MontBlanc Greta Garbo

[QM2]

The Garbo is a gorgeous pen to be sure and your review was very sensible. It may well be the best (non LE) design MB has come out with since the 14* series in the fifties. Destined to become a classic. My question to you is why buy one when you can buy two for twice the price?

 

: ))))

 

I almost wish that I did buy two, because I scratched mine up a bit by posting the cap (after months of daily use).

Alas, back when I was buying it I did not have that kind of money. And now the price has skyrocketed to such an

extent, that I would probably not even buy one.

[MYU]

As QM2 said, this is a Montblanc pen review and not a thread for discussing the merits of Lamy over Montblanc. If people want to discuss that, post it in the Writing Instruments section. Please respect the review content and the author. Thanks!

 

~MYU

 

p.s. QM2 you've crafted another fine review. Thanks for your contribution.

[goodguy]

The Garbo is a gorgeous pen to be sure and your review was very sensible. It may well be the best (non LE) design MB has come out with since the 14* series in the fifties. Destined to become a classic. My question to you is why buy one when you can buy two for twice the price?

 

: ))))

 

I almost wish that I did buy two, because I scratched mine up a bit by posting the cap (after months of daily use).

Alas, back when I was buying it I did not have that kind of money. And now the price has skyrocketed to such an

extent, that I would probably not even buy one.

Ah no worries I believe a good pen tech can get the scratch off easily of the plastic.

[rahulg]

Precious resin and a precious diamond in a precious protective dome--what else could you possibly ask for?

 

 

Are you serious? :ltcapd: No offense buddy, AFAIK the term 'precious resin' is just an MB marketing terminology, conning people into thinking they are getting a great deal - it's plastic, as ordinary as they come.

[troglokev]

Are you serious? :ltcapd: No offense buddy, AFAIK the term 'precious resin' is just an MB marketing terminology, conning people into thinking they are getting a great deal - it's plastic, as ordinary as they come.

 

Nothing ordinary about it. How many other plastics are soluble in whisky?

[RevAaron]

A lot of them, actually. Even more in acetone. Polycarbonate isn't soluble in ethanol or acetone, so you'll be safe filling a Lamy 2000 with it. Well, safe until the seals are dissolved and you get a pocketful of whiskyink.

[hollyuk]

Can someone tell me if the Greta Garbo comes with a case, and if not what case they would recommend?

[QM2]

Can someone tell me if the Greta Garbo comes with a case, and if not what case they would recommend?

 

A carrying case? No, it does not. I have a "Nicolai" 2-pen case by Piquardo, and the size is just perfect for it.

The Levenger's Parapet cases are also a good fit.

 

I am sure Montblanc itself makes a nice case to fit the Greta, but I've never looked into it.

Edited December 22, 2008 by QM2

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I'm really just curious, but how much is the street price of the MB Greta Garbo now?

 

Dillon

[QM2]

Hi,

 

I'm really just curious, but how much is the street price of the MB Greta Garbo now?

 

Dillon

 

I think it is about $800 now, and it is not possible to get it for much below that from an authorised retailer. In May 2007, things were different. As I wrote earlier, I would not buy this pen today.

[Dillo]

That is quite a high price. I liked the pen when I saw it on January 2007 at the boutique. I don't have very large hands, and I usually enjoy smaller pens. I'm not thinking of buying one anymore though.

 

Dillon

[Moravia]

QM2,

 

Thanks for a very detailed and informative review. I have been interested in acquiring this pen for almost a year and will be doing so in the next little while. Were you able to order this pen with an XF nib through your retailer at the time that you purchased it? I would love to get this pen new with an XF nib but I could have sworn that my local Montblanc retailer stated that the smallest nib width that this pen could be ordered with was a F nib (my memory could be faulty though as I asked about this back in 2008!).

 

Also, if you have an opportunity, could you please post a sample of what your Greta Garbo 0.35mm cursive italic looks like?

