Here is a story of how you saved me from being a sucker, as I watched this video after I won an used Montblanc 146 in an ebay auction for $309 thinking I had won a great bargain. The photos looked convincing and so did the description. Soon thereafter, when I drove to meet the seller in the same city, I had the distinguished pleasure of touching and feeling a Montblanc 146 which was presented to me in a little jiffy plastic bag! After a minute or two of inspection and lovely chitty chatty with the seller who told me that she had received it as a gift from somebody and she did not have much use for it although the person who gifted it was a relative of hers and he had used it a bit etc. I took a close look at the engraving on the centre band and it looked good except that it was not totally straight and did not neatly line up between the upper and lower gold bands .. wow, why is the text going up there like there I wondered! Then, the piston did not turn smooth getting stuck halfway, and it felt surprisingly light for an expensive Montblanc pen! The underside of the nib feed felt sticky (ok so ink dried up I thought) but it was a bit more than that and felt like there was some decay happening as well on the feed. I had to break it to the seller! I said, "Sorry but unfortunately I do not think this is a Montblanc", pointing to the engraving and remarked it is very light also. Some story was soon told about how the person who gifted it to her was a millionnaire and he would never buy a fake one etc .. I told her that even millionnnaires can make mistakes of buying fake ones sometimes! I had given her my cash envelope already a bit stupidly but I gave the pen back and my money was given back with a bit of a groan. Was cursing myself all the way back as to how I could have bid on it without inspecting more closely. When I came back and looked at a closeup picture on ebay, I had in fact missed the slanted off sync engraving although this is hard to perceive without the benefit of actually having seen the pen. Camera angles in photos can be deceptive and hide faults. My policy in future will be .. I will never buy an expensive pen off ebay without its original box and papers plus inspecting or requesting more photos as necessary. Please do not be intimidated by sellers who pretend they are offended somehow. Genuine sellers will be eager to prove that it is genuine pen. When you do not get replies from sellers just stay away like the plague despite all temptation. Was a total waste of my time but a very good lesson in my fountain pen travels. Nice video and thanks to this great fountain pen lover and contributer.

Excellent video David, this really helps people to identify their Montblanc. Fun fact is that most of the fake Montblanc's we see in our store are always ''gifts''.

I watched your video and realized I had the EXACT fake pen as you did. It had the EXACT same ID number around the pen IW1 etc.. I bought it off ebay, informed them it was a fake and they gave me all my money back. I offered to ship it back and they told me to keep it. I bought another pen at NM. I still can not get over that our pens had the same fake serial numbers!

Thanks for taking one for the team.

I own a Montblanc without serial number. This happened after they repaired it in the boutique in Frankfurt. The old ring had a serial number, but after the repair, there wasn't anymore.

So sad. The hardest is when the fake is the same as the price of the genuine one. Unless maybe if he has great rating. But if it's really expensive, sometimes it's best to just pay the full retail price, at an authorized dealer. God bless, Proverbs 31

Thank goodness you didn't ramble or mumble. Concise, informative and most importantly, straight to the points on spotting a fake MontBlanc. I have an MS 149 (fountain pen) and have been trying to authenticate it. I'm too lazy to drive to the next town over and go to the MB store...well, more like I hate traffic. I still can't figure out if mine is a fake or not.

I have a fake Montblanc. How do I know you may ask, it has the same serial number as your fake Montblanc. :)

I do not think it a star logo it might be a snow cap

Good review, David. Thanks. The fakes have improved, but there are always discrepancies. The filling mechanisms tend not to be marked or designed accurately, and the nibs have flaws in design. That said, I bought a clear phony (usually call these things "Montfake" or "Fauxblanc" that performs very nicely, despite its not being the real deal. Also, since the company was purchased by a mass marketer, the overall quality has crashed, imho, and the brand name now shows up on umbrellas, drug store colognes, other low-end items sold to people who may be chasing prestige without knowing what they want in a pen.

