Montblanc - Marc Newson

[jporos]

I joined up just to reply to this thread as I figure I might be the target market for the Montblanc M and tend to disagree with assessments like the above.

 

Where am I in the market? Youngish, grew up with Apple design, followed its antecedents like Mies van der Rohe and Corbusier in architecture, Dietrich Lubs and Dieter Rams in design, subscribe to the idea that 'less is more'.

 

My traditional view of most fountain pens is the same I feel about Rolexes or expensive watches: sure, buy something well made, but some are needlessly expensive Veblen goods that tend to just be more garish and ostentatious for the more thousands you pay.

 

I've bought a few fountain pens, but only because they tend to be elegant in my opinion or in keeping with this aesthetic: well made, considered, streamlined, simple, purposeful. I like using my Dietrich x Düller fountain pen because it seems the closest that I'll ever get to a Dietrich Rams-style pen. It's also cartridge only.

 

I have the M on order, so haven't held it yet, but it does look good and fit into the minimalist aesthetic I'm after. The lack of a converter is slightly annoying but I don't think lowers the value and there's an argument it's in keeping with the general design: keep it simple and practical. Disappointment here about the need for cartridges seems to mimic the disappointment in iPhones that batteries aren't user-replaceable and that they aren't highly customisable: you can make the case, but this pen seems to be designed to 'just work' rather than appeal to those who want to get their favourite orange ink from a bottle and stick it in.

 

The only other disappointment I have, prior to actually owning the M is that apparently it doesn't post. Especially given the magnetic closure and the general design idea, I'm quite surprised here. This isn't a deal breaker for me though.

 

Maybe that's all a bit too personal and I'm the only one that feels this way; I do feel that the type of future Montblanc owners that might become addicted starting with the M are unlikely to be the average poster here on FPN though.

 

I am with the same camp as Maxim, someone more interested in modern design than 'pure' pen experience. I have owned Sailor, Lamy, and Faber Castell pens in the past, but stayed away from Montblanc because they were too old fashioned looking or fussy. This might be the pen that brings me into the fold. Hope that helps explain the interest.

[duckduck]

Has anyone found any reviews of the M (fountain pen or otherwise) yet?

[alaskazimm]

The Pen Addict podcast #169 had a series of tweets from someone who bought it at Herrods. He was less than impressed with it.

Here's the link to screen shots of the tweets:

 

http://d.pr/i/1kjPl

http://d.pr/i/17YGj

[oregano]

I have stared at the pen in an effort to have it grow on me, but even so, the only thing I like about the pen is the clip.

 

I just cannot get my head around the flat end, which makes me think of a baby spoon, or a pallet. Is that supposed to be Bauhaus or off-'modern' ?

 

I also tend to dislike piano lacquer in general. The fact that Montblanc has released so many pens lately that are derivative of Starwalker just shows that it was probably the last strong modern design they had (I love the Starwalker but this does not compare).

 

At least the pen carries his signature rounded corners, so Marc Newson fans should be happy--the few that also happen to be pen collectors...

 

http://www.dailyicon.net/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/bucky01dailyicon.jpg http://www.montblanc.com/content/dam/mtb/products/writing-instruments/113/620/113620/207672-ecom-osis-sq-04.png.adapt.450.450.png

[jar]

I have stared at the pen in an effort to have it grow on me, but even so, the only thing I like about the pen is the clip.

 

I just cannot get my head around the flat end, which makes me think of a baby spoon, or a pallet. Is that supposed to be Bauhaus or off-'modern' ?

 

I also tend to dislike piano lacquer in general. The fact that Montblanc has released so many pens lately that are derivative of Starwalker just shows that it was probably the last strong modern design they had (I love the Starwalker but this does not compare).

 

At least the pen carries his signature rounded corners, so Marc Newson fans should be happy--the few that also happen to be pen collectors...

 

http://www.dailyicon.net/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/bucky01dailyicon.jpg

 

I love those funny color things and bet three to five year olds have tons of fun with them.

