Montblanc - Marc Newson

[rennfahrer]

I saw the M in person and wanted to like it since I appreciate MN's design aesthetic. The felt of the pen is very nice but the grip section is terrible IMHO. It is not comfortable and it is "cold" and does not fit the organic flow of the pen's design. I regular resin section would have been nice. Or even an octagon shaped grip in resin.

[Maxim]

Thanks, gerardz!

 

My mind wandered to Cross a few pages back, but with me not knowing enough I didn't try buying one to see.

 

Great news that the M is now much more versatile than I had thought!

[MCN]

According to John Mottishaw's web site the Cross converter has an inside diameter at the connector end of 3mm, whereas the typical international converter (which the Montblanc almost is) is around 2.2 or 2.3 mm. Does your Cross converter fit securely and not leak? If so, great news.

[gerardz]

Ah, good point about the inside diameter statistics. John Mottishaw's web site might be absolutely right about those dimensions. I added a photo with a cartridge on the left and the Cross converter on the right. Even to the naked eye the difference is certainly there. However it still is a tight fit, I can't shake off the grip from the converter and the Cross converter 'snugs' into the grip.

 

Initially I thought this snugness could come from the outer part of the converter being tucked into the grip, but that does not seem the case. When you insert it, and don't push the converter over the protruding feed rod in the grip, you can freely move the converter around. If you push the converter further down this feed rod, it gets its snugness (for lack of a better word or description). As for leaks, well, no, not instantly in any case. The snugness would indicate it is not likely to leak, but the lack of emperical data would prompt me to have a provisio in this case: the converter came in rotation only yesterday night. What I can say however is "so far so good", and another good one might be "only time will tell"

 

Other noteworthy things might be that I filled the converter straight out of the inkwell, and did not dip the pen as a whole in my inkwell. There is all sorts of nooks and crannies going on in this M series grip and I wanted to avoid inking those up as well. Furthermore I compared the amount of ink between the cartridge and this converter. The converter holds just a wee bit less ink. But at least it holds any ink and I like having that option and dislike attributing to landfills with spend cartridges.

Edited October 12, 2015 by gerardz

[YoungpenGeek07]

Im not sure about this new design. Ive been looking for a thread about the MB M Collection FP but having found a review or chat about it yet and it has been on sale for a month or more.

[jimmy8269]

I've just got the Cross 8751 converter to try with Montblanc M. I can confirm that it works well with the pen.

[jimmy8269]

I've just got the Cross 8751 converter to try with Montblanc M. I can confirm that it works well with the pen.

 

After the experiment with Cross 8751 converter... I found that it's not totally fit/grip to the feed. Therefore, some airflow was not locked in as supposed to be (comparing to using Montblanc Cartridge).

 

I noticed this from the ink spilled around the neck of the nib (after I snapped the cap back by its magnetic force). Also, some ink leaked around the area that converter attached to the feed.

 

 

Now, I get back to use the "blank" Monblanc cartridge and re-fill with syringe instead.

[gerardz]

I published a review today on youtube:

and there's a bit about using the converter in it as well. I avoided dipping the nib in an inkwell up until producing that footage. I noticed sucking up ink through the nib needs a very slow hand, and I dislike cleaning this grip after filling it through the nib. Filling up the converter straight from the inkwell and than sticking it in the grip works for me at the moment. I did notice some ink around the neck of the converter as well, but it did not leak on me. I blamed the ink on the outside of the neck on overfilling the converter. Well, for the moment. The provisio is still in order, I reckon. I'd like to give it some more time to get more experience with this Cross 8751 converter solution.

[jimmy8269]

I published a review today on youtube:

and there's a bit about using the converter in it as well. I avoided dipping the nib in an inkwell up until producing that footage. I noticed sucking up ink through the nib needs a very slow hand, and I dislike cleaning this grip after filling it through the nib. Filling up the converter straight from the inkwell and than sticking it in the grip works for me at the moment. I did notice some ink around the neck of the converter as well, but it did not leak on me. I blamed the ink on the outside of the neck on overfilling the converter. Well, for the moment. The provisio is still in order, I reckon. I'd like to give it some more time to get more experience with this Cross 8751 converter solution.

Just checked your VDO ... Very nice and detailed review !

[CS388]

Thank you, gerardz. Very nice review.

[PhilVT]

Hi everyone. First time poster here.

 

I am very interested in the rollerball/artfineliner version of this pen, but am a bit confused about the refills used. Does anyone know if the capless rollerball refills are the same dimensions as the regular rollarballs? Likewise, are the artfineliner refills the same as the regular fineliner listed on the MB website?

 

In an ideal world, I would like to have the option of using other refills, and have read that Pilot G2 cartridges typically work in MB rollerballs. If this is no longer the case with the new capless system, then I'm not sure this is the pen for me.

[Mister Mont Blanc]

Hi everyone. First time poster here.

 

I am very interested in the rollerball/artfineliner version of this pen, but am a bit confused about the refills used. Does anyone know if the capless rollerball refills are the same dimensions as the regular rollarballs? Likewise, are the artfineliner refills the same as the regular fineliner listed on the MB website?

 

In an ideal world, I would like to have the option of using other refills, and have read that Pilot G2 cartridges typically work in MB rollerballs. If this is no longer the case with the new capless system, then I'm not sure this is the pen for me.

