Summer, 2020 Montblanc Event — Limited Editions

[Tom Kellie]

Many thanks. That answers enough, without giving away too much. I had a similar time around the corner in Shenzhen in a sister brand IWC. I understand the restrictions.

 

I an really enjoying the 149 flex, and getting almost acceptable results given practise. It has (perhaps temporarily) supplanted my 1914 heritage as my favourite nib, which is no mean feat. The next nib may not need the size 9 nib to be special, so the solitaire is going to stay on my radar.

 

~ jagwap:

 

Now that you mention IWC of Richemont, the Swatch Group is similarly well represented in the same compact area.

As it happens, later that morning I had other discreet business with Breguet, concerning forthcoming guilloche patterns.

Luxury goods retailers understandably maintain a certain level of control over the public presentation of their offerings.

***********************

Your high praise for the Calligraphy Flex Nib relative to your 1914 Heritage is significant. Thank you for explaining that.

Without presuming anything, it's a very real possibility that the 2020 special nib will be of great interest, especially given the pens in which it will be offered.

Your Cross-City Neighbor,

Tom K.

At MixC Breguet on the Morning of the Montblanc Event

[eciton]

Tom, thanks as always for your detailed and cordial response. I truly respect that you're a man of your word! May I also say that your overall report on the event was a real pleasure to read. Your sensations came across so clearly, and I can't wait to learn more about the pens that you shared a glimpse of today.

 

 

~ eciton:

 

While slicing vegetables for the evening meal, your question stirred in my thoughts. Thank you for asking.

I've pledged to both Montblanc and to Fountain Pen Network that I won't directly reveal design particulars of those models yet to be officially presented by Montblanc.

I'll take a leap and suggest that you and others might set aside a fund.

...

Tom K.

[jchch1950]

Thank you for the report.

[Cyrille81]

 

~ Cyrille:

 

It's very kind of you to add that image to illustrate that lovely model. Merci beaucoup!

I have no access to Instagram, therefore have never seen such images.

When I saw and handled the Victor Hugo LE83, the subtle working of the skeletonized design was striking.

In the darkened alcove where the models were presented to me. the smartphone light shining up was more vividly blue than in the image you kindly shared.

It's a Limited Edition which is sure to find a strong international market, as such rare beauty is always in style.

Tom K.

Yes I love this LE83 version of the Victor Hugo. I think from the photo I saw I prefer this one to the LE8 but maybe in real my opinion could change but as it is out of my budget it will be the LE1831 for me that is pretty beautiful too I'm waiting my local reseller receive it.

[Glenn Atkins]

 

~ jagwap:

 

Now that you mention IWC of Richemont, the Swatch Group is similarly well represented in the same compact area.

As it happens, later that morning I had other discreet business with Breguet, concerning forthcoming guilloche patterns.

Luxury goods retailers understandably maintain a certain level of control over the public presentation of their offerings.

***********************

Your high praise for the Calligraphy Flex Nib relative to your 1914 Heritage is significant. Thank you for explaining that.

Without presuming anything, it's a very real possibility that the 2020 special nib will be of great interest, especially given the pens in which it will be offered.

Your Cross-City Neighbor,

Tom K.

At MixC Breguet on the Morning of the Montblanc Event

 

 

Tom, thanks again for the report. Do you have an idea that this new nib might only be a one-time, exclusive production run, or might it be regularly offered and widely available for some period of time like the flex nib?

 

In other words, should one buy it immediately when it is released, or will it be around for a while?

 

Thanks.

 

Glenn

[dascott]

 

Montblanc Summer, 2020 Event

Montblanc — The Collections

Summer, 2020 Montblanc Event

~ After consulting FPN Montblanc Forum Moderator Kalessin for guidance as to what might be appropriate to post, this small thread is added for all to read.

The ongoing Covid-19 public health event has adversely affected Montblanc's marketing plans for major 2020 releases.

Prohibitions or severe restrictions on public gatherings in most areas of the globe have resulted in an altered introduction format.

As the situation in southern China, just above the northern border with Hong Kong, has attained a moderately stable equilibrium, Montblanc held a special event yesterday.

VIP collectors were invited to visit during assigned time slots. Although no photography was allowed, they were fortunate to see and handle the latest fountain pen creations from Hamburg.

While I'm not even remotely in their ilk, Montblanc China graciously offered me the first time slot at 10 am. I accepted, honored to have such a rare opportunity.

With the South China Regional Marketing Director, I was seated in a secluded alcove. Black silk gloves were provided for handling the pieces introduced.

