Years ago a lady I worked with came to me to happily show off the designer bag she bought in NY. I knew nothing about handbags, and I thought she told me it was a Nokov. I asked her who the Russian designer Nokov was. She laughed and said, " Knock Off, silly. It's a copy of a famous brand." Thanks for your video on this Nokov pen.
Thanks for sharing that very funny story. A friend of mine told me the following story: someone he knows bought a Rolex - Nokov edition 😉, and then decided to take it to a watchmaker to adjust its bracelet. Needless to say how embarrassed he was when the watchmaker told him that he does not work on "Nokov" creations 😂
@@delkott My ex Boss ( Thank God) knowingly bought a Nokov Rolex for his future father in law, who promptly showed it off to all of his friends. The next year he took it to a Rolex store in NY for a new battery ...... well, you know what happened!
@@MrCabimero That is hilarious and sad! I hope his in-laws forgave him! Those Nokov stories are worthy of a Seinfeld episode. Thanks a lot for sharing 😀
I believe it reads 君来，Jun lai, literally means something like King's Arrival, King's presence, something like that. Different from Wing Sung 永生， which means live forever.
I am so happy with my three Jinhao X-159's that you introduced me to. But I really appreciated this video, which provides so much useful information and why this is my favorite pen channel.
Hi Doug! Thank you for this important and rich review of yours which goes straight to the heart of the matter: how the Chinese production of fountain pens creates a profound reflection on emblematic creations, among luxurious European and historic brands as well as expensive Japanese brands. Truly emblematic in terms of performance offered by the writing instrument. Over 20 years of study and attention to Chinese fountain pens in particular have already made me affirm that the Jinhao X159 is a brilliant experimental, innovative and destabilizing proposal from which we cannot dissociate more ambitious creations such as the Wing Sung 630. And in the arena of technical comparison with historical models such as Montblanc, the factors price, quality, technology create enormous emblematic thought. And this thought today is within the reach of more and more people, more and more curious minds. Thank you so much Doug for sharing!
I got the WS 630 at $200, and I still think it is a good deal at that price. But now that I see it’s available for less, I’ll have to buy another. I did as you suggested and polished the nib with micromesh. The 630 is a very comfortable and smooth writer. I actually like it the same as my vintage Montblanc 149, but it gets more use because I can more easily and affordably replace it.
I have been waiting for this review. I appreciate you took the dive and bought this pen. For the price, it will be worthwhile to get. Now, I have to convince someone that I should get one for my birthday which is a few weeks away. Maybe I will show her this video to say that the 630 is a better value. As for the cloning issue, well, all of us have ventured into this gray area and have enjoyed the pens, for the most part. The nibs from Wing Sung have gotten better and I will venture to the medium nib for this pen. I like the size of the nib too. I will not get rid of the X159, especially my "Frankenpen" version to bottle fill the barrel which by the way works very well with no corrosion in the section threads. It is a great $5 pen. Of course I haven't left the ink in the pen for months to see what would happen. But I digress. I did get the wrench and should have waited as you don't need it to remove the nib assembly. Great review and comparison, Doug.
Interesting. The Jinhao is obviously a worthwhile investment if you are thinking of the Mont Blanc or even the more pricey Wing Sung. I know a couple of people with 149s who received them as gifts (graduation etc) but do not use them as they do not really suit their writing style, grip etc. I actually gave one of them a stainless steel Sheaffer No Nonsense as they found that to be more of the weight and size they preferred. Plus it was dirt cheap (£2) and could handle the abuse to which an every day carry is often subjected. They even bought three or four plastic No Nonsense pens in case they ever had need for a new nib in the future and gave one to me. 😅😅
I just received my 630. The price was phenomenal (mine was 148 with discounts). I also got the wrench for the piston and the section. I am very happy with the construction of the pen. I pulled out the nib and feed. It was not the best of times. It was difficult to insert back into the section. There is no key. The friction fit is very, very tight. I did not pull out the piston, but did grease the chamber with a Q-Tip. It is ready to go. I did notice the softness of the nib. There is quite a bit of bounce. Looking forward to writing with it. I do wish the instructions were in English, though.
Nice explanation and historical background. Your detailed comparisons were spot on! I have an m800 Pelican Souveran which fits my hand and writing style better than the larger pens such as the 149 or the Pelican m1000. I also have an e95S and and 3 Jinhao 159s. My point being the total cost for all these pens was LESS than one Montblanc 149, and I have two of the best writing gold nibs. If someone wants to gift me a 149 , I’ll take it but I don’t think they’re worth the price. I really agree with your assessment of these pens. Thanks Doug!
Great review! It is worth putting cheaper pens up against revered models to detect the feet of clay (sometimes). Or else prove their worth. The WS is too expensive for me, as is the MB.
I just saw that they sell a version of the WS 630 with a stainless steel nib and it goes for roughly 40 - 50 € here in Germany. I really think about getting one of those because it kinda checks all the boxes for me for a daily writer: looks okay (I don't love the super classy design, but it's alright), has a wide section (my carpal tunnel hand l likes those), piston filler (larger ink capacity than converters and I don't have to disassemble the pen to fill it), not too expensive (so I don't care about scratches and dings). But I probably will get the JH X159 first to see if it's comfortable enough for longer writing.
After just gotten a 60s Montblanc 14 in my hands, plastic-wise I can't really tell it apart from the Japanese competitors from the same or a little later decades such as Pilot Elite or Platinum Pocket, if anything, Sailor large/Pro Gear feels SO close in heft and balance, and even the soft touch feeling. its mostly the difference in nib grind shape and smoothing. I'm happy to have a pen with cute snow cap though! or bird poop... least I got it for just about $100
Great review. My red 630 with broad heartbeat nib came yesterday. I probably overpaid on eBay but no matter. I love it. It actually wrote better out of the box than my new 90th anniversary 149 did with a broad nib. That one went back to the factory and it was still not great so I sold it. I recently bought a new 149 with medium nib that writes much better. I love my 149 and love my 360. Always wanted a red 149 and this will do. :)
It’s basically down to pride of ownership. If having a $1000 pen makes you feel better than having $1000 in your pocket, then it’s worth it. If owning a $1000 pen makes you feel like a gullible fool, then you’re better off not buying it even if you can afford it. The writing experience IS better… but not 10 (or 100) times better. I’m just happy knowing that people still care about fountain pens in the 21st century so I don’t feel too judgey, one way or the other.
Great review. Hope to get my hands on the Wing Sung one of these days. I especially loved your overview of the plastic types and their properties. Another winner!
I have just inked my Wing Sung 630. Here is my review. WOW! I paid US148 + tax, after all the discounts. Apparently this was a Christmas in July event as I have not seen this pen again at this price. In any case the quality of the pen is superb. The "resin" is done very well. I have the black version but if you put a bright light behind the pen, it is a very dark red. The nib is glorious. I originally ordered a Medium nib but it was sold out. So, I opted for a Fine. It is shockingly smooth with a touch of feedback. I am using Diamine Regency Blue in it. I will have to figure out how to clean the nib and feed as it was a pain to remove and a bigger pain to reinsert back into the assembly. Lubricating the barrel is a cinch when you remove the section. I did buy the wrench but it is not necessary if you have the other Wing Sung wrench I am looking forward to using it frequently to see if there are any problems. For now it is worth the money.
Great review. Long form writing on a rhodia dotpad for which I like a narrow smooth wet bouncy nib. And having a preference for well made large piston fill or japanese eyedropper pens. There could be a Jun L in my future. Thanks. It is a golden age in fountain pens right now, it could be even more so with a little luck. This could fill a hole in an old retired guy's pen lineup at a price he can pay.
Thanks for the insightful review. I was thinking I might buy one, but now I'm having second thoughts. I do enjoy my Wing Sung 159. Maybe I don't need a 630... Who am I kidding? It's more on my wish list! 😊
Yes indeed. A fine review. I appreciate your calculus, not least because it aligns with mine. Basically, get a gold or titanium nib because you want a gold or titanium nib. The writing will be some better, a bit on the paper, and a lot in your head. E.g., I have a Jinhao 95 steel that is one of my best writers for line variation. Better than my 14k Pineider iperflex? No-ish.
