Fake or Real .. Starwalker?? please help. PICTURES

[phildog33]

Please help...

 

I recently bought two MontBlanc Starwalker pens.. a FineLiner and Roller.

 

Both were claimed to be 100% authentic and original.

 

There are major differences in each. and after examinining pictures, the sellers are pointing fingers at the other guy. Which one is real here?

 

http://phillipangert.smugmug.com/fpngallery/2362341/1/123708921

 

 

I opened the box and took the pen out and immediately felt a different kind of rubber and the metal lines which accent the pen in all directions (the grid), are very different.

Thinner, different kind of metal inside.

 

Then i noticed that the MontBlanc star inside the cap is a smaller size and the plastic clear dome is a smaller size.

 

I really like the hybrid resin tip area with rubber barrel, but then i realized the end piece is also from a Resin pen and not the Black/Rubber/Metal one.

That end piece does not come off.. which was very strange.. so the whole pen must have been dissected instead of just customized, with a different tip.

 

And lastly... the serial #s !! The font is completely different from the original, and in the wrong place!

ONe is on the metal clip, the other on the barrel of metal clip.

 

The box also is completely different and cheaper, and the logo is a black mountain top, not white.

 

Please advise everyone

-p

Edited January 17, 2007 by phildog33

[mysta rave]

The one with the black star on the box is fake... the star is always a white star with black around it

[phildog33]

thank you for responding. I knew it.

 

THe black star on white was a give away- that the box was indeed fake.

 

Any comments on the two pens.. especially the location of the serial number being different on each pen.

 

Thank you

-p

Edited January 17, 2007 by phildog33

[rvg]

thank you for responding. I knew it.

 

THe black star on white was a give away- that the box was indeed fake.

 

Any comments on the two pens.. especially the location of the serial number being different on each pen.

 

Thank you

-p

This is great timing because I just bought one from a fellow moving from Georgia to Maryland. It will be here Thursday.

 

As soon as I have it in my hands, unless there are obvious problems, I'll be on the road to Paradise Pen for a comparison.

[gimmegimme]

I have the resin starwalker, and the serial number is on the ring, not the clip itself.

 

Very interesting to see that the counterfeiters are sophisticated enough to get a star floating in crystal/glass. I always thought that would be a difficult task to fake..but I guess not!

 

Are we allowed to share ebay seller names on this forum to avoid future problems?

[Michael]

Edit: I noticed other differences and will repost.

Edited January 17, 2007 by Michael

[marklavar]

I'm surprised they are faking the Starwalker. I always thought the Meisterstuck was easier to fake and also more profitable for the criminal.

[Michael]

Hi Phildog,

 

I have the metal and rubber Starwalker Fountain Pen (authentic).

 

In your IMG_0288 and 0295: the bottom pen does not match mine. Mine has the larger "lines" of the grid and the end is metal, not resin. Also note that all of the rings are of the opposite material.

 

In your IMG_0296: the pen on the right does not match mine. Mine has a thin metal strip before the clear end piece like the pen on the left. Also, my clear end piece seems to be shaped like the pen on the left as well and not stubby like the pen on the right.

 

You tricked me in IMG_305 by switching the pens. Now the pen on the top is the one that does not match mine based on the same reason above in 0296. In this instance the pen on the bottom does not match mine either. The font for the serial number looks right, but mine is imprinted on the clip and not the band. Not sure why this serial number is on the band ... maybe MB switched?

 

In your IMG_0307 this pen does not match mine. Although the serial number is in the right location as mine, the font is definitely different and it has a space in it whereas mine does not (could be that MB added spaces but I would definitely be skeptical about the font).

 

In your IMG_318, the box on the left is clearly a fake based on logo and star as previously pointed out.

 

Other than the location of the serial number, I can't find anything inconsistent between the top pen in IMG_288 and mine.

 

Another way to verify is that my Starwalker has "GERMANY metal" printed on the underside of the clip (there is also something else printed, but it is script and I can't read it).

 

Michael

[gimmegimme]

Another way to verify is that my Starwalker has "GERMANY metal" printed on the underside of the clip (there is also something else printed, but it is script and I can't read it).

Further to Michael's email, the italic writing on the underside of the clip says "Pix" with the registered trademark symbol at the end. See image from MB's US trademark.

[phildog33]

"MADE IN GERMANY" on the bottom is the tell-tale sign. Mine has it... the imposter pen does not... thank you

[patrick_y]

Where did you buy this pen from? Please let us know so people who don't shop at authorized dealers or the boutiques themselves don't make the same mistake.

 

Why did you resort to buying stuff from this person? No authorized dealer in town?

[Dawn]

The serial number on the Starwalker should be on the band up next to the clip, not on the clip itself. (unless it was previously on the clip and MB has recently changed the position).

 

On the fountain pens the nibs are usually a give away too, they can vary quite dramatically on the fakes.

 

Dawn

Edited January 18, 2007 by Dawn

[Jonathan]

simply put the end peice should be chrome and not black. Easy give away.

[rvg]

"MADE IN GERMANY" on the bottom is the tell-tale sign. Mine has it... the imposter pen does not... thank you

Phil,

 

Did you ever resolve the issue with the seller of the fake?

 

In the US, 18 USC 2320 defines the penalties for knowingly trafficking in counterfeit goods. I have no idea if you or your seller are in the Unites States, but my seller was in Maryland and I am pursuing a refund plus shipping both ways. Hopefully, it will work out for both of us.

[TopGun]

I have the Starwalker ballpoint, purchased from an authorized dealer. The grid line is consistent with the wider cut, the serial number is on the barrel at the start of the Montblanc label.

 

I do appreciate you sharing the pictures of what the fake ones look like. It is very helpful as I was trying to figure out whether to bid on a fountain one to match my ballpoint.

 

There is a listing on eBay right now, which based on the image of the resin end (instead of the metal tip) leads to me suspect that this is a fake one. The same product has been listed a couple of times. Be aware!

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...64254&rd=1&rd=1

[auscan]

And the seller has no feedback rating and is selling an expencive pen. Thats a dead give- away as well.

 

Thanks for this post, now I'm going to think twice from buying from a non authorised dealer!

[rvg]

My seller had been a member since 1999, accumulated around 45 feedback and all were positive. As soon as he received payment, his ebay account closed. Since his account was closed, I could not leave negative feedback. As far as I know, he can open up again under a new alias and his history will only reflect positive transactions.

 

Luckily, he had used a third party (Pack-N-Ship in Owings Mills, MD) as a billing and shipping agent. I aimed my collection efforts at them and collected my refund directly from them. I'll let them worry about collecting from the seller.

 

If you decide to risk a few bucks as I did, demand to see photos of the actual unit for sale. My auction had only stock photos. And check the seller history for aliases.

[mike1]

I have two counterfeit Mont Blancs. One is a Meisterstruck and the other is a Starwalker. A gift from my son-in-law he bought in Thailand. We all know they are fakes and the Starwalker has some very blatant issues that are obivious. The star in the dome is off center for one thing. I also had to do alittle repair work to get it to write.

[jchulani]

I bought mine from the Mont Blanc boutique so I am quite confident it is authentic. Anyhow, the SN on mine is not on the clip. Hope this helps.

[TYoung]

Hi,

 

I have a resin Starwalker fineliner it has Pix and made in Germany under the clip but the serial number is on the side of the clip. Do I have a fake?