ianmedium
July 13th, 2012, 05:51 PM
Well. I thought it was time to do a review of this pen now that I have had it almost a month.
The Packaging:
Firstly, probably the least important part of a pen.. The packaging! I have to say you can see where some of the money goes with this pen when looking at the box(s) it comes in. First a white card sleeve, then a beautiful black cardboard sleeve which has the famous Hitchcock self portrait found on the nib this time outlined in red. Once this is removed one finds a black heavy box with yet again the red Hitchcock self portrait.
On the front of the box is a silver plaque on which is engraved amongst other things the limited edition number, in my case 2949/3000. Judging by the weight I would say the box is made from wood then covered in a sort of rubberized coating which feels wonderful.
Open the box and one is greeted with an alcantara suede finish, the pen and a film canister. Inside the canister is a booklet of famous quotes from his movies. Underneath all that is a beautiful booklet describing Hitchcock, the pen and information on filling the pen, care and also the warranty card. Phew! Some packaging! Here are a few pictures to give you an idea before I move on the the pen... In honour of the master I will keep you in suspense.. It's worth the wait!
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010252.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010255.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010254.jpg
The Body: (in the library??)
OK, on to the pen! I am really fortunate in that I own some really lovely pens, wonderful fit and finish on all of them but I have to say that the Hitchcock is ahead of them all by a country mile! I think rather than it being the materials used (though they are exquisite combining Sterling silver and deep, rich resins, 18k palladium plated gold) it is the attention to detail in using those materials that really raises this pen above the rest.
The resin of the body is immaculately presented, the engraving is almost razor sharp and the way they have alternated the base colour so that when one twirls the pen you get a vertigo effect that is quite profound. That same engraving ensures this pen is secure to hold when writing.. And yes, this pen is made for writing not displaying, more of which later!
All the metal on the pen is the very highest quality 925 Stirling silver, all except the clip which is indeed as it says on it, Stainless steel, see, attention to detail, just like a real knife!
I have the same number Stirling silver on my Montegrappa but for some reason the silver on the Hitchcock feels more lustrous and deep, it feels more like an heirloom piece of silver from Aspreys rather than Sears or Argos! The engraving on the silver cannot be faulted and the finish at the base of the engraving as a lovely sand cast texture to it. From the hash marks to note how many movies Hitchcock made on the piston cap to the production notes from Psycho engraved on the barrel and cap bad to the wonderful font used for the words 'Stainless Steel' on the clip the quality of craftsmanship is of the highest.
The section, made of Silver is smooth with a small, comfortable ridge at the end. I have experienced no issues with slippage on this shiny surface, even on hot days. The piston knob is just a work of art, dare I say it is sexy in shape! It looks like they took liquid silver, let it fall and then cast that fall. The action of the knob is super smooth and it feels like a piece of quality engineering in action.
Here are some pictures to show off the details I mentioned above.. Still to come the nib and writing experience.. Hmm Owning a Hitchcock I think has given me some of the masters techniques of suspense!
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010225.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010242.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010238.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010234.jpg
The Nib:
Now to the good stuff! Quite simply this is the finest writing nib I have experienced to date! It has the ability to combine buttery smoothness with just enough feel to keep things interesting. It has no italic or stub grind, it is indeed.. just a medium nib.. But oh what a medium nib!
I tell you, if all medium nibs wrote as well as this, if they all involved the writer of that nib with the same level of passion and interest as this one does then medium nibs would no longer be a maligned species that they seem to be in fountainpendom!
There is a spring in the nib which ensures that an ink which is capable of shading will truly shine with this nib. The ink flow is just about perfect, neither too wet or too dry, just spot on. The finish of this nib in terms of shape and engraving is also top tier. Though a simple nib in terms of adornments what there is has been beautifully executed and just looks wonderful. I wish I could get a good shot of the nib but it is so hard as the quality of polishing is such that the finish is mirror.
When one starts to write with this nib one just does not want to put it down! Seriously,
there have been times where I have run out of words to write so just invent things so that I can keep writing, it really is that good!
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010244.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010187.jpg
To sum up
This is an exceptional fountain pen! I believe the list price is somewhere around $3700 and street price around $3200. As most of you know this pen was a gift from a client of mine for work done on one of his books so it is hard for me to talk of value.
But I will say this. If I had the money and I Purchased this pen, after spending that sort of money I truly would feel I had actually got quite the bargain! I really feel Mont Blanc put a lot of love into making this pen, I also feel that this pen really shows Mont Blanc have not forgotten their roots, that they are a pen maker first and foremost.
This pen I feel puts to rest the internet scuttlebutt that Mont Blanc are not interested in pens anymore. Honestly, You can feel the passion of the designers and craftsmen and women who put this pen together. This pen has soul and it is more than the sum of it's parts.. Very much like Mr Hitchcock's movies!