君来(Junlai) is the name of the online store (which belongs to Green Stationary obviously) that makes and sells these pens. As you mentioned they loaned the WingSung brand from Hero to produce 6xx pens. In the recent new models (629, 600, 630), Junlai decided that they want to buff up their own brand because afterall the WingSung brand does not belong to them.
Doug, thank you for a wonderful comparison amongst these fountain pens. I've been eying that 159 as a purchase, that if lost, I won't worry about it. By the way, you're rocking it on Joost' show.
If Wing Sung wish to sell pens at this price point they need to provide proper after sales service and a warranty. They need to sell the pens through respected dealerships, even 'brick and mortar' stores. I don't mind buying cheap pens through eBay but not for a pen costing as much as the 630.
Honestly, if really something happened to your WS 630, will you be a total sucker ? Atleast for the amount you paid for a gold nib one. Or they have any service centre in CHINA ?..!!!
Thanks for the review Doug. I don't think I will ever buy a Montblanc. I bought a Jinhao X159 less than a year ago and the plastic above the clip just broke off. I had hardly ever used the pen. The plastic is quite bad quality I think. However, I still bought another one as it's so low cost! I wouldn't buy anything expensive from the store that you mentioned in the video. I bought another Wing Sung gold nib pen from them (not cheap), they sent me the wrong pen, I returned it but never got my refund. The store and the platform just don't care.
Pelikan M1000 is a wonderful engineered pen and practical for nib replacement and cleaning. It's a small fortune and only comes out on special occasions ! Recommend over any MB.
I bought a Wing Sung 630 with a Naginata Togi Heartbeat F nib. It is fantastic. But it was almost a 200 dollar purchase off Ali Express. Much less than Mont Blanc
Thanks again for reviewing this pen. In one word it's impressive (both the pen and the review). Your comments are 🎯. In the end my lack of "motivation" for wanting this (fine) writing instrument is that it ... is ... just ... black. To each their own, but I would be more likely to part with $350 for a NEW Leonardo than a "pre owned" Montblanc.
Very nice review! This looks like a worthwhile pen and it has some attractive features, but I am going to resist the temptation to order one...for now, at least. Thank you for the great video!
I'm very grateful you decided to take the plunge and grab this pen for review. For whatever reason mine is still a little late to arrive (I hope it shows up"Ebay") I'm hoping the B nib I chose is actually closer to a medium than a true B but only time will tell. I had an inkling on the size of the tipping but that wetness(&bounce) is something I value in my pens these days. I actually have too many "Dry Inks" that I want to burn through. I keep seeing the ink bottles on your desk get lower and lower and it makes me realize there's just some inks of mine I don't touch.
Great review. I got mine in burgundy recently, but was not ready to pay for the gold nib. I paid 32 euros for the steel one. It is what seems to be an F-more-like-M nib in regular Wing Sung engraving. The centre ring reads "Wing Sung" (not as yours) 630 - Made in China, and the small rings above and below are not linked to the big one; they are individual golden rings, and the red wine small rings between all 3 are like pearlescent, defintely with a more rich burgundy tone. All other features are the same, and the steel nib works EXTREMELY well (and I mean it) right out of the box. Very good writer, no skips at all, and a nice smooth writing experience.
Thanks a lot, Doug, for taking one for the Inkquiringminds team and comparing all three pens. I would personally take a chance on this pen, had it not been for the very thin "medium" nib. I share your opinion about the value of Pelikan over Mont Blanc, and will continue to keep the M1000 on my wishlist 😀 Thanks again and keep up the excellent work!
Thanks Doug, this was fascinating and helpful! This Wing Sung (or whatever it is) is the most expensive Chinese pen I have seen and your review has been very informative in showing us what we get for that cost. I have not tried either pen, but your assessment rings true to me. I agree with you on the Pelikan vs Montblanc - I own a Souveran M1000 and a vintage Meisterstuck 14 (granted, not a 149). The MB 14 is really cool and I appreciate it, but the M1000, to me, is a show-stealer! There is magic in the M1000's nib and the pen's styling is much more interesting and classy than the 149 to my eye. Montblanc vs Pelikan is almost like Mercedes vs BMW...
I have ordered one in black as this is the closest to MB149.. had difficulty regarding deciding between black and blue color but went for black as it resembles MB149 more and also black is something that can go with both blue and black ink...also the better build from Jinhao X159 and the unique longer nib are the reasons to purchase...thanks for the review...
Nice video....i actually got the Jinhao x159 and its a great writer but the grip is too wide for my style and hence the pen went to my shelf😂. So wide grips are not for me. 10 mm to 11.5 mm might be a good range for grips.
Thanks for the video Doug. Do you think that the plastic part of the piston of the 630 is sturdier than that of the P136 which broke after only 6 or 7 fillings?
My solution was to buy a spare 149 nib and put it into an x159 (yes, the nib fits in the Jinhao unit). $150 for my 149 writing experience-- and in something other than black.
Always love your thorough reviews. Increasingly, I can't justify, nor can some of these pen makers, the huge mark-ups on these pens. This comparison shows why. Your final comments about warranty and service are something to he seen but still beg the question of is it worth $800 to $1000 for these pens?
What an interesting pen. I wonder what pens will be coming out of China in, say, five years time. The quality seems to be bounding ahead. Thanks, Doug, for a very informative post. All the same, I'm hanging out for some more of your musical input; maybe your inner Howlin' Wolf? Cheers.
A great, interesting and thorough review as usual, anwering many technical questions, opening many other questions about pricing policies, values and more. I don't think MB is interested in sueing any of those chinese pen makers. They are selling their pens to a complete different market and customer circle. I guess MB doesn't care at all. They are in another league and don't look downwards, most probably they don't regard any of their copyists as a competitor. I got an MB 146, that's enough of luxury. I got a Majohn P136, a Jinhao X159, X850, X750 and don't need another pen of this form and style. Simply, even with a 14 ct gold nib (look at the real gold value of a 2 gram nib) USD 200/USD 145 or even USD 75 aren't justified in my book. It's sure a well made pen of decent quality, but that's by far not enough to open my purse for it. In general, as another commentator stated, as long as chinese companies throwing their products on western markets and only interested in the quick turnaround, without decent after sales, etc, anything above USD 50 for a chinese pen isn't justified for me. Just m2c...
Doug: I continue to watch your reviews each night under the wide open skies of Iowa. You bring joy, and peak my interest. If I may, I purchased two Hong Dian 1841's recently, and was delighted by your review of same. I am finding one has a temperamental nib and was wondering if the entire nib unit can be replaced. There are numerous Hong Dian nib replacements for sale, but none indicate they are compatible with the 1841. Would a Wing Sung #6 fit? Are there ways of separating the nib/ nib unit from the pen? They are very comfortable pens with which to write and I wish to keep them putting down ink. I would appreciate any direction. Enjoy the remainder of the summer.
The 1841 takes the standard #6 size nib/feed/collar unit. You can get them in EF or F here: tinyurl.com/b3by9awh The nib unit unscrews from the section. But if you want to use a non-Hongdian #6 size nib, remove the converter, leave the nib unit in the pen and pull rather than unscrew the nib from the nib unit. You might have to soak it in water with a drop of dish soap first. When you put the new non-HD nib in, make sure you use the Hongdian nib and feed and check your cap clearance before you put the cap on. Also, if you see HD nib replacements marked "B", they aren't BROAD, then are BENT nibs.
In 2023, boutique & website prices are coming at $1200-1300 CDN, so WS630 pricing becomes more compelling. Agree that the MB149 has a pricing bubble at the moment. Pelikan Souveran DOS is the best choice now.
@InkquiringMinds Excellent comparison (again). I note the Wing Sun 630 is, for a Chinese pen, very expensive and probably because of the MB 149 similarities, but from AliExpress these Wing Sun cigar-shaped pens with a similar vibe (14k gold nib extra) are under $30 and one under $20: 629 (piston), 699 (Vacuum) and 628 (Converter). I'm not seeing the value in the 630? EDIT: They are US $32-ish on AliX with steel nib - so yes this is value definitely.
