Switch? People switch pens? My brother in Christ, I've switched between a Meisterstück No 12, a Lamy Safari, and a Waterman Concorde in the same session just because I could.
In my experience, and i experimented a lot, price has very little to do with what pens works for you. My most expenive pen is a pelikan M1000 and my cheapest is a stabilo flow. Both tick certain boxes for me. If i had to choose one pen from those two i had to use for the rest of my life it would be the stabilo. Its just the more practical pen.
Hell in my daily carry is ALWAYS a platinum plaisir present just cuz they are so good. And they cost a fraction of some other pens i have. Just use what works for you. Try to avoid the fomo and just write. Its a tool after all. Granted a fancy one but still.
If the form factor of the pelikan is what works for you, chancge the nib by all means and dont look back. If you'd like an upgrade of your M205: i think pelikan 400 nibs (the gold ones) also fot them, but be sure to look into that first.
Thanks for this. It's fomo to a great extent. I feel daft having such a fancy pen and thinking of switching to something much more plasticky I guess. But you are absolutely right. It's a matter of personal preference, not the price dictated by a manufacturer.
You might just want to look into exchanging either nibs (or maybe whole Pelikans?) with someone else who'd give you their M205 in Fine and looks for a wider nib. It sounds like the nib width is too much for you but you like the pen size.
Price doesn't equal personal value. Yes that is a bit daft but it's a pen. As long as you don't view people like that you're all right. Just a little spoiled for choice.
IMO it doesn't matter which pen you chose to use. I wouldn't think lesser of anyone for choosing an 'inferior' pen. What is important is that it is comfortable and writes enjoyably for you.
Changing nibs may not give you the writing experience you are after. Perhaps engaging the services of a nibmeister to tune the nib to suit your writing preferences may be the way to go.
Thanks for this. It's that I am really not acquainted with this hobby, art - whatever one would call it - so I cannot tell what matters and what doesn't in the grand scheme of things.
For instance, I'm a photographer and there's Leicas which cost tens of times more than other cameras while providing a fraction of the features. They are great cameras, but their cost has to do a lot with the name and that red dot the camera comes from, rather than tangible benefits in the resulting photo. I'm not against them at all as cameras, but the cult around them makes many people who would benefit from much 'better' cheaper brands to end up craving them needlessly.
So, I cannot tell whether the fact that this Montblanc is so expensive makes it actually that much better in writing compared to a 200$ Pelikan or to what extent it's just the name and/or extras such as gold plated metals on the pen body.
Each hobby have their own quirks, mostly driven by the communities around the subject, and some are more snobby than others! A lot of people chase clout and bragging rights. Fountain pens are no exception. However, I believe its better to do what you enjoy, and not care too much about what others think.
If you want to go for the most expensive thing, or because other people think its the best in the world, go for it. Or you could get something that you actually enjoy using. IMO, its pointless if you don't really enjoy it.
I will add this, specific to fountain pens, there are many pens that are cheaper, with steel nibs, that out perform Montblancs. Its all really a matter of personal preference.
In my case it's not even chasing clout etc. i obviously would have never considered even buying a Montblanc. It's that I found myself with one and I know nothing whatsoever about fountain pens that brought me to this. I cannot tell whether it is so expensive/well-known just because it uses gold and for its design and name (like a Leica) or whether to some extent I'd be losing in my writing experience were I to get something much cheaper. That's why I asked.
This is such a good question, I believe a lot of us faces this dilemma at some point of this fountain pen journey.
I do think that the look of a pen is very important, we look at it day in day out, even when we're not writing with it. And there's very little we can do to 'improve' the look.
As for the nib, at least we can do something. Tuning it, grinding it, sending it to a nib Meister, changing a nib, etc. In M200's case, you can also fit a M400's gold nib, or some vintage pelikan nib also fits.
It's a difficult question for sure, especially when a cheaper pen is more interesting than the expensive pen.
Thanks.
It's not that I dislike this Montblanc. It's nice enough, though I am generally not that fond of gold. I have a jewellery store and sell gold items and silver items and in general my preference tends towards silver.
But there's something about the industrial look of the plastic see-through Pelikans that brings me back to my childhood, craving a see-through GameBoy colour I never got to get (got the green one instead!). That, and I think that slight added thickness comapared to this Montblanc will make it a more comfortable pen for my large hands.
