving on the cap is supposed to represent a detail found on the exterior of the original Orient Express train cars. The 149 comes as a set with a bottle of ink and a 146 sized notebook.  The pricing is $1300 for the set and, for the US at least, seems relatively reasonable when considering the cost for ink, the notebook and a new 149 individually.  

 

What a curve ball Montblanc! 

 

PPS Should one be so inclined to research more into the Orient Express and the cost associated with riding the traditional route from Paris to Istanbul next year, brace yourself. 

 

[stric75]

It’s nice to see the Diplomat in a different color than black. I kind of like the retro shade of blue. I’m not sure about the price but I’m sure it’ll be sold out very quickly and resold at much higher prices. Why not and offer the 149 in other color than black? It’d be nice to have some variety. 

[amberleadavis]

OOO it is beautiful.  @Frank C what do you think?

[Toolattack]

Thanks for sharing @PerpetualTraveler I would have preferred it without the cap engraving - a plain blue 149 would be nice!

[The Duck Hunter]

Lovely color.  The cap engraving makes it much less appealing to me, though. 

[Toolattack]

7 hours ago, The Duck Hunter said:

Lovely color.  The cap engraving makes it much less appealing to me, though. 

I agree @The Duck Hunter

[PerpetualTraveler]

Given that this 149 was created to celebrate the Orient Express, I do not mind the cap engraving nor the shades of blue and gold. Pen designs are a personal choice and there are inevitably those who will like/dislike the way this 149 was done.  I do, however, encourage everyone to see this 149 in person if possible to help their decision. In hand, the pen appears much less flashy compared to its glossy black resin bodied brothers, yet more opulent due to the richness of blue and warmth of yellow gold. More of a match and less contrast.

 

I thought I would have kept my Orient Express 149 sealed, but after confirmation from my boutique that an OBBB nib is indeed part of the complimentary nib exchange, I jumped at the opportunity.  I have a biting fear that the complimentary OBBB nib for the 149 will cease to exist soon given that Montblanc has started to introduce 149s with nib varieties at a slight premium (ex: curved nib and calligraphy nib) barring a bespoke nib creation. I'll update with pictures when I receive the pen back from Hamburg. Exciting times 

 

 

[Arcadian]

I was lucky to pick up one of these on Saturday when visiting the Hamburg store. I didn't think there would be any left in stock, but there was one! I agree with PerpetualTraveler that the blue colour makes for a less ostentatious pen, and the blue with the ivory snow cap looks wonderful. 

 

 - P. 

[PerpetualTraveler]

Update from my Montblanc boutique for my Orient Express 149. Looks like my OBBB nib exchange is expected on July 25th from Hamburg to MyJewelryRepair.  Was surprised this limited edition did not go to Germany directly. As I understood it, every limited edition is supposed to get the Hamburg treatment. I guess it is akin to a regular black 149 and the tools MJR has will suffice in the exchange.

 

@Arcadian Congratulations! I agree that the color combination is indeed lovely. Will the standard medium nib be plenty or are you thinking of something broader/finer?

[Seney724]

17 minutes ago, PerpetualTraveler said:

Update from my Montblanc boutique for my Orient Express 149. Looks like my OBBB nib exchange is expected on July 25th from Hamburg to MyJewelryRepair.  Was surprised this limited edition did not go to Germany directly. As I understood it, every limited edition is supposed to get the Hamburg treatment. I guess it is akin to a regular black 149 and the tools MJR has will suffice in the exchange.

 

@Arcadian Congratulations! I agree that the color combination is indeed lovely. Will the standard medium nib be plenty or are you thinking of something broader/finer?

Congratulations!  Lucky you to get an OBBB nib!!  Your pen will be special, indeed.

We'll be interested in your impressions of your experience with MJR.  As noted in other threads here, MJR had a very rocky start.  But there has not been much posted lately.  Hopefully this is because their process is now working as we all would expect it should.  Do let us know!

