St Dupont Vs Montblanc

[Dorf]

Which do you prefer? ST Dupont or Montblanc pens? Design, quality etc..

[praxim]

Which pens? Of what age? Prefer on what criteria? "Design, quality etc" is still a bit vague.

 

I have, or nearly so, just one of each.

Edited August 12, 2016 by praxim

[Dorf]

Which pens? Of what age? Prefer on what criteria? "Design, quality etc" is still a bit vague.

I have, or nearly so, just one of each.

Sorry. I'm a newbie.. I think new pens. F.ex D-line vs Meisterstuck.

[RMN]

And what type of pen are you talking?

 

Ballpoint? Rollerball? Pencil?

Or Fountainpen?

 

 

If you mean an general brand comparison, perhaps the forum First Stop would be a better place to discuss this. In that case I can move this topic for you.

 

 

D.ick

[jar]

When it comes to those two marques I have about an equal number of each but only a few ST Dupont ballpoints and no Montblanc ball points. I'm not a fan of non-fountain pens except for pencils so I have to limit my answers to fountain pens.

 

ST Dupont seems to pay greater attention to even the most mundane of details particularly in those areas that do not generally show. Over the last four decades or so, ST Dupont has produced more varied designs than Montblanc but sequentially. Montblanc has produced a more consistent family of pens over that period but far less varied.

 

The two marques are somewhat comparable to the cars each nation produces, the French cars more varied and innovative while the German cars are more conventional and staid.

 

Visually there is simply no comparison, ST Dupont produces a palette of colors and shapes that are as bright and piquant as the pictures from the French countryside while the Montblanc pens are far more the old Dutch Masters, often detailed but somewhat brooding and somber.

[Dorf]

When it comes to those two marques I have about an equal number of each but only a few ST Dupont ballpoints and no Montblanc ball points. I'm not a fan of non-fountain pens except for pencils so I have to limit my answers to fountain pens.

 

ST Dupont seems to pay greater attention to even the most mundane of details particularly in those areas that do not generally show. Over the last four decades or so, ST Dupont has produced more varied designs than Montblanc but sequentially. Montblanc has produced a more consistent family of pens over that period but far less varied.

 

The two marques are somewhat comparable to the cars each nation produces, the French cars more varied and innovative while the German cars are more conventional and staid.

 

Visually there is simply no comparison, ST Dupont produces a palette of colors and shapes that are as bright and piquant as the pictures from the French countryside while the Montblanc pens are far more the old Dutch Masters, often detailed but somewhat brooding and somber.

Thanks a lot

[pajaro]

The ST Dupont pens have more color and a more upbeat style. The Montblanc black Meisterstuck ballpoints are a bit dark, but the burgundy Meisterstuck ballpoints are more beautiful than the black ones. The Meisterstuck ballpoint barrel can crack after several years of use, a cost consideration.

[Dorf]

It seems that ST Dupont is not so widely available. Therefore service can be difficult. There are no ST Dupont retailers in my country.

[jar]

It seems that ST Dupont is not so widely available. Therefore service can be difficult. There are no ST Dupont retailers in my country.

That may well be true but then I've never yet needed service on any of my ST Dupont pens.

[Dorf]

That may well be true but then I've never yet needed service on any of my ST Dupont pens.

It seems like you are an expert. Do you have any experience with the Roadster pen from Cartier?

Edited August 17, 2016 by Dorf

[jar]

It seems like you are an expert. Do you have any experience with the Roadster pen from Cartier?

Certainly no expert and still learning every day. No, most Cartier pens never aesthetically appealed to me.

[elysee]

The Montparnasse and Gatsby series S.T. Dupont pens are quite lovely. I own a Montparnasses sets in Green and Burgundy as well as the lovely Gatsby in red with black line segments. These are series from the 1990's and each have lovely Chinese lacquer. While I adore these pens, the one thing that I do not like is the ballpoint refill as Dupont stopped making the broad refil; I prefer the nice thick lines and smooth writing experience provided by broad refills.

