Montblanc pens are known worldwide for their quality and craftsmanship. The German pen manufacturer uses only the finest materials in each pen that they make. Montblanc pens fall into a different category from most other pens on the market. Considered luxury items that come with a price tag to match, Montblanc pens are often copied. These copies are sold as originals when they are, in fact, cheap imitations.
*see the snow peak
So how do you tell the difference? In many cases, these knock-offs look so similar to the originals that only an expert can spot the forgery. If you are preparing to spend thousands on a pen that you find questionable, Montblanc does offer an authentication service. However, it will cost both time and money. Alternatively, there are several characteristics of the pen that you can examine to get a good idea of whether the pen is a real Montblanc or not.
Materials
Montblanc uses a unique material they call “precious resin” in the shaft of their pens. This resin is of high quality and feels different from a pen made of plastic or metal. Montblanc pens are never painted either. A painted pen is an immediate giveaway.
While many Montblanc pens appear black to the naked eye, their resin shaft is actually a dark red wine color. You can see this color if you hold the shaft of the pen up to bright light. The light shining around the pen’s edges will cause a dark red hue to appear around the pen. We might be stating the obvious here, but be careful not to shine the bright light in your eyes while performing this test, as you could damage your eyesight.
Engraving Marks
Montblanc pens manufactured since 1990 should have two different engravings. The first is a serial number on the clip band. You may need to grab a magnifying glass to make out the numbers, but they should be there. Don’t worry if the font used to engrave the serial number appears to vary from pen to pen. That is not unusual.
The second engraved mark on the pen is the word “Pix.” This word should be on the underside of the pen clip on pens dating from 1997 and later. Most fake Montblanc pens will be missing this mark.
Packaging
The packaging for a Montblanc pen is a perfect complement to the pen itself. Typically, these pens come in cases made for Montblanc. You should expect a leather or faux leather exterior on a hinged box. The interior should be molded to hold the pen and may be lined with velvet. If your pen comes in a flimsy felt sleeve, you can be pretty sure that it is not in its original packaging. Yes, one could buy the packaging online and use it to sell forgeries. However, that is a lot of extra work. Most pen forgers skip that step and use a different style of packaging.
Nib
The nib of a Montblanc pen can offer two different types of clues when it comes to authenticity. First, take a look at the quality of the construction and engraving on the nib itself. The flaws may not be immediately obvious. However, if you compare a Montblanc nib to a fake nib, the differences become apparent. Montblanc takes great care when overlaying gold on their nibs. The gold is applied with precision. Counterfeit nibs, on the other hand, may appear gold, but on closer examination, you may find that it is merely gold-colored paint sloppily applied to the tip of the nib. Remember that everything about a Montblanc pen is done with exactness. Careless flaws should be a red flag.
The writing experience that a nib gives to the user is another clue. Try writing with the pen. Does the tip feel too stiff and unyielding compared to other luxury pens? This rigid feeling may be a symptom of a nib made with a hard metal rather than soft gold. Counterfeit manufacturers can save money on materials by cutting corners on the nib. These cheaper nibs often have an inconsistent ink flow, which may be noticeable as well.
Price
While we all like to think that we are getting a good deal, there are not many Montblanc pens for sale well below value. If the price seems too good to be true, it likely is. Most people selling second-hand pens know how much they are worth and will price them accordingly. If you do find what looks like a great deal online, you can test this theory by asking the seller if they have more pens for sale. If they try to sell you large volumes of pens for much less than they are worth, you can be pretty sure the pens are not bona fide Montblancs.
The best way is to be sure you are getting a real authentic pen is to buy from a reputable Montblanc store. Specializing in high-end writing utensils, these stores and boutiques can show you brand new as well as used options that may be a good fit for your needs and your budget. Contact us at Pen Boutique to learn more about our Montblanc selection. We can also help you with parts and ink pen refills. Best of all, by avoiding the shady corners of the internet, you can be confident that you are not wasting money on a poor replica of a classy pen.
15 comments
David
It is probably still authentic. “Germany” was on a lot of earlier pens, and there were no serial numbers before 1991 or so. I would look at the nib and the resin based on the information above. Also, if it writes well and it has served faithfully for 30 years, it sounds like you have a great pen ether way. The fact that you have had it that long and (I am assuming here) have not had problems speaks volumes to its being authentic.
It is probably still authentic. “Germany” was on a lot of earlier pens, and there were no serial numbers before 1991 or so. I would look at the nib and the resin based on the information above. Also, if it writes well and it has served faithfully for 30 years, it sounds like you have a great pen ether way. The fact that you have had it that long and (I am assuming here) have not had problems speaks volumes to its being authentic.
Brian Sung
Thank you for the knowledge. Extremely useful. Dont own fountain pen, but owned a meisterstuck maroon and skywalker…
Thank you for the knowledge. Extremely useful. Dont own fountain pen, but owned a meisterstuck maroon and skywalker…
Jakob Gerber
I bought my “Montblanc Meisterstuck 149 “ on band. On clip it only has the word “ Germany “ Fountain pen I bought at Stanford bookstore in 1970. They said it had been in the showcase for at least two years as it was so expensive . I figure it’s a 1968 Montblanc.
. The nib reads 4810, almost all yellow gold except very small area with I assume white gold. It is 14 c NOT 18 c . There is so much misinformation out there it’s mind boggling . One read that only the 146 has a 14 c nib, and the 149 has the 18 c nib. I bought this new – old stock – at Stanford. I was always losing my fountain pens that had cost me possibly $20. at the time. I paid $120. for this the Montblanc fountain pen at the time – that was a fortune – with the idea I would never lose it. Here we are in March 2023 . This pen has been around the world with me since I started traveling . I’m an old man now ,and must start giving things to my thirty three year old daughter. It’s breaking my heart giving this to her. She is in tech PR – “ Six Eastern – . I’m going to have a serious talk with her before gifting this to her. I must have written millions of words with this pen. I have thirty Moleskin journals etc. filled with green ink from this pen. It only has the word “ Germany” engraved on the clips band . No serial numbers in those days that I know of. If someone knows different please leave a reply.