First time commenter, long time viewer. Do you have any ink starvation with the 630? Every one of my Wing Sung 629s stops writing after a bit. The ink will not flow from the reservoir to the feed. I tried several inks. Thanks for the great videos. Greg
I love the steel nib version of this pen. As far as a pure gold nib pen, I'm not sure I'll get one because I'm afraid I'd "ruin" it by handling it too rough.
I'm not going to try it, but I don't think so. The WingSung 7.1mm thick at the section where the Jinhao is 7.6mm thick and the curve looks a little different. And the WingSung is much longer.
It all depends on how "precious" your ego is. If you use a pen because of how it feels and writes and don't give a shit what people think, then it doesn't matter. The 630 is a nice pen. I don't think I'll be writing with it more than my x159 to be honest.
@@InkquiringMinds Well, ya, ditto. I love my Lemon M1, for instance and no one knows (nor would I care ) what I'm writing with -- and now that I've converted two of my X159s into eye droppers I'm heureux comme un cochon dans la merde! (Everything sounds better in French.)
At the end of the day, it all comes down to variety and choice- a good quality pen at a price they can afford. Your mileage may vary in terms of income.
Fantastic comparison, and great humor as always! As much as we poke fun at MB's "precious resin," I will admit it makes a difference. Imitation pens next to a MB make the MB shine. It's just not an $800+ difference.
@@ichirofakename Not this one in particular, no, but I do have a Jinhao x159, and to my eye the Wing Sung in the video looks better but still "plasticky" (yes I know MBs are plastic too). I feel that MBs have a softer luster, but I suppose that could be a placebo effect.
I wonder if Majohn / Moonman will upscale the P136 into a pen with dimensions 'coincidentally' similar to the 149? That could be interesting, as the finishing & feel of the plastic, and especially the cap threads of the P136 are noticeably better than the x159. Not sure about the line width of the M nib on your 630 - I'd be disappointed at a medium nib that writes like an extra fine, no matter how much bounce and line variation is to be had.
Dammit Doug. You are making a compelling case for this pen. If i hadn't been gifted a MB 146 and a 149, I'd be all over this. But it comes in red........
I've been fortunate enough to have a MontBlanc 149 that I bought by about 150 euros I believe, 25 years ago. Would I spend the 800 euros it cost now to have it? Probably not because I wouldn't have written with her these 25 years and so couldn't know it was worth it. But... knowing, and having used it for all these years, mind you with no maintenance at all, well the eventual flush every year, more or less, and having the money to spend on her? well yes probably I would buy her again. I use daily several fountain pens, actually right now I have a Sheaffer VFM, another, Sheaffer that I don't even know the model of (a very good and extremely precise pen actually that I use a lot for architectural sketching), a Parker Frontier, but the only two pens that are always in use with me for at least the last 25 years are the MontBlanc 149 Meisterstuck with black Parker Quink ink and the Parker 51 (that one is with me for the last 45 years) with Blue-Black Parker Quink ink.
Thanks for the great movie. I'm extremely interested in "Wingsung 630 Heart-beat EF nib". Could you please advise where we could purchase the product from?
Hey Doug, I have both the Jinhao x159 and the MB149. Like the LBD universe (Little Black Dress) there are only so many variations possible. Given a choice of BBP (big black pen) i Go for my Pilot Urushi 4 or 5 times for every inking if the MB. The MB Nib is immaculate and writes flawlessly but it lacks soul in my opinion and is just a bit Meh. On another tack, Which Leonardo Gran Riserva are you ordering (another no.8 nib yipee)? If you happened to mistakenly order my Gold Burkina then please do review it before you send it on (and yes that'll be shipping to the UK🤮🤑). My second choice is in the Blue Saffron with Gold Nib.....So there!
@@InkquiringMinds Thanks. It is a bit confusing between standard, heartbeat,and JF heartbeat. I found that JF nibs are Waverly style / long blade. So, I think I will be going with the standard nib. Yours works nicely. Like the bounce of the nib. I did get the ok to get this pen. 👍
Well, I can add that I have broken a Wing Sung 619, just like I've broken two TWSBIs 😔. My spontaneous impression is that it's polystyrene, but doesn't make much sense so it's probably ABS. That said, I really like my Wing Sung 619, and I like my 699s too. They are very slick and well made pens. They deserve to be a bit more careful about. I also absolutely love my Montblanc 149. But you're right. It's a luxury item and prized to remain being that. I don't really care. I have a disposable pile of money, but the 149 was actually a gift. The 630 nib seem disappointingly fine, just like the 159. I won't run to get one. The cute thing about the Wing Sung 699 is that you can get it with a really nice genuine 'M' nib.
Most "plastic" pens are not ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) - with the notable exception of the Lamy Safari. Most "plastic" pens are made from Acrylic (aka PMMA - Poly Methyl MethAcrylate).
@@danielklopp7007 It makes sense since I tested with solvents for ABS as well as PS, and none of them worked for repairing the cracks. So PMMA is a thermoplastic?
@@Vermiliontea - Yes, PMMA is a thermoplastic. It can be injection molded or machined. The most common trade names for PMMA are: Plexiglas, Acrylite, Lucite, and Perspex.
@@danielklopp7007 Well, it explains why so many materials are lumped together as acrylic (because they are at some basic level PMMA). However, they do also seem to have widely different properties. The cast Lucerite/Lucite we used for machining our pens was hardly a thermoplastic. If heated, it would maybe, possibly, soften very slightly, but mainly it would go brown, and then black, carbonize, before it got into any moldable form.
@@Vermiliontea Yes, the wonderful world of polymer chemistry! Most (all?) acrylic manufacturerers add "modifiers" (i.e. other molecules) to their blend which subtely changes the properties of their end product. One of the popular modifiers are so called "impact" modifiers, improving the toughness of the acrylic. One of the great things about acrylic - it is completely UV stable; one of the bad things - it is somewhat brittle (as straight PMMA). Acrylic is almost the opposite of polycarbonate, which yellows with exposure to UV light, but is incredibly tough (e.g. automobile headlight covers are typically made from polycarbonate - they can take a rock impact without shattering, however they yellow and get hazy after 5-10 years of UV exposure. There are a few boutique fountain pen companies makeing pens from polycarbonate; these pens will eventually yellow and get brittle (although most fountain pens don't get much UV light exposure, so this process could take centuries), but in the mean time polycarbonate pens are bullet-proof (literally, since polycarbonate is what's used for "bulletproof glass")!
Something interesting: I just received my WingSung 630 from Ali.The cap band however says "JUNLEI 630 - MADE IN SHANGHAI". So, Junlei is a synonym of WingSung? A sub-brand? The plot thickens!
My point is that your viewers are often highly offended; however, Wing Sung, Jinhao, and other lookalike goods are welcomed legally in the USA….as long as not knockoff labelled with someone else’s brand. So, soak the rich with your designer label; sell the other-branded knockoff designs to us commoners. We are the blessed. :). By the way, U.S. intellectual property laws do have a category for things like restaurants and other goods called TREADE DRESS. It is based roughly on a theory of a layout being so “deceptively similar” that it could deceive the consumer as to the ownership (source). The U.S. Supreme Court has not applied that doctrine to simple consumer goods that seem to look somewhat alike (again, with no illegal use of a trademark). But, as the founders of Taco Cabana (Houston, TX) would learn, you should not try to copy the layout of a San Antonia-based Mexican restaurant called Two Pesos. I think they made more money suing Taco Cabana than they did in their business. :). (The doctrine similarly arose in a case involving high priced hamburger chains in California.)
