The Montblanc Pen

On the top of each Montblanc pen is a white star, with soft corners that represents the snow-capped peaks of the Alps. My Montblanc pen is one of the nicest gifts I've ever received, and almost makes paying bills pain-free. As status-conferring goods go, a Montblanc pen is right up there with a Rolex watch and an Hermès tie – well made, consistent, and recognisable the world over. A signature written with a Montblanc pen is sure to be noticed.

Why Buy the Pen?

If you are an avid collector of Montblanc pens or if you want to get this as a gift for a special someone, then this is the perfect chance to acquire one for a very reasonable price.

Montblanc Pens

Every Montblanc writing instrument is meticulously handcrafted from the finest materials and subjected to strict quality control testing. Montblanc pens today are constructed of wood, precious metals (gold, silver, platinum), and a hard resin material.

Montblanc Pencils

The invention of hard "lead" paved the way for wood-encased pencils and retractable propelling pencils. Cedar holders, with brass-threaded inserts, were made to hold whole wooden pencils (often known as "cedars"). However, the first recorded use of such a screw mechanism in pencils was detailed in the Hawkins and Mordan patent of 1822. Early pencils can be dated fairly accurately by their decoration, the design of their finials, and their stub-shaped nozzles.

Writing Instrument

There's a wonderful freedom to be found in "the pleasure of writing" with a fountain pen. What is remarkable is that Montblanc continues to strengthen its position in a world where writing as a means of communication is being eroded by emails and texts and where diaries are supplanted by PDAs. However the pens are at the heart of the brand and it is fitting that the centenary is marked by some serious limited edition writing instruments. With a Montblanc, you acquire not merely a writing instrument, but the very art of writing itself.

Impressive Design

The outstanding pens are designed with the classic black lacquered finish with the gold etchings and perfect for the graduate. The early designs by Longmore and Bramah, used a complex slide-ring system, but were superseded by more economic simple ferrels from c. Many designs that had been in the pipeline were brought out sooner than planned, and the development of new materials was accelerated. Specialist in hand-carved ceramic tile inspired by the designs of Egypt, the Orient, Mexico, Europe, Morocco, and the American Southwest.

Collectibles

Avoid examples with gaping lever slots, distorted barrels (check by rolling on a flat surface), cracks, cigarette burns, and bad discoloration, as most of these defects cannot be rectified. Early examples featured protective "push-on" caps to protect the nibs, but such caps often cracked, so versions that tapered both in shape and internally were introduced. The earliest examples were produced in black hard rubber, then in red, and combinations of red and black. Good condition is vital with overlay designs, particularly on gold-filled examples, so check for lever damage and brassing. Until recently, pencils have not been highly valued, but a wider appreciation of the craftsmanship involved in producing pencils, and of the intricate workings of mechanical examples, had elevated values and sparked collector interest.

Conclusion

The Montblanc pen is an impressive piece of engineering. It has maintained its prominence in an age where the writing instrument is not as necessary since the advent of the computer. Still the Montblanc pen stands at the pinnacle of the industry as one of the best-known writing instrument in the world.