Added: 3 years ago
From: bsodmike
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  • Same here, I just purchased a Montegrappa Espressione Rollerball and a Boheme fountain pen with black onyx! Not much into Audemars Piguet but have a big respect for that brand. Thanks for the reviews!

  • @solidpnoy Those are both lovely - Do look at the Extra 1930, it'd by far my favourite from Montegrappa. Google for 'Sterling Silver Collection bsodmike" and you'll find some snaps I took. Glad you liked it, my pleasure.

  • Very nice review. Rolex and Montblancs are a perfect match. I do own a few MBs and Rolex(es) as well and I couldn't be happier. Always put a smile on my face everytime I write or wear them.

  • @solidpnoy See my latest video of the AP Royal Oak. It's in a completely different league from Rolex.  I've also just picked up the Meissen White FP... see my new blog for photos mwdesilva [dot] com

  • Sorry about that,I meant to ask if you had any GvFC fountain pens? S far my classic in pernumbuco is just about the best pen I own...granted I Don't have an MB le grand though...

  • @phrenzy1 Hi- I've been focussing on Montblanc and for 2012 I'm hoping to add some special pieces to the collection. It'll be a while before I start looking at other brands as have a few too many "grail" MBs on my to buy list...

  • @bsodmike have you got any Graf Von faber-cast ell

  • you spent 100 grand on the stuff??

  • @strongyang Hi- I did not mention anything of the sort. Here's an apt quote for you, "The quality remains long after the price is forgotten".

  • @strongyang

    What kind of quality are you talking about? A pen that's worth 2 bucks is considered quality that which of say pen that cost 1000 bucks. To be honest, the mont blanc pens or those super duper expensive pens are hyped, and only appeal to those who have the money to pay for them, it has nothing to do with quality to a large extent. It's a symbol of your economic statue, and your lifestyle

  • @strongyang I strongly beg to differ.  Have you written with a 149? It's certainly my favourite nib. Many of their designs are quite intriguing as well, take the Writer's Editions for example. Seems you're only thinking about MB; the Pelikan M1000 I purchased a while back, easily cost more than a MB LeGrand. Not many would even notice the Pelikan, as it's not as well known a brand as MB.

  • What do you think of cross pens?

  • @nick540 Cross is a fine brand, far more popular amongst those born circa 1940's. While I haven't looked at their pen lineup recently, I do not think they produce as many 'striking' designs in terms of LE, Writer's Editions etc.

  • @bsodmike Thanks for the reply. I just picked up a classic ballpoint Cross which i am very impressed with.

  • I would love to rob you place : )

  • That's a beautiful watch

  • @cblover314 Thanks :)

  • @cblover314 rolexes are like ass holes ... everyone's got one

  • Lovely pens, amazing feel and glide

  • Nice pens, you should buy a dunhill pen. Been collecting dunhill pens and lighters for a few year and everytime i buy one, im never disappointed.

  • I only collect Parker Pens and the are excellent even if people say MBs are better. I will be making a video about them soon so check out my channel.

  • @pittkid42 Parker Duofold's are fantastic - got two myself =)

  • can u give me a fountain pen

  • @olmostAhmed There are some decent FPs to be hand from many brands without one having to break the proverbial bank. If you don't mind starting out with a steel nib, consider Lamy. You can easily get gold nibs if you decide to go vintage with an older Parker or something similar.

  • @bsodmike does it mean u will give me one

  • @olmostAhmed this is all i can say... FUCK YOU and Buy your OWN ^^ I got my PARKER and I've work hard on it to get my salary.... Go to work and rape your Boss then get all his money then buy a pen ^^

  • @parokyaadik Uh...calm down. No need for profanity here. Thanks.

  • Mont Blanc is the BEST brand of pens in the world. Other brand pens don't compare.

  • Whenever you get a pen, only get MONT BLANC ones, their the best and theirs no point buying pens from a different brand.

  • @coolrohon um, sorry I do not agree with that logic. MB's are nice but you are really loosing out if you decide to ignore the rest. Parker, Montegrappa, Visconti, Sailor come to mind and there are so many other great brands and designs.