Superb graphics mounted on boards explained specific design motif inspiration, which was especially valuable.

The pieces shown were those typically never shown on Montblanc international Web sites. They were the Limited Editions of 888 or 88 or 8, depending on the model.

As several models have not yet been officially announced on any Montblanc Web site, it's necessary to describe them in an oblique manner, leaving details to their release in the coming months.

Others have been officially released, therefore such indirectness isn't necessary. Please pardon the lack of explicit details in certain cases, which I wish might be provided.

First, the Moctezuma LE 888 is very impressive, due to the detailed turquoise lapidary work. The texture is smooth, with only the slightest sense of it consisting of separate pieces.

The slender red pen slips out almost as an afterthought. The pen is all about the immense cap with a spear-like clip like few others.

The tiny nib size was a surprise…almost smaller than a Classique nib. The Aztec heart motif on the nib was readily discernible when looking through a loupe.

It required several tries before I became used to the special technique used to take the small pen out of the cap on all three models shown to me.

Second, the Victor Hugo LE 83 and Victor Hugo 8 are similar. The finish and materials of the most limited edition are as expected.

The great surprise was the Victor Hugo LE 83.

When initially handling it (wearing the black silk gloves provided) I was impressed by the detailing. The superb design graphics on boards educated me as to why certain design choices had been made.

Seeing the rose window from Notre Dame on it was a pleasant surprise.

What I didn’t realize until the South China Regional Marketing Director showed me, was the nature of the cap.

She turned on a light beam in her smartphone, then placed the cap on it.

Voilà!

The light shines out through blue transparent material through the skeletonized cap.

The effect is stunning. Montblanc needs to show that in a video. If they do so, they’ll rapidly sell every one.

Not only that, the pen barrel also shows light through blue. It’s elegant and tasteful. A lovely design which I hadn’t anticipated.

Third there was a Dragon model intended for East Asian collectors.

One of a series, it is decorated with diamond highlights.

The barrel is decorated in lacquer with a tastefully restrained image related to the theme.

Fourth, it's no secret that Montblanc will follow-up on 2019's Calligraphy Flex Nib models with something different but comparable.

Having handled that model, and written with the nib, it's apparent that the next iteration is likely to be very well received.

The Limited Edition pen itself, and the specially crafted nib constitute a tour-de-force.

The exquisitely hand decorated pen exceeds in quality of detail nearly any other Montblanc fountain pen I've handled.

Having worked in East Asia for decades, I've gradually come to appreciate refined techniques, especially when very well executed.

In the case of the pen that I handled, looking through the loupe was ravishing, due to the wealth of detail in tasteful colors.

When the cap goes on, the design is lined up with gorgeous precision. The colors are subtle yet eye-catching.

2020's very special nib has a lovely, simple design on it for the Limited Edition.

A regular black 146 travels with the show, enabling invited guests to write with the special nib, which features the same surface motif as last year's Flex Nib.

Inked in Mystery Black, it’s effortless to use. To me it seemed much more responsive than 2019’s Flex Nib.

Playing with the nib for 7 or 8 minutes, the number of types of strokes, from OBB to EF, were impressive.

A buyer using such a nib for several hours would likely find it to be a deft sketching tool, a tool for writing Asian characters, or an unconventional handwriting instrument.

Fifth, and finally, I was shown the most extraordinary Montblanc fountain pen that I've ever seen or read about.

As it's not yet been officially announced, although it has been discussed in a speculative FPN thread, it's essential to remain frustratingly vague as to specific details.

In this case, that's quite a challenge, as the pen in question has dazzling craftsmanship and the single greatest surprise I've ever encountered in any writing instrument.

Nonetheless, no spoilers.

The Very Limited Edition pen is wholly unlike the two versions based on the same theme which will soon be available in boutiques or from the usual trusted resellers.

After leaving the Montblanc Event this morning, I thought to myself that the Hamburg design team must’ve had a great time designing this one-of-a-kind pen.

When first shown to me, I was dazzled. The finish, the discreetly placed small gemstones, the sophisticated overall aesthetic balance are as good as it gets.

At the outset, the pen seemed like the heaviest fountain pen that I’ve ever picked up. It’s ultra-bulky, or so I thought.

But the absolute shocker is the culture-specific design motif on the pen.

Those crazy Hamburg gnomes have exactly duplicated, stone for stone, an ancient design from an ornament recovered from a well-preserved tomb.