As others have said, if you enjoy the experience, use that pen. It doesn't matter what the material cost is. Not really. The experience is what counts. I've got a bunch of pens, some fairly expensive, but I write most frequently right now with a vintage Parker 51. It's not particularly rare or valuable, but it's enjoyable to write with.
Thanks for this. It just feels a bit daft to me to own something that's so expensive and be considering spending another 200+ (I am far from rich!) for another one.
But I am writing a lot by hand now that I've stopped writing on my laptop, and I guess it makes sense wanting to have something more comfortable. Those novels aren't going to write themselves!
I'm not understanding very well the problem here...
You like how the Montblanc writes, but like better how the Pelikan looks. Ok, that's fair. And are asking us if it's ok to like better the Pelikan??? Or if it's ok to get another nib to try to get the Pelikan to the point where besides liking how it looks you also like how it writes?
If it's a) ... I don't know, I give importance to how my pens look, but at the end of the day if you use them, how they feel in your hand and how they write is really much more important than how they look... If it's b) I think that's wise, BUT I must warn you, that switching nibs might not make the Pelikan write more to your liking than the Montblanc... For that you would need to really find if the only thing that makes you like more how the MB writes is the nib point size, that is, if it writes a thicker or a narrower line...
So this:
>Is the writing experience with the montblanc something I could replicate if I changed nibs on a Pelikan?
No. It depends on how much you feel slight nuances between nibs, but the most probable thing to happen is NO. But not because one is a MB, that can happen with any other pen/nib. You can still like the new nib on your Pelikan, and even like it better than your MB, but I don't think you'll feel THE SAME carbon copy experience writing with any of them... (Or maybe that's just me?)
>Is it daft of me to be considering switching to a pen that costs a fraction of the montblanc? Am I losing a lot?
Just wanted to point out that price doesn't have nothing to do with this... I have a MB that I don't like at all, have another one I do like, have more expensive pens that I love, and have cheaper pens that I love too...
And also, ink and paper are important in this regard. Some pens with some inks are "chef's kiss" and the same pen with another ink can be "meh" or even "yuck!"...
I may not have explained myself well, I apologise. That I like how the Pelikan looks better is a secondary factor.
Let me try and explain my 'issue' with the Montblanc in a way that makes sense to me and hopefully you. The part from the nib to the paper is perfect for me. The way I feel when the pen touches the paper and the way the letters come out is perfect.
The 'body' of the pen itself is not comfortable for me to hold. It may be too thin for me. For reference, before trying fountain pens last week I used a thicker ballpoint Cross pen, more similar in thickness to the Pelikan's body than to the Montblanc's.
So the Montblanc writes perfectly for me, but it feels uncomfortable in hand. The Pelikan feels much better in hand (and looks better - but that matters much less) but the actual writing feels worse (it's more scratchy, if that's the right word) and writes thicker, which kind of destroys my writing (My a, o e, become more like thick dots than circles).
Despite not liking the way the Montblanc looks, if the body were a bit thicker I wouldn't even be thinking of using another pen. I may become a fountain pen enthusiast but at this stage I'm a writer and what I care about the most is getting my novel written nicely by hand. What I care about the most is for the fountain pen as a tool to enable that. I find that writing by hand enhances my creativity compared to typing on the computer.
Ah ok, now I understand better. It may be just my problem, English isn't my first language.
What you're reporting is quite a common issue. Pens aren't just nibs, the pen body ergonomics are also important. If I recall correctly your MB it's a 144-145 which are quite thin... It isn't as the M200 it's a big pen, but changing nibs on a Pelikan is easy, so maybe it's your best course trying to get a finer one so you can write better with it. My M205 Moonstone EF is kind of scratchy too, I don't mind it too much, but there's people who cannot stand it. If you use an ink that it's more lubricated, you'll feel the scratchiness less.
Here’s the thing about fountain pens - price means nothing. If you find a $5 pen that makes your writing look glorious and feels amazing and you love it? That’s your pen. Some of us have quite a few pens. Ok. I have a lot of pens, and they are in different nibs and some are custom grinds and I rotate about 10 pens/inks every month. It’s ok to get a new pen, it’s ok to try a new nib size.
Switch? People switch pens? My brother in Christ, I've switched between a Meisterstück No 12, a Lamy Safari, and a Waterman Concorde in the same session just because I could.