Thank you for the video. However, since it's airing, the forgers have really stepped up their game. The pen I purchased passed all the applicable tests you demonstrated except for 1... the feel. It felt like plastic to me, but as I do not have any genuine Montblanc pens to compare to, it was hard to be certain. As for the price, $15 would have been a dead give away, however in my case, the seller claimed to be a dealer that was liquidating their entire stock (they had 3 Meisterstück ballpoints). My winning bid was $160 and figured I was either getting a great deal, or seriously getting ripped off. Since it was an auction, the seller is not in complete control of the price. The packaging for my pen was impressive. The pen was shipped in a case almost identical to yours, only smaller as it was a ballpoint. It was even shipped with the service manual. Moving on to your quality checks... clearly my pen is a much better pen than your forgery. Mine did not have any obvious defects. The font was much more like your genuine Montblanc and there was nothing that I could see that confirmed that it was a forgery. In fact, on first viewing, your video was actually leading me to the conclusion that my pen was genuine. I was ready to head over to a Montblanc dealer to validate it, but then I saw it, the smoking gun... the serial number. My pen has the exact same serial number as your forgery did. That was enough for me. I have since contacted the seller for a refund. Thank you, again.

Oh, 8 years later, and I can add something to this video. I have two Montblanc Meisterstuck 149's made in the mid-80's. I was presented with both of these as a "sales spiff" for being top salesman of a then name-brand computer. It came in a fancy, properly marked box (though white and much smaller than the black box you showed) so I know they are genuine. Outer shipping box was even a bit fancy and marked at USD $295.00. They *do not* have a serial number on the top band, but there *is* the word "Germany" engraved (possibly stamped) on it. The font is very small and, if your pen is older and the band is scratched, it may be hard to see without a loupe or good magnifier. I've used and love both of them. I do wish I had the full provenance for that particular batch of pens, though. The computer manufacturer bought *hundreds* of them to award for the whole U.S. Perhaps they specified no serial number, perhaps MB hadn't started using serial numbers. Someone may know, I sure don't. But I've used and loved them both since getting them.

i ALWAYS insist on the warranty card and the original owner's reciept when buying an expensive pen ... no self respecting Mont Blanc owner will toss out the paperwork

A good friend of mine from work went on AliExpress and bought himself a Montblanc 149. After, watching this video I told him all the MB on AliExpress are fakes. He paid 27 US dollars. The scary thing is that the fake montblanc looked so much like an authentic montblanc. Very scary.

The problem is in the ripoff aspect ... If you knowingly buy a fake pen and knowingly pay what a fake pen is worth then you have not been done ill by. If you buy a fake pen represented as the genuine article and pay the same price as the genuine article then you got robbed. I do not hold by your "feels cheap" arguments. Subjective criteria like that are always suspect and generally superficial. It is a function of your cognizance that you KNOW it's cheap so it "feels" cheap. That's why you cannot quantify "cheap" in a description. If you read reviews of pens on Amazon you'll see that a LOT of people complain about really good pens feeling "cheap". You really should leave such subjective observations out of this whole discussion. Your intuitions and gut feelings mean nothing and do not provide useful information for others. I'm not advocating for counterfeits and fakes here but I do think they have their place as long as they're not SOLD as genuine by ANYONE including the end user. There are some dandy counterfeit Montblanc pens out there that write really well, do not feel "cheap", lay a nice wet line with a nice buttery smooth nib ... Those pens in their own right would be very good pens at their price point if they were not trying to pass themselves off as Montblancs. I also do not believe that a Montblanc pen is all that and a bag of chips too. I have one, I'll never buy another one. The juice isn't worth the squeeze when you compare the cost to other pens. "Resin" is just a name for "plastic" on ANY pen, it's marketing lingo. The nibs are good but they're not so good that they merit a premium price compared to other offerings on the market. Montblanc has known problems with cracking and that's a heartbreak even though the company will fix it for free. You not supposed to dismount the nibs and disassemble the pens for a thorough cleaning so if for some reason you get a reaction between the remnants of old inks and a new one you have to ship it back to the factory and do without your very expensive pen for quite a long time. Etc. Juice ... not worth the squeeze ... If you're serious about writing with fountain pens, there are better writing pens that cost the same or less. If you're serious about durability and heirloom quality, there are better pens that cost the same or less. If you're serious about after-purchase support there are companies that sell pens that do a better, faster job of taking care of any problem you might encounter. If you're serious about not getting ripped off, you probably shouldn't be buying a $200 pen and paying $400+ for it, which is the case with Montblanc ... That said, if you're serious about status symbols then a Montblanc pen is right up there with Rolex watches. The difference is that you can get a pen that no one else is going to know is a fake for around $40 that is so much like a Montblanc none of your friends will ever know the difference unless you tell them. Because all the things you mentioned in this video require serious scrutiny with magnification except for your subjective "it feels cheap" nonsense. There's nothing about the fakes that anyone is going to detect from across your desk or the table in a boardroom. If you want to buy a fake Rolex that will provide comparable service to a real one and stand up to the same degree of casual observation it's going to cost you more than a real Montblanc. With Montblanc pens the counterfeits have gotten so good they are competing with the real thing even when people know they're counterfeit.

