If you are new to the world of luxury pens, then you are probably wondering why are Montblanc pens so expensive. You might be thinking that pens do the same thing, so why the huge price tag? Pens are pens, right?
Not all pens are created the same. If you compare your ordinary office or school pen with a Montblanc pen, you will find that there is no contest between the two. Montblanc pens are precisely engineered pieces of art and unlike ordinary ballpoint pens, they can last for generations.
If you need further convincing, this article might be able to steer you into investing in a Montblanc pen of your own.
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Top Reasons Why Montblanc Pens Are so Expensive
Montblanc pens are, by far, not the most expensive pen brand in the world. However, they are also far more expensive compared to regular pens. Montblanc’s luxury line of pens can cost from $240 up to almost $1,000. How are these prices justified? Are Montblanc pens really worth the high price tag? Yes, they are.
Here are some of the reasons why:
Great Reputation
Ask pen collectors/enthusiasts about what they think about Montblanc pens and they will tell you that they are among the best in the market. Montblanc has built up its reputation consistently in the more than a hundred years that the company has been in business.
Montblanc prides itself on not cutting corners when it comes to its pens and other products. When you see the Montblanc brand name stamped on a pen, you already know that you have a quality writing tool in your hand.
Ergonomic Designs
In the 1950s, Montblanc patented its signature torpedo pen barrel design. This made their pens thicker along the middle and the tapers towards the tips. Their torpedo shape makes Montblanc pens comfortable to hold while still looking very sleek and beautiful.
Refillable
Another reason why Montblanc commands higher-than-usual prices is that they are refillable. The cheap pens that you usually use are disposable. This means once they run out of ink, you will need to buy a new one.
Montblanc pens, both ballpoint and fountain pens, are all refillable. You can purchase ink cartridges for ballpoint and fountain pens. Some fountain pen models even come with ink reservoirs so you can refill them yourself with whatever ink you like.
Premium Materials
The retail models of Montblanc pens are made from high-quality materials, like high-grade resins and metals. However, when you are talking about high-end pens, especially limited-edition pens, you will see pens that contain luxurious materials, like:
- Gold
- Platinum
- Precious Jewels
However, just the cost of the materials used in every pen is just a part of the price tag of Montblanc pens.
Top Craftsmanship
Unlike your regular ballpoint pen, all Montblanc pens go through an intensive manufacturing process. For the retail models alone, there are more than 100 steps involved in the production of one pen, and more than 30 of those steps are for the writing nibs.
Every part of a Montblanc pen was designed and engineered with a high degree of precision. It gets even more intricate with the limited-edition pens. Most of them were handcrafted and hundreds of hours of work were placed into making just one pen.
Collectability
If you are an avid pen collector, you need to have at least a couple of Montblanc pens in your collection. If you are really serious about your pen-collecting hobby, get one of the limited-edition pens that Montblanc occasionally comes up with.
Montblanc does not typically reissue old collections, so the value of their limited-edition pens will only rise in value. If you want one of the earlier pens that Montblanc made, expect to pay a premium price for them.
Care and Maintenance of Montblanc Fountain Pens
With the expensive prices of Montblanc pens, it is just right to give them proper care. Here are a few tips on properly taking care of and maintaining your Montblanc pens so they can serve their purpose for a long time.
Never let the ink dry on the nib – After every use, wipe the tip of the nib using a paper towel. Don’t let excess ink dry as it may cause a clog that will prevent the pen from writing properly.
Clean the nib using warm water – Cleaning should be every couple of months. Unscrew the pen assembly from the body, remove the ink cartridge, and then place the assembly under lukewarm running water. Once you no longer see any ink mixing with the water, dry the pen assembly using a paper towel.
Don’t use waterproof or pigmented inks – These inks contain additives that may easily clog the nib and the regulator of the pen. Only use inks specifically meant for fountain pens.
Don’t let your pen drop or hit against hard surfaces – The Montblanc writing nibs are precisely engineered for optimal performance. If you subject it to sudden impacts, you may dislodge an important component that might cause the pen to stop working.
Store your pen with the nib pointing upward – Whether you are storing your pen on your desk or in your EDC bag, always have the nib pointing upward. This will prevent the ink from flowing down the nib and causing a huge mess.
Conclusion
Why are Montblanc pens so expensive? There are many reasons why Montblanc pens command such high price tags, not the least of which is the amount of craftsmanship that went into each product. Even though Montblanc pens are not exactly budget-friendly, they are worth more than what their price tag suggests.
These pens are great investments, especially if you are thinking of getting one of the limited-edition designs. Their value will only go up because there were only a few of them ever made. Moreover, they are highly durable, making them longer-lasting compared to other pens.