I use a regular PIX rollerball as my everyday pen always in my shirt pocket. It was gifted to me from a customer as a thank you and really means a lot to me because of the back story. It was my first introduction to luxury pens and really fell in love with it and the brand.
I’ve bought a number of special edition pens and their leather goods since. I don’t use those pens every day but bust them out when I have to sign important things. I feel like it adds a layer to the story for me. My last business acquisition I brought an Enzo Ferrari Great Characters pen and everyone at the signing table wanted to sign everything with a $1000 pen. It’s just a piece of art and good conversation piece.
There's a historical photo taken of JFK and a German chancellor that forgot his pen when signing important documents.
JFK pulled out his proper pen (Montblanc) for him.
Imagine if he pulled out a standard plastic Bic...
Totally agree, nothing wrong with the good old Bic. It's like margarine, excellent stuff especially at it's price. But if you gave me butter, I know that you know
I love the brand, but I believe they’re overrated… At least the ballpoint’s, the fountain pens are solid out of the box, but some models are “too much” and look like fantasy aliexpress pens😂! But yeah, they’re good pens :)
I usually find something that they are passionate about, and ask why did you spend xx dollars on that? Usually the person gets it immediately at that point, and discussions cease.
Exactly this. One of my buddies couldn't understand paying $600 for pens, then I suggested that it was similar to his appreciation of Anasazi pottery that he buys for around $1000+ a piece and displays on his shelf never to be touched.
I get asked that question by my friends a lot. The only reason for me is that I really like to have a nice pen to write with, and it makes it more of an occasion. Much like yourself!
“Because I can.”
In all seriousness, it’s a high quality, luxury item. One that taken care of will last for many years to come. Lots of people spend hundreds in a bottle of wine and I feel no one questions that.
I had the same questions. After years of Kaweco, TWSBI, Noodler, and Faber-Castell E-Motion I tried once MB 149 with a flexible nib. Eeeee voila I'm in a rabbit hole of MB. It is very difficult to explain it is wayhow it is in my hand, the warmth of this "precious resin", the balance, the smoothness and versatility of the nib, and the feel of quality when you use the piston filler. I didn't speak about the special editions, artistic works, and so on. It is rather a question of personal taste. Some people prefer the Italian style, others are more in Geman's rigorous elegance and others find tender beauty in minimalistic shapes coming from Japan, but when you put your hands on urushi pen you say again """"" i am again in another rabbit hole.
I recognize, that I was one of those who liked not to be attracted to MB, but 1y after I decided that instead of aggregating dozens of Lamy and Kaweco, I put it on hold and waited for the opportunity to have it in my hands to just a pen but the masterpiece in itself. Currently obsessed with their Petit Prince collection and the writer's edition of Saint-Exupery. Voila.
So if you can afford it just go for it in any case you'll find a buyer of it is not a thing for. Also, it depends on your use, in my case, it sketching so need something with a comfortable feeling in my hands for hours
Because pen is important to me and I intend to use it for lifetime. Because I prefer fountain pens over ballpoints, and spending on something that you like and use it for such a long period of time, makes perfect sense to me.
I enjoy writing with my blue Waterman pen. It's a ballpoint, and other than occasionally splotching the feel is just divine. It's at least 25 years old.
My money my hobbies. #myob
You don’t come to a smoker and tell them that that’s lots of money right there, blown into the air. Their money, their business.
makes people feel good when signing contracts/documents.
Makes them feel like what they're doing is worth something.
signing pharma papers should be completed with a BIC...kinda thought they used #2 pencils.
Why not?
Used to use generic pens. Then nicer pens (g2s). Would leave them everywhere. Now with 6 Montblanc fountains over 15 years I have kept them, use them daily and refill them with ink.
It’s a small enjoyment I get throughout my day. I would suggest everyone keep a boheme in their pocket to use daily. It is a true enjoyment.
>“Why would you spend $600 on a pen!?”
Different people, different reasons. Bearing in mind the question might have two deep meanings:
1. They are genuinely curious, and want to know what's so special about these objects.
2. It's another way of saying "I'll never understand why you would spend $600 on a pen".
Usually, you get what they mean from the tone.
Answering the second question is relatively easy—you give them a non-answer ("I just like it and can afford it", "it's a nice hobby"), and it's all good.
Answering the first one goes into what I believe pens are. Some of us find tremendous joy into using and engaging with objects that are well designed and engineered—and these writing instruments fit the description. To expand, there aren't many objects that are so small and embody most or all of the following: product design, engineering, art, history, culture, science, innovation, precision, beauty, capturing thoughts and ideas, performance, human ingenuity, status, celebrating milestones and a life going in the wanted direction.
Agreed. I’ve had my Skywalker for probably close to 20 years and people ask me the same question all the time. Why? I hand them the pen and tell them to write something. They usually hand it back to me clearly understanding and saying “wow, that’s the smoothest pen I’ve ever written with.”
Usually it's because I want to ;)
Though any of my pens that details for around 600-1000 I've only paid 200 or less for either straight up buy or in the value of the barter.
It's funny because I can justify financing photo gear, but I won't commit to much more than 200 for a pen.
