Tips on How to spot a fake Mont Blanc

[Tom Kellie]

I bought a fake MB 145 a couple of years back. It cost me $13 from a well known Chinese on line seller. I have to say, at first glance, it looked like the real thing. The star was perfect. The finish was pretty good and all parts were interchangeable with a genuine 145 that I have. It passed the "red glow" test. (I have always thought that that test is a little suspect given that acrylic is acrylic no matter what MB calls it). It was only when I looked closely that the evidence became clear. The converter was marked Mont Blanc not Montblanc and was push fit, not screw. The nib, from the top, looked genuine with all the correct markings, however the reverse was silver coloured and nearly pulled the magnet out my hand when I tested it. 14k gold doesn't tend to do that in my experience. I only bought the pen to see what to expect from a fake and I have to say it was a very good one. I can't condone that sort of false selling but I have to say that, if it wasn't masquerading as something else, it would be a very good pen for $13. It writes quite well, but a MB it is not.

 

 

~ Matlock:

 

Thank you for describing your experience of buying a fake Montblanc pen.

What you've explained is all new to me, as to date I've never seen a fake Montblanc pen here.

That may be because I almost never shop where they might be sold.

I have seen numerous fake premium wristwatches.

Several years ago I bought a fake Breguet. It was a particular model that I'd long admired.

Although there were subtle touches indicating that it was a fake, it was surprising to see the effort which had been made to duplicate a high quality timepiece.

Your comment about the strong magnet pull made me laugh.

For the price, it's nice to know that it actually writes well.

Tom K.

[Chrissy]

I have a fake Montblanc 144/145 type, but I fear it's not a grade 7 version like the one that Matlock's description sounds like. There are many versions of fakes and some are much worse than others.

[FredRydr]

Kawaii colors reminiscent of Hello Kitty should raise doubts.

 

[Chrissy]

Kawaii colors reminiscent of Hello Kitty should raise doubts.

 

IMG_6401.jpg

 

Oh my word. Laughing hysterically (errrm should that have been Hawaii?)

[LanceSaintPaul]

Has anyone assembled an intentional collection of MB fakes?

[FredRydr]

 

... (errrm should that have been Hawaii?)

 

 

Alas, no. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawaii

[FredRydr]

Has anyone assembled an intentional collection of MB fakes?

I started such a collection to use for an article on Montblanc fakes to be published in one of the fountain pen rags. My best source was a stewardess whose regular route included Bejing; fakes are everywhere there while genuine articles are harder to find. One even came with a fake MB pen case, with the logo flaking off. Unfortunately, the changing of the guard at Montblanc NA several years ago eliminated much of my editorial source, so I ended the project and gave away most of that mini-collection to kids at pen shows. I kept the pink pen (above) to remind me of the effort. By the way, that pen fell apart in my hands, and some loose internal bits that rolled away were never to be found (not like I tried real hard).

Edited November 8, 2017 by FredRydr

[Matlock]

I think it is interesting to see how these fakes vary. As I said the 145 look alike was a very good quality pen that, at first glance, would be almost impossible to spot as a fake. At the same time I bought a 146 look alike and it was obvious straight away that all was not as it seemed. Quite apart from the fact that it was a converter pen, the finish was very poor, the clip did not fit correctly and it was obvious that the nib was not the genuine item. I didn't even bother to try and write with it.

[ian1964]

I have a couple of conterfeit Mb 144. One on black and one in Burgundy. The quality is outstanding (especially for the $14 price tag). The black 144 passes almost all the stated tests including glowing red when a pen torch is shined through it. The nib does not appear magnetic and has all the stated engravings. The real give away is that the converter looks cheap. However, I use a real Mb cartridge in both and the performance is on par with my genuine 145. I use them both regularly at work.

[BillH]

ian, at $14 for a regular user, I'd say you made out better than the guy who sold them to you

[Debbieshoemaker]

 

Please post pictures as we can't help without seeing the pens.

posted pics sorry

[Debbieshoemaker]

here are the pics of the pens just wandering if real and what might be the value

[niksch]

 

Oh my word. Laughing hysterically (errrm should that have been Hawaii?)

 

As Fred pointed out Kawaii is actually a good chunk of island in the Hawaiian Islands Chain.

Edited November 9, 2017 by niksch

[niksch]

With the exception of the Cross Desk Pen, then pens you show are all Montblanc Rollerball pens. The "striped gold" one, the Legrand, I think is the most valuable. Others will chime in with the correct model name for the metal overlay, as I am temporarily left without recall. The others appear the be 163-sized rollerballs. From the photos presented, they look also look to be authentic.

Edited November 9, 2017 by niksch

[Debbieshoemaker]

thank you for the information i cant find no where online to value the pens i got another one that is a maroon color but havent taken any pics where would some one look to appraise them

[Chrissy]

thank you for the information i cant find no where online to value the pens i got another one that is a maroon color but havent taken any pics where would some one look to appraise them

 

You could check out sold prices for similar pens on eBay.

[Chrissy]

 

As Fred pointed out Kawaii is actually a good chunk of island in the Hawaiian Islands Chain.

Thanks. I had never heard of it.

[Tom Kellie]

Thanks. I had never heard of it.

 

 

~ Chrissy:

 

It's my home, where my parents and sister are buried.

Called Kauai, it's sometimes referred to as ‘The Garden Isle’.

I'm from west of a small town on the northern coast named Hanalei.

Scenes from the film “Jurassic Park” were filmed down the road from my family home.

Tom K.

[torstar]

it retails for $5,000 and a website has them on sale for $5?

[Chrissy]

 

 

~ Chrissy:

 

It's my home, where my parents and sister are buried.

Called Kauai, it's sometimes referred to as ‘The Garden Isle’.

I'm from west of a small town on the northern coast named Hanalei.

Scenes from the film “Jurassic Park” were filmed down the road from my family home.

Tom K.

 

Thank you Tom. I would love to go to Hawaii, but it's so far from here.