I mean I would still get the Wing Sung 630 for that massive gold nib, considering I don’t have to spend 900 bucks for a pen that have a high chance to crack open 😅 even if the 630 does break on me it’s still nothing to worry comparing to that 149😅😅
Well, hell, er heck…, Doug, great review (I got to see the President … Again ~ Forrest, Forrest Gump) Your review cuts to chaste, chase, where the rubber meets the road. Montblanc are overpriced (IHO) only. By how much, and what’s a brand name worth is anyone’s & each of us’s guess. I own several Montblanc fountain pens. Very nice, but I didn’t purchase them, they were gifts. I prefer a bargain for my dollar. (Yankee stock). Not sure if I’ll ante up for a Wing Sung 630, but at its cost it’s within strike distance as it’s been said. I think I’d like to save for a Pelikan M800 or even a M600. After so many fountain pens, I’d rather wait & save for a more expensive one than purchase something that I wasn’t really wanting anyways… . Call me Ishmael, the white whale calls… . Thanks Doug 👍😎
Great honest review of the Wing Sung 630. As a pen in it's own right it looks like a decent pen with an integrated piston filler, good fit and finish from what I can see in the video, and a very springy 14K gold nib. It can be easily disassembled for cleaning, all the characteristics of a great pen. If it had less blatant MB imitation, it would be more appealing to me, but then again for Wing Sung the only reason anyone would buy it is for the MB clone appeal for a fraction of the cost. For me Montblanc has more meaning because of it's history and heritage, and so if I were going to celebrate a milestone or important event, gifting a Montblanc would go a lot further than a Wing Sung 630, in fact for someone who is pen savvy, maybe receiving a Wing Sung 630 as a special gift would be an insult. It's like a Cubic Zirconia to a real diamond analogy, the former looks and feels like a real diamond, but could never replace a real diamond. Montblanc does a lot in my opinion to elevate the fountain pen culture, in the promotion of the arts, great characters etc....I am not a fan of companies like Wing Sung ripping off Montblanc for their own gain, it undermines Montblanc and everything they do, the innovation, craftsmanship, prestige of the craft etc...There is a premium for maintaining quality and craftsmanship, producing everything in house and in Germany. Cheap knock offs undermine the industry.
Not really. Those who can afford a Mont Blanc, would be unlikely to downtrade to a JunL/Wing Sung that proudly announces that it isn't a Mont Blanc by sticking it's name on it. Get real. A run through international economic history shows that such homages are nothing new. It always happens, and always will. When Mont Blanc start dropping pens at the $150 mark, then you might have a point. Until then, they need not worry. Indeed, they only need worry if Wing Sung start putting out homages of equivalent quality to Mont Blanc at a lower price. Then that will be a fight worth having.
Ok, professor, i did some research into Wing Sung, Junlai and what the heck is going on here. First, Wing Sung and Yong Sheng are completely interchangeable. They mean exactly the same thing. The words come out differently due to translations of different languages spoken in China. Now, this Junlai. Apparently it has been associated with the Shanghai Green Stationary Company for years. The reason for the recent games with names is Kaweco They attempted to trademark Wing Sung in Canada. I saw ths paperwork. The application was denied but could have been appealed. Kaweco dropped the application on Dec 22/22. The intention of the application was to firce a name change like they did to Moonman. Had it gome through, Wing Sung would have become Junlai. Things that make you ho hmmm.....
The design is a knock-off of a knock-off per se. The design did not originate with Montblanc; they merely popularised it. MB's 'precious resin' is an older plastic formula from ~1920's. I wonder how much exploration has been done since with the explosion in materials research of the past 40 years?
Doug, Doug, Dough. THE USA DOES NOT HONOR DESIGN PATENTS. I think Japan does. I do not know about Canada. However, if you sell a “knockoff’ that has a Montblanc logo, your goods should be confiscated at import. You certainly could be sued, here, Canada & pretty much the world around. Strangely, as a West Coast guy, I know less about E.U. Laws regarding design patents. In the USA at least, you can take the original designs of pens, dresses, etc. & send an order to Taiwan, China, elsewhere for cheap manufacture and have them returned to the USA’s Walmart or Target with you in-store brand sewn in. If you clearly label them with your brand, sell them at whatever price you want, then you can just laugh all the way to the bank. Those leather purses with a designer label sell for hundreds of dollars. My wife (unlike my Asia or other wealthy students, who spot them and are horrified that you are so poor) never buys the originals. In our over 50 years of marriage, we have been invited to some student’s wedding or other upper class event. We just go with our fakes. They expect professors to be more rational. :)
Years ago a lady I worked with came to me to happily show off the designer bag she bought in NY. I knew nothing about handbags, and I thought she told me it was a Nokov. I asked her who the Russian designer Nokov was. She laughed and said, " Knock Off, silly. It's a copy of a famous brand." Thanks for your video on this Nokov pen.
LOL
Thanks for sharing that very funny story. A friend of mine told me the following story: someone he knows bought a Rolex - Nokov edition 😉, and then decided to take it to a watchmaker to adjust its bracelet. Needless to say how embarrassed he was when the watchmaker told him that he does not work on "Nokov" creations 😂
@@delkott My ex Boss ( Thank God) knowingly bought a Nokov Rolex for his future father in law, who promptly showed it off to all of his friends. The next year he took it to a Rolex store in NY for a new battery ...... well, you know what happened!
@@MrCabimero That is hilarious and sad! I hope his in-laws forgave him! Those Nokov stories are worthy of a Seinfeld episode. Thanks a lot for sharing 😀
" If a bird pooped on the top of a Wingsung 630 you would have a hard time telling the difference from a Montblanc 139" LMAO!
Correction MB 149. Thanks for the review. Looking forward to find one on sale
Hilarious.
I’m still giggling at that one!! And the unexpected recipe!! 🤭
I believe it reads 君来，Jun lai, literally means something like King's Arrival, King's presence, something like that. Different from Wing Sung 永生， which means live forever.
Thanks, @jacobling2119, for the excellent information!
Thank you! great info!
I am so happy with my three Jinhao X-159's that you introduced me to. But I really appreciated this video, which provides so much useful information and why this is my favorite pen channel.
My pleasure!
I just ordered a Wing Sung 630 with the steel nib.
I love that pen. I got it in teal, and think it's gorgeous and it has a smooth nib. I didn't like the Jinhao 159, strangely enough.
"If a bird pooped on the top of the cap " is the best line
LOL
Hi Doug! Thank you for this important and rich review of yours which goes straight to the heart of the matter: how the Chinese production of fountain pens creates a profound reflection on emblematic creations, among luxurious European and historic brands as well as expensive Japanese brands. Truly emblematic in terms of performance offered by the writing instrument. Over 20 years of study and attention to Chinese fountain pens in particular have already made me affirm that the Jinhao X159 is a brilliant experimental, innovative and destabilizing proposal from which we cannot dissociate more ambitious creations such as the Wing Sung 630. And in the arena of technical comparison with historical models such as Montblanc, the factors price, quality, technology create enormous emblematic thought. And this thought today is within the reach of more and more people, more and more curious minds. Thank you so much Doug for sharing!
Well said! Thank you!
I got the WS 630 at $200, and I still think it is a good deal at that price. But now that I see it’s available for less, I’ll have to buy another. I did as you suggested and polished the nib with micromesh. The 630 is a very comfortable and smooth writer. I actually like it the same as my vintage Montblanc 149, but it gets more use because I can more easily and affordably replace it.
That's awesome, Oscar!
I have been waiting for this review. I appreciate you took the dive and bought this pen.
For the price, it will be worthwhile to get. Now, I have to convince someone that I should get one for my birthday which is a few weeks away. Maybe I will show her this video to say that the 630 is a better value.
As for the cloning issue, well, all of us have ventured into this gray area and have enjoyed the pens, for the most part. The nibs from Wing Sung have gotten better and I will venture to the medium nib for this pen. I like the size of the nib too.
I will not get rid of the X159, especially my "Frankenpen" version to bottle fill the barrel which by the way works very well with no corrosion in the section threads. It is a great $5 pen. Of course I haven't left the ink in the pen for months to see what would happen. But I digress.
I did get the wrench and should have waited as you don't need it to remove the nib assembly.
Great review and comparison, Doug.
Thank you so much, Paul!
Interesting. The Jinhao is obviously a worthwhile investment if you are thinking of the Mont Blanc or even the more pricey Wing Sung. I know a couple of people with 149s who received them as gifts (graduation etc) but do not use them as they do not really suit their writing style, grip etc. I actually gave one of them a stainless steel Sheaffer No Nonsense as they found that to be more of the weight and size they preferred. Plus it was dirt cheap (£2) and could handle the abuse to which an every day carry is often subjected. They even bought three or four plastic No Nonsense pens in case they ever had need for a new nib in the future and gave one to me. 😅😅
I agree. The 149 size and shape is more of a signature pen than a long writer.
