Montblanc 149 piston puzzle

[Mob Mentality]

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/192670838@N04" title=""><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51088053741_90065e7a29_h.jpg" width="1600" height="1200" alt=""></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Hello all. I recently purchased a Montblanc 149 in red gold. What is strange is the piston threads on this pen. The pen has an 18k nib however the threads don't appear to be brass looks to almost be a whitish metal has Montblanc changed the piston threads recently? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks 

[Mob Mentality]

Having difficulty putting up the images. Here's a link:

 

Piston threads

[OCArt]

Here you go:

[dbs]

It is brass, PVD coated. Even 1990's Montblanc thread is black coated. I personally never saw a Montblanc pen with yellow brass color thread.

 

I can take a CT scan and measure electron density to verify, if I have time.

[Mob Mentality]

Thanks for this very helpful information. 

[Nurmister]

On 4/2/2021 at 8:55 AM, dbs said:

It is brass, PVD coated. Even 1990's Montblanc thread is black coated. I personally never saw a Montblanc pen with yellow brass color thread.

 

I can take a CT scan and measure electron density to verify, if I have time.

 

This is highly interesting. I know that Montblanc uses this exact shade of black PVD coating on their ballpoints (at the threaded joint). However, all three of my modern (2016+) Montblanc 149s have bare brass. I purchased them from new, and so it couldn't have worn away before I got it.

 

Could you please give more details on when and why Montblanc switched to PVD coating for these threads? Is it something to do with reducing wear on the plastic cone that we thread in and out when filling the pen?

 

Thanks in advance.