Nicely crafted review. For this sort of pen, in my thoughts it crosses a line into becoming a piece of art that also happens to write like a fountain pen. Thusly, the value of art is in the eye of the beholder. I being one who likes the original Grimm stories (not the watered down child friendly versions), do think this pen worth being created, and worth owning if one's budget can bear the price.
The pen is beautiful, but Montblanc, like Visconti, have to decide whether their pens are meant to be writing instruments or objects for the glass display. No excuse for sloppy nibs or plating that flakes off.
The technology for pens is only so much. You can get an equally performing pen, with better design, for a fraction of the price. At this point you’re just paying for their marketing costs.
@@A4000 I certainly don’t disagree. Fountain pens are extremely subjective when it comes to designs. I know the Chinese are very good at mimicking design, but I’d potentially argue that it is somewhat lazy to do so and I’m not sure if this sits well with me ethically. A lot of design iterations are gone through for these pens to come to market and that costs money. For argument sake, if you spent ages coming up with an idea for some music, or product and then had someone basically copy you at a fraction of the cost or copied your riffs. I think you’d be personally annoyed. I do think however, that montblanc as a company is very marmite. And I certainly expected more perfection to the nib for the money!
@@PenFriends Unfortunately, in a free competitive market, imitation and mass production is to be assumed and planned for, and I’m quite sure Mont Blanc has adopted competitor technology in their products. It’s the cost of doing business, and the business model must mitigate these costs, not customer ethics. In fact, I would counter argue that the very imitations are what keep companies innovating new features and products, and offering new value. To use your example, the sampling of music has led to great new songs, and cover songs, in many cases, are superior to the original. Tina turner’s Proud Mary and Whitney Houston’s I will always love you, come to mind The laziness of it all is an agreeable opinion that I share, but is irrelevant when it comes to the performance and value of the product. At this point you’re paying more for your morals (subjective) rather than for a superior product (objective). For example, with this pen, its price point in comparison to its design and functionality, is Mont Blanc truly presenting a top tier writing experience, or relying on its name to sell the pen? If any service or product is losing to copycats, then it needs a new value add to differentiate itself. As a side note: I enjoyed the video and think you do a lovely job with these reviews. Please do not take my above opinions as any reflection on your video. You make great content.
@@A4000 Firstly I'd love to say you make extremely compelling points! However I do still find that some aspects of imitation can lead to potential issues. Mont Blanc, as a luxury brand, distinguishes itself by offering more than just a functional writing instrument-it represents heritage, artisanal craftsmanship, and prestige. Suggesting that Mont Blanc adopts competitor technology in its products to stay competitive undermines the very essence of what high-end brands like Mont Blanc stand for. These brands thrive on their commitment to in-house design and innovation, often spending years refining proprietary technologies and unique materials. While imitation can lead to cheaper alternatives, it devalues the research and innovation that premium brands invest in their products. It’s not simply “the cost of doing business,” but rather a fundamental threat to businesses whose core value is craftsmanship and originality. Moreover, the argument that imitations force companies to innovate fails to consider that rampant copying can instead lead to a race to the bottom. If competitors can replicate a product at a fraction of the cost, established brands may feel compelled to cut corners themselves in an effort to keep prices competitive. This does not foster true innovation but rather encourages a diluted market where cost and accessibility overshadow quality and uniqueness. True innovation comes from a protected space where creative risks are rewarded, not undermined by immediate knockoffs. The comparison to music sampling and cover songs, while interesting, doesn’t hold in the same way for physical products. Sampling in music operates within a legal framework where the original creators are credited and often compensated for the use of their work. This acknowledgment maintains the integrity of the original creation. In contrast, product imitations often involve blatant copying without credit or compensation, eroding the original creator’s market share and devaluing the original product. This can stifle innovation, as companies may see little incentive to invest heavily in research and development when their work can be easily copied without consequence. I do want to emphasise that I enjoy your points. But, as an artist and someone that respects product design, I feel that imitation past certain points of basic shape is unethical.
Let's not avoid mentioning the price out of politeness. Anyone paying for the "story" and "prestige" can continue to do so. The design is underwhelming. I'll just wait for a Chinese knock-off.
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Nicely crafted review. For this sort of pen, in my thoughts it crosses a line into becoming a piece of art that also happens to write like a fountain pen. Thusly, the value of art is in the eye of the beholder. I being one who likes the original Grimm stories (not the watered down child friendly versions), do think this pen worth being created, and worth owning if one's budget can bear the price.
