Montblanc Bespoke Nibs

[stevlight]

I have a 4B nib on a 149 that John Mottishaw did for me--I use it for large drawings--it is amazing!! I wonder if he could do a music nib?!?

[mongrelnomad]

I wouldn't mind this at all, but there are a few outstanding questions:

 

What is the position within the buying-structure, and what is the price?

 

What I mean is: do they keep your details on file, and if you order a pen, do they make any nib to your specification based on your profile (ie. B, OBB, BBBB, EF, music etc).

 

Or, is the 'advice' and service limited to one nib style (eg. I prefer EEFs at present: will I be able to order an O7B later)?

 

Then, the next question is: after the €600 'analysis fee', what is the price for a custom nib?

 

For instance, if I came in an, having my profile on file, ordered a new WE, would they charge me for a specific nib, or would it be included in the price? Alternatively, would the price be tier-related (eg. extra cost for WEs, at-cost for POAs, free at Artesane)?

 

A lot of open questions, but I am still very likely to take up their service once they roll it out to cities which I frequent...

Edited July 31, 2011 by mongrelnomad

[jandrese]

This is interesting, but is certainly not unique let alone a good value. Even if you do not have a local nib doctor, for what MB charges you could take all your pens and visit a nibmeister. Or you could get a Nakaya and be done with it. MB is genius at getting people with too much money to part with some of it. I love my MB pens but 600 euros base price for a custom nib grind is more than a little nutty. For that price more than the pens nib should be ground.

 

I agree, the price is high, but I would not expect it to be any less. I agree that you can get a good nibster to work on your pen for less than $50, a re-tip around $100, but as far as I know, there is not a nibster out there that will create the exact nib that you want, and add engravings that you want, for any price really... Does Nakaya do this? If so, thats awesome! There are a few Nakayas that Ive really liked, so that would put me over the edge to buy one.

Ive found that having someone engrave, not electroplate or stamp a one off nib, is a very rare thing. Ive looked into it for my special editions, and the minimums for specialty engravings is in the 100s in each nib size. So 100 Fine, 100 medium... And so one...

 

So I guess in conclusion, my opinion... Is it expensive? For sure... But, until someone else can compete with this kind of thing, I dont think its too much of a stretch... I wonder, does that include the cost of the actual nib, or just the modification of a pen that you already have...

 

Does Nakaya do nib engravings? I don't think so (they might), but more importantly they p-e-r-f-e-c-t-l-y grind nibs to fit your writing style, and they do it as part of your purchase, not an add on. Their craftsman are seasoned masters, and probably would never even consider appearing in a Nakaya boutique if it were to exist, which, of course, it does not.

 

For a really special nib consider Sailor's lineup of crazy wonderful nibs. Their special nibs are made by the master himself, and are truly unique in the pen world.

 

Aside from nib engravings of your name, which any engraver worth his salt could do, MB really has a long way to go to justify the price.

 

I am not one to shy away from wasting/spending money (ask my wife), but MB must really think I am stupid if they think a music nib with my name on it is worth a minimum of 600 euros. Of course, in the realm of 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it' my opinion surely does not count. For those who can afford it without missing the money at all I'm sure it is cash well spent. Even if I win the lottery I'd like to think I could still recognize value, and that seeking out absolute quality is always desirable.

 

MB can make great pens with fantastic nibs, but they have to, and do, build a fantasy around making people feel special in order to justify their prices. People eat that stuff up, and sometimes it is fun, but sometimes they can go too far.

[Blade Runner]

Someone who couldn't afford an urushi Nakaya might think paying the asking price for a lacquered convertor filling pen is wasteful, even stupid, but for those who like such pens and have the means to own them would disagree. I'm sure there are MB enthusiasts with the means who would love to have a unique MB nib on a favorite MB rather than another generic pen even if the nib cost as much as a new pen. I see no problem with that choice or the choice of a Nakaya. It all depends on your interest and income.

[Tom Kellie]

I wouldn't mind this at all, but there are a few outstanding questions:

 

What I mean is: do they keep your details on file, and if you order a pen, do they make any nib to your specification based on your profile (ie. B, OBB, BBBB, EF, music etc).

