Montblanc Bohème

[alvarez57]

INTRODUCTION

 

http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/28510/2697035460101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

 

My first MB was a Black resin with gold accents, a gift from a friend. By accident, I left it in the car together with a M600 while at the car wash...well, unfortunately somebody eventually made good money selling them .

I liked the pen so much, that my quest for it did not end until penseller had it for a very nice price but in black resin and platinum. Except for my OMAS, I tend to prefer black with silver accents, so I bought this one.

 

MATERIAL/PEN BODY

 

I am not going to start the issue whether it's cheap plastic or "precious resin"; Montblanc says it's resin, so I will cite them.

The pen is a small 4 1/4 in.(almost 11cm) capped, 5 1/4 in (13.5cm) capped with the nib fully exposed, and capped with nib retracted is 4 1/2 in. (11.5cm). The girth is 1 1/2 in (4cm) at its widest -which is at the center of the barrel, and about 1 1/4 in (3.3cm) at its thinnest -in this case the grip section and barrel end.

 

 

http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/28810/2046322710101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

 

 

The body of the pen is adorned by 6 platinum rings of different widths. The barrel end has threads so the cap can be screwed in, a very clever system for it is the cap that helps in the twisting of the retractable mechanism.

Near the section, there is a ring that identifies Montblanc and the model Boheme. The section has a comfortable, non-tiring grip but it tends to be a bit small so the fingers will fall on the ring and may do so on the threads.

 

 

http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/30831/2170820420101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/31319/2629279270101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

CAP

The cap has two platinum rings with the widest near the screw section and one at the top of the cap, encircling the White Star logo. The rings and the "resin" blend smoothly, barely feeling a separation between them.

 

 

http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/27596/2110446100101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

 

 

 

The clip is engraved with the country of origin (Germany) and the series number.

 

 

http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/28609/2527785130101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

 

 

At the end of the clip, there is the jewel, in this case a synthetic sapphire. The clip is sturdy and well designed in the sense it slides firmly on your pocket be it silk or wool. It is one of the best clips I have, even better than the rolling clip from OMAS or Montegrappa.

 

http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/28319/2323020430101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/30858/2517379500101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

 

 

NIB

 

This is the key feature of this pen! The pen has a retractable nib that it is exposed upon a single twist of the barrel end. The nib is M platinum-plated 14k. If this is the typical MB nib, now I do understand why some people love this nib: it is always a first starter with a nice wet line (but not too much); it may not be flexy, but has a certain spring to it and it is very smooth but without loosing the feeling of the texture of the paper. The feeder looks like plastic, but works well on this particular nib.

 

 

http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/30118/2541879570101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/29943/2216027550101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/28829/2374906750101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/30557/2268743280101882882S500x500Q85.jpg

 

 

FILLING SYSTEM

 

It is cartridge system for two reasons: the size of the pen and the unique retractable system of this pen. The barrel end clips off to expose the interior of the barrel where the cartridge is inserted. By a single twist of the barrel end, the cartridge pops out. Although the retraction of the nib and the cartridge is attained by twisting the end of the barrel, it is coordinated in such a way that you cannot retract both nib and cartridge at the same time.

 

 

http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/30517/2958741570101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

 

 

WEIGHT

 

Sorry! I have no scales, but I'll do my best to give an idea of the weight. For such a small pen, it is NOT light due to the metal accesories, in particular the thick ring in the cap. NOW, the resin/plastic is very light and because of its small size, this pen does not feel heavy. The cap throws the weight away from the fingers, but again, because it is small, it nests comfortably in my hand -remember I like big pens, uncapped!

 

 

http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/29852/2862950440101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

 

 

PRICE

 

Here is one of the most controversial issues of Montblanc. This pen is NOT cheap. It retails for about USD 470; I got it for half the price about 5 yrs ago with penseller. I personally find it overpriced.