If it were possible, what a joy it would be to describe the semi-precious stones of considerable size which are mounted in an exact facsimile of long ago artistry.

It’s a shocker to see and handle. There’s no two ways about it. In a large collection of pens, it would easily stand out above others.

Yet while admiring the work through the loupe, I was asking myself where the pen was, as there was no trace of it, aside from a slender clip.

HUGE SURPRISE!

I'm unable to write more, as that would spoil the surprise for all.

There's much to say, including my own sense of delight, but it's best left until this model and its companions are released.

I was dumbfounded by the overall artistry.

The time and care which went into it are a magnificent example of Montblanc’s continuing commitment to high craftsmanship.

Again, please do pardon me for writing in a coy style which leaves more questions than it answers.

I respect Montblanc's determination to manage the marketing of their own creations.

Please know that in 2020 there are yet lovely wonders to be released from Hamburg.

There are inks associated with most of these models, but at the event, the inks had not yet arrived.

Tom K.

 

I like the new face of Montblanc!

[Michael R.]

Very nice read! Many thanks for your time and efforts to share your impressions.

 

Naturally I‘m very curious what other inks his year will bring :-)

 

Cheers and stay safe

 

Michael

[Toll]

Tom, I have received an invitation to the same event at a local Montblanc Boutique for next week. Based on your observations, I am very much looking forward to it.

[meiers]

Share what you can without infringing copyright.

This story is quite entertaining. Thanks.

Edited July 22, 2020 by meiers

[Toll]

Now circling back to this thread, after having been treated to a private showing of pens (and a couple of watches) at the Montblanc Boutique in Tyson's Corner, Virginia (a few short miles from the nation's Capitol) on Thursday afternoon. As Tom well knows, Robert and his team, are exceedingly gracious professionals. It is because of such kind and attentive service that I continue to shop here, year after year.

 

My other initial observation is about the creative artistry of Montblanc. Even though many of the designs do not appeal to me nor can I afford many of their products, I marvel at their commitment to the production of fine pens, watches, and leather goods with impeccable attention to detail.

 

Regarding the pens, the journey that afternoon began with the Hugo pens, each beautiful in their own right, and I will likely buy the base edition (the face peering through the clip is not as negative an embellishment as I thought it might be). Nice tactile feel, nice color, good overall length and girth. Interesting to note that the signature is not highlighted in color; you have to look for it! Robert told me the Edition 83 is already sold out. Unbelievable, given these pens have a price tag in excess of $35K USD if i remember correctly. I had never handled such an expensive or exclusive pen before.

 

The Patron of the Art Series (Moctezuma) is breathtaking and interesting in design; the nib fills with the same sort of mechanism used on the Heritage 1912. I am not sure I had read that elsewhere.

 

The Great Characters series left me totally cold; a rock 'n roll personage with Vegas written all over the pens at all price points.

 

I saw the new Heritage Pen, very interesting color and nib, as well as the Egyptomania pens; the latter being quite appealing with sublimity as the best characterization I can think of.

 

I think that is enough -- I hope I haven't violated any marketing or copyright considerations. It was a wonderful time.

[meiers]

Thank you.

What can you tell us about the new heritage pens?

[ljz]

Tutankhamun tomb?

[Pennenut]

What is all this talk of a new Heritage Pen?? This has piqued my curiosity! Is this a separate edition from the Egyptomania series? Inspired by a vintage design from the Montblanc archives or are you referring to the pen with the architect nib grind for 2020?? Please do tell more....

[Toll]

Thank you.

What can you tell us about the new heritage pens?

What is all this talk of a new Heritage Pen?? This has piqued my curiosity! Is this a separate edition from the Egyptomania series? Inspired by a vintage design from the Montblanc archives or are you referring to the pen with the architect nib grind for 2020?? Please do tell more....

Let me clarify — the Egyptomania pens are best considered as part of the Heritage Series. There is another pen — modern in design, 146 in size, bold color, with a Specialty Nib. I characterized this as a Heritage pen in error.

[meiers]

 

Let me clarify the Egyptomania pens are best considered as part of the Heritage Series. There is another pen modern in design, 146 in size, bold color, with a Specialty Nib. I characterized this as a Heritage pen in error.

I am going to look for photos of that one. Thank you. This is fun.

[rvur]

 

Let me clarify — the Egyptomania pens are best considered as part of the Heritage Series. There is another pen — modern in design, 146 in size, bold color, with a Specialty Nib. I characterized this as a Heritage pen in error.

 

Bold color uhm... let me guess: coral red?