It’s That Time Of Year Again (spoiler alert)

[NoType]

  On 2/3/2025 at 7:13 AM, a student said:

 

Thank you for clarifying ... I was actually taken in!

Clearly I badly need to have a better tuned sense of humour

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@a student Like you, I was completely fooled.  More than a sense of humour, though, one needed a working knowledge of Ferrari’s naming conventions to understand the joke, I think.

[a student]

  On 2/3/2025 at 7:41 AM, NoType said:

@a student Like you, I was completely fooled.  More than a sense of humour, though, one needed a working knowledge of Ferrari’s naming conventions to understand the joke, I think.

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We are "birds of a feather" on this one ...

Now that's an easy one to figure out!

[como]

  On 1/29/2025 at 6:58 PM, Michael R. said:

First pictures of this year's yellow Great Characters Enzo Ferrari Giallo Modena are available in social media and on selected dealer's websites.

 

Yellow resin, dark grey trim and nib, blue (!!!) star.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

 

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Well well, I saw the yellow version at boutique today. Ruthenium trims against Ferrari yellow, showing off a type of industrial beauty. It’s pretty awesome. Have to seriously think about it. Hard to resist.

[NoType]

  On 2/27/2025 at 7:31 PM, como said:

Well well, I saw the yellow version at boutique today. Ruthenium trims against Ferrari yellow, showing off a type of industrial beauty. It’s pretty awesome. Have to seriously think about it. Hard to resist.

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@como Thank you for your perspective on this colourway for the Enzo Ferrari.  I had been curious about its attractiveness in this particular combination of hue and finish, as the images I have seen do not seem to create an alluring impression.  Naturally, pulchritude is a personal view, but it helps to know that the pen is enticing to others, as it impels one to look with new eyes and an open mind.

 

(Also, it helps to view the pen in person before passing judgement based on images alone.  I will need to do so, and this is clearer to me because of your post.)

[como]

  On 2/27/2025 at 7:43 PM, NoType said:

@como Thank you for your perspective on this colourway for the Enzo Ferrari.  I had been curious about its attractiveness in this particular combination of hue and finish, as the images I have seen do not seem to create an alluring impression.  Naturally, pulchritude is a personal view, but it helps to know that the pen is enticing to others, as it impels one to look with new eyes and an open mind.

 

(Also, it helps to view the pen in person before passing judgement based on images alone.  I will need to do so, and this is clearer to me because of your post.)

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Hi @NoType preference is a very personal thing. I think what stood out in person for me was not the yellow nor the ruthenium trims, which I thought looked good in photos. Instead, it was actually the matte dark titanium color piston knob. Also the blue color finial (supposed to look like seat color) looked nice contrasting the yellow and metallic finish. The whole pen looked cool. I definitely prefer it over the earlier red version. I have the red. I may have to buy this one. Have to think it over. I think if you love Ferrari, this one is a beauty.

[NoType]

  On 2/27/2025 at 8:06 PM, como said:

Hi @NoType preference is a very personal thing. I think what stood out in person for me was not the yellow nor the ruthenium trims, which I thought looked good in photos. Instead, it was actually the matte dark titanium color piston knob. Also the blue color finial (supposed to look like seat color) looked nice contrasting the yellow and metallic finish. The whole pen looked cool. I definitely prefer it over the earlier red version. I have the red. I may have to buy this one. Have to think it over. I think if you love Ferrari, this one is a beauty.

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@como Thank you for explaining in detail which of the pen’s features particularly caught your fancy.  Your written description reveals a design complexity and nuanced use of colour for the pen that hitherto was not apparent to me.  Intriguing, indeed.

[fpupulin]

Looking more in detail the new “Ferrari” pen through Como's fault (thanks for drawing my attention to this beautiful pen), I noticed that the writing engraved on the metal terminal of the cap refers to "Officina Meccanica Alfredo Ferrari", the former workshop of Enzo's father, today converted into a museum building to showcase the roots of the Ferrari family and brand. Well done, Montblanc!