  • I received a Montblanc Boheme rollerball as a gift, however I am not too impressed with it; it's rough on paper and the ink doesn't flow smoothly either. Is there something I dont know/am I doing something wrong? It's authentic because I recieved it from the CEO of a company I worked with, and looks legit too. Any thoughts?

  • @danymo007 rollerball, right, that's a gel type refill. You might need to get a new refill? Take it to your local MB boutique and have them take a look at it - don't mention it was a gift. Just say, "I'm having issues with the ink flowing in my pen, can you help" and they will let you know *right* off the bat if it isn't an authentic MB.

  • @asdasdguy thanks; 43 facets indeed.

  • It hasn't got 57 faces, it's got 43. 4:53

  • Thanks for the compliments guys...

  • very well represented pen collection, I loved ur pens alot!!

  • like ur pen collection! realy cool im going to make my own!

  • 1:02 "here is da barrel"

    No, that's called the CAP

    laying that GMT on it's side, on the crown?? and the way you "shake the watch a bit" to get the Datejust running?? If you're not going to set the time who gives a shit if the thing is running?? Unscrew the crown, set the time, then wind it, screw the crown back and wear it. The motion of your wrist will keep it wound. You look like an idiot salesperson the way you were shaking it! Swirl it like a glass of wine to 'impress'. Ignorant poser.

  • @PongoLikesBigmacs You will see that I have corrected this in the description:

    "ERRATA: I have called the 'cap' a barrel in this review; I was referring to the band in Sterling Silver at the base of the cap with an 'Eternity' design. In reality though, the barrel is the portion that attaches itself to the nib/feeder assembly. The 'barrel' of the Parker Duofold was removed to show the cartridge converter."

    It was one of those word lapses on my part.

  • @Rozyonnie engineer but am currently stuck in IT.

  • I am not a fan of Mont Blanc because I had one that fell apart (twice) -- never again.

    Replacing a part is expensive and after two failings on a single pen, my collection changed to much more practical pens that perform much better.

  • @TechTalkGuy I think this can vary from brand to brand, but I too have heard far to many stories of MB QC issues. I've found a good relationship with a MB boutique has helped over the years as they tend to go the extra mile to preserve the 'account'...

  • How can you afford mont blancs and rolex's ?

  • @MrGrandMasTerMind Well, there's something rather satisfying about a hard days work I guess :)

  • Are u an engineer btw? :)

  • @Keshrave yup :)

  • @bsodmike What engineer? I wanna become a mechanical engineer 1 day and ive already started my fountain pen collection, there not as good as urs but i have 7 parkers my favourite being the frontier :)

  • @Keshrave I studied electronic and comp eng and a Master's in mechatronics - so I've got a mix of EEE and mechanical. Ooh, that's nice. Just recently though, I parted with some of the WE pens in my collection.

    Since starting a new job and having my heartbroken, I've lost interest in collecting and kept the few pens I enjoy the most...

  • You must be fucken loaded

  • beautiful pens im 13 and just starting out with fountin pens, your ARE SO much nicer then mine!!

  • @smileyclouds007 thanks for the kind comments. I got my first MB from my Dad when I was 15, that was his fine nibbed 149 from the 1980's and "the one" that started it all.

  • @smileyclouds007 ull get there man, im 16 and saved and bought 3 mbs and a rolex, :D

  • Love the Submariner in the background!

  • @DisabledCreation That was my TT/SS GMTIIC; not a submariner. Parted with it about a year back :)

  • Where do you get them?

  • @antoniomanley It depends on the brand of course. If it's Montblanc or Montegrappa I tend to purchase exclusively from their brand-boutiques. Sometimes, I do shop at well known pen shops such as "Pen Friend" in Burlington Arcade, London.

    I rarely ever purchase online though. Only done this once but then again it was from Martin Robert's The Writing Desk for my Sailor Naginata Togi Executive 1911.

  • @bsodmike That's where I'm waiting for mine from.

  • @tubezoid What are you getting?

  • @bsodmike Oh, er, the 1911 RT from The Writing Desk :0

  • @tubezoid Do give Anna and Martin my regards if you do happen to speak with them again. TWD is just a fantastic little family run shop and dealing with Martin has always been a pleasure. Congrats!