I just received my 630. The price was phenomenal (mine was 148 with discounts). I also got the wrench for the piston and the section. I am very happy with the construction of the pen. I pulled out the nib and feed. It was not the best of times. It was difficult to insert back into the section. There is no key. The friction fit is very, very tight. I did not pull out the piston, but did grease the chamber with a Q-Tip. It is ready to go. I did notice the softness of the nib. There is quite a bit of bounce. Looking forward to writing with it.
I do wish the instructions were in English, though.
Thanks for sharing Paul!
Nice explanation and historical background. Your detailed comparisons were spot on! I have an m800 Pelican Souveran which fits my hand and writing style better than the larger pens such as the 149 or the Pelican m1000. I also have an e95S and and 3 Jinhao 159s. My point being the total cost for all these pens was LESS than one Montblanc 149, and I have two of the best writing gold nibs. If someone wants to gift me a 149 , I’ll take it but I don’t think they’re worth the price. I really agree with your assessment of these pens. Thanks Doug!
Excellent! Thank you!
感谢您耗费巨资测评了他们❤❤❤！最近弘典钢笔又出了新的款式 “秦”钢笔，非常漂亮！期待您的关注😊
Great review! It is worth putting cheaper pens up against revered models to detect the feet of clay (sometimes). Or else prove their worth. The WS is too expensive for me, as is the MB.
Good point!
I just saw that they sell a version of the WS 630 with a stainless steel nib and it goes for roughly 40 - 50 € here in Germany. I really think about getting one of those because it kinda checks all the boxes for me for a daily writer: looks okay (I don't love the super classy design, but it's alright), has a wide section (my carpal tunnel hand l likes those), piston filler (larger ink capacity than converters and I don't have to disassemble the pen to fill it), not too expensive (so I don't care about scratches and dings). But I probably will get the JH X159 first to see if it's comfortable enough for longer writing.
After just gotten a 60s Montblanc 14 in my hands, plastic-wise I can't really tell it apart from the Japanese competitors from the same or a little later decades such as Pilot Elite or Platinum Pocket, if anything, Sailor large/Pro Gear feels SO close in heft and balance, and even the soft touch feeling. its mostly the difference in nib grind shape and smoothing. I'm happy to have a pen with cute snow cap though! or bird poop... least I got it for just about $100
Great review. My red 630 with broad heartbeat nib came yesterday. I probably overpaid on eBay but no matter. I love it. It actually wrote better out of the box than my new 90th anniversary 149 did with a broad nib. That one went back to the factory and it was still not great so I sold it. I recently bought a new 149 with medium nib that writes much better. I love my 149 and love my 360. Always wanted a red 149 and this will do. :)
Very nice!
@gwgtaylor & Doug, I am happy with my 630 and 159 too. Hi Doug, have you changed ws630 Iraurita nib to Jh x159. Do you think it may fit? Thanks
It is not like Mont Blanc was the first cigar shaped fountain pen. And if you go to a MB boutique they are well over a grand US.
It’s basically down to pride of ownership. If having a $1000 pen makes you feel better than having $1000 in your pocket, then it’s worth it. If owning a $1000 pen makes you feel like a gullible fool, then you’re better off not buying it even if you can afford it. The writing experience IS better… but not 10 (or 100) times better.
I’m just happy knowing that people still care about fountain pens in the 21st century so I don’t feel too judgey, one way or the other.
Great review. Hope to get my hands on the Wing Sung one of these days. I especially loved your overview of the plastic types and their properties. Another winner!
I have just inked my Wing Sung 630. Here is my review.
WOW!
I paid US148 + tax, after all the discounts. Apparently this was a Christmas in July event as I have not seen this pen again at this price.
In any case the quality of the pen is superb. The "resin" is done very well. I have the black version but if you put a bright light behind the pen, it is a very dark red.
The nib is glorious. I originally ordered a Medium nib but it was sold out. So, I opted for a Fine. It is shockingly smooth with a touch of feedback. I am using Diamine Regency Blue in it.
I will have to figure out how to clean the nib and feed as it was a pain to remove and a bigger pain to reinsert back into the assembly.
Lubricating the barrel is a cinch when you remove the section. I did buy the wrench but it is not necessary if you have the other Wing Sung wrench
I am looking forward to using it frequently to see if there are any problems. For now it is worth the money.
Thanks for sharing, @paulmchugh1430!
I’m kind of surprised you did get a long blade nib. Having the option of one was something that caught my eye.
They were sold out by the time the price was reduced to the point it I even considered buying one.
Great review and pen comparison, Doug! Really appreciate your efforts.
Many thanks!
Great review. Long form writing on a rhodia dotpad for which I like a narrow smooth wet bouncy nib. And having a preference for well made large piston fill or japanese eyedropper pens. There could be a Jun L in my future. Thanks. It is a golden age in fountain pens right now, it could be even more so with a little luck. This could fill a hole in an old retired guy's pen lineup at a price he can pay.
Wonderful, James!
Thanks for the insightful review. I was thinking I might buy one, but now I'm having second thoughts. I do enjoy my Wing Sung 159. Maybe I don't need a 630... Who am I kidding? It's more on my wish list! 😊
Right on, Bill!
Good review. Satisfies my interest in the pen. Looks like it is wet as the MB 149 is, not that I have any desire in the 149.
I've just ordered the large converter, transparent version of this pen... the 9019?? Should prove interesting with the larger capacity. Thanks Chris!
@@InkquiringMinds I ordered 2, translucent ones. It is C/C. With #8 nib. I also ordered a 630 with steel nib, $30 USD from Bobby.
@@chrisrap52 I’m lead to believe that the converter is large and around 2ml capacity?
@@InkquiringMinds we’ll find out.
@@InkquiringMinds My review posted. Capacity is 1.6ml. I like the pen more than X159.
Yes indeed. A fine review. I appreciate your calculus, not least because it aligns with mine. Basically, get a gold or titanium nib because you want a gold or titanium nib. The writing will be some better, a bit on the paper, and a lot in your head. E.g., I have a Jinhao 95 steel that is one of my best writers for line variation. Better than my 14k Pineider iperflex? No-ish.
Thanks so much!
君来(Junlai) is the name of the online store (which belongs to Green Stationary obviously) that makes and sells these pens. As you mentioned they loaned the WingSung brand from Hero to produce 6xx pens. In the recent new models (629, 600, 630), Junlai decided that they want to buff up their own brand because afterall the WingSung brand does not belong to them.
Yup!
Doug, thank you for a wonderful comparison amongst these fountain pens. I've been eying that 159 as a purchase, that if lost, I won't worry about it. By the way, you're rocking it on Joost' show.
Thank you so much, @user-gl5ld9vm7i!
I just realized that a 630 in blue from ezybuy with a smooth wet steel nib for $30 US could be my work note pen. Cool. Thanks for the review.
If Wing Sung wish to sell pens at this price point they need to provide proper after sales service and a warranty. They need to sell the pens through respected dealerships, even 'brick and mortar' stores. I don't mind buying cheap pens through eBay but not for a pen costing as much as the 630.
I agree 100%, @davidanderson3425!
Agreed and nothing to add.
Honestly, if really something happened to your WS 630, will you be a total sucker ? Atleast for the amount you paid for a gold nib one. Or they have any service centre in CHINA ?..!!!
Thanks for the review Doug. I don't think I will ever buy a Montblanc. I bought a Jinhao X159 less than a year ago and the plastic above the clip just broke off. I had hardly ever used the pen. The plastic is quite bad quality I think. However, I still bought another one as it's so low cost! I wouldn't buy anything expensive from the store that you mentioned in the video. I bought another Wing Sung gold nib pen from them (not cheap), they sent me the wrong pen, I returned it but never got my refund. The store and the platform just don't care.
Thanks for the 411!
Pelikan M1000 is a wonderful engineered pen and practical for nib replacement and cleaning. It's a small fortune and only comes out on special occasions ! Recommend over any MB.