[NoType]

  On 2/28/2025 at 1:51 PM, fpupulin said:

Looking more in detail the new “Ferrari” pen through Como's fault (thanks for drawing my attention to this beautiful pen), I noticed that the writing engraved on the metal terminal of the cap refers to "Officina Meccanica Alfredo Ferrari", the former workshop of Enzo's father, today converted into a museum building to showcase the roots of the Ferrari family and brand. Well done, Montblanc!

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@fpupulin This is a fascinating feature, indeed.

[kazoolaw]

The $4,000 version is sold out at the Ferrari Store.https://store.ferrari.com/en-us/collectibles/exclusive-collection/montblanc-x-ferrari/montblanc-great-characters-enzo-ferrari-limited-edition-1898-fountain-pen-F0428f11.html

 

The price of a 2025 Ferrari SF90 runs between $594,000 - $995,000.

https://www.caranddriver.com/ferrari/sf90-stradale

 

$4000 divided by $594000 equals .007 (rounded)

 

Multiply .007 times the price of your last vehicle purchase and compare that number to the price of your last pen.   More or less than what you paid?

 

 

[ak47]

Someone has seen the new 80days aw? And the renoir on hand?

Thanks

[CBK]

The new Around the World was released sometime this week.

 

https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/collection/around-the-world-in-80-days

 

I for one am completely taken by the Solitaire Le Grand

[dbs]

  On 3/19/2025 at 11:46 PM, CBK said:

The new Around the World was released sometime this week.

 

https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/collection/around-the-world-in-80-days

 

I for one am completely taken by the Solitaire Le Grand

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Google Montblanc Ruthenium plating before taking any further step ...

 

[Cyrille81]

  On 3/20/2025 at 6:15 AM, dbs said:

Google Montblanc Ruthenium plating before taking any further step ...

 

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Never had any issue on all my Montblanc pens...

[NoType]

  On 3/19/2025 at 11:46 PM, CBK said:

The new Around the World was released sometime this week.

 

https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/collection/around-the-world-in-80-days

 

I for one am completely taken by the Solitaire Le Grand

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@CBK Thank you very much for this link.  

 

I was surprised and slightly disappointed to see Montblanc state that this is “the third and final special edition of the collection.”  There are four card suits and thus I had expected four editions (Spades for Edition 1, London to Bombay; Diamonds for Edition 2, Bombay to Yokohama; Hearts for this Edition 3, Yokohama to London; and Clubs for Edition 4, In London).

[NoType]

  On 3/20/2025 at 6:15 AM, dbs said:

Google Montblanc Ruthenium plating before taking any further step ...

 

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@dbs Thank you for this cautionary reminder.  A friend of mine returned their Grim 9800 FP (ident 128362) under warranty for ruthenium coating-loss:

 

The pen pictured above had not been used when turned in to the boutique for a complimentary nib exchange from M to BB, and after a wait of four months for the nib exchange, had only been filled with the piston cone once.  During this short procedure of manipulating the piston cone to fill the pen, its ruthenium coating failed.

 

When the unlucky owner brought the pen to the boutique for warranty repair, they texted this link to the Sales Ambassador from whom they had initially purchased the pen:

 

The Sales Ambassador had initially baulked at accepting the pen for warranty repair, but acquiesced after learning the piston cone had only been used for one filling procedure and then reading the Fountain Pen Network thread above.

 

It was six months before the pen was delivered from Montblanc HQ with what is hoped to be a more robust ruthenium-coated piston cone.

 

The owner reports that the replacement piston cone’s ruthenium coating has held up under two piston-fills so far . . .

[NoType]

  On 3/20/2025 at 10:35 AM, Cyrille81 said:

Never had any issue on all my Montblanc pens...

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@Cyrille81 Neither have I, but based on others’ reporting, including that of a friend’s experience with their Grimm 9800 FP (ident 128362), perhaps we should count ourselves among the lucky ones.

[Cyrille81]

  On 3/20/2025 at 3:29 PM, NoType said:

@Cyrille81 Neither have I, but based on others’ reporting, including that of a friend’s experience with their Grimm 9800 FP (ident 128362), perhaps we should count ourselves among the lucky ones.

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Yes, maybe  Or I don't know how people with problems are using their pens and also the inks they are put in them. Maybe some inks are more acid and could produce these issues with ruthenium plating. I have no idea, but indeed I fully understand the frustration of the people confronted with them if they are not doing anything wrong.