 

Or, is the 'advice' and service limited to one nib style (eg. I prefer EEFs at present: will I be able to order an O7B later)?

 

~ mongrelnomad:

 

I've had the identical question in mind.

My initial Bespoke nib was an EEF, which is a treasure.

It's been confirmed by Montblanc China that a subsequent Bespoke nib might be any sort, including the OBBBBBBB you mentioned above.

Tom K.

[mulrich]

I wouldn't mind this at all, but there are a few outstanding questions:

 

What is the position within the buying-structure, and what is the price?

 

What I mean is: do they keep your details on file, and if you order a pen, do they make any nib to your specification based on your profile (ie. B, OBB, BBBB, EF, music etc).

 

Or, is the 'advice' and service limited to one nib style (eg. I prefer EEFs at present: will I be able to order an O7B later)?

 

Then, the next question is: after the €600 'analysis fee', what is the price for a custom nib?

 

For instance, if I came in an, having my profile on file, ordered a new WE, would they charge me for a specific nib, or would it be included in the price? Alternatively, would the price be tier-related (eg. extra cost for WEs, at-cost for POAs, free at Artesane)?

 

A lot of open questions, but I am still very likely to take up their service once they roll it out to cities which I frequent...

 

I know mongrelnomad's question is old both still worth answering. I believe I read that after the initial premium expense of your first bespoke nib (nib-fitting?), subsequent pens are done at normal retail cost.

[jagwap]

I asked Montblanc, and unfortunately each custom nib is the same price as the first.

[Cyrille81]

I have a question about the bespoke nib service: is it a service offered in all MB shops or only some of them?

[Tom Kellie]

I asked Montblanc, and unfortunately each custom nib is the same price as the first.

 

 

~ jagwap:

 

That's the case in Montblanc China.

Every Bespoke nib has the same fee.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

I have a question about the bespoke nib service: is it a service offered in all MB shops or only some of them?

 

~ Cyrille:

 

In Montblanc China the Bespoke Nib Service is offered in larger boutiques.

Smaller boutiques, such as in airports or smaller communities, lack the equipment and trained personnel associated with Bespoke Nibs.

Tom K.

[Cyrille81]

 

~ Cyrille:

 

In Montblanc China the Bespoke Nib Service is offered in larger boutiques.

Smaller boutiques, such as in airports or smaller communities, lack the equipment and trained personnel associated with Bespoke Nibs.

Tom K.

 

Thanks Tom for the answer. I doubt we have this service in Belgium because only 2 small boutiques... I suppose if in the future I want one I will have to go to Paris

[jagwap]

 

Thanks Tom for the answer. I doubt we have this service in Belgium because only 2 small boutiques... I suppose if in the future I want one I will have to go to Paris

They gave me a list of currently equiped stores:

 

Asia

 

Hong Kong, 1881 Heritage

 

Hong Kong, Pacific Place,

 

Macau, Wynn Palace

Malaysia Pavilion KL, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang,

 

Malaysia Kuala Lumpur City Centre KLCC

Shanghai, Citic,

 

Singapore, Mandarin Gallery,

 

Tokyo, Ginza,

 

Seoul, Lotte Jamsil Dept.,

 

 

Südkorea, Seoul, Shinsegae Gagnam

Südkorea, Daegu, Shinsegae

Südkorea, Busan, Centumcity

Taiwan, Taipeh 101

 

 

America

 

Mexico, Masaryk,

 

New York, Madison Avenue,

 

Sao Paulo, Cidade Jardim,

 

 

 

Europe

 

Milan, via Montenapoleone,

 

Moscow, Stoleshnikov 14,

 

Zürich, Bahnhofstrasse,

 

Geneva, Place du Port,

 

Paris, Champs Élysées

Hamburg, Neuer Wall

München, Maximilianstraße

London, Bond Street

Barcelona, Paseo de Gracia

Wien, Habsburger Straße

 

 

 

 

Middle East

 

Abu Dhabi / Galleria

 

Dubai, Dubai Mall

[Ghost Plane]

Oh man. Nothing like living in a fountain pen wasteland.