I bought my “Montblanc Meisterstuck 149 “ on band. On clip it only has the word “ Germany “ Fountain pen I bought at Stanford bookstore in 1970. They said it had been in the showcase for at least two years as it was so expensive . I figure it’s a 1968 Montblanc.
. The nib reads 4810, almost all yellow gold except very small area with I assume white gold. It is 14 c NOT 18 c . There is so much misinformation out there it’s mind boggling . One read that only the 146 has a 14 c nib, and the 149 has the 18 c nib. I bought this new – old stock – at Stanford. I was always losing my fountain pens that had cost me possibly $20. at the time. I paid $120. for this the Montblanc fountain pen at the time – that was a fortune – with the idea I would never lose it. Here we are in March 2023 . This pen has been around the world with me since I started traveling . I’m an old man now ,and must start giving things to my thirty three year old daughter. It’s breaking my heart giving this to her. She is in tech PR – “ Six Eastern – . I’m going to have a serious talk with her before gifting this to her. I must have written millions of words with this pen. I have thirty Moleskin journals etc. filled with green ink from this pen. It only has the word “ Germany” engraved on the clips band . No serial numbers in those days that I know of. If someone knows different please leave a reply.
Dick Smith
Very good information on how to authenticate my Mont Blanc pen. I have the clip markings and also the serial number on pen top. But I’m having difficulty with identifying my pen model. It is roller ball pen and when I bought it I thought it was a Meisterstuck, can you help I.D. it for me?
Very good information on how to authenticate my Mont Blanc pen. I have the clip markings and also the serial number on pen top. But I’m having difficulty with identifying my pen model. It is roller ball pen and when I bought it I thought it was a Meisterstuck, can you help I.D. it for me?
charles
This has been in the family for over 30 years…nib looks wrong….cap ring has ..germany….that’s about all I can find…can you help to determine if it’s fake or real?
This has been in the family for over 30 years…nib looks wrong….cap ring has ..germany….that’s about all I can find…can you help to determine if it’s fake or real?
Ann Linsky
Is my BLUE (with a pattern) a fake because it doesn’t have the PIX under the clip? It says made in Germany metal. Can you give me some idea when it first came out? I don’t have $75. to get it authenticated.
Is my BLUE (with a pattern) a fake because it doesn’t have the PIX under the clip? It says made in Germany metal. Can you give me some idea when it first came out? I don’t have $75. to get it authenticated.
Kristal Champion-Dacuycuy
Thank you so much for this article! Although I will be buying my hard to find Mont Blanc pens from you, this was so very informative!
Thank you so much for this article! Although I will be buying my hard to find Mont Blanc pens from you, this was so very informative!
B. Ivan Broomer
Thank you for the update Tips on identifying authenticity of MontBlanc Pens
Thank you for the update Tips on identifying authenticity of MontBlanc Pens
RUTH FEIERTAG
Thank you for such an interesting and useful article! I’m not looking to buy a Montblanc any time soon, but I am still glad to have this information in case I do run across something that seems like an excellent deal. I’d be really interested to see some photos of the forgeries by the pictures of the real Montblanc for comparison.
Thank you for such an interesting and useful article! I’m not looking to buy a Montblanc any time soon, but I am still glad to have this information in case I do run across something that seems like an excellent deal. I’d be really interested to see some photos of the forgeries by the pictures of the real Montblanc for comparison.
KL
Le Grand Platinum I have does not have the Pix on the inside of clip or on the cap band. Everything else looks fine. It was purchased around 2000-2001. Did I get hosed?
Le Grand Platinum I have does not have the Pix on the inside of clip or on the cap band. Everything else looks fine. It was purchased around 2000-2001. Did I get hosed?
Ann Linsky
Thank you so much for this information. I never realized any of this and did not know how to find this. Greatly appreciated!
Thank you so much for this information. I never realized any of this and did not know how to find this. Greatly appreciated!
Aissatou E Sunjata
If the price seems too good to be true, probably it is not an authentic Montblanc.
If the price seems too good to be true, probably it is not an authentic Montblanc.
Mike
My MB 147 skips out on downward strokes sometimes.. is there something I can do to fix this or does it need to be sent out? I’d rather not ship it on something that may have a simple cure.. I’ve cleaned it multiple times and put the nib end in a sonic cleaner.. It seems okay if I use some pressure, but I hate writing with pressure, especially on what was bought as a quality instrument. My next step was going to be remove the nib and clean it again.
My MB 147 skips out on downward strokes sometimes.. is there something I can do to fix this or does it need to be sent out? I’d rather not ship it on something that may have a simple cure.. I’ve cleaned it multiple times and put the nib end in a sonic cleaner.. It seems okay if I use some pressure, but I hate writing with pressure, especially on what was bought as a quality instrument. My next step was going to be remove the nib and clean it again.
John Stayn
Thank you for this revealing, helpful article. Perhaps you will find time to write similar stories about other brands.
Thank you for this revealing, helpful article. Perhaps you will find time to write similar stories about other brands.
Charles Sharp
This is very good information, Thank you. There are many fake being sold on Social Media, I have reported sone on Facebook. I am luck to have 3 Mont Blancs and are my prized possession.
This is very good information, Thank you. There are many fake being sold on Social Media, I have reported sone on Facebook. I am luck to have 3 Mont Blancs and are my prized possession.