The Packaging:
Firstly, probably the least important part of a pen.. The packaging! I have to say you can see where some of the money goes with this pen when looking at the box(s) it comes in. First a white card sleeve, then a beautiful black cardboard sleeve which has the famous Hitchcock self portrait found on the nib this time outlined in red. Once this is removed one finds a black heavy box with yet again the red Hitchcock self portrait.
On the front of the box is a silver plaque on which is engraved amongst other things the limited edition number, in my case 2949/3000. Judging by the weight I would say the box is made from wood then covered in a sort of rubberized coating which feels wonderful.
Open the box and one is greeted with an alcantara suede finish, the pen and a film canister. Inside the canister is a booklet of famous quotes from his movies. Underneath all that is a beautiful booklet describing Hitchcock, the pen and information on filling the pen, care and also the warranty card. Phew! Some packaging! Here are a few pictures to give you an idea before I move on the the pen... In honour of the master I will keep you in suspense.. It's worth the wait!
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010252.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010255.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010254.jpg
The Body: (in the library??)
OK, on to the pen! I am really fortunate in that I own some really lovely pens, wonderful fit and finish on all of them but I have to say that the Hitchcock is ahead of them all by a country mile! I think rather than it being the materials used (though they are exquisite combining Sterling silver and deep, rich resins, 18k palladium plated gold) it is the attention to detail in using those materials that really raises this pen above the rest.
The resin of the body is immaculately presented, the engraving is almost razor sharp and the way they have alternated the base colour so that when one twirls the pen you get a vertigo effect that is quite profound. That same engraving ensures this pen is secure to hold when writing.. And yes, this pen is made for writing not displaying, more of which later!
All the metal on the pen is the very highest quality 925 Stirling silver, all except the clip which is indeed as it says on it, Stainless steel, see, attention to detail, just like a real knife!
I have the same number Stirling silver on my Montegrappa but for some reason the silver on the Hitchcock feels more lustrous and deep, it feels more like an heirloom piece of silver from Aspreys rather than Sears or Argos! The engraving on the silver cannot be faulted and the finish at the base of the engraving as a lovely sand cast texture to it. From the hash marks to note how many movies Hitchcock made on the piston cap to the production notes from Psycho engraved on the barrel and cap bad to the wonderful font used for the words 'Stainless Steel' on the clip the quality of craftsmanship is of the highest.
The section, made of Silver is smooth with a small, comfortable ridge at the end. I have experienced no issues with slippage on this shiny surface, even on hot days. The piston knob is just a work of art, dare I say it is sexy in shape! It looks like they took liquid silver, let it fall and then cast that fall. The action of the knob is super smooth and it feels like a piece of quality engineering in action.
Here are some pictures to show off the details I mentioned above.. Still to come the nib and writing experience.. Hmm Owning a Hitchcock I think has given me some of the masters techniques of suspense!
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010225.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010242.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010238.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010234.jpg
The Nib:
Now to the good stuff! Quite simply this is the finest writing nib I have experienced to date! It has the ability to combine buttery smoothness with just enough feel to keep things interesting. It has no italic or stub grind, it is indeed.. just a medium nib.. But oh what a medium nib!
I tell you, if all medium nibs wrote as well as this, if they all involved the writer of that nib with the same level of passion and interest as this one does then medium nibs would no longer be a maligned species that they seem to be in fountainpendom!
There is a spring in the nib which ensures that an ink which is capable of shading will truly shine with this nib. The ink flow is just about perfect, neither too wet or too dry, just spot on. The finish of this nib in terms of shape and engraving is also top tier. Though a simple nib in terms of adornments what there is has been beautifully executed and just looks wonderful. I wish I could get a good shot of the nib but it is so hard as the quality of polishing is such that the finish is mirror.
When one starts to write with this nib one just does not want to put it down! Seriously,
there have been times where I have run out of words to write so just invent things so that I can keep writing, it really is that good!
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010244.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010187.jpg
To sum up
This is an exceptional fountain pen! I believe the list price is somewhere around $3700 and street price around $3200. As most of you know this pen was a gift from a client of mine for work done on one of his books so it is hard for me to talk of value.
But I will say this. If I had the money and I Purchased this pen, after spending that sort of money I truly would feel I had actually got quite the bargain! I really feel Mont Blanc put a lot of love into making this pen, I also feel that this pen really shows Mont Blanc have not forgotten their roots, that they are a pen maker first and foremost.
This pen I feel puts to rest the internet scuttlebutt that Mont Blanc are not interested in pens anymore. Honestly, You can feel the passion of the designers and craftsmen and women who put this pen together. This pen has soul and it is more than the sum of it's parts.. Very much like Mr Hitchcock's movies!