On ETSY ...Wingsung 630 Piston Fountain Pen, #8 Iridium Fine Nib sells for £39.22 GBP . The gold nib version costs a lot more though.
Steel nib from the 630 is available now with around 30 USD. Please compare the nibs same as what you did with 629
I’ll look for it!
@@InkquiringMindsi just ordered one today i will let you know if i receive it before you do
@@InkquiringMinds the pen just arrived it is good build quality the nib is good and bit feedback I want you to compare it with gold nib in the future
I bought a Wing Sung 630 with a Naginata Togi Heartbeat F nib. It is fantastic. But it was almost a 200 dollar purchase off Ali Express. Much less than Mont Blanc
Thanks again for reviewing this pen. In one word it's impressive (both the pen and the review). Your comments are 🎯. In the end my lack of "motivation" for wanting this (fine) writing instrument is that it ... is ... just ... black. To each their own, but I would be more likely to part with $350 for a NEW Leonardo than a "pre owned" Montblanc.
I agree 100%!
Very nice review! This looks like a worthwhile pen and it has some attractive features, but I am going to resist the temptation to order one...for now, at least. Thank you for the great video!
Fair enough!
I'm very grateful you decided to take the plunge and grab this pen for review. For whatever reason mine is still a little late to arrive (I hope it shows up"Ebay") I'm hoping the B nib I chose is actually closer to a medium than a true B but only time will tell. I had an inkling on the size of the tipping but that wetness(&bounce) is something I value in my pens these days. I actually have too many "Dry Inks" that I want to burn through. I keep seeing the ink bottles on your desk get lower and lower and it makes me realize there's just some inks of mine I don't touch.
I hope you get it soon and it write well out of the box!
Great review. I got mine in burgundy recently, but was not ready to pay for the gold nib. I paid 32 euros for the steel one. It is what seems to be an F-more-like-M nib in regular Wing Sung engraving. The centre ring reads "Wing Sung" (not as yours) 630 - Made in China, and the small rings above and below are not linked to the big one; they are individual golden rings, and the red wine small rings between all 3 are like pearlescent, defintely with a more rich burgundy tone. All other features are the same, and the steel nib works EXTREMELY well (and I mean it) right out of the box. Very good writer, no skips at all, and a nice smooth writing experience.
Thanks for sharing!
@@InkquiringMinds You're most welcome. To the question "should you buy one", I would say "yes, but with a steel nib". It writes like a dream.
Great pen review. Super thorough look. I appreciate your comments in the like/ dislikes section.
I appreciate that!
Thanks a lot, Doug, for taking one for the Inkquiringminds team and comparing all three pens.
I would personally take a chance on this pen, had it not been for the very thin "medium" nib.
I share your opinion about the value of Pelikan over Mont Blanc, and will continue to keep the M1000 on my wishlist 😀
Thanks again and keep up the excellent work!
Thank you so much, @delkott!
@@InkquiringMinds You are most welcome, Dear Sir!
The 630 with the JFB nib really makes the pen shine.
What is a JF nib? I saw that available on the listing... is it like an architect nib that makes a wider side stroke?
@@rsinger2597 yes, it is like an architect nib
Thanks Doug, this was fascinating and helpful! This Wing Sung (or whatever it is) is the most expensive Chinese pen I have seen and your review has been very informative in showing us what we get for that cost. I have not tried either pen, but your assessment rings true to me. I agree with you on the Pelikan vs Montblanc - I own a Souveran M1000 and a vintage Meisterstuck 14 (granted, not a 149). The MB 14 is really cool and I appreciate it, but the M1000, to me, is a show-stealer! There is magic in the M1000's nib and the pen's styling is much more interesting and classy than the 149 to my eye. Montblanc vs Pelikan is almost like Mercedes vs BMW...
We’ll said!
I have ordered one in black as this is the closest to MB149.. had difficulty regarding deciding between black and blue color but went for black as it resembles MB149 more and also black is something that can go with both blue and black ink...also the better build from Jinhao X159 and the unique longer nib are the reasons to purchase...thanks for the review...
Thanks for the comparisons Doug!
Thank you, @Javi_C!
I love my Jinhao X159 with it's fine nib which gives some line variation.
Nice video....i actually got the Jinhao x159 and its a great writer but the grip is too wide for my style and hence the pen went to my shelf😂. So wide grips are not for me. 10 mm to 11.5 mm might be a good range for grips.
Thanks for sharing!
Very happy to see this review come out
Thank you as usual for an awesome video Prof. Doug. What is the difference between th heartbeat and the normal nib?
Just the nib engraving I think.
Thx for the review. I will gladly get the 630 and skip the markup 😊
Thanks for the video Doug. Do you think that the plastic part of the piston of the 630 is sturdier than that of the P136 which broke after only 6 or 7 fillings?
They are probably the same part.
@@InkquiringMinds thanks Doug.
My solution was to buy a spare 149 nib and put it into an x159 (yes, the nib fits in the Jinhao unit). $150 for my 149 writing experience-- and in something other than black.
Wonderful solution and a great price on that 149 nib!
Always love your thorough reviews. Increasingly, I can't justify, nor can some of these pen makers, the huge mark-ups on these pens. This comparison shows why. Your final comments about warranty and service are something to he seen but still beg the question of is it worth $800 to $1000 for these pens?
I agree. As I said in the review, I think the MB149 should be priced more in the $700US range.
What an interesting pen. I wonder what pens will be coming out of China in, say, five years time. The quality seems to be bounding ahead. Thanks, Doug, for a very informative post. All the same, I'm hanging out for some more of your musical input; maybe your inner Howlin' Wolf? Cheers.
Thank you so much, @ibpopp!
A great, interesting and thorough review as usual, anwering many technical questions, opening many other questions about pricing policies, values and more. I don't think MB is interested in sueing any of those chinese pen makers. They are selling their pens to a complete different market and customer circle. I guess MB doesn't care at all. They are in another league and don't look downwards, most probably they don't regard any of their copyists as a competitor. I got an MB 146, that's enough of luxury. I got a Majohn P136, a Jinhao X159, X850, X750 and don't need another pen of this form and style. Simply, even with a 14 ct gold nib (look at the real gold value of a 2 gram nib) USD 200/USD 145 or even USD 75 aren't justified in my book. It's sure a well made pen of decent quality, but that's by far not enough to open my purse for it. In general, as another commentator stated, as long as chinese companies throwing their products on western markets and only interested in the quick turnaround, without decent after sales, etc, anything above USD 50 for a chinese pen isn't justified for me. Just m2c...
Excellent points! But at some price points MB DOES care. Some Japanese copies of MB just aren’t sold in Europe.
Doug: I continue to watch your reviews each night under the wide open skies of Iowa. You bring joy, and peak my interest. If I may, I purchased two Hong Dian 1841's recently, and was delighted by your review of same. I am finding one has a temperamental nib and was wondering if the entire nib unit can be replaced. There are numerous Hong Dian nib replacements for sale, but none indicate they are compatible with the 1841. Would a Wing Sung #6 fit? Are there ways of separating the nib/ nib unit from the pen? They are very comfortable pens with which to write and I wish to keep them putting down ink. I would appreciate any direction. Enjoy the remainder of the summer.
The 1841 takes the standard #6 size nib/feed/collar unit. You can get them in EF or F here: tinyurl.com/b3by9awh
The nib unit unscrews from the section. But if you want to use a non-Hongdian #6 size nib, remove the converter, leave the nib unit in the pen and pull rather than unscrew the nib from the nib unit. You might have to soak it in water with a drop of dish soap first. When you put the new non-HD nib in, make sure you use the Hongdian nib and feed and check your cap clearance before you put the cap on. Also, if you see HD nib replacements marked "B", they aren't BROAD, then are BENT nibs.
In 2023, boutique & website prices are coming at $1200-1300 CDN, so WS630 pricing becomes more compelling. Agree that the MB149 has a pricing bubble at the moment. Pelikan Souveran DOS is the best choice now.
You mean $120-$130 Cdn??