[AndreiMicle]

I'm late to the party, but finally managed to grt one from their online store since in Romania they don't have them in any boutique. The pen color is trully magnificent if you are a bit used to the black and gold trim combination. I was waiting on the calligraphy flex order, but after seeing the photos and a review on youtube, I decided this was to be my first ever Montblanc. I wanted something girthier than my Pilot custom 823 and the only one comfortable enough for me was the 149. 

 

I had a nasty experience with UPS and for this reason alone I will never send the pen to Hamburg via this official Montblanc courier. If I ever visit Hamburg during my first year of owning it, I will leave it there maybe for a nib exchange to an F. I found that I don't mind the M when used with an A4 notebook from Clairefontaine. 

 

The Rene Prou cap decoration doesn't bother me one bit, and I found some elements have great symbolism if you look for it.

 

I am also considering using either Le petit prince, encre du desert with it, or another burgundy ink (diamine oxblood, montblanc burgundy). Royal blue that's in the box is a bit washed up for my taste.

 

I think I'll keep this one given it's the first colored 149.

[elton7033]

No 62 of 1883 checking in

last Thursday I knew 2pen secretly arrived my local store and I just jump to boutique after work, when I saw the real thing, I just buy it at a heartbeat.

 

still considering should I change the nib to a OBB but not sure how well it will write as a daily writer.

OBBB is not free anymore!! They now charge additional fee as custom nib…

 

(With my other work pen, the Hemingway and 144)

 

[elton7033]

The price of this new babe is booming on eBay, if you can find it at msrp get it when you still have a chance lol

 

i am surprised this came in the high artisan line and with a limited number lower than POA and MOA Gogh 4810 and a lower price lol

after-all it’s a 149 and does any pen goes better than the good old 149, time already tells.

 

[PerpetualTraveler]

My Orient Express 149 OBBB arrived back from Hamburg last week. What a writer it is! I am absolutely smitten with it. Nice fat cross-verticals and thin cross-horizontals whilst writing. The monotone solid gold nib looks quite opulent with the Prou inspired engraving. 

[PerpetualTraveler]

23 hours ago, elton7033 said:

The price of this new babe is booming on eBay, if you can find it at msrp get it when you still have a chance lol

 

i am surprised this came in the high artisan line and with a limited number lower than POA and MOA Gogh 4810 and a lower price lol

after-all it’s a 149 and does any pen goes better than the good old 149, time already tells.

 

Congrats on the secret pick up! That is a bit odd that the boutique said no more OBBB nib exchanges. I have not heard the same here in the US. Perhaps a gently insistence...a gentle "let's just ask and see what Hamburg says."

 

I do agree, I too am surprised at how limited this 149 was and also included in the High Artistry lineup. Especially when factoring in the price point as well, this piece seems under valued. In a way Montblanc essentially lowered the cost of admission to the High Artistry club. 

 

This may be a standard resin blue 149 with a fancy engraving on the cap/nib, but the combination of Montblanc deciding to make this the first ever "other than black color" resin 149, a relatively low limited edition (for resin), and part of the High Artistry collection, by virtue puts it immediately into a higher echelon of Montblanc. 

[elton7033]

2 hours ago, PerpetualTraveler said:

My Orient Express 149 OBBB arrived back from Hamburg last week. What a writer it is! I am absolutely smitten with it. Nice fat cross-verticals and thin cross-horizontals whilst writing. The monotone solid gold nib looks quite opulent with the Prou inspired engraving. 

Okay. This makes me really want to send my pen back to montblanc for a OBBB nib exchange although I doubt how useful it could be compare to the normal M, I have too much normal M nib anyway lol

[elton7033]

 

2 weeks with the 149 Orient Express 1883, it makes me feel one thing.

Sometime a good limited edition doesn't need to be flashy, no gem stones or gold overlay,

just like the Hemingway & Agatha Christie, based on legacy production model (eg: L 139) are often understated and under the radar.

But yet, very elegant and with a story to tell.

 

When we look back on montblanc early limited edition back in the 90 except for POA, most are very usable like daily working tools but somewhat different to normal pens, this is a design language which montblanc have lost during the years...

I really think this pen speaks to the older WE collector, sometime more stones, more gold, more 3D is not always better.