$75 for a notebook? | Montblanc #146 Notebook Review

The German brand has been one of the most coveted writing instruments maker, but what about their writing accessories? In this article, we will be taking a look at their most sold notebooks - the #146 in Tobacco - to see if it is worth the premium and whether or not you should add one to your collection for those special occasion writing needs.

The packaging

The #146 notebook comes wrapped in plastic and an outer paper sleeve with minimal branding and some information about the product. On the inside of the Saffiano textured leather there is more information about their Leather Collection with a logo showing it’s being made in Italy - lovely touch and I feel it’s not being overbearing compare to other brands in terms of bombarding you with marketing and trying to make itself more “luxurious”.

In the hand, the notebook feels firmly stitched together with the binding being neatly tucked in the back. It has this silver edge finishing that pops under the light - might not be the most frequently viewed area of a notebook but it’s there.

The content

The first few pages come with a sort of reminder that “you’re using a MB notebook and we should remember it” - a short summary of the history of the brand as well as  some of the messages that Montblanc has always been promoting in regards to the “art” of writing. The back of the notebook also includes a map with timezones and Montblanc boutique locations all  around the world.

The main bulk of the notebook are supple lined pages with the Montblanc name in the end of each - while also sprinkled in between are the snowflake watermark. The marks are quite subtle and difficult to be captured in camera. The paper performs well with all types of writing - slight feathering with broader nibs but overall, this one can handle pretty much everything you throw at it.

The verdict

As a notebook, this one is one of the best out there: leather cover, string-bound, silver edged - it also takes ink better than most notebooks you could find in any Staples or mainstream bookstores. However, factoring in the brand and the pricing of Montblanc, any fountain pen users would pause for a quick moment before picking one up for oneself. As a Montblanc user, one does not have to think too hard to figure out where they want to pick up a new journal and move on with their day.