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How to differentiate an authentic and a fake Montblanc pen

I am surprised at the amount of fake Montblanc pens being brought to eBay from over Dubai and the Far East and then sold without any box and warranty certificates. So I am writing the following tips (which I believe you’ll find useful) and would welcome any additions you can provide.When I had my Meisterstuck 144 inspected for authenticity at the nearest Mont Blanc boutique, the biggest indication is if it doesn’t have the company trademark “Pix” followed by the registered trademark symbol, then it’s 100% sure a counterfeit. The sales assistant, who seems to know about Mont Blancs quite a bit, including the vintage models, has seen very good fakes with serial numbers and Germany stamp and everything else but the “Pix” letters.

The nib is the most difficult aspect to fake. Don’t hesitate to ask for a close up picture of the nib section - iridium tip and ‘made in Germany’ stamped on the nib is a dead give away. To the best of my knowledge and judging by several fountain pen forums, Mont Blanc never engraves ‘iridium tip’ on their nibs. The only known exception to this is the Genuine Mont Blanc Starwalker pen series - it does have the words ‘iridium’ stamped on the nib section, is nearly always silver (beware, this pen is faked more often than any other writing instrument by Montblanc). Always ask for a high resolution picture of the floating star on the cap, if it looks like irregular or not dead centered, it is very likely to be fake instance. The best advice would be go to a genuine dealer and actually take a picture of a Starwalker (barrel and cap). That way you know what to look for and what to avoid as suspicious.

The real Montblanc pen is made of a natural resin (the formula of which is a strictly guarded commercial secret) that polishes up just like an Aston Martin. It can even shatter, like glass. The metal fittings are 23 1/2 karat goldplate, and the ring around the bottom of the cap has Montblanc Meisterstuck engraved on it. The top of the cap has an inlaid six-pointed star, the Montblanc symbol.

What is “precious resin?” Says Monblanc’s CEO J. P. Schmitz: “It’s a trade secret. Even I don’t know the recipe.” But some pen aficionados note that “precious resin” looks an awful lot like shiny plastic.

Fake mont blanc pens are plastic and brass all the way. A fake pen feels as if it weighs half a pound. It skips. It’s uncomfortable to take grip of.

Ask for a picture of the underside of the nib section. A genuine Montblanc’s black section will be aligned immaculately with the ink aperture between the tines (a genuine article is accurately produced down to the smallest detail). If the black section is not aligned well and is either side of the aperture, then it is likely to be a fake.

Before you start bidding for a pen, get an emailed assurance from the seller that it is a genuine Mont Blanc - because if turns out that it is not , you can ask for your money back or get ebay involved. If you get a vague response to your question or no response at all - then don’t bid. Trusted sellers always respond to emails clearly with full information requested.

Another dead give away, ask the seller if he has more than one item and if you can purchase more than four. A faker always buys in bulk and then sells them individually. Genuine Mont Blancs are expensive, and if a seller has more than four - it’s likely that he has bought in bulk.

A sure thing about a fake Meisterstuck Le Grande 146 is the nib section - it always has a nib similar to the cheap German fountain pens with the words ‘iridium tipped’ stamped ‘made in Germany’ - it is definitely a fake. The original nib is beautifully crafted and a faker will not spend more money and time on trying to imitate this.

Mont Blan pens are made of resin (except for the Solitaire line) and this natural material is able to hold an electric charge (much like amber). This material also feels more animate and doesn’t feel cold to the touch.

If you are buying a brand new Montblanc pen or a very recent one it is good to look for the letters ‘Pix’. For the older, vintage models there is no Pix there, just like the serial number in the Meisterstuck lines. The logo “PIX” was introduced on the underside of the clip in 1997.

It’s important to remember that genuine Mont Blancs made previous to about 1990 will not have any serial number, or any words on the back of the clip. There are many thousands of these genuine Montblanc’s out there.

As to serials numbers, Montblanc pens don’t have a specified number of digits. Older models will most likely have fewer digits than current production. Some of the numbers started with GE or GER on the first pens to be produced with serials in 1991. There is no database at Mont Blanc of serial numbers except for limited editions. Serial numbers are now being reissued or reused, so the same SN might be found on 2 different pens made years apart.

And lastly, Mont Blanc does not confiscate fake pens. They say that is not company policy. If you send such to the factory service center, they will send back your pens and a letter stating either way if your pen is genuine or fake.
It is illegal to counterfeit a trademarked product, and Montblanc is zeroing in on the malefactors. A company spokesman said, “The situation is in the hands of our trademark attorneys, and a vigorous effort is being coordinated internationally.”

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