 

EXPERIENCE IN GENERAL

 

Well, here goes the story. When I bought this pen, I did not have a moderately sized collection, so this pen was a daily writer. By the time I had it I was working for this particularly abusive boss, which meant about daily 12 hrs of work seeing patients and charting. To give an idea, a cartridge would last me almost 2 days! This pen never failed. What I DID WRONG was to soak it it water for lack of knowledge and the appropiate gizmo to flush clean the pen. Obviously, the mechanism rusted and broke. I sent it to Montblanc and in less than 2 weeks, the pen's gut was completely replaced without a grudge and all I payed was 35 USD! I CANNOT complain about the Montblanc service in this case. Communication with their service department was through emails and they did answer all the ones I sent. They were very good.

 

Now the barrel end is giving me some trouble for the little cap that clips off to expose the barrel's interior comes off together with the pen's cap, and this is not supposed to happen: for this is where you grab to twist the retractable mechanism (got it? ). I've solved the problem by placing a tiny bit of paper between the threads so the little cap will stay fixed.

 

Overall, it is a wonderful pen with a delicate system that will not give you problems if proper care is taken. I tell you, I've used this pens for months twisting in and out and the mechanism didn't fail except when I was ignorant enough to soak it. Since it got fixed, no problems at all. Would I use it 24/7 for years? I wouldn't dare, but then I have many other pens to use too. Would I use it 24/7 for three weeks? a month? Absolutely! Why it is such a great writer!!

 

Here with a Pelikan M200.

 

http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/28422/2113837010101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/28859/2114726800101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

 

 

Thank you!

Edited November 17, 2007 by alvarez57

[Nikolaos]

Great review and a nice little pen. I don't have a Boheme but several other MBs. I am glad that you were happy with the service you got from MB. I had similar experience with the MB service in the Netherlands, so very happy about that.

 

I think that it is a pretty delicate pen and from what you mention it gets a lot of daily use, so there might be a couple of small issues with it. I would suggest getting a nice Pilot capless for a lot of use in the office and saving this nice little pen for more relaxed writing.

 

In any case it is a great little pen!

Thank you for the detailed review and photos

Nikolaos

[Phthalo]

Not bad, Sonia - not bad at all! If I were to ever buy a MB, I'd get the Bohème Doué Gold...

[RedRob]

Very good review. Thank you.

 

The Bohème is one of my favorite pen designs. I have a weak spot for the pre-Balance designs and this one looks to me like the most refined of the modern interpretations. I liked it so much that I almost bought one at full MSRP years ago. Unfortunately I test-drove it in the store before buying and the posted cap would twist while resting on the web of my thumb and would start retracting the nib while writing. A bit annoying to tell the truth and the non-retractable models just didn't have the same appeal. Have you had a similar experience with your pen?

 

Maybe one day MB will come out with a safety filling Bohème, that way there would be no metal pieces prone to rust inside the pen. I wonder if a pen wizard like Rossi or Binder would be able to convert the Bohème to a true safety filler in their shop.

[greencobra]

Good review, well done.

 

I've had a Bohème in my sights for a while but other pens get in the way. Anyway, again...good review.

[alvarez57]

Thanks to you all!

 

I have the non-retractable one (which is larger in size) but I'm not as happy with the F nib as with this M nib. As Nicolaos says, use better a VP for the hard work, which I did and do. This nice little pen does get her use but not as often as before, and mind you, IT DID SURVIVE! Aside from the mechanism, this pen is well made if you check the details of the rings from my photos.

I really like this pen.

[aunt rebecca]

hi,

since ron z applied his magic to my boheme retractable--it is writing as it should and i love it. i never expected to say that about an mb--but there it is!

[chibimie]

Thanks for a marvelous review, which has so much personality; I really enjoyed reading it.

 

A few years back, I tried a Boheme retractable because I was intrigued by that feature as well as by its shape. Just writing briefly by dipping the nib in ink (that's all the store would allow) did not leave me with a very good impression--it seemed wet and 'fat' for a medium point. But again, what can you expect just dipping the tip.

 

 

 

 

[alvarez57]

  aunt rebecca said:

hi,

since ron z applied his magic to my boheme retractable--it is writing as it should and i love it. i never expected to say that about an mb--but there it is!

 

 

Rebecca: which one you have?

[I am not a number]

Thanks for a great review!

 

I'd be very glad of any advice on cleaning my Boheme (I have a a gold trim, green-jewelled version). I really like the nib for the depth of the line it lays down and the small form size suits me very well for certain occasions. I personally found that the VP had the advantage on its immediate readiness to lay down ink the way I liked for specific purposes but that may be because I used the VP more often.