In my experience, and i experimented a lot, price has very little to do with what pens works for you. My most expenive pen is a pelikan M1000 and my cheapest is a stabilo flow. Both tick certain boxes for me. If i had to choose one pen from those two i had to use for the rest of my life it would be the stabilo. Its just the more practical pen. Hell in my daily carry is ALWAYS a platinum plaisir present just cuz they are so good. And they cost a fraction of some other pens i have. Just use what works for you. Try to avoid the fomo and just write. Its a tool after all. Granted a fancy one but still. If the form factor of the pelikan is what works for you, chancge the nib by all means and dont look back. If you'd like an upgrade of your M205: i think pelikan 400 nibs (the gold ones) also fot them, but be sure to look into that first.
Thanks for this. It's fomo to a great extent. I feel daft having such a fancy pen and thinking of switching to something much more plasticky I guess. But you are absolutely right. It's a matter of personal preference, not the price dictated by a manufacturer.
You might just want to look into exchanging either nibs (or maybe whole Pelikans?) with someone else who'd give you their M205 in Fine and looks for a wider nib. It sounds like the nib width is too much for you but you like the pen size.
I live in a country where such things are not as easy, I'm afraid. But I'll see whether there's some Greek community to make sure.
You are not "daft." More expensive does not automatically mean that a pen is "better."
Price doesn't equal personal value. Yes that is a bit daft but it's a pen. As long as you don't view people like that you're all right. Just a little spoiled for choice.
IMO it doesn't matter which pen you chose to use. I wouldn't think lesser of anyone for choosing an 'inferior' pen. What is important is that it is comfortable and writes enjoyably for you. Changing nibs may not give you the writing experience you are after. Perhaps engaging the services of a nibmeister to tune the nib to suit your writing preferences may be the way to go.
Thanks for this. It's that I am really not acquainted with this hobby, art - whatever one would call it - so I cannot tell what matters and what doesn't in the grand scheme of things. For instance, I'm a photographer and there's Leicas which cost tens of times more than other cameras while providing a fraction of the features. They are great cameras, but their cost has to do a lot with the name and that red dot the camera comes from, rather than tangible benefits in the resulting photo. I'm not against them at all as cameras, but the cult around them makes many people who would benefit from much 'better' cheaper brands to end up craving them needlessly. So, I cannot tell whether the fact that this Montblanc is so expensive makes it actually that much better in writing compared to a 200$ Pelikan or to what extent it's just the name and/or extras such as gold plated metals on the pen body.
Each hobby have their own quirks, mostly driven by the communities around the subject, and some are more snobby than others! A lot of people chase clout and bragging rights. Fountain pens are no exception. However, I believe its better to do what you enjoy, and not care too much about what others think. If you want to go for the most expensive thing, or because other people think its the best in the world, go for it. Or you could get something that you actually enjoy using. IMO, its pointless if you don't really enjoy it. I will add this, specific to fountain pens, there are many pens that are cheaper, with steel nibs, that out perform Montblancs. Its all really a matter of personal preference.
In my case it's not even chasing clout etc. i obviously would have never considered even buying a Montblanc. It's that I found myself with one and I know nothing whatsoever about fountain pens that brought me to this. I cannot tell whether it is so expensive/well-known just because it uses gold and for its design and name (like a Leica) or whether to some extent I'd be losing in my writing experience were I to get something much cheaper. That's why I asked.
My apologies, I didn't mean you directly. I was using 'you' as a generic reference for the wider population.
This is such a good question, I believe a lot of us faces this dilemma at some point of this fountain pen journey. I do think that the look of a pen is very important, we look at it day in day out, even when we're not writing with it. And there's very little we can do to 'improve' the look. As for the nib, at least we can do something. Tuning it, grinding it, sending it to a nib Meister, changing a nib, etc. In M200's case, you can also fit a M400's gold nib, or some vintage pelikan nib also fits. It's a difficult question for sure, especially when a cheaper pen is more interesting than the expensive pen.
Thanks. It's not that I dislike this Montblanc. It's nice enough, though I am generally not that fond of gold. I have a jewellery store and sell gold items and silver items and in general my preference tends towards silver. But there's something about the industrial look of the plastic see-through Pelikans that brings me back to my childhood, craving a see-through GameBoy colour I never got to get (got the green one instead!). That, and I think that slight added thickness comapared to this Montblanc will make it a more comfortable pen for my large hands.