Idkkkkkk that converter looked pretty authentic to me 🤷🏻‍♂️

I guess it’s also where you bought them. Online is more prone to fake.

Thanks for the guide, but I am interested how writing with the pen compares when using a real vs. fake. I'm assuming the bad quality also shows when writing?

👍🤩💝Good info. Thank you. I love Montblanc pens and have had several over the years. The problem I have with Montblanc is that they recycle the serial numbers and they themselves aren’t consistent about their own brand markings. I buy directly from the Montblanc Boutique so I know what I have is authentic but it’s a shame how they charge so much money and yet it’s so challenging to truly authenticate their products. 😫

My pen is real. Thanks for the video. I was confused with my pen if it was fake or not. You video proofed that my pen is real.

Some really good advice but forgers have become more sophisticated. Even the resins are becoming thinner and the black resin under light should have a reddish hew to it...the forgers can even replicate that too. I know a Mont Blanc employee that bought a fake Boheme that looks and feels real, but under professional examination was a fake. BE CAREFUL FOLKS!

Would you be interested in seeing another example of a fake Montblanc? I bought one recently that I ended up really enjoying. I checked many of the things you mentioned and the only one that seems to stand out is the nib engraving alignment.

There are retailers on eBay selling “authentic” Montblanc fountain pens swearing that they are not knockoffs. When I went ahead ordered one and when inquired about the authenticity of the pen the seller cancelled the order. Go figure.

Lighting the cap interior and see how the light reflects on the exterior to distinguish plastic from resin.

Thank you for a very useful video. Why would anyone go to the trouble of making this and then try to sell it for only $14.00? Not only does it look very poor, but you have to wonder how they figure they could pass off such sub-standard build quality as the real thing?

Thank you for giving out the tips! Never having seen a Montblanc in person before, these guidelines will help avoid such a disaster. Does not Montblanc only want their pens sold in a brick and mortar store?

well I dont think we can use this info since the pen was $15, Id think it would be better to get a more high end fake montblanc

My genuine ~2016 Montblanc Meisterstuck says "Made in Germany" over top of "Metal" under the clip.

Thanks for the great video. To your knowledge, has there ever been a fake 149 or 146 with a real piston mechanism? If not, it seems that checking for that initially would save some time for those models.

Here's a neat way to tell if a pen's resin is cheap ABS plastic or some type of "precious resin" (as used by Montblanc, Pelikan (caps and ends), Platinum, Pilot, etc.: get an infrared camera. Some people have correctly recognized that if you hold a "precious resin" pen (cap, usually) up to the sun you'll see that it's not black, but rather very dark red. That being the case, it's also transparent in the infrared spectrum. An IR-converted camera will be able to see through an otherwise black and opaque Montblanc. Here's a link to some examples I posted on FPN (if the link will work on youtube…): www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/269537-infrared-photography-and-precious-resin/

$14 for a Montblanc... common sense should be used by the scammers.