[tenney]

Is there any indication that Newson is (or ever was) a fountain pen user? It's almost as if MB felt that all they needed to do is get a great designer and they'd end up with a great pen. I think that someone well accustomed to actually USING a fountain pen is necessary.

[Maxim]

Let's face it - anything that looks like it was made in the last 80 years or so probably won't appeal to the standard 'make it fussy and make me pay' MB fan.

 

At least the pen carries his signature rounded corners, so Marc Newson fans should be happy--the few that also happen to be pen collectors...

This seems like facetiousness mixed in with wilful oversimplification. Yes, MN has a style. No, it isn't just 'stick in a rounded corner'. It remains to be seen if the pen is 'good' or the decision to take on probably the world's pre-eminent designer pays off commercially. What can be said is that the pen is different and the only pen I have seen from MB that looks like it was designed by someone not born in the 19th C. Thus it is likely to appeal aethetically to a bunch more people than any other MB model, considering design trends. The question just becomes who of them would quite like a fountain pen. The only objective fact from the Twitter 'review' so far is that comparatively they have been popular at one store.

[Maxim]

The Pen Addict podcast #169 had a series of tweets from someone who bought it at Herrods.

Herrods have gone downhill ever since the story of them murdering all the little children in Palestine got out.

[gerigo]

Is there any indication that Newson is (or ever was) a fountain pen user? It's almost as if MB felt that all they needed to do is get a great designer and they'd end up with a great pen. I think that someone well accustomed to actually USING a fountain pen is necessary.

 

Yes he is a fountain pen user. He currently uses an older Pilot VP, which was the inspiration for the Hermes Nautilus pen he also designed.

[Maxim]

Ouch!

 

Just when I justify buying the Montblanc M, I have another look at the Nautilus. At $1650USD, I won't be indulging any time soon, but it looks gorgeous. Pity at that price there is also a dearth of reviews out there.

[tenney]

Hmmmmm... Clearly a VP user, which I'll say does have a fountain pen nib... but it's as if all of his FP designs (all two of them) are VP clone-ish). OK.

[JewelryPen]

Ouch!

Just when I justify buying the Montblanc M, I have another look at the Nautilus. At $1650USD, I won't be indulging any time soon, but it looks gorgeous. Pity at that price there is also a dearth of reviews out there.

Got to love Hermes. It makes Mont Blanc prices so reasonable. Look at their $300 condom carrier or the $20k silk bag... Then look at the fountain pen... By comparison, it's a bargain!

[gmax]

It looks like a fairly conservative, self-referential design. I see no fresh thinking in the design process, and it's never a good sign when a designer has to tell you their inspiration - apparently a lipstick in this case, although why is not made clear. Strangely, I see at least as much modernity and clarity of intent in the design of my Heritage 1912, which references a century-old design.

The faceted scoop out of the tail end seems gimmicky and poorly judged, given the resultant inability to post or use a converter. The ergonomics of the heavy ribbed front section are questionable at best. The nib looks dingy and I don't want to be looking at some design guru's initials there, thank you. I may not buy one of these

[mechpen]

It took a long long time but finally the M is actually on the MontBlanc site.

 

Checked it out again today (I have a Rollerball on pre order) and this warning is listed at the end:- (Quote)

 

"This product contains magnets. It shall not be used during pregnancy or while nursing an infant, or by persons fitted with pacemakers, defibrillators, implanted insulin pumps, transdermal drug delivery patches, or other electro-medical devices as the magnetic field emitted by this product affects the proper functioning of the above mentioned devices. Therefore the product shall not be worn or stored intheir vicinity (15 cm at least). This product also shall not be used in the vicinity of high voltage machinery or cables. The magnetic field emitted by this product may affect data stored on credit cards, mobile phones, personal digital assistants or video/audio tapes. Before using this product, if you have any doubt about its safety, please consult your health care professional."

 

This is a bit of a bummer if the pen cant even be stored in a handbag ( sorry, should've mentioned that the M is a present for my gf) , where one usually has CC cards and phones.

[Uncial]

It must have a very powerful magnetic strip, which would seem a little strange on a lightweight pen, but I guess other pen brands with magnetic closures do have a tendency to un cap quite easily.

