Montblanc
From Penpedia
Montblanc International GmbH is a German manufacturer of writing instruments, watches and accessories, often identified by their "White Star" logo.
Contents 1 History 2 Branding 3 Product Range and Customer Service 3.1 Special and Limited Editions 3.2 Customer Service and Repairs 4 How to Spot a Fake 5 Brand Activities 5.1 Arts & Culture 6 Mont Blanc Image Gallery 7 References 8 External links
History Founded by the stationer Claus-Johannes Voss, the banker Alfred Nehemias and the engineer August Eberstein in 1906, the company began as the Simplo Filler Pen company producing up-market pens in the Schanzen district of Hamburg. Their first model was the Rouge Et Noir in 1909 followed in 1910 by the pen that was later to give the company its new name, the Mont Blanc. The first pen (a fountain pen) known as the Meisterstück or Masterpiece (the name used for export) was produced in 1925. Today the Montblanc brand is on other goods besides pens, for instance watches.
The company was successful despite its founder, Eberstein, fleeing to the US to avoid prosecution for stealing company funds in 1909. In 1934 the company changed its name to Montblanc-Simplo GmbH, and introduced its first piston filler.
The company was acquired by Dunhill in 1977, following which lower price pens were dropped and the brand was used on a wide range of luxury goods other than pens.[1]
Today Montblanc forms part of the Richemont group. Its sister companies include luxury brands Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chloé, and Baume et Mercier. Since 2000, Montblanc has manufactured all the components for Montegrappa and Cartier branded pens.
Branding
Montblanc 146 (top) and 149 Fountain PensA trademark identified with Montblanc is the white stylised six-pointed star with rounded edges, representative of the Mont Blanc snowcap from above, the symbol being adopted in 1913. The number "4810," the mountain's height in metres, is also a commonly recurring theme.
The star is also referred to as an edelweiss, an indigenous perennial that grows in the alpine forests and mountains of Europe. Less romantically, the star is also referred to as "the bird splat" by some fountain pen collectors.[2]
Product Range and Customer Service Special and Limited Editions Next to various Limited Editions like the Patron of the Art Series (e.g. Francois 1er [3]) with only a few hundred of them being produced around the world, there are some Limited Editions produced from editions of 4810 (the height of Mont Blanc) to those in tens of thousands.
The Patron of the Art (POA) Series are found in editions of 888, increasing their appeal in Asian markets. These models are intricately adorned in diamonds, rubies, and other precious stones into precious metals typically in 18K gold. A signature mark on these include a Mother of Pearl Montblanc Star adorning the cap.
Although cheaper, the Montblanc Writers Edition has been profitable. These pens are launched each year, commemorating the life and work of a particular writer, with their signature engraved into the cap of the edition. Usually, a symbol of their most distinguished work is engraved onto the nibs, of the fountain pen versions. Montblanc use "aged resin" in the caps of the pens in this series, to give the Montblanc star an 'off-white' or 'cream coloured' appearance, thereby ensuring a contrast in colour when next to models from their regular production line-up.
Apart from a serial number the Limited Edition pieces carry a distinct number placing it within the release of the edition, i.e. 1/888 would be the first pen produced of an edition of 888 pens.
Editions include Patron of Art, Writers Edition, Special Theme Edition, Annual Edition, Donation series and America's Signatures for Freedom. The Donation series includes some limited Editions like the 2009 released Signature for Good limited edition. Montblanc donates parts of its proceeds to UNICEF. They claim to guarantee a minimum of US $1.5 million worldwide within one year. [4]
Customer Service and Repairs Mont Blanc will not sell customers or dealers replacement parts without the company performing the repair. When a pen is damaged, the pen is accepted at any Mont Blanc boutique where it will be forwarded to their service centre for evaluation; a quote for the repair will be provided to the customer if the pen is out of warranty.
Certain Mont Blanc boutiques have on-site technicians to service pens and perform simple repairs. Mont Blanc also offers a free engraving service to customers, however, the pen needs to be forwarded to their local service centre and can take 3 - 5 days.
The Nib Exchange service by Mont Blanc operates as follows. Newly purchased pens, can have their nibs exchanged for free within the first six-weeks, however, the exchange of older and already worked-in nibs will incur a service fee. This service does not apply to Special and Limited Edition pens, as these models have a very limited number of spare nibs. Due to this reason, all Special and Limited Edition pens need to be returned to the Hamburg manufacture, for strict control of the Limited Edition nibs.
Mont Blanc provide a one-year warranty on leather goods, whilst their writing instruments and desk accessories are accompanied by a two-year warranty.