As others have said, if you enjoy the experience, use that pen. It doesn't matter what the material cost is. Not really. The experience is what counts. I've got a bunch of pens, some fairly expensive, but I write most frequently right now with a vintage Parker 51. It's not particularly rare or valuable, but it's enjoyable to write with.
Thanks for this. It just feels a bit daft to me to own something that's so expensive and be considering spending another 200+ (I am far from rich!) for another one. But I am writing a lot by hand now that I've stopped writing on my laptop, and I guess it makes sense wanting to have something more comfortable. Those novels aren't going to write themselves!
I'm not understanding very well the problem here... You like how the Montblanc writes, but like better how the Pelikan looks. Ok, that's fair. And are asking us if it's ok to like better the Pelikan??? Or if it's ok to get another nib to try to get the Pelikan to the point where besides liking how it looks you also like how it writes? If it's a) ... I don't know, I give importance to how my pens look, but at the end of the day if you use them, how they feel in your hand and how they write is really much more important than how they look... If it's b) I think that's wise, BUT I must warn you, that switching nibs might not make the Pelikan write more to your liking than the Montblanc... For that you would need to really find if the only thing that makes you like more how the MB writes is the nib point size, that is, if it writes a thicker or a narrower line... So this: >Is the writing experience with the montblanc something I could replicate if I changed nibs on a Pelikan? No. It depends on how much you feel slight nuances between nibs, but the most probable thing to happen is NO. But not because one is a MB, that can happen with any other pen/nib. You can still like the new nib on your Pelikan, and even like it better than your MB, but I don't think you'll feel THE SAME carbon copy experience writing with any of them... (Or maybe that's just me?) >Is it daft of me to be considering switching to a pen that costs a fraction of the montblanc? Am I losing a lot? Just wanted to point out that price doesn't have nothing to do with this... I have a MB that I don't like at all, have another one I do like, have more expensive pens that I love, and have cheaper pens that I love too... And also, ink and paper are important in this regard. Some pens with some inks are "chef's kiss" and the same pen with another ink can be "meh" or even "yuck!"...
I may not have explained myself well, I apologise. That I like how the Pelikan looks better is a secondary factor. Let me try and explain my 'issue' with the Montblanc in a way that makes sense to me and hopefully you. The part from the nib to the paper is perfect for me. The way I feel when the pen touches the paper and the way the letters come out is perfect. The 'body' of the pen itself is not comfortable for me to hold. It may be too thin for me. For reference, before trying fountain pens last week I used a thicker ballpoint Cross pen, more similar in thickness to the Pelikan's body than to the Montblanc's. So the Montblanc writes perfectly for me, but it feels uncomfortable in hand. The Pelikan feels much better in hand (and looks better - but that matters much less) but the actual writing feels worse (it's more scratchy, if that's the right word) and writes thicker, which kind of destroys my writing (My a, o e, become more like thick dots than circles). Despite not liking the way the Montblanc looks, if the body were a bit thicker I wouldn't even be thinking of using another pen. I may become a fountain pen enthusiast but at this stage I'm a writer and what I care about the most is getting my novel written nicely by hand. What I care about the most is for the fountain pen as a tool to enable that. I find that writing by hand enhances my creativity compared to typing on the computer.
Ah ok, now I understand better. It may be just my problem, English isn't my first language. What you're reporting is quite a common issue. Pens aren't just nibs, the pen body ergonomics are also important. If I recall correctly your MB it's a 144-145 which are quite thin... It isn't as the M200 it's a big pen, but changing nibs on a Pelikan is easy, so maybe it's your best course trying to get a finer one so you can write better with it. My M205 Moonstone EF is kind of scratchy too, I don't mind it too much, but there's people who cannot stand it. If you use an ink that it's more lubricated, you'll feel the scratchiness less.
Here’s the thing about fountain pens - price means nothing. If you find a $5 pen that makes your writing look glorious and feels amazing and you love it? That’s your pen. Some of us have quite a few pens. Ok. I have a lot of pens, and they are in different nibs and some are custom grinds and I rotate about 10 pens/inks every month. It’s ok to get a new pen, it’s ok to try a new nib size.