Detecting a Montblanc counterfeit

Telling a genuine MONTBLANC pen from a fake is not easy for most people.

Moreover, counterfeiters’ techniques improve year after year, with finishes that are increasingly beautiful and precise.

As a preliminary point, where you buy affects the risk of counterfeiting: buying a new product from an authorised MONTBLANC boutique is far less risky than buying a second-hand item on a peer-to-peer resale marketplace.

Here are a few points to watch out for.

The serial number

The presence of a serial number is not a guarantee of authenticity. In fact, many genuine MONTBLANC pens have no serial number, particularly in the Meisterstück range produced before 1991.

If in doubt, type the serial number into an Internet search, and you may find a photo of an identical pen on a Chinese website, for example.

The location of the serial number also matters.

On some Starwalker models, it must be engraved on the ring supporting the clip, not on the clip itself.

The finish