@InkquiringMinds Excellent comparison (again). I note the Wing Sun 630 is, for a Chinese pen, very expensive and probably because of the MB 149 similarities, but from AliExpress these Wing Sun cigar-shaped pens with a similar vibe (14k gold nib extra) are under $30 and one under $20: 629 (piston), 699 (Vacuum) and 628 (Converter). I'm not seeing the value in the 630? EDIT: They are US $32-ish on AliX with steel nib - so yes this is value definitely.
We’ll see. I’ve reviewed the 628, 629, and 699.
Thank you for the great comparison video Doug.
Would you ever review the Hongdian Qin dynasty pen? 🙏
Way too expensive for me!
First time commenter, long time viewer. Do you have any ink starvation with the 630? Every one of my Wing Sung 629s stops writing after a bit. The ink will not flow from the reservoir to the feed. I tried several inks.
Thanks for the great videos.
Greg
It is the ink choice I think. Use a wetter ink like Iroshizuku.
I love the steel nib version of this pen. As far as a pure gold nib pen, I'm not sure I'll get one because I'm afraid I'd "ruin" it by handling it too rough.
Do you know, is it possible to swap the nibs between the X159 and 630? If you pull them out of the feed?
I'm not going to try it, but I don't think so. The WingSung 7.1mm thick at the section where the Jinhao is 7.6mm thick and the curve looks a little different. And the WingSung is much longer.
This helps enormously. Should one buy a pen because it's a faithful copy of another? Will vanity or practicality fuel our decision?
It all depends on how "precious" your ego is. If you use a pen because of how it feels and writes and don't give a shit what people think, then it doesn't matter. The 630 is a nice pen. I don't think I'll be writing with it more than my x159 to be honest.
@@InkquiringMinds Well, ya, ditto. I love my Lemon M1, for instance and no one knows (nor would I care ) what I'm writing with -- and now that I've converted two of my X159s into eye droppers I'm heureux comme un cochon dans la merde! (Everything sounds better in French.)
@@chazmena Profite bien de ton compagnon cochon !
@@InkquiringMinds "liked a comment" ... I THINK.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to variety and choice- a good quality pen at a price they can afford.
Your mileage may vary in terms of income.
Well said!
Fantastic comparison, and great humor as always! As much as we poke fun at MB's "precious resin," I will admit it makes a difference. Imitation pens next to a MB make the MB shine. It's just not an $800+ difference.
Have you tried this pen?
@@ichirofakename Not this one in particular, no, but I do have a Jinhao x159, and to my eye the Wing Sung in the video looks better but still "plasticky" (yes I know MBs are plastic too). I feel that MBs have a softer luster, but I suppose that could be a placebo effect.
I can't tell the difference in feel between the three pens.
@@bobabo100% placebo effect
I wonder if Majohn / Moonman will upscale the P136 into a pen with dimensions 'coincidentally' similar to the 149? That could be interesting, as the finishing & feel of the plastic, and especially the cap threads of the P136 are noticeably better than the x159. Not sure about the line width of the M nib on your 630 - I'd be disappointed at a medium nib that writes like an extra fine, no matter how much bounce and line variation is to be had.
I wondered that at the time I reviewed the P136! Eastern nibs always run thinner than the western counterparts.
i like the look from nib of the wing sung more 😶
Thanks for the fantastic review
My pleasure!
Dammit Doug. You are making a compelling case for this pen. If i hadn't been gifted a MB 146 and a 149, I'd be all over this. But it comes in red........
Ordered. Medium 14k black pen for 155. I curse your ink stained soul..........😂
I've been fortunate enough to have a MontBlanc 149 that I bought by about 150 euros I believe, 25 years ago. Would I spend the 800 euros it cost now to have it? Probably not because I wouldn't have written with her these 25 years and so couldn't know it was worth it. But... knowing, and having used it for all these years, mind you with no maintenance at all, well the eventual flush every year, more or less, and having the money to spend on her? well yes probably I would buy her again. I use daily several fountain pens, actually right now I have a Sheaffer VFM, another, Sheaffer that I don't even know the model of (a very good and extremely precise pen actually that I use a lot for architectural sketching), a Parker Frontier, but the only two pens that are always in use with me for at least the last 25 years are the MontBlanc 149 Meisterstuck with black Parker Quink ink and the Parker 51 (that one is with me for the last 45 years) with Blue-Black Parker Quink ink.
Enjoyed the "Sphinx" quote! 😂 Fthagn
I have this Parker, is amazing
Thanks for the great movie. I'm extremely interested in "Wingsung 630 Heart-beat EF nib". Could you please advise where we could purchase the product from?
Try Aliexpress
2013 probably is the year Jun L registered. the highest mountain in shanghai is 230 meters.
Any plans of doing a review of Jinhao 9019 as i believe it suits your taste 🙂( fat section, big converter for ink space )?
Saturday
@@InkquiringMinds awesome 😎
Thanks so much Doug
Very welcome
Hey Doug. Hope this isn't a PITA question: Is there any interchangeability in the piston of the 630 MB 149?
I've never disassembled the piston on the MB 149 so I couldn't say. My guess is no.
@@InkquiringMinds thanks for your answer🙏
Hey Doug, I have both the Jinhao x159 and the MB149. Like the LBD universe (Little Black Dress) there are only so many variations possible. Given a choice of BBP (big black pen) i Go for my Pilot Urushi 4 or 5 times for every inking if the MB. The MB Nib is immaculate and writes flawlessly but it lacks soul in my opinion and is just a bit Meh.
On another tack, Which Leonardo Gran Riserva are you ordering (another no.8 nib yipee)? If you happened to mistakenly order my Gold Burkina then please do review it before you send it on (and yes that'll be shipping to the UK🤮🤑). My second choice is in the Blue Saffron with Gold Nib.....So there!
Oh man! I’d have to sell a few things!
Hi Doug,
Can you send me the link for the place you bought this pen?
Thanks,
Paul
Here you go: www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005651998925.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.5.12dc18023dPmX4
@@InkquiringMinds Thanks. It is a bit confusing between standard, heartbeat,and JF heartbeat.
I found that JF nibs are Waverly style / long blade. So, I think I will be going with the standard nib. Yours works nicely. Like the bounce of the nib.
I did get the ok to get this pen. 👍
This pen is also listed as being made by Yongsheng. Is that the same as Wingsun?
@@teresaharris-travelbybooks5564 yes, it is the same company. I don't know why there is a new change.
Is Wing Sung and Yongsheng the same difference, the latter being another iteration for the former? They're listing the same 630.
Anything in the 600 series is WingSung YongShen now JunLai or JunL.
Well, I can add that I have broken a Wing Sung 619, just like I've broken two TWSBIs 😔. My spontaneous impression is that it's polystyrene, but doesn't make much sense so it's probably ABS.
That said, I really like my Wing Sung 619, and I like my 699s too. They are very slick and well made pens. They deserve to be a bit more careful about. I also absolutely love my Montblanc 149. But you're right. It's a luxury item and prized to remain being that. I don't really care. I have a disposable pile of money, but the 149 was actually a gift.
The 630 nib seem disappointingly fine, just like the 159. I won't run to get one. The cute thing about the Wing Sung 699 is that you can get it with a really nice genuine 'M' nib.
Most "plastic" pens are not ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) - with the notable exception of the Lamy Safari. Most "plastic" pens are made from Acrylic (aka PMMA - Poly Methyl MethAcrylate).
@@danielklopp7007 It makes sense since I tested with solvents for ABS as well as PS, and none of them worked for repairing the cracks. So PMMA is a thermoplastic?
@@Vermiliontea - Yes, PMMA is a thermoplastic. It can be injection molded or machined. The most common trade names for PMMA are: Plexiglas, Acrylite, Lucite, and Perspex.
@@danielklopp7007 Well, it explains why so many materials are lumped together as acrylic (because they are at some basic level PMMA). However, they do also seem to have widely different properties. The cast Lucerite/Lucite we used for machining our pens was hardly a thermoplastic. If heated, it would maybe, possibly, soften very slightly, but mainly it would go brown, and then black, carbonize, before it got into any moldable form.