  • No ink window?

  • @RichardVanWagner depends on the model in question. For example, both my Solitaires have ink windows but the Fitzgerald does not.

    The Montegrappa Extra 1930 has no ink window either.

  • Cool, I'd do a pen collection video...but my collection consists of disposable bics lol.

  • Amazing collection. I have the same Mont Blanc with the hidden nib, I really enjoyed seeing the Montegrappas, they look like very elegant and solid pens, the nibs are indeed works of art.

  • @jeezee213 That model is the Boheme line, and it comes in *many* different options. I went with the Boheme Marron so as to match the RG with my DateJust :)

    Oh this is nothing, my collection has grown quite a bit since, something like 6-7 more MBs!!

  • @bsodmike Yes i actually have watched your other updates. Truly amazing collection. I have ordered the Meisterstück Le Grand, with the resin and gold trim. What is your ink of choice for the Mont Blancs, I know there are a lot to choose from.

  • @jeezee213 Oops, I replied to your previous comment but about the inks. Just acquired my most recent MB on Thursday, the Sterling Silver Barley finished with a MoP Star and 0.035ct G VVS2 channel set diamond in the clip - M nib, but just for now.

    Have got my sights set on the François I 4810 edition, just love the engraving work.

  • @bsodmike thanks for the info on the inks. I will stick with MB as you said, it's easier to come by. The Caran d'Ache Sunset sounds quite nice as well. Congrats on the new MB also :). I hope to see some new vids (y). Are you familiar with the Lamy Pico pen??

  • @jeezee213 Need to post up some new vids of the two most recent FPs. I've seen the Pico on the site but I've used a Lamy Safari in the past. The pico is a ballpoint?

  • @bsodmike yea, it is a ballpoint. Just the design of the pen itself kinda got me interested, and yes I will post some coverage of the 2 new fp I purchased. Though, there nothing quite as stunning as your collection!

  • @jeezee213 These days I'm mostly exclusively using MB ink in my MBs apart from also liking the Montegrappa black (it is very grey and has a unique 'washed' look), blue, Caran d'Ache "Sunset" Red from their Nature collection.

    I want to try J. Herbin but alas none to be found where I am right now. I tend to stick to MB inks mainly because they tend to be easier to source than specialist inks. You're guaranteed to find at least one MB boutique, in most developed cities :p

  • does montblanc hand engrave any of their nibs?

  • Great question Scott. I'll actually look into this; if they do I would imagine that they would only employ this for their sub 100 piece editions only - this means Patron d'Art editions such as the 77 pc Miyamoto Musashi, 88 Charlie Chaplin etc.

    In any manufacturing process, labour - especially skilled labour - can be very expensive.

    I do know that the Sterling Silver WE pens cap/barrel are hand engraved - The Leonardo Medici is one such pen. As for nibs, I'll look into this :)

  • Nice Rolex GMT in the background :D

  • 5 stars

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • ::gives video five stars::

    ::grabs pens and run::

  • Thanks puppetgirl :)

  • most of my pens are made in England, my personal favorite is Mentmore and the are of a far better quality than Japanese pens.

  • that wat i call a man

  • i get pens form japan, they are the best way better than english pens

  • What many people may not realise is that I take my Sailor 1911 Naginata Togi to work daily. It does not attract any attention as most people have either never heard of Sailor or know the brand but not their pens.

    While it is one of my favourite writers, I would not say that they are a whole lot better than English pens as that statement is far too stereotypical and does nothing for your credibility!

  • I would simply sum up that the Japanese pens are fantastic, especially their Maki-e pieces which are just sublime. Comparing the English pens to the Japanese pens feels like a rather unfair comparison to make.

    The Parker pen is well famous and quite rightly so. I own more than two Parker FPs and they are really quite great. The German and Italian FPs, however, are extremely special as they are masters of their crafts in terms of engineering and aesthetics.

  • lool who cares there pens to write with not to argue with

  • wow u know ur cool when...

  • you dont have to buy cartridges just buy a syringe and the ink that you want to use and "inject/refill" the cartridge with the ink that you sucked up with the syringe.

  • Good point! I've been doing this for a while with my Boheme as the packed blue-black cartridges use a different formula from the bottled Montblanc blue-black.