[JCC123]

This is a well known issue, as well as the rose gold plating being flaky when they first introduced the color. This is also why I haven't bought any of their newly introduced pens in the past 5-10 years as they have a lot of silver plating on them, especially the areas where you're going to get a lot of wear, the grip section and piston knob. I don't have any faith that these silver plated areas will stand the test of time. I'll just stick to resin thank you.

 

There are four positive attributes about resin that makes me favor it over the metal platings. One, they're not heavy. Two, they won't wear off. Three, cheaper. Four, warmer to the touch. So long as Montblanc continues to sell these shiny jewelry, I won't be buying. I've been buying lots of 1960's 149s lately just based on their rarity, lightness due to a friction fit plunger mechanism, and balance and overall ease of use. The newer pens are getting heavier and heavier which distracts from what these things are intended to do, write well.

[NoType]

  On 3/20/2025 at 4:17 PM, Cyrille81 said:

Yes, maybe  Or I don't know how people with problems are using their pens and also the inks they are put in them. Maybe some inks are more acid and could produce these issues with ruthenium plating. I have no idea, but indeed I fully understand the frustration of the people confronted with them if they are not doing anything wrong.

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@Cyrille81 You bring up a good point, but at least in the case of my friend, the facts are these: the ruthenium coating on the piston cone of their Grimm 9800 FP failed during just one piston-filling procedure with Montblanc Brothers Grimm ink; I know that they do not use hand lotions or colognes; their pen writing ritual includes washing of hands before handling their pens; and finally, they seem to avoid staining their hands with ink when filling pens (something that I have yet to accomplish on a regular basis).  Thus, in this particular case, one can safely presume that my friend’s pen’s ruthenium coating failed due to no fault of their own.  

 

The Sales Ambassador whom my friend habitually patronises has witnessed my friend’s fastidiousness in the boutique when handling and filling pens, and doubtless relayed this to HQ when submitting the warranty repair request, for although Montblanc’s official position is not to warrant against “wear and tear,” HQ agreed to the warranty repair request for the reasons of my friend’s careful practices as well as, perhaps, a history of ruthenium coating failures on models like the Great Characters Beatles Special Edition and Brothers Grimm Limited Edition 9800.

 

It is good of you to keep an open mind, however, and is a reminder for me to do the same.

[NoType]

  On 3/20/2025 at 5:04 PM, JCC123 said:

This is a well known issue, as well as the rose gold plating being flaky when they first introduced the color. This is also why I haven't bought any of their newly introduced pens in the past 5-10 years as they have a lot of silver plating on them, especially the areas where you're going to get a lot of wear, the grip section and piston knob. I don't have any faith that these silver plated areas will stand the test of time. I'll just stick to resin thank you.

 

There are four positive attributes about resin that makes me favor it over the metal platings. One, they're not heavy. Two, they won't wear off. Three, cheaper. Four, warmer to the touch. So long as Montblanc continues to sell these shiny jewelry, I won't be buying. I've been buying lots of 1960's 149s lately just based on their rarity, lightness due to a friction fit plunger mechanism, and balance and overall ease of use. The newer pens are getting heavier and heavier which distracts from what these things are intended to do, write well.

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@JCC123 Your points are well taken, and I thank you for sharing your perspective.  I, too, had heard that the early examples of red gold-coated nibs and fittings had a high failure rate, but that seems to no longer be the case, if the recent paucity of reports is anything to go by.  As for the platinum-coated examples, I have not read any reports of flaking or other coating failures.  Even the examples of rhodium-coating solid white gold that I have utilised seem to have endured light-to-moderate use without any issues.  

 

Your preference for resin is very well articulated and quite instructive.  I concur that ever increasing weight is evident in recent releases, which I believe is a factor that directly correlates with the preponderance of metal foreparts|sections of these late models and the widespread inclusion of additional decorative elements.  The pen’s weight is a personal matter for many, some finding heavier weights desirable, while others, like you, favour lighter weights, and still others, like myself, are equally disposed to pens on both ends of the weight spectrum.  However, I believe your predilection for 1960’s 149 models is universally understood and admired.