[Cyrille81]

They gave me a list of currently equiped stores:

 

Asia

 

Hong Kong, 1881 Heritage

 

Hong Kong, Pacific Place,

 

Macau, Wynn Palace

Malaysia Pavilion KL, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang,

 

Malaysia Kuala Lumpur City Centre KLCC

Shanghai, Citic,

 

Singapore, Mandarin Gallery,

 

Tokyo, Ginza,

 

Seoul, Lotte Jamsil Dept.,

 

 

Südkorea, Seoul, Shinsegae Gagnam

Südkorea, Daegu, Shinsegae

Südkorea, Busan, Centumcity

Taiwan, Taipeh 101

 

 

America

 

Mexico, Masaryk,

 

New York, Madison Avenue,

 

Sao Paulo, Cidade Jardim,

 

 

 

Europe

 

Milan, via Montenapoleone,

 

Moscow, Stoleshnikov 14,

 

Zürich, Bahnhofstrasse,

 

Geneva, Place du Port,

 

Paris, Champs Élysées

Hamburg, Neuer Wall

München, Maximilianstraße

London, Bond Street

Barcelona, Paseo de Gracia

Wien, Habsburger Straße

 

 

 

 

Middle East

 

Abu Dhabi / Galleria

 

Dubai, Dubai Mall

 

Thank you very much for the list, very helpful so it is what I though, have to go to Paris if I want.

[mulrich]

Thanks for the additional information and correction. It's too bad that subsequent nibs cost as much as the first; I was getting close to trying a bespoke nib, justifying the cost as a one-time expense. I understand why the cost wouldn't be cheaper for additional nibs but some of the early articles about the service suggested otherwise. Oh well. The stores I'm likely to visit don't offer the service so bespoke isn't really available for me anyways. I'll continue to live vicariously through others.

[Tom Kellie]

~ In Montblanc China there are quite a few boutiques with a designated staff member trained in Bespoke Nib ordering.

Those boutiques have the full handwriting testing kit, as well as a set of Bespoke tester pens.

I've personally seen four such boutiques, ordering a Bespoke nib through one of them.

Earlier today a long-time friend of mine, who's a life sciences researcher in Bethesda, Maryland, called the U.S. Montblanc Concierge Service Center.

Montblanc Concierge Service Center 1-800-995-4810

A Montblanc Ambassador was courteous and helpful, informing him that his nearest boutique (Tyson's Corner, Maryland) was capable of processing a Bespoke order.

He was also offhandedly told that Bespoke nib orders were so rare that the Montblanc Ambassador had never encountered one or any question about one.

Tom K.

[jagwap]

Thanks for the additional information and correction. It's too bad that subsequent nibs cost as much as the first; I was getting close to trying a bespoke nib, justifying the cost as a one-time expense. I understand why the cost wouldn't be cheaper for additional nibs but some of the early articles about the service suggested otherwise. Oh well. The stores I'm likely to visit don't offer the service so bespoke isn't really available for me anyways. I'll continue to live vicariously through others.

I was tempted also if subsequent nibs were at least cheaper. So I gound my own.

 

It is possible to have the custom nibs from Montblanc at a more reasonable price if the design is done once and many nibs produced: the Fritz Schimpf Special mention on this forum.

[thygreyt]

Getting a bespoke nib sounds like such an adventure...!

[Tom Kellie]

~ In line with the list which jagwap kindly provided above a friend in the United States told me about his experience yesterday while inquiring about a possible Montblanc Bespoke order.

At a Montblanc boutique in a Maryland mall near Washington, DC, he was told that any Bespoke order needed to be processed by the New York City Madison Avenue boutique.

They provide the computerized handwriting analysis and have trained specialists who are familiar with preparing fountain pens and Bespoke orders for shipment to Hamburg, Germany.

He was told that at present U.S. Bespoke orders are handled in this way, rather than scattered boutiques being set up to do so, as they are in Montblanc China.

Tom K.

[Ghost Plane]

Ugh! Sounds like NYC boutique’s sole means of justifying its existence. I can buy a nice WE for what it costs me to travel to and stay there.