  • were do u get those pens

  • I always tend to do my shopping when travelling abroad. When in London I always get my pens from the pen department at Harrods as they have both a Montblanc (mini) boutique and Montegrappa display among lots more such as Visconti, Delta, and Waterman.

    Apart from that there are many Montblanc boutiques I shop at in Geneva, Switzerland and in Singapore.

  • IS montblanc better than parker, warterman and pelikan then?? and how much is a 149?

  • 'better' is quite subjective. I would say that some of their designs are really great, especially their Limited Edition pens - Writers Editions (WE) and Patron of Art (POA) pens. I personally judge pens by their writing ability and enjoyment received in the process and for that I would say 'yes', the 149 is better than most.

    The 149 retails for £500 in London at this point in time, but it does seem the prices are going up as the world economy worsens. It used to be £450 in 2007/8.

  • Both of them and which one do u think is the better of the two? Im into fountain pens now and was finking of buying my first good pen and suggestions??

  • Well as classic pens go the 149 (also known as the Diplomat) wins hands down. One of the longest production pens in history circa 1950s, and favoured by some of the most influential people in our time - Kennedy used a 149.

    The Extra 1930 is a great pen that exudes certain aristocracy in both its design, execution, and uniqueness as a brand. Many compare Montegrappa with Patek Philippe in this regard. It will not be recognised by most. Montblanc is very similar to Rolex in brand recognition.

  • Think I forgot to mention as well, the 149 is my favourite FP of all time; my current collection now has a total of four of them.

    Two 149s sit on my desk in Montblanc 149 pen stands on either side of a matching Montblanc inkwell. One of the best writing nibs that is a definite joy to use each and every time.

  • keshrave, a good pen to get, that have, is the montblanc boheme, cartridge filled, it is a great beginner pen, you dont have to worry about inkwells yet and is a small pen, so it is easy to get used to, thats just me, its my first fp and my only one, i LOVE IT

  • How much is that worth by the way?

  • Are you referring to the Montegrappa Extra 1930 or the Montblanc 149?

  • so the extra 1930 was the first pen that have ever gotten?

  • Oh no. The Extra 1930 Bamboo Black was my first Montegrappa. It was by far my first pen.

    My Father gifted his F nibbed 149 to me when I was in my early teens and already had a couple Parkers from him as gifts before that.

    The nib on the 149 was still the very best nib I had come across and well over 16 years later, now owning four 149s in total, I still consider the 149 nib as one of my favourites, in terms of the received writing pleasure at least.

  • WOW, you really have a good collection. I just got a Parker Sonnet as a gift. I was just wondering, do you know how to spot whether the pen is real or counterfeit? I had it in original Parker case. It looks VERY similar to what I've seen online. BUT I wasn't really expecting such a gift from the person I got it. I just read on wiki that it is the most common counterfeited pen. I got 3 sonnets, 2 were ball points, and 1 fountain pen. Any particular sign of original parker?

  • Thank you YN. As you only I only have two Duofold Centennial FPs in my collection. The one with the 'blue marble' effect belonged to my late Father and my newer Parker in all black was purchased in London at a reputed pen shop. This is one of the most guaranteed means for establishing that you own the genuine article.

    During my time in collecting pens I have studied the Montblanc pens far more and therefore would only be able to advise you on 'tell-tale' signs for those pens only.

  • You can try joining the fountain pen network. Use Google to help you find the link.

    Post as many hi-res photos and someone there should be able to assist you. If not, you can try taking this to Parker for a service and if there is any reason for alarm you can truthfully state that you received it as a gift, and were none the wiser.

  • hi, you got a nice collection.

    i need a suggestion from you. do you think oblique nib pens are good for everyday use? i assume you have the experience and can suggest me the right thing.

  • Thanks arif; Personally, I would not be able to use an oblique nib for all my writing. Having to rotate the pen 90-degrees counter-clockwise leads to a different posture and can prove to be uncomfortable during extended periods of writing.

    I tend to now use a B nibbed 149 or one of the M nibbed FPs for daily writing. The BB nibbed Fitzgerald is my Signature nib.

