What is the point of diminishing returns? | Montblanc Meisterstuck 149
The Montblanc 149 fountain pen is a fancy and well-crafted writing tool that has been loved for a long time. It's known for its special design, great performance, and careful attention to detail. In this article, we explore the interesting history, cool features, and lasting charm that make the Montblanc 149 a favorite for people who appreciate high-quality pens. There are countless videos and contents on this particularly controversial pen, yet the debate is still there - is it the “one all be all” writing instrument of the stationery world, or is it an overpriced luxury item? I’ll also be attempting to answer another debatable question on a closely related topic on price point - what is the point of diminishing returns of fountain pens, and where should, or could, you stop investing into pens?
To the general public, especially the younger generations of users, the name Montblanc seems like something that belongs to the old world, something too exclusive and let’s be frank, highly priced to the point of unattainable. The more seasoned collectors tend to regard them as the “basic” entry to the luxury writing world, and yet the younger audience looks at it like their idol - something to be marveled at, not to be acquired.
It is in this difficult middle ground stance, as the world is experiencing a dip in luxury goods sales, Montblanc standard lines of pens are now being reverted back to “corporate gifts” and once in a lifetime purchases. They do not exclusively have their grail pen status, that is to be shared among the great houses of italian and japanese penmaking. However, it is not to say that Montblanc pens, in particular the Meisterstuck line of pens, lost its luster to the enchanted enthusiasts, and not only me but many fountain pen users would vouch for their consistency and quality.
After many iterations, the modern 149 still retains a lot of what made it the status symbol pen that it is today - a solidly moulded cap and barrel carrying a piston filler, with adorned metallic rings and engravings, and topping it off with a consistent 18k gold nib. There are also details that were changed to fit the needs of the current day users, and unless you are hyper sensitive to the point of noticing the difference between an ebonite feed and a plastic feed, the modern 149 can surely fit itself nicely or even complete one’s fountain pen collection.
However, the question remains - is it the final answer to all writing needs? Absolutely not.
To the general public, their writing needs would be sufficiently fulfilled with the use of a bic ballpoint or even a random pencil given out in all hotels and reception desks, and the writing experience of many pens even out at around the $150 mark. That price point is also edging the point of “if you lost it, you could cry a night or two and then buy another one”, but the same thing cannot be said for a Montblanc, and we’re talking about one of their best sellers. As of the writing of this article, the 149 is at $1,030-1,050 retail, and that is not a small sum for the average joe. Even in the secondary market, ranging from $400-750 preowned older models, it is still on the expensive side. The younger generation of fountain pen users are now turning to more affordable range of pens and the trend of frequent limited releases from other brands is also not helping at all. All of that aside, when one decides to pursue a 149, it is usually when they have experienced a lot of different brands and it is at the point where they can comfortably add a 149 to the collection, to celebrate a milestone or to “complete the set” so to speak. No matter when you decide to acquire it, the Meisterstuck 149 is, and always has been a consistently good writer, and it would never disappoint, even when you grab one from the used market, you can be sure that there are plenty of replacement parts available and you can always send it back to Montblanc for a service, it might sting your wallet a bit though.
On the second question, what is the point of diminishing returns on fountain pens? As mentioned above, there are plenty of good pens out there in the world, and the $150 mark is pretty much giving you 90% of the writing experience you could get out of a nib and a feed. Manufacturing process aside, pen brands are now having to compete with one another to secure their place in your collection - while knowing that the fountain pen market is such a small niche and has such high stakes that one bad nib can ruin a customer experience with a pen brand as quickly as the tip of their pen touches the page. I’d personally say that there is merit to increasing the extra fund into one single fountain pen, and specifically with the 149, you can get a writing instrument that lasts you a lifetime, and if well maintained, can be passed down to the next generation in the family, while having the security that it can always be fixed and serviced by many, even by yourself if you have all the tools and skills. To many, a thousand bucks is an insane amount of money to put into a single pen, yet, if you break that amount down to 40-50 years along the way, that amount seems like pocket change to have many peaceful hours scribbling away at your pages, putting down valuable ideas, or writing utmost lovely thoughts and feelings to yourself and your loved ones. That, I’d say is an excellent bargain.
I have also made plenty of videos regarding the Meisterstuck 149, so if you would be so kind please check them out, it would help the blog and the channel tremendously :) Let me know your thoughts on Montblancs and if you are looking to purchase your next fountain pens, and Montblancs in particular, send me a dm and I can get you sorted, worldwide shipping as always.
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