Montblanc 90th Anniversary LeGrand Review

[Laura N]

So, this is a rare pen review from me, my extreme reluctance overcome only by the cool story behind this pen, which I wanted to share. Also, it is just a wonderful pen for me.

Back in November, on Fountain Pen Day, FPGeeks ran a contest with Montblanc North America, asking for people's favorite Montblanc pen. The prize was a generous $500 gift certificate from Montblanc. And I, somehow, won. Perhaps because my favorite Montblanc pen was the very special Virginia Woolf writer's edition, a gift from my mother. But that's a story for another day.

When Dan told me I won, I was ecstatic, of course. And I knew exactly how I’d use the prize. Just a few weeks before I’d been at the Chicago Montblanc Boutique window-shopping. The JFK limited editions all looked great, as did the Daniel Defoe and Honoré de Balzac writer's editions. But the one I really wanted was a 90th Anniversary LeGrand with red gold trim and nib. I had loved that pen since I first saw it at the Boutique back in April of last year. That last time I was there I checked to see if they had one with an extra-fine nib, which was the one for me.

I had been resisting for good practical reasons. I already own a few Montblancs, and I didn't really have spare cash, and I couldn't justify adding another. But thanks to Montblanc and Fountain Pen Geeks, huzzah, I could now. It felt like it was meant to be. I called the lovely people at the Chicago Boutique and they held "my" extra fine 90th Anniversary LeGrand until the gift certificate arrived and I could pick it up. And since I've owned it, I’ve used it every day. So here's a review.



1. Appearance and Design.

The Meisterstück , which means “Masterpiece” is a classic, traditional design available in three sizes — 149, LeGrand and Classique. It has long been available in gold or platinum trim. In whatever size or trim, it is recognizable, almost iconic. I feel like everyone knows this pen. The design is business-like, not fancy, not pretty, but attractive, solid and well-balanced. It's the black four-door sedan of pens, to me.

Apparently Montblanc debuted the Meisterstück in 1924, making 2014 its 90th anniversary, creating the perfect occasion to issue a 90th anniversary collection. The 90th year versions of the three Meisterstück sizes each have red gold trim and a special red gold nib, and come in a throwback box. There are some other 90th anniversary products as well, including an amazing 149 Skeleton that I got to play with and would have happily traded my car for, were that something I could have sneaked past my husband.

I personally love the 90th year touches. First, the new trim, which Montblanc calls red gold instead of rose gold. It works for me, since the trim doesn’t look rosy, but more dark and subtle than I’d have expected. It’s a nice look: the red gold is warm and attractive, but not particularly feminine. Capped, the pen never screams “I’m different” or “check out this trim.” In fact, in a pen cup next to a regular gold-trim 146, it takes me a second or two to distinguish which is which, and it’s really the size, not the trim, that does it.



Uncapped, it’s a different story. The monotone red gold nib, with its prominent “90,” does initially draw the eye, more than either the older monotone gold 146 nib or the regular two-tone LeGrand nib.



I don’t find it gaudy or blingy, just noticeable in a nice way. Now that the pen is no longer brand new, I notice it less. Still, for me, the red gold color trim and the special nib together enhance the pen and make it just a little nicer. Here are three nibs to compare. From L to R, you see the current regular LeGrand nib, an older monotone 146 nib, and the 90th year LeGrand.



I’m not a box person, but the box is kind of nice, too. For me the best part is the sleeve, which is emblazoned with a vintage-style print of the mountain, some unusual typeface and what I assume are the Meisterstück’s original slogans. On one side: “nur echt mit der sternschutzmarke auf dem kappenkopf, “ which the internet translates for me as “only real with the star brand protection on the cap head.” On the other side is “in jeder lage tragbar,” for which I get a literal translation of “in any situation bearable,” but which I suspect means something more like “useable in any situation.” The box gives a sense of history, and shows the extra thought they put into the 90th anniversary pens, which I think is a nice gesture and says that the pen is a little special to Montblanc.