  • is that montblanc a 149?

  • Hi Scott; the pen at 5:15 is indeed one of my 149s. I now have four of them in my collection; take a look at my most recent video for some coverage of them.

  • Nice pens but a vintage Omega or Longines in the background will be better suited than modern Rolex watches to go with your pens.

  • Cheers 'wellpinit'; my vintage Omegas are in my display cabinet. At the time of the review I was in London, far far away from the rest of my collection (of pens and watches).

  • i have three dollar pens that write beautifully. Ya, the diamond has NO effect on the wrting performance of the pen. But, it does, add to the aesthetics, and is a beautiful addition to a beautiful piece of art. These are hand crafted pieces of art, not just pens.

    And the same goes for watches. You are buying a timepiece, and a hand crafted piece of art.

  • i colet shapers

  • Good review, however, the Rolex in the background is a little pretentious.

  • Maxo:

    You do realize that Montblanc pens are worth, as writers, what a fifty dollar pen or less is?

    Same for Montegrappa.

    They're lovely pens, but they are overpriced, bourgeois playthings.

    They are for the very rich or for the very stupid; having a diamond in your pen is a little pretentious, yes?

  • I would agree with you on a ballpoint Montblanc but when it comes down to fountain pens, there's a world of difference in higher end pens.

    There is also the aesthetics . A suit made in China is technically the same thing as one made on Saville Row but there's a quality and fit that's not found in the mass produced garment.

    What about cars? They get you from point A to B but why would I rather drive my Mercedes instead of a bus?

    People like well made things. Nothing wrong with that.

  • Not really. A Hero 329 writes just as smoothly for me as any of my vintage Sheaffer's or modern Pelikan's.

    None of my Pelikan, Parker or Sheaffer pens, most vintage, have had any problems. Excepting Pelikan, all under $100.

    Then you have my Hero pens, and the low-end Pilot line. Flawless writers all, solid construction and all under $50.

    The point is that yes, Montblanc is a well-made line with good service.

    And yes, they are incontrovertibly overpriced and marketed for the bragging rights.

  • Personal preference. I love my Dunhill Sidecar fountain pen due to its weight in my hands. Of course once you go over the $100 mark, it comes down to construction, materials and the premium due to the manufacturer name.

    As far as fountain pens go, I usually enjoy pens worth more than $100. I have tried some cheaper ones but I never did like their nibs. Personal preference.

  • There's nothing wrong with diamonds in my opinion at least. I like how they shimmer and if you saw my DateJust (review) you'll see that I like them :)

  • Comment removed

  • I was doing a couple video reviews in a straight go; you'll notice I also posted a review of that watch on youtube as well. Not a great habit I guess, but I tend to do a couple reviews at a go, when time permits at least!

  • Very good video!

  • That rose gold datejust/boheme is a perfect combination... mad props

  • they have the boheme in conversion style

  • That might be the full length Boheme that doesn't have the twist mechanism?

    On another note, I've just added three new Montblanc pens to my collection and a Waterman. Stay peeled for a new video :) :)

  • the boheme is brilliant, to bad it's on cartidges

  • Aye, but I have a friend who has been able to find a small enough converter to fit the Boheme! Can't wait to get my hands on one.

    Am hoping to add two more pens to my collection before the 1st of May :)

  • Thanks for this review.

  • Glad you liked it, Cheers :)

  • i just got mu montblanc boheme in platinum, i am soo escited, it is my first fountain pen. thanks to you, i saw it on this video and i never seen the fuctions of it before, so thanks for inspiring me as an aspiring pen collecter at age 14

  • Congrats Scot, I really wish you have many years of pleasure with your new Boheme. Am really glad I've helped someone pick out a really great pen :)

    Kind regards,

    Mike.

  • Whoaa i got some pens i hope u watch my pen collection pen sometime ok nice video man watch mine please

  • I recently purchased my first proper fountain pen after much research. Its Parker duofold centennial medium nib fountain pen black. Since I don't have experience of using all other pens that you have, I would like to know your opinion about the parker centennial. what's your rating when compared to others. Reply when free.

    Thanks.