[mechpen]

Not sure how powerful the magnet is in the overall scheme of things but I'm assuming the self orientating clip (to the emblem) means the magnet has to be strong for this feature to work.

[Maxim]

It looks like a fairly conservative, self-referential design.

Not sure about the self-referential part, but presumably the conservative part was Montblanc's request; its consumer base is pretty fusty, so something like Newson's nautilus may well have been a step too far.

 

I see no fresh thinking in the design process, and it's never a good sign when a designer has to tell you their inspiration - apparently a lipstick in this case, although why is not made clear.

I can't actually turn up anything Googling for 'lipstick' and this pen, so wonder where that comes from. What 'fresh thinking' looks like is unclear though: apparently a different nib looks 'dingy' rather than fresh, going for cartidges is just poor form and the magnet will just wipe your credit cards. Imagine the sort of criticism MN would have received if he'd actually turned the idea of a fountain pen on its head! He'd be accused of sacrilege, not living up to Montblanc's values and messing with centuries of great ergonomics.

 

Strangely, I see at least as much modernity and clarity of intent in the design of my Heritage 1912

That is strange, since that pen, like 99% of Montblanc's, wouldn't look out of place at the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. If you don't think the M even looks in the vein of mid-century modern or later design, that would be weird.

 

The faceted scoop out of the tail end seems gimmicky and poorly judged, given the resultant inability to post or use a converter.

I think the lack of a converter was a decision made at the start, not down to Newson simply realising that it wouldn't work with the design he had for the end. Apparently when the pen isn't just a plain cylinder this deviation from the norm is a 'gimmick' though :/

 

A lot of this thread, from my point of view, is like seeing a bunch of impressionists at a Picasso exhibit, having a go. Picasso obviously doesn't know about painting, he is simultaneously changing things for the worse and too old hat and there is more aesthetic appeal and novelty in my fiftieth painting of a sunset at Nice.

 

I'm not claiming the M is magnificent - it's mediocre by Newson's standards - but he certainly is one of the best designers alive.

 

In the end, those already attracted to Montblanc for the most part are conspicuous consumers or aesthetically conservative consumers often with money to burn. If Montblanc had had Newson appeal to them then they would have missed an opportunity - they could have just produced a new pen the same as all the others except with a kangaroo tail-shaped clip and an opal cap and called it the 'Newson' :|. They would have also missed the opportunity to bring some new people into the brand's fold.

 

One other thing that's missed, unsurprisingly for a fountain pen forum, is that the M comes in about five varieties including ones that aren't otherwise available through Montblanc. If you want a fineliner and something by Montblanc, you need an M.

[gyang333]

One other thing that's missed, unsurprisingly for a fountain pen forum, is that the M comes in about five varieties including ones that aren't otherwise available through Montblanc. If you want a fineliner and something by Montblanc, you need an M.

Maxim, that's incorrect. Montblanc has had fineliners, screenwriters, and document markers (aka highlighter) available to their Meisterstuck and StarWalker lines already. These are not novelties/unique to the Montblanc M.

[catbert]

Newson’s M is the first Montblanc since the semi-hooded 1x series that seems modern to me - clean-lined and free of superfluous ornamentation. I have a 12, which is a similarly small, sleek pen.

Comparing most of Montblanc’s current offerings to the M, the art analogy seems more like Bouguereau (traditional, excessive) v Matisse (deceptively simple) or maybe Warhol (dismissed as derivative).

 

To be clear, I like the classic 14x series too. In art terms they would be the impressionists (perennially popular). The M continues a line of archetypal black pens going back to the Simplo, and gets Montblanc out of a decorative reissue rut.

[Maxim]

Maxim, that's incorrect. Montblanc has had fineliners, screenwriters, and document markers (aka highlighter) available to their Meisterstuck and StarWalker lines already. These are not novelties/unique to the Montblanc M.

I stand corrected. I can't see any pens with the 'artfineliner' tag (extra fine fineliner), but maybe they are just adopting a new term or I haven't looked hard enough.