When you examine most consumer goods that are on the market, there is typically a “luxury” version that’s offered from some high-quality brands. There’s a luxury good for nearly everything, whether it’s a car or a cellphone, and in the world of writing utensils, Montblanc reigns kings. The German brand can trace its roots back to 1906, and have since established themselves as the leading name in luxury writing instruments. While the company does produce fragrances, watches, and even sunglasses, they are best known for their pens. A “cheap” Montblanc pen can easily cost $300 to $500 dollars, and most of their pens are in the $1,000 dollar range. That fact alone raises the question: what’s the most expensive pen that you can get from them? So, let’s look at their two most prized pens, and you won’t believe just how much they actually cost.
The Meisterstück Solitaire Blue Hour Skeleton – $8,700
While Montblanc has a range of different pens, their Meisterstück line has always remained as the companies flagship pen. These pens start at $370 dollars, but at $8,700 dollars, the Solitaire Blue Hour Skeleton pen is in a class of its own. It’s a skeletonize pen that boasts an extremely unique design. We see a hexagonal pattern that fluctuates between blue and platinum. It’s a piston fountain pen that is made from brushed platinum. The Montblanc logo is made entirely from quartz, and the nib is made from 18-karat gold with added rhodium. The combination of those expensive materials, the premium writing experience, and the impeccable design contribute to this pens cost.
The Meisterstück 90 Years Skeleton – $9,600
At almost $1,000 dollars more, the Meisterstück 90 Years Skeleton is the most expensive writing instrument that Montblanc currently sells. The original Montblanc Skeleton was introduced in 1999 to celebrate the 75-year anniversary of the Meisterstück line. This pen was inspired by the original, and was created for the 90th-anniversary. Produced in limited numbers, this pen is constructed from ruthenium and quartz. The nib is made entirely from 18-karat red gold, and like all Montblanc pens, it can be filled with a variety of different ink. The materials in this pen are quite similar to the previous model, however it’s historical significance that it’s meant to celebrate makes the 90 Years Skeleton even more money.
So these pens beg the question: who actually buys them? A pen is typically just an afterthought for most, given how you can get a basic one for under $1 dollar. There are even “premium” fountain pens that many would argue offer the same experience as a Montblanc that are much more affordable. However aside from these pens premium materials, it’s the Montblanc name that makes them just that much more expensive. They are the Rolls-Royce or Gucci of their industry, and are always looked as the most luxurious pen manufacturer in the world. I’m told that they are extremely nice to write with, but is that experience really worth $9,600 dollars? You really have to wonder what kind of individual can actually afford pens like these two, but they are out there somewhere. Personally, given my track record with loosing pens, I’d be too afraid to carry a nearly $10,000 dollar pen around. But I suppose these are more of a collectors item, one that wouldn’t see much use. Either way, these two pens are the most expensive writing instruments that Montblanc currently sells. So are they actually worth the price?
Photos from Montblanc
