Visit To Montblanc, 17-18 March 2016, Introduction

[Pravda]

Regarding the notebooks, their lines were renewed about 2 years ago as far as I understand.

 

All of their notebooks have fountain pen friendly paper these days, and I currently have the Notebook #146, 85 g/m2 premium paper, silver cut, lined version, and the Sketchbook #149 100 g/m2 premium paper, silver cut, lined version, both for testing. So far so good .

 

I was told that the notebooks come in 3 different paper qualities, depending on size. The #146 notebooks come with slightly lighter paper qualities than the #149 for example, this also because the #146 is a carry-around-at-all -times type notebook (A5 size), and the #149 is a "briefcase size" notebook (A4 width, but about 1 inch, 2.5 cm, shorter than A4).

They are covered in very nice and soft, supple Italian leather, and the pages are silver edged (silver colour), which gives it the silver cut name.

 

Very nice indeed, almost a shame to use , but I promised to test these and report back, so I have started using them .

 

I normally use Oxford "Office Books", a spiral bound A5 notebook, made from 90 grams paper, with flexible plastic covers, and with lines a little less high than the Montblanc ones. Very nice paper for fountain pens, with no bleed through at all, and thick enough to use on both sides. It will make for a good comparison, I think . Good utilitarian vs luxury .

 

HTH, warm regards, Wim

 

 

Hello Wim and thanks again for your reply. I passed by Montblanc in my country today and they don't seem to have any other notebooks than the one I have mentioned earlier. Seems the ones you reference haven't hit our stores yet, which is strange considering that we get items sooner than Europe/U.S on many occasions (I've had my coral 1914 for a week already).

 

Pretty excited to try them. Does that mean the 9596 are essentially discontinued henceforth? It is important for me because I recently purchased the python notebook holder, which I am very fond of but unable to use the A5 Montblanc notebook that came with it due to poor performance.

[wimg]

 

 

Hello Wim and thanks again for your reply. I passed by Montblanc in my country today and they don't seem to have any other notebooks than the one I have mentioned earlier. Seems the ones you reference haven't hit our stores yet, which is strange considering that we get items sooner than Europe/U.S on many occasions (I've had my coral 1914 for a week already).

 

Pretty excited to try them. Does that mean the 9596 are essentially discontinued henceforth? It is important for me because I recently purchased the python notebook holder, which I am very fond of but unable to use the A5 Montblanc notebook that came with it due to poor performance.

 

It certainly looks like the numbers have changed. I have the blue (Indigo), lined one here, in A5, and its number on the German Montblanc site, the US and Dutch sites is all 113593. The Black one is 113294, the Tobacco 113590, the Flannel 113595, the Nelson Mandela (yellow) 114290, and the Sfumato Blue is the 114291. The Black squared on is the 113637, so I assume the other squared ones are in the 113xxx range as well.

 

HTH, warm regards, Wim

[Tasmith]

Thank you for sharing Wim! I look forward to further installments!

[niksch]

Interesting report. Sounds like a similar tour as the one I took, compliments of Juergen Caesar, back in 1999. New innovations and styles. It may be time for a return trip!

[fountainbel]

Thanks a lot for your feedback Wim !

Look forward reading the reactions of Montblanc….

Best regards,

Francis