I need to watch this again but...at the cinema 📽️
What are you watching ?
@@PenFriendsjaws family is giving you a compliment and I tend to agree.
❤❤❤❤😮😮😮😮😮
😍😍
The pen is beautiful, but Montblanc, like Visconti, have to decide whether their pens are meant to be writing instruments or objects for the glass display. No excuse for sloppy nibs or plating that flakes off.
Absolutely agreed, this was my first fountain pen from them and whilst there’s aspects I like, the writing experience is nothing special.
The technology for pens is only so much. You can get an equally performing pen, with better design, for a fraction of the price. At this point you’re just paying for their marketing costs.
@@A4000 I certainly don’t disagree. Fountain pens are extremely subjective when it comes to designs.
I know the Chinese are very good at mimicking design, but I’d potentially argue that it is somewhat lazy to do so and I’m not sure if this sits well with me ethically. A lot of design iterations are gone through for these pens to come to market and that costs money.
For argument sake, if you spent ages coming up with an idea for some music, or product and then had someone basically copy you at a fraction of the cost or copied your riffs. I think you’d be personally annoyed.
I do think however, that montblanc as a company is very marmite. And I certainly expected more perfection to the nib for the money!
@@PenFriends Unfortunately, in a free competitive market, imitation and mass production is to be assumed and planned for, and I’m quite sure Mont Blanc has adopted competitor technology in their products. It’s the cost of doing business, and the business model must mitigate these costs, not customer ethics. In fact, I would counter argue that the very imitations are what keep companies innovating new features and products, and offering new value. To use your example, the sampling of music has led to great new songs, and cover songs, in many cases, are superior to the original. Tina turner’s Proud Mary and Whitney Houston’s I will always love you, come to mind
The laziness of it all is an agreeable opinion that I share, but is irrelevant when it comes to the performance and value of the product. At this point you’re paying more for your morals (subjective) rather than for a superior product (objective). For example, with this pen, its price point in comparison to its design and functionality, is Mont Blanc truly presenting a top tier writing experience, or relying on its name to sell the pen? If any service or product is losing to copycats, then it needs a new value add to differentiate itself.
As a side note: I enjoyed the video and think you do a lovely job with these reviews. Please do not take my above opinions as any reflection on your video. You make great content.
@@A4000 Firstly I'd love to say you make extremely compelling points! However I do still find that some aspects of imitation can lead to potential issues.
Mont Blanc, as a luxury brand, distinguishes itself by offering more than just a functional writing instrument-it represents heritage, artisanal craftsmanship, and prestige. Suggesting that Mont Blanc adopts competitor technology in its products to stay competitive undermines the very essence of what high-end brands like Mont Blanc stand for. These brands thrive on their commitment to in-house design and innovation, often spending years refining proprietary technologies and unique materials. While imitation can lead to cheaper alternatives, it devalues the research and innovation that premium brands invest in their products. It’s not simply “the cost of doing business,” but rather a fundamental threat to businesses whose core value is craftsmanship and originality.
Moreover, the argument that imitations force companies to innovate fails to consider that rampant copying can instead lead to a race to the bottom. If competitors can replicate a product at a fraction of the cost, established brands may feel compelled to cut corners themselves in an effort to keep prices competitive. This does not foster true innovation but rather encourages a diluted market where cost and accessibility overshadow quality and uniqueness. True innovation comes from a protected space where creative risks are rewarded, not undermined by immediate knockoffs.
The comparison to music sampling and cover songs, while interesting, doesn’t hold in the same way for physical products. Sampling in music operates within a legal framework where the original creators are credited and often compensated for the use of their work. This acknowledgment maintains the integrity of the original creation. In contrast, product imitations often involve blatant copying without credit or compensation, eroding the original creator’s market share and devaluing the original product. This can stifle innovation, as companies may see little incentive to invest heavily in research and development when their work can be easily copied without consequence.
I do want to emphasise that I enjoy your points. But, as an artist and someone that respects product design, I feel that imitation past certain points of basic shape is unethical.
Let's not avoid mentioning the price out of politeness. Anyone paying for the "story" and "prestige" can continue to do so. The design is underwhelming. I'll just wait for a Chinese knock-off.
我也是。