 

I agree that for both clinical ward and charting work (if my experience as a medic in a previous stage of my life was anything to go by) the VP is most certainly worth a look.

 

Regardless, thanks for the review and the great pictures. As I said, any advice in proper deep-cleaning of the Boheme would be greatly appreciated!

[aunt rebecca]

sonia, i have the one without the jewel, silver furniture, no bands. don't know the model number --i bought it off the green board.

[alvarez57]

  I am not a number said:

Thanks for a great review!

 

I'd be very glad of any advice on cleaning my Boheme (I have a a gold trim, green-jewelled version). I really like the nib for the depth of the line it lays down and the small form size suits me very well for certain occasions. I personally found that the VP had the advantage on its immediate readiness to lay down ink the way I liked for specific purposes but that may be because I used the VP more often.

 

I agree that for both clinical ward and charting work (if my experience as a medic in a previous stage of my life was anything to go by) the VP is most certainly worth a look.

 

Regardless, thanks for the review and the great pictures. As I said, any advice in proper deep-cleaning of the Boheme would be greatly appreciated!

 

Cheers!

 

Maybe this will help.

 

http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/31702/2427208860101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

 

 

MB sent it to me when I asked them for help.

 

http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/3406/2905911230101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

 

Maybe you can ask them for one.

[I am not a number]

Excellent, thanks for the picture. I am already formulating a cunning plan to make an ersatz version with some stuff that I can find at home!

[Ron Z]

  aunt rebecca said:

hi,

since ron z applied his magic to my boheme retractable--it is writing as it should and i love it. i never expected to say that about an mb--but there it is!

 

You looked a bit miffed that I had fixed it - as if you really wanted to throw it at a dart board.

 

A Boheme is a great pen to hand to people to see what they'll do. I handed mine to a friend. He unscrewed the cap, stared at it for a minute and said "well I'm confused!" The "cool" factor of the retractable nib is undeniable.

[kenny]

I have a fixed nib Boheme.

 

It was my very first MB.

 

It is still my most used MB of all. Actually probably my most consistently used FP of all, although since I got a Vanishing Point, it may fall to number two.

 

I prefer the fixed nib despite the "coolness" factor of the retractable nib, primarily because I can use a converter for inks that do not come in cartridges.

 

I love the Boheme. I agree with your review...including the downside of the price.

 

 

[av8r]

Ok silly question why does it retract? The cap is alrady on when it retreacts correct, well then what is its purpose. Not knocking the pen, I love it and it will probably be n=my next purchase, but it the retracting part just a gee-whiz gizmo?

[Kalessin]

I wonder if Montblanc made the nib retractable in order to make the pen harder to fake?

 

[dcom]

  av8r said:

Ok silly question why does it retract? The cap is alrady on when it retreacts correct, well then what is its purpose. Not knocking the pen, I love it and it will probably be n=my next purchase, but it the retracting part just a gee-whiz gizmo?

 

My guess is to make it small. If the nib weren't retracted, the pen is about 3/4" longer than it is when retracted. The small size makes it very convenient to hide in a pocket (or purse, as MB's marketing literature says).

[alvarez57]

  Kalessin said:

I wonder if Montblanc made the nib retractable in order to make the pen harder to fake?

 

 

:roflmho:

Yup! But you never know! Still, it's a very nice writer.

 

Kenny: I do have the non-retractable one, but the nib is a stiff F which I don't like as much. Maybe if I send it to be "italized" (a parlare italiano...), but I like how it feels in my hands. Truly, I have no complaints of my two Montblancs.

Top one is the non-retractable, which is slightly larger.

 

http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/34378/2640362170101882882S600x600Q85.jpg

[angel]

i received a retractable boheme. i immediately searched for any comments on this pen in FPN & this thread has been very helpful! i inquired about the cleaning cartridge but it isn't available yet. although mont blanc service center will clean the pen for me for free, i would like the convenience of just doing this at home. can i use a plastic pipette in the meantime? am concerned that the nipple end/opening should be a good fit in the boheme.