 

The Montblanc makes a great broad refill. What is very nice about this broad refill is that it fits an earlier version of the Dunhill Gemline series; the current Gemline series takes a Parker-style refill. I own several Duhnill Gemline series ballpoint pens which take the Monblanc ballpoint refill.

 

In regard to Montblanc pens, the lacquer-on-brass Noblesse series is quite lovely; I am not a fan of the resin Noblesse series as it is too light and, to me, feels cheap. I own several Noblesse series ballpoint pens, pencils, rollerball pens, and fountain pens: they have a wonderful feel as well as great balance and a beautiful lacquer finish. What makes the Noblesse ballpoint pen even better is the broad Montblanc refill.

 

I own several Cartier pens in the Must and Must II series; the original Must II series should not be confused with the current Santos series with the screws in the top and the script Cartier on the pen clip rather than the double C emblem as the original Must II series is more elegant and beautiful than the Santos series for both the lacquers (burgundy, blue, and black) and metal finish (brushed steel, Sterling silver, and Gold). The Must series ballpoint pens take the thin Cartier refill (some refer to it as the Vendome refill) while the Must II ballpoint pens take Parker-style refills. The lacquer finish on both of these series is magnificent: I speak from experience as I own each in sereral lacquers as well as the Must II in two versions of the brushed steel. The Cartier pens and pencils in the Must and Must II series are wonderful with great balance. I am not a fan of the Roadster as it does not have the elegance of either the Must or Must II series. The only thing that I am not fond of in regard to the Must series is the ballpoint pen refill: it only comes in fine and medium, no broad.

 

I would recommend any of these to you as they are a pleasure with which to write and a delight to view and handle. : )

[whatanicepen]

Which do you prefer? ST Dupont or Montblanc pens? Design, quality etc..

Dupont is famous for lacquer / metal work. Thier pens are of highest quality!

[iveyman]

I have several ST Dupont LE Chinese lacquer pens and I love them all, particularly they have made the Chinese lacquer so beautifully that warms to the hand. ST Dupont pens are always on and never fail to function. Quality of their pens is top notch.

 

Until now, I never thought I will ever buy a Montblanc pen, mostly because their modern firm nib pens, including the LE, Writers Series etc are, to me, mostly eye candies and expensive status symbols, but not exceptional writing instruments. But as soon as I discovered the post war vintage celluloid Montblanc pens made in the 1950's, particularly those with flex nibs, I began buying one after another and I like them very much. There is a certain feel writing with these post war vintage Montblanc pens that come with flex nib. The quality of the pens, the beautiful celluloids are so attractive.

 

Overall, for modern day firm nib pens, I much prefer the ST Dupont's Chinese lacquer pens over the modern day firm nib Montblanc pens, which are basically expensive eye candies and status symbols, not exceptional writing instruments. For vintage flex nib pens, I much prefer the vintage Montblanc celluloid pens, made in the 1930's to 1950's. I don;t think celluloid pens with flex nibs of such quality and beauty are made any more in to-day's world by anyone, any company.

Edited August 21, 2016 by iveyman

[Dorf]

Thank you very much guys.

[balique]

I am not an expert or a real collector, but I have several ST Dupont pens, all with the 18K nibs. (Just looked at IguanaSell website and it looks as if they are going towards 14K nibs in a great many of their pens, even some pretty expensive ones.)

 

I love Dupont. Of the pens that I do have, they are by far my favorite. I understood at one time that they were the only major maker to hand polish their nibs; I don't know whether that is still true. And the lacquer is just so beautiful.

[dadbar]

My favorite ballpoint is my ST Dupont Defi in carbob fiber. It is an amazing pen. My boss has a Montblanc Meisterstuck ballpoint. I can see him eyeing my Dupont.

 

I have a Dupont fountain pen and a rollerball. They are all fabulous pens.