This video definitely helped me! I'm on eBay looking for an authentic and they show a picture of the serial number and it's the EXACT same number as yours! LOL Even after 7 years, they are still using the same serial number!

I own three Montblanc's all purchased from the Montblanc store. It is the best way to own a real one. If you cant afford one, don't buy one.

You chose a $14 copy to demonstrate how to spot a fake, but there are some that $300-$400 which even Montblanc has a hard time deciding if they are real or forgery (I've seen a few comments regarding this on a few forums). In your opinion, where would the best place be to purchase a 'gently used' 'real' Montblanc?

My Mont Blanc pen says (Meisisterstuck- Montblanc) Around the gold stripes on the ball point pen just below the clip. Do you have any info on that. There is no serial number at the top. I’m assuming it’s an older pen. I’m not the one who originally purchased it.

My Rollerball and my mom Blanc is going to be $725 and then my fountain pen will be $1,275 and that's nothing to see that

maybe you could get one to have a comparison. you'll be astonished at how much they have improved.

Nice informative video. Clip markings seem to be inconsistent. On my (authentic) Montblancs, I see a variety of "Pix", "Made in Germany", "Germany" and on the more recent ones, "metal". Several have more than one marking. There also seems to be a wide variety of nib markings too. When you shine a bright light through the Montblanc 'precious resin', it has a nice red glow. Does the counterfeit also do this?

Lol your monitor screen must be to your left! Either that ORyou need an ophthalmologist because you have the Jimmy eyes! Lol they drift left! But seriously - this was a good post.

I would buy the fake at that price and use it. I buy mont blanc limited edition for keepsake. 😊 I have an original Grace Kelly and a fake one that i use.

Where can you purchase refills and what serial number do I use to get the correct refill? The refill I purchased from Office Depot was too short. It writes well but I had to use a spacer.

why not buy straight from the provider

Are these replica pens also piston filled? Or can you only use the cartridges.

nowadays fake montblanc pens are getting better in quality. aliexpress sells these fakes that look way better than the one you bought. price also cost more

That's actually not bad for a fake.

How to tell if a montblanc is fake. It's a 144.

You should destroy the pen at the end of the video. It’s the ethical thing to do.

Thank you very much for this educated video!

I got a fake a montblanc pen for free, I guess my question is a good fake going to write any different than a real one? Im not in the pen world one bit or care about them, mostly curious

Where can you buy these pens? Do you have the website? Just kidding…. I sincerely hate MB pens. If they fall they dent or break. Always.

Great review!

A friend purchased a fake pen for my graduation. I don't have the heart to tell him. You may have it if you would like. Just message me.

Great video thanks, but I would like to buy some of thesew fake montblanc to use at work and not commity Seppuku if I lost it. ha ha

this video is very helpful I did have a fake montblanc it had the same serial number as the video

I love your channel but man, the t is silent and so is the c. Mohn Blanh

Any idea how to tell a fake mont blanc case.

I've owned 2 real Mont Blancs (ball points). I like my counterfeit one better. Regardless, Mont Blanc's *ink cartridges* are crap from long experience owning two pens. Recent, I was at the airport and went into a Mont Blanc store. Got to try one of the pens. First cartridge I was allowed to use was leaking. After that we tried another cartridge and it laid ink down like my Mont Blancs. Not as good as a Bic.

Hello David, can you see my Montblanc and tell if they are authentic or fake?

Hi! I have mont blanc germany classic and it looks like it doesn't have Engraved lettering under the clip.

What are some Reputable retailers that sell a legit Mont Blanc 146/ 146?

