how does one spot a fake Montblanc?
Even though some of us seasoned fountain pen enthusiasts could spot a fake from miles away, the majority of the populace unfortunately does not have our spider-sense built in.
Whether you are well acquainted with the famous german maison, or are looking into getting that first luxury pen, this article may be of help, to keep us safe out there hunting for that one Montblanc pen we truly want.
Disclaimer: I do not claim to be a Montblanc expert and the research done for this article will be linked down below. It is always good practice to look for pens from trusted dealers and be alert against deals that seem too good to be true. The details noted are from my personal experience handling these instruments and interviewing sellers as well as Montblanc’s employees.
In this article, we will be taking a look at some of the most commonly counterfeited Montblanc fountain pens - the Meisterstucks, Starwalkers, Rouge-et-Noirs, and the Bohemes - as well as some popular red flags of which online shoppers should be aware.
It is also recommended that you read this article on a large screen to really be able to see the smallest details of the photos as well as to hover the cursor over the photos for image descriptions with extra information provided on these writing instruments.
an authentic Rouge-et-Noir next to a fake 144 fountain pen
The materials
There is no denying that even though Montblancs are expensive luxury writing instruments, the materials used by them are well chosen with some distinctive features.
Resin pens
The most commonly counterfeited Montblancs are from the Meisterstuck line and looking at the resin is the best way to check for authenticity. As shown in the photos below, the authentic Montblancs' resin has a reddish hue under strong light, indicating that the resin is actually a bit translucent instead of having black pigment to cover it up.
a vintage 146 fountain pen with a monotone 14C gold nib
Metal pens
The special editions with metal bodies usually consist of brass components and a lacquer on top. Montblanc's lacquer is quite scratch resistant and it is not the easiest job in the world to differentiate fakes from pictures alone. When it comes to metal pens with lacquer, it is advised that you look at the edges and finishing of the overall barrel and cap, especially with the printing if any: vintage Montblanc logo on neo-vintage pens such as the Rouge-et-Noirs or Writers editions' signatures on the caps are etched into the body of the pens, and painted without blemishes and extra paint being left over.
the underside of a Rouge-et-Noir clip has the word METAL in print
The metallic parts
These include the clip and cap bands, as well as metal rings on the cap and barrel. There are many details that we should look into with great care to spot out the suspicious signs of a counterfeit.
Clips and Trims
The counterfeit seems to be pressed brass with a layer of rhodium coating as it doesn't have the "warmth" of platinum - as opposed to the thick and well finished clip from this 161 ballpoint here. When trying out these pens it's always a good idea to look at the underside of the clip as well, as the line "Made in Germany" of the legit pens are laser etched crisply instead of simply pressed into the clip.
Serial numbers
The placement of the serial numbers varied from years to years, but the most prominent detail to pay attention to is the typeface and finishing: the numbers have crisp edges and laser etched deep into the metal, so that even when polished, these numbers would not come off easily.
The heart of the pen
This is where a lot of counterfeits try to mimic the styling and designs of MB, but failed to do so since they have to cut corners somewhere to reduce the cost.
The nib
Counterfeits in most cases pair the pens with a stainless steel nibs instead of 14-18k gold nib body, laser etching instead of machine press, thin plating and poor finishing instead of a more refined look. Another point of interest to pay attention to is the tipping: from what I’ve heard from a MB employee, MB’s fountain pens are ground and tuned so that people who switch from a common ballpoint into a fountain pen could easily adapt to the new writing angle, as a ballpoint user usually holds their pens straight up from the paper instead of a 50-ish degree angle similar to what fountain pen people do.
The feed
As shown in the photo, a badly made nib would most of the time pair with a similarly poorly made feed: vintage feeds are cut out from ebonite and the quality speak for themselves, and modern feeds are finished to be almost on par with vintage Montblancs. The cut out in the middle of the feed is to prevent users from screwing the nib units inside the cap leading to damages to the tipping material in the long run, whereas with the fake: the fins are really thin and will be damaged easily, while also providing a poor writing experience.
The filling mechanism
This section is also related to how MB numbered their pen models, and here is an excellent list taken from the wonderful people at the Fountain Pen Network
https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/197516-montblanc-numbering-system-19902000/
149 = Montblanc Meisterstück 149
LeGrand line: in black with gold plated trims, with rhodinized trims (add a P after the number), and in burgundy with golden trims (discontinued)
147 = Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand Traveller fountain pen (cartridge only) (not with rhodinized trims)
146 = Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand fountain pen (piston)
167 = Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand pencil 0,9mm
166 = Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand document marker (only with goldplated trims)
162 = Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand rollerball
161 = Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand ballpoint
Classique line: in black with either golden or rhodinized trims (add P) or in burgundy with golden trims
145 = Montblanc Meisterstück Classique fountain pen (cartridge/converter) – formerly named H.a.F.Chopin
144 = Montblanc Meisterstück Classique fountain pen (cartridge/converter) (never with rhodinized trims)
168 = Montblanc Meisterstück Classique fineliner
165 = Montblanc Meisterstück Classique pencil 0,7mm or 0,5mm
164 = Montblanc Meisterstück Classique ballpoint
163 = Montblanc Meisterstück Classique rollerball
Overall, if you found a listing online that mistook the model number, it is advised that you take a careful look at how the pen works, as there have been cases of 146/149 or Rouge et Noir listings with a hidden converter inside of the pen barrel instead of a piston filler, or a converter pen such as the Starwalker or the 144 with a fake converter (no threads near the end of the pen).
The miscellaneous
Gemstones
There are various models from Montblanc decorated with synthetic gemstones or diamonds, and they are fixed into the pens really neatly without excess glue. The gemstones are also cleanly cut and with a loop or a macro lens, all the refined details can be admired for hours on end.
from the archive: the jewel in the clip of any Boheme has this lovely cut that could glow from any angles and plays with the light pretty well, and they do not scratch, as opposed to a plastic jewel that is usually put on counterfeits
Crystal finials
For the Starwalker lines and some Meisterstuck Diamond models are adorned with a crystal finial with a floating snowflake or diamond in the center, and the clarity of the crystal is the most prominent indicator of quality for these pens, instead of being replaced with a plastic jewel that would scratch the moment you let it touch the desk.
Threading and finishing
It is difficult to see how the finishing is done through photos and the best way to experience them is to personally touch the real deal with your own hands. However, the same principles of quality also apply: the threads should feel crisp without being skin-grazingly crisp.
The online scam artists
After all, when shopping online for writing instruments or anything really, it is recommended that you spend a few minutes in the description of the listing. Reputable dealers will have clear and specific information about the model of the pen as well as detailed macro photos for your eye candy as well as to help buyers inspect the pen of their choice at best they can, where as in suspicious listings, the information given to you is quite vague and generic enough to confused the uneducated buyers.
The final words
Montblanc has become a desirable brand ever since they shifted their focus to the luxury users, and there clearly are other options available to all fountain pen enthusiasts. Nonetheless, I personally think there is always a place for a Montblanc in any fountain pen collection, whether it is your first luxury writing instrument or your tenth - they are not the most special “snowflakes” out there but will always provide an enjoyable writing experience.
I hope that some of the experience I had scrolling through countless Montblanc listings in the interwebs will be of help to you. While it might not come as a revelation to the seasoned fountain pen collectors, this should be things to keep in mind during your acquisition of a new instrument, not limited to Montblanc alone but also other fountain pen brands as well. I hope that this will help you on your way to acquire the next grail pen on your list, and I know mine is one from the collaboration with Montblanc on Father’s Day this year ;)