    Gagan

  • Hi Gagan, I actually have two Duofold Centennials; the first being my late Fathers which has an older styled nib but a very striking blue 'marble' effect barrel and cap. I then recent got the same one as yours, in black.

    They are both decent writers, although I find my newer one to be rather constricting on the ink flow. I may have to get it looked at. It would be unfair to even attempt to compare them to the Montegrappa Extra 1930s I have, however, I would say the 'regular' Montblancs(cont)

  • such as the 146, 147 etc. have smoother flowing nibs. I only use high quality paper as well (Clairefontain).

    The Montblanc 149, Sailor 1911 Executive with the special Naginata Togi nib, and the Montegrappa Extra 1930s are in a class of their own. This alone though, does not mean that I do not enjoy both Parkers; they are great English pens with an equally illustrious history.

    I also personally prefer piston fillers as well; the 149 can carry twice as much ink as a cartridge converter.

  • In his experience, he has seen many people coming with their 149's leaking problems. Re: parkers, he has not seen any recurring problem. Hence I went for Parker but I always wonder how a montblanc would write. hence I contacted you too.

    I think you have good quality 149 and satisfied with it.

    thanks anyway Mike

    Gagan

  • Hi Gagan,

    I'm a regular on the TFPN Montblanc forum and still have yet to see a lot of people complaining about 'lower' quality pens. That said, I did get my more recent 149 in 2002, a UNICEF Limited Edition, and I suspect they had it on display for a while.

    I have 5 MB FPs and have never had any problems with leakage. The 149 would be more susceptible to leakage as it is a proper piston filler, this is the risk with them, although the Pelikan M1000 I have has a leak-proof piston system.

  • In terms of writing pleasure though, the Montblanc 149 comes on top all the time.

    The problem with the Montegrappa Extra 1930s is that the nibs dry up very quickly if left uncapped, and they are not true piston fillers (for safety reasons) and as such carry enough ink to only last about an hour of writing. They make for great signature pens, and I fancy having one of the nibs changed to a broad nib.

    The Sailor Naginata Togi nib has to be tried to be believed; it has a soul of its own!

  • I did do the research before I bought parker.

    Re: Montblanc - reviews on the internet said that nowadays the pen quality has come down. Ink leakage happens to be the most common problem. If leaks, they repair but don't replace.

    Re: Parker, I could find only one review and no major issue in that. I did consult someone in canada who is a specialist in pen repairs.

  • Jesus how much is that

  • Not sure what you mean by 'that' mate!

  • sorry, i ment how much the pens were worth there amazing

  • Ah, no worries mate :) Quite frankly, I've lost track of most of them. The Montegrappas are the most expensive (and recent) and at the time cost £580 each @ the Harrods Pen dept. in London. Rest of them are roughly between £250 - £400 approx.

    These are by no means 'expensive' pens. You need to look at the Montblanc Writer's Editions or Patron of the Arts issues if you want pricey but they are oh so lovely. I've got my eye on a couple WE's already.

  • WOAH, but if there worth it id say go ahead. I would love to buy some, but yeah expensive.

  • You show more care for your pens than you rolex. Thats not the way to wind a self-wind watch.

  • I never wound any watches in this video? If you know anything about Rolex, they do recommend winding the mainspring; just shaking an automatic watch and wearing it will not make the mainspring reach its full torque. The 'self-wind' feature is where the rotor winds up the mainspring whilst being worn and it is being depleted; this has nothing to do with the ability to manually wind the mainspring :)

  • "If you wear your perpetual (automatic) watch, the motion of the rotor will keep it wound. If the watch is rundown you should wind it before wearing.

    To wind your watch, unscrew the crown and advance the crown clockwise to wind. About 40 twists should wind the watch fully. If you have a perpetual watch, you can not over wind the watch."

    TimeZone Rolex FAQ

  • Looks like a pen for a King.

  • They're ok, but it's not a parker 51.

  • you have to get the solitaire royale steel. the best mb pen, hands or should i say, pens down

  • YES! My best everyday pen, I use it much more than my Dupont 18K.

  • nice vid, but say after me 'Monty - Grappa'!!!

  • Great video mike keep it on ;)

  • matching the boheme with the datejust was pure class

  • nice

  • i liked the video ;-}

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