How reliable is the flashlight test for detecting real vs. counterfeit Montblanc pens?
How reliable is the flashlight test for detecting real vs. counterfeit Montblanc pens?
pajaro (October 26th, 2018)
It works on some of the really old, really bad fakes. New fakes though look just like the authentic thing.
pajaro (October 26th, 2018)
I don't think it could be called "reliable" as I've heard of some newer fakes passing the test. I believe that's what jar meant too.
Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens
I was wondering because everything about my 1990 149 checked out but I was not getting the translucence. Turned out my crappy flashlight was not bright enough and I had been checking it in a room that was too bright near a window. I checked it earlier in a dim room with a better flashlight. The translusence is there.
You don't really need a flashlight test for a 149 that has the correct piston filling system.
Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens
I have learned a lot in my MB research and have seen some good information from you along the way. I was just being overcautious I guess after reading that there are some very good fakes that fool even the experienced people. I assumed that meant the new better fakes had piston systems as well whereas they did not in the past. Now I have also read that some of the good newer fakes pass the flashlight test.
There are some fakes that have a "sort of" piston filler, but it's not the same as the authentic Montblanc version. So you're much safer with 146 and 149 pens than you are with C/C fillers.
Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens
RayCornett (October 29th, 2018)
There are some fakes that were being built in Korea as demonstrator models that have a fully functional and near identical piston system to the modern Montblancs.
RayCornett (October 29th, 2018)
Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens
RayCornett (October 29th, 2018)
At the risk of sounding like a noob (hello, I'm a noob!) can somebody please explain the flashlight test to me? I'm assuming that a reasonable strength light shone down the inside of the pen should not leak light through to the outside? Or is it the other way around - that light should be visible?
I have searched, but this is the only thread containing "flashlight test" in the MB sub-forum.
Thank you
Richard
If you search on Google for "Flashlight test on Montblanc resin" and watch Stephen Brown's videos, you should find out about the flashlight test there.
Here is one of them
Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens
It's worth buying a Montblanc if a) they have the specific pen you want and b) you have the money for it.
Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens
Yazeh (November 18th, 2020)
I think this test will be effective on older generation models. But that does not mean that modern models cannot be tested properly. For any tests to determine sublimity or efficacy, white or blue light flashlights should be used. The whole point is that a warm light can't fully make all of the required marks. Almost any high-powered flashlight can do the job. For example, I use https://www.amazon.com/Vont-Flashlig.../dp/B089T8HDBV, which I am also handy for hiking. And what do you need a check for? Is there any damage that says tampering?
Last edited by SaniyahMathis; September 25th, 2022 at 05:22 AM.
That certainly used to be the case but now there are copies of the 146 with a "real" piston. I have one in front of me and it is a *very* near dupe of my real 146, the caps even interchange. It would be impossible to tell them apart in a photo and difficult even with the fake pen in hand. The only certain test would be to apply a magnet to the nib as gold isn't magnetic.
Aliexpress calls them 149 but they are actually 146 copies.
Recently, a boxed mint Montblanc 145 Chopin was passed around at a pen gathering. I was in a group of serious Montblanc fans who examined the cartridge-fill fountain pen. I was fooled. It looked perfect to me. Others in the group agreed. I suggested a magnet, & the owner of the 145 took one out, having anticipated someone would ask that question. The nib attracted the magnet. It was a fake with a non-gold, metal alloy nib. This fake was flawless. I agree that years ago Montblanc fakes were pretty easy to detect. These days, there are very detailed copies.
Chrissy (September 25th, 2022)
Magnets don't always work. I have pens with stainless-steel nibs that aren't attracted to a magnet.
Doesn't Montblanc have a authentication service? If so, you might want to send it to them to authenticate it.
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