 

Unfortunately, there are differences between the rollerball capless system and the regular rollerball refill as well as differences between the fineliner capless system and the regular fineliner refill. However, regular rollerball and regular fineliner refills are interchangeable in rollerball pens or fineliner pens. I believe the same is true about the capless system refills in that the rollerball capless system refill is interchangeable with the fineliner capless system refill. But a regular rollerball refill or regular fineliner refill would probably not work in the Montblanc M. The regular refills are screwed into the section of the pen and I don't know if the capless system refills do this as well. I think there is also a difference in the ink because it is more likely to dry out in the Montblanc M since the caps do not screw down to create a better seal for the water-based ink. Pilot G2 refills are the same dimensions as the regular rollerball refills. This was done by people before the M was created.

[MCN]

I wonder if anyone has tried a Waterman converter with the M fountain pen. They are a little smaller in overall diameter than the more common Schmidt K5 so it seemed like there might be a chance of it working. I brought one with me on a recent trip to San Francisco to try at the boutique there, but they were sold out of the pen and did not have a display model to try. By the way, the salesperson said they were selling very well.

[Appelboompen]

I published a review today on youtube:

and there's a bit about using the converter in it as well. I avoided dipping the nib in an inkwell up until producing that footage. I noticed sucking up ink through the nib needs a very slow hand, and I dislike cleaning this grip after filling it through the nib. Filling up the converter straight from the inkwell and than sticking it in the grip works for me at the moment. I did notice some ink around the neck of the converter as well, but it did not leak on me. I blamed the ink on the outside of the neck on overfilling the converter. Well, for the moment. The provisio is still in order, I reckon. I'd like to give it some more time to get more experience with this Cross 8751 converter solution.

 

Thank you for the video, a great review with a lot of information!

[gerardz]

I wonder if anyone has tried a Waterman converter with the M fountain pen.

<snip> ...

sold out of the pen and did not have a display model to try. By the way, the salesperson said they were selling very well.

I tried a Waterman converter and it does not fit inside the grip. I am still seeing droplets at the neck of my Cross Townsend converter and I'm checking other options.

 

Regarding your remark about the M being in popular demand, I think since Marc Newson is now hired by Jonathan Ive, quite some Apple aficionados might be interested in this model too. If it wasn't for the fact Marc Newson was already two years into the product design before being hired by Apple, you'd almost think it was planned in advance by the Montblanc marketing department. A sort of "how to attract a younger audience" cookbook part 1

 

Oh, and @appelboompen: thanks for the compliment about my review of the M. I checked today in Laren if the Montblanc M fits in a Meisterstück 1 pen sleeve and it does. Snugly, but not too snugly. Another production in the works

Edited November 7, 2015 by gerardz

[Newjelan]

I saw an ad in a magazine the other day (can't remember which one as I didn't buy the mag. in question) showing a photo of Hugh Jackman using the M fp.

[Sedode]

I love the new M design mainly because its very elegant and a very different pen from Montblanc, will hopefully be getting my hands on one soon

[janyyc]

Wow - incredible how polarizing this pen is. As an artist, I have come to understand that very often art will have contrary opinions expressed about it.

 

Just ordered this pen in Germany. On eBay a very-well-rated seller has it going for 475 EUR BIN OBO - my offer of 435 went through. I ventured to eBay after MB stores in Hamburg, Cologne, and Dusseldorf had the FP sold out... Saw it in Harrods too but GBP isn't favourable to purchase. If you're a foreigner (like I), VAT back in Germany makes it a super-good deal. I'll take it in to the Toronto store to have the nib exchanged for an OB.

 

I have the Hermes Nautilus pen and love it - though I find it a bit too expensive to travel with... I don't lose things but things do get lost, if you know what I mean. I simply don't feel comfortable with it, so it stays home. The "M" has a price that I'm comfortable with, and simultaneously has a very practical design - I love the magnetic cap. The Monteverde Regatta Sport is my current travel pen so I'm looking forward to upgrading that experience a bit.

Of course to each his own regarding design, but I personally love it. I am a very classical and traditional young person (hey, I'm 20 and I write exclusively with FPs). Of course I like modern touches but I do not own an Apple watch, for example (since this is a topic of discussion here!).

 

Still, this pen speaks to me. It is a departure from the classical MB design - which I also appreciate and partake in. But a departure is a good thing, and I think the success of this pen speaks to that. I certainly look forward to having it as part of my arsenal.

 

Speaking of the cartridge problem - I don't like it either, but I know that my syringes will once again be in use.

 

Edited November 20, 2015 by janyyc

[jpblu]

It s a nice product

I bought a ball point and it s a cool product

[FP Newbie]

Today I had the opportunity to hold the pen . It's a bit heavier than I would have imagined, but very comfortable in the hand. They only "had" the one that was on display, but not anymore. And the nice person didn't let me pay full retail for it either. I used the demo cartridge and syringe filled with Oyster Grey. The pen writes wonderful, and is a bit on the fine side for a medium nib. The magnet has an ultra cool factor to it. I played with it for about an hour before I left the store. I just don't know if I would trust for a shirt pocket. The aesthetics of the pen is very pleasing, and the lines flow very nice. The section which was the biggest question about comfort with the ridges. They are actually very smooth and don't really notice them after a few minutes. I will put the pen through some more writing, and see how the cartridge holds up. First impressions are very pleased with the pen, but of course time will tell.

 

Regards,

John