@@Vermiliontea Yes, the wonderful world of polymer chemistry! Most (all?) acrylic manufacturerers add "modifiers" (i.e. other molecules) to their blend which subtely changes the properties of their end product. One of the popular modifiers are so called "impact" modifiers, improving the toughness of the acrylic. One of the great things about acrylic - it is completely UV stable; one of the bad things - it is somewhat brittle (as straight PMMA). Acrylic is almost the opposite of polycarbonate, which yellows with exposure to UV light, but is incredibly tough (e.g. automobile headlight covers are typically made from polycarbonate - they can take a rock impact without shattering, however they yellow and get hazy after 5-10 years of UV exposure. There are a few boutique fountain pen companies makeing pens from polycarbonate; these pens will eventually yellow and get brittle (although most fountain pens don't get much UV light exposure, so this process could take centuries), but in the mean time polycarbonate pens are bullet-proof (literally, since polycarbonate is what's used for "bulletproof glass")!
Great comparison
Something interesting: I just received my WingSung 630 from Ali.The cap band however says "JUNLEI 630 - MADE IN SHANGHAI". So, Junlei is a synonym of WingSung? A sub-brand? The plot thickens!
Yeah. I’ve seen Jong Sheng as well.
How much does it cost (my DHL driver will do it; check yours) to put the white star on top of the Wingsung?
Use whiteout.
Does the $25.00 steel nib version come with the same build quality? I absolutely love my $6.00 Jinhao 9019.
Yes
@@InkquiringMinds Thanks!
how fun, what a great comparison
My point is that your viewers are often highly offended; however, Wing Sung, Jinhao, and other lookalike goods are welcomed legally in the USA….as long as not knockoff labelled with someone else’s brand. So, soak the rich with your designer label; sell the other-branded knockoff designs to us commoners. We are the blessed. :). By the way, U.S. intellectual property laws do have a category for things like restaurants and other goods called TREADE DRESS. It is based roughly on a theory of a layout being so “deceptively similar” that it could deceive the consumer as to the ownership (source). The U.S. Supreme Court has not applied that doctrine to simple consumer goods that seem to look somewhat alike (again, with no illegal use of a trademark). But, as the founders of Taco Cabana (Houston, TX) would learn, you should not try to copy the layout of a San Antonia-based Mexican restaurant called Two Pesos. I think they made more money suing Taco Cabana than they did in their business. :). (The doctrine similarly arose in a case involving high priced hamburger chains in California.)
Excellent!
About $40 on ETSY. It is very cheap compared to other sites. Do you think this is normal? Is the one on ETSY reliable?
Are you talking about a WS630 with a steel nib? That's about the price. The gold nib is way more!
I mean I would still get the Wing Sung 630 for that massive gold nib, considering I don’t have to spend 900 bucks for a pen that have a high chance to crack open 😅 even if the 630 does break on me it’s still nothing to worry comparing to that 149😅😅
True!
Well, hell, er heck…,
Doug, great review (I got to see the President … Again ~ Forrest, Forrest Gump)
Your review cuts to chaste, chase, where the rubber meets the road. Montblanc are overpriced (IHO) only. By how much, and what’s a brand name worth is anyone’s & each of us’s guess. I own several Montblanc fountain pens. Very nice, but I didn’t purchase them, they were gifts. I prefer a bargain for my dollar. (Yankee stock). Not sure if I’ll ante up for a Wing Sung 630, but at its cost it’s within strike distance as it’s been said. I think I’d like to save for a Pelikan M800 or even a M600. After so many fountain pens, I’d rather wait & save for a more expensive one than purchase something that I wasn’t really wanting anyways… . Call me Ishmael, the white whale calls… .
Thanks Doug 👍😎
Thank you @strshooter7399. That is much appreciated!
Great vlog
Glad you enjoyed
BTW if the Leonardo Gran Riserva is just a little bigger than a LMZG then i guess it's a LMZGG!
Yes!
Great honest review of the Wing Sung 630. As a pen in it's own right it looks like a decent pen with an integrated piston filler, good fit and finish from what I can see in the video, and a very springy 14K gold nib. It can be easily disassembled for cleaning, all the characteristics of a great pen. If it had less blatant MB imitation, it would be more appealing to me, but then again for Wing Sung the only reason anyone would buy it is for the MB clone appeal for a fraction of the cost. For me Montblanc has more meaning because of it's history and heritage, and so if I were going to celebrate a milestone or important event, gifting a Montblanc would go a lot further than a Wing Sung 630, in fact for someone who is pen savvy, maybe receiving a Wing Sung 630 as a special gift would be an insult. It's like a Cubic Zirconia to a real diamond analogy, the former looks and feels like a real diamond, but could never replace a real diamond. Montblanc does a lot in my opinion to elevate the fountain pen culture, in the promotion of the arts, great characters etc....I am not a fan of companies like Wing Sung ripping off Montblanc for their own gain, it undermines Montblanc and everything they do, the innovation, craftsmanship, prestige of the craft etc...There is a premium for maintaining quality and craftsmanship, producing everything in house and in Germany. Cheap knock offs undermine the industry.
I like the cubic zirconia analogy!
Not really. Those who can afford a Mont Blanc, would be unlikely to downtrade to a JunL/Wing Sung that proudly announces that it isn't a Mont Blanc by sticking it's name on it. Get real.
A run through international economic history shows that such homages are nothing new. It always happens, and always will. When Mont Blanc start dropping pens at the $150 mark, then you might have a point. Until then, they need not worry. Indeed, they only need worry if Wing Sung start putting out homages of equivalent quality to Mont Blanc at a lower price. Then that will be a fight worth having.
Great video
Thanks!
Wing sung seems to have changed its name to Yongsheng 630 and on Amazon it costs 3, 600. That’s an exorbitant price 😛
Yong Sheng is a more phonetic spelling of Wing Sung.
Ok, professor, i did some research into Wing Sung, Junlai and what the heck is going on here.
First, Wing Sung and Yong Sheng are completely interchangeable. They mean exactly the same thing. The words come out differently due to translations of different languages spoken in China.
Now, this Junlai. Apparently it has been associated with the Shanghai Green Stationary Company for years. The reason for the recent games with names is Kaweco They attempted to trademark Wing Sung in Canada. I saw ths paperwork. The application was denied but could have been appealed. Kaweco dropped the application on Dec 22/22. The intention of the application was to firce a name change like they did to Moonman. Had it gome through, Wing Sung would have become Junlai.
Things that make you ho hmmm.....
Great 411. I knew about Yong Sheng. News about Kaweco but not surprising. WingSung (Green) has been JunL since November 2022 by my research.
1. Well this is a nervy comparison.
2. I wonder if they will sell any of these.
It isn't nervy it all! It is required! It is the first question people will have. Is it worth that kind of money for a knock-off?
I'm confused, Master Po. Not like Grandpa Castorini but like little David Carradine the grasshoper.
No need for confusion, grasshopper. Quick as you can, snatch the pen you can afford from my hand!
The design is a knock-off of a knock-off per se. The design did not originate with Montblanc; they merely popularised it.
MB's 'precious resin' is an older plastic formula from ~1920's. I wonder how much exploration has been done since with the explosion in materials research of the past 40 years?
I would expect the recipe has changed a great deal since the '20s!
Meh, for $150 I'd rather an Edison Beaumont
1등인 것이다..!
Doug, Doug, Dough. THE USA DOES NOT HONOR DESIGN PATENTS. I think Japan does. I do not know about Canada. However, if you sell a “knockoff’ that has a Montblanc logo, your goods should be confiscated at import. You certainly could be sued, here, Canada & pretty much the world around. Strangely, as a West Coast guy, I know less about E.U. Laws regarding design patents. In the USA at least, you can take the original designs of pens, dresses, etc. & send an order to Taiwan, China, elsewhere for cheap manufacture and have them returned to the USA’s Walmart or Target with you in-store brand sewn in. If you clearly label them with your brand, sell them at whatever price you want, then you can just laugh all the way to the bank. Those leather purses with a designer label sell for hundreds of dollars. My wife (unlike my Asia or other wealthy students, who spot them and are horrified that you are so poor) never buys the originals. In our over 50 years of marriage, we have been invited to some student’s wedding or other upper class event. We just go with our fakes. They expect professors to be more rational. :)
Why would I sell a fake Montblanc?