 

Much appreciated,

 

Moravia

[asimplemaestro]

Beautiful pen! This pen has alot of what I look for in a woman...nice tone and lots of smooth curves!

[QM2]

Were you able to order this pen with an XF nib through your retailer at the time that you purchased it? I would love to get this pen new with an XF nib but I could have sworn that my local Montblanc retailer stated that the smallest nib width that this pen could be ordered with was a F nib (my memory could be faulty though as I asked about this back in 2008!).

I ordered mine in May 2007. I remember that the shop ordered the EF directly from Germany and that it took almost a month. It may have been a special order.

 

 

Also, if you have an opportunity, could you please post a sample of what your Greta Garbo 0.35mm cursive italic looks like?

 

Sure. I posted samples of some of my cursive italics and stubs on this thread, and the reground Garbo is among them (the very bottom sample).

 

Here are the images. In the samples, I intentionally used regular, messy handwriting, as opposed to italic writing, to show how the writing variation would come across in regular use.

 

http://www.queenmargot.com/italic_samples.jpg

 

http://queenmargot.com/italic_samples2.jpg

 

http://queenmargot.com/italic_samples3.jpg

Edited February 12, 2009 by QM2

[Moravia]

Thanks for the quick reply, QM2. I am really liking the look of the line widths for the 0.35 mm and 0.4 mm cursive italics.

[QM2]

Thanks for the quick reply, QM2. I am really liking the look of the line widths for the 0.35 mm and 0.4 mm cursive italics.

 

In retrospect, I recommend against an italic nib under .4mm, unless you have truly microscopic writing. The .35mm cursive italic on the Garbo is fascinating and delicate, but it also prevents it from being a regular writer across all contexts. I now know that my ideal size for round nibs is .3mm (like a Sailor EF), which means that I need at least a .4mm-.45mm italic nib. Consider these things carefully, before you chisel away at an expensive pen : )

 

 

 

Edited February 13, 2009 by QM2

[Moravia]

In retrospect, I recommend against an italic nib under .4mm, unless you have truly microscopic writing. The .35mm cursive italic on the Garbo is fascinating and delicate, but it also prevents it from being a regular writer across all contexts. My ideal size for round nibs is .3mm (which is like a Sailor EF), which means that I need at least a .4mm italic nib. Consider these things carefully, before you chisel away at an expensive pen : )

 

Thanks for your follow-up recommendation QM2. It is useful getting the perspective of a user who has had the Greta Garbo's nib re-ground and the pros and cons of doing same.

 

 

[MYU]

Note to Robert Hughes -- your comment was inappropriate for this review. If you have a wish to discuss statements made by other members, contact them directly. I have removed your posting and the response that followed. This message will subsequently be deleted in several days. Thank you for your cooperation.

[hollyuk]

I had a Greta Garbo this Christmas. It came with a M nib. I prefer wider nibs, and after testing the ones in the MB boutique I chose an OB nib. This was fitted and returned to me in just over 2 weeks. I am based in the UK so not sure if you may have a different experience. I love my Greta Garbo - the only slight gripe would be that I would like to post it, but am afraid of marking the barrel which others have commented on.

[QM2]

I had a Greta Garbo this Christmas. It came with a M nib. I prefer wider nibs, and after testing the ones in the MB boutique I chose an OB nib. This was fitted and returned to me in just over 2 weeks. I am based in the UK so not sure if you may have a different experience. I love my Greta Garbo - the only slight gripe would be that I would like to post it, but am afraid of marking the barrel which others have commented on.

 

 

Oh yes, you really can't go wrong with a MB factory OB nib! If given a choice, this is the size I would go for. It is actually more manageable than a Medium, because it has almost as much line variation as a true italic. I have one on a Boheme, and I will most likely be keeping it as is, without getting it reground.

 

As for posting -- yes, be very afraid! I "marked" mine after the first year of use and no longer post it since. It is too bad, because this pen looks great posted.