With all due respect, the last letter 'c' is NOT pronounced in the Montblanc brand name, although it's a German make. The same goes for the mountain. You don't have to believe me when I say this is the way it should be pronounced. You should not pronounce 'c' there just like in the word Connecticut. You can also see how well-educated Germans pronounce their brand name here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iNl-nJmTsJjaaJs.html Maybe you should check out the Merriam Dictionary: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mont%20Blanc but they don't list the brandname there (only the mountain). You can easily check it in other youtubes: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jN2KY6Wgtbapfqs.html Here you can hear it pronounced in both German and English: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rrieZrV7r7LSips.html You can also back up some wrong pronunciation just like people often do disregarding the truth and claiming the truth to be just an opinion.

I enjoy your reviews...very informative. Question: Is there a good substitute for a Montblanc144...perhaps in the JINHAO collection? I would like to find a pen of this style and size, but not the cost. Thank You.

Much appreciated.

Where do you get a fake Mont Blanc? The Jinhao 159 is kinda eh. Id rather have a Mont Blanc look alike.

How much weight Montblanc meisterstuck classique 144 fountain pen ?

Excelent information, very clear and good explain, thank you

Isn't it easier to just take it to a boutique and validate it?

sir what abour mont blancs watch??

I died on picture with converter 12:17

Bring back the beard!

Mine is a real MontBlanc and I have not the PIX word but Made in Germany - but it is still real

thanks for the vid ! could you do a similar video with a so-called "super replica" that usely sells 3 times higher than the one you have (around 50$); those really scare me on the secondary market

thank you very much! very very clear :)

you didn't want to blow 14 dollars?

Some people don't know they have a fake they are selling, I was one of them!

For long and fast writing session, which fountain pen is best... plz suggest one. Price is not issue

the montblanc Bonheur is un portable ,,, so posting is not a critiria to judge with

Hi!! Thank you for your video! I did just receive my montblanc fountain pen ("from the 80's) and unfortunately it does not gave "pix" engraved at all on the underside of the clip. I am bumming!! Does this mean it is a fake? Thank you again, I sure hope you are still on KZfaq to see my question. Many thanks again. LilyM 🌷 (i am so disappointed it may very well be fake).😣

hi, i'm thinking on buying a MB 149 which has the word Pix under the clip, but not on the band. does that mean that it's a fake? thanks. I really appreciate your videos!

thank you for the video, what do you think about a 149 nib that has "18C" on it instead of "18K"?

Could I ask you which website you purchased your pen from? I am also curious to be able to determine a fake from the real. Thank you.

fantastic! thank's a lot

thanks man

You need to look at the camera and stop looking to your left so much.

ebay is sketchy! I would never trust. I personally dont like the pompou6 look of Montblanc pens! It would never be my first quality pen. maybe my 10th after really learning about pens.

Thank you! Thank you! Bon Publico!

Bro, that is an epic beard. Please grow this out again.

I bought 12 fakes from Sofia Market Bulgaria...which were supposed to be real including swastika German markings silver casings etc, no mont blanc nibs but very pretty £1200 so i got stuffed. I wish they were real but al look old old

I want to know what is the price of this pen, please?

What do you think about Cross?

Hey I might get that fake I like it. Looks better than a jinhao

New subscriber here.

Way to wordy

Umm i rather use a fake one rather spending my whole life saving!

Hi. I have a pen that say's Mont Blanc. It's a ballpen (it seems to be a sign pen) and has a white star at the tip of the cap. Are there fake Mont Blanc as well? It's toughest when they price the pen at the same price as the original. Thank you. God bless, Proverbs 31

Nice vid, but I cringed when you said ballpoint!

STOP CLICKING THE PEN CAP!!! the sound is driving me mad.

Appreciate this video but all these tips are things you can only notice once you've already bought the pen. So pretty useless...

Thank God they can't make fakes on the 146, 149 models etc...That's all I use. I will not buy the ink adapter models.

too long and waffly