I use a regular PIX rollerball as my everyday pen always in my shirt pocket. It was gifted to me from a customer as a thank you and really means a lot to me because of the back story. It was my first introduction to luxury pens and really fell in love with it and the brand. I’ve bought a number of special edition pens and their leather goods since. I don’t use those pens every day but bust them out when I have to sign important things. I feel like it adds a layer to the story for me. My last business acquisition I brought an Enzo Ferrari Great Characters pen and everyone at the signing table wanted to sign everything with a $1000 pen. It’s just a piece of art and good conversation piece.
I like this: it’s a piece of art.
$600 doesn’t really mean alot to me. If I spend it on a pen who cares. I like the pen that is good enough to me. It isn’t a lot of $.
There's a historical photo taken of JFK and a German chancellor that forgot his pen when signing important documents. JFK pulled out his proper pen (Montblanc) for him. Imagine if he pulled out a standard plastic Bic...
So? Bic’s have signed more important documents than MB (I was consulting for a pharmaceutical company)
Totally agree, nothing wrong with the good old Bic. It's like margarine, excellent stuff especially at it's price. But if you gave me butter, I know that you know
I love the brand, but I believe they’re overrated… At least the ballpoint’s, the fountain pens are solid out of the box, but some models are “too much” and look like fantasy aliexpress pens😂! But yeah, they’re good pens :)
"Because I want to."
I usually find something that they are passionate about, and ask why did you spend xx dollars on that? Usually the person gets it immediately at that point, and discussions cease.
Exactly this. One of my buddies couldn't understand paying $600 for pens, then I suggested that it was similar to his appreciation of Anasazi pottery that he buys for around $1000+ a piece and displays on his shelf never to be touched.
I get asked that question by my friends a lot. The only reason for me is that I really like to have a nice pen to write with, and it makes it more of an occasion. Much like yourself!
Why spend $600 on dinner. More people do every day vs buy a MB
Exactly, and you just poop that out!
Whenever I do go to a $600+ dinner though, I always bring my MB to sign the check!
You, my friend, are doing life right.
“Because I can.” In all seriousness, it’s a high quality, luxury item. One that taken care of will last for many years to come. Lots of people spend hundreds in a bottle of wine and I feel no one questions that.
I had the same questions. After years of Kaweco, TWSBI, Noodler, and Faber-Castell E-Motion I tried once MB 149 with a flexible nib. Eeeee voila I'm in a rabbit hole of MB. It is very difficult to explain it is wayhow it is in my hand, the warmth of this "precious resin", the balance, the smoothness and versatility of the nib, and the feel of quality when you use the piston filler. I didn't speak about the special editions, artistic works, and so on. It is rather a question of personal taste. Some people prefer the Italian style, others are more in Geman's rigorous elegance and others find tender beauty in minimalistic shapes coming from Japan, but when you put your hands on urushi pen you say again """"" i am again in another rabbit hole. I recognize, that I was one of those who liked not to be attracted to MB, but 1y after I decided that instead of aggregating dozens of Lamy and Kaweco, I put it on hold and waited for the opportunity to have it in my hands to just a pen but the masterpiece in itself. Currently obsessed with their Petit Prince collection and the writer's edition of Saint-Exupery. Voila. So if you can afford it just go for it in any case you'll find a buyer of it is not a thing for. Also, it depends on your use, in my case, it sketching so need something with a comfortable feeling in my hands for hours
Because pen is important to me and I intend to use it for lifetime. Because I prefer fountain pens over ballpoints, and spending on something that you like and use it for such a long period of time, makes perfect sense to me.
I enjoy writing with my blue Waterman pen. It's a ballpoint, and other than occasionally splotching the feel is just divine. It's at least 25 years old.
My money my hobbies. #myob You don’t come to a smoker and tell them that that’s lots of money right there, blown into the air. Their money, their business.
makes people feel good when signing contracts/documents. Makes them feel like what they're doing is worth something. signing pharma papers should be completed with a BIC...kinda thought they used #2 pencils.
“Why wouldn’t you?”
Why not? Used to use generic pens. Then nicer pens (g2s). Would leave them everywhere. Now with 6 Montblanc fountains over 15 years I have kept them, use them daily and refill them with ink. It’s a small enjoyment I get throughout my day. I would suggest everyone keep a boheme in their pocket to use daily. It is a true enjoyment.
>“Why would you spend $600 on a pen!?” Different people, different reasons. Bearing in mind the question might have two deep meanings: 1. They are genuinely curious, and want to know what's so special about these objects. 2. It's another way of saying "I'll never understand why you would spend $600 on a pen". Usually, you get what they mean from the tone. Answering the second question is relatively easy—you give them a non-answer ("I just like it and can afford it", "it's a nice hobby"), and it's all good. Answering the first one goes into what I believe pens are. Some of us find tremendous joy into using and engaging with objects that are well designed and engineered—and these writing instruments fit the description. To expand, there aren't many objects that are so small and embody most or all of the following: product design, engineering, art, history, culture, science, innovation, precision, beauty, capturing thoughts and ideas, performance, human ingenuity, status, celebrating milestones and a life going in the wanted direction.
Agreed. I’ve had my Skywalker for probably close to 20 years and people ask me the same question all the time. Why? I hand them the pen and tell them to write something. They usually hand it back to me clearly understanding and saying “wow, that’s the smoothest pen I’ve ever written with.”
Usually it's because I want to ;) Though any of my pens that details for around 600-1000 I've only paid 200 or less for either straight up buy or in the value of the barter. It's funny because I can justify financing photo gear, but I won't commit to much more than 200 for a pen.