2. Construction and Quality.

In my experience, you won’t find a more solid or reliable pen than a LeGrand. It feels like it’s made with high quality materials, and is designed to last. And I know that’s true: I have some older 146s that sat for years in a drawer; one worked perfectly while two needed Montblanc service. The service was quick, and reasonably priced, and I expect decades more of trouble-free use. It feels like a pen that will last a lifetime.

One slight drawback for a pen tinkerer like me is that the pens are not meant to be taken apart and worked on by the owner. But I can see the reason for that from Montblanc’s perspective. That falls under “it is what it is."



3. Weight and Dimensions.

Weight: capped 25 grams; body only 15 grams. Length: capped about 14.5 cm or 5 ¾ inches; body only, excluding nib, is just over 10 cm or 4 inches. The section flares slightly and measures around 1 cm wide, approximately. For me, the LeGrand is the “just right” size. The 149 is too wide for my hand, and the Classique is a little thin. The section is actually on the larger side, and I only have average sized hands for a woman, but I find it very comfortable, given the pen’s light weight. It is a pen I can write with for hours. I think the LeGrand size would suit most people who don’t need either a very large or heavy pen.

Here are photos comparing the LeGrand to other common pens. From left to right, there is a Lamy 2000, LeGrand, Parker 51 and Lamy Safari.





4. Nib and Performance.

If you write with your pens, the nib is the heart of the matter. I bought this with an extra-fine nib, my first from Montblanc, and I can’t say enough good things. It wrote perfectly out of the box, smooth and trouble-free. I waited to write this review because I wanted to really use the pen first, rather than writing in the first flush of happiness. But two months using the pen only confirmed my first impressions: this nib is a delight. It is a European sized extra-fine, so not a micro fine nib. It does write with a thinner line than the Montblanc fine, but I find the differences between extra-fine, fine and medium to be more a matter of degree rather than of radical change. In line width, this Montblanc extra-fine compares to a Japanese fine; it’s a bit thicker than that, but also smoother in use for me. It tolerates a lot of rotation, and I’m told Montblanc recommends the extra-fine to left-handers for that reason. It has perfect flow, putting down ink with even the lightest touch, so the pen flies across the page.

Here is a photo of a quick and dirty writing sample of this Montblanc extra-fine, a Montblanc fine, a Montblanc medium and a Nakaya fine.



5. Filling System and Maintenance.

These are piston fillers with smooth action and excellent longevity. They have a very useable ink window, something I really appreciate, and they hold a lot of ink. I measured its ink capacity at more than 1.75 ml, which would last me quite a while. Montblanc makes wonderful inks, and not surprisingly I find them a great match for this pen.

6. Cost and Value.

The cost was $705 at my local Montblanc boutique. That’s the same price as the standard gold-trim LeGrand; actually the platinum-trim LeGrand is $755. If there’s any drawback to the pen, it’s the cost. It’s expensive, and most of us have to weigh that carefully. Montblanc is a luxury brand, and it prices its pens that way.

I was told that Montblanc plans to keep the red gold trim option in the Meisterstück line, but without the 90th Anniversary nib. So it’s possible that these 90th Anniversary models may be more sought after in the future. It’s definite that they won't be available forever. For me, it’s a pen I love, in a trim I prefer, so this is the one I’d get if I could only have one, and I appreciate that it doesn't cost any more than the regular gold trim LeGrand.

7. Conclusion.

I don’t have any criticisms of or reservations about this pen. I love it. I am so thankful to have it. I might not have bought it, until I got the gift certificate. But once I took it out of the box and started using it, it became far and away my favorite regular Montblanc. The Virginia Woolf will always be at least tied for favorite, for sentimental reasons, but the standard LeGrand design feels more like an everyday user. This is one of the few pens that I would replace immediately if it were ever lost or broken.

As a Montblanc fan, I like the idea that this pen commemorates the Meisterstück’s long history. I like how attractive the red gold trim is. And the extra-fine nib makes it a great writing pen for me. So it’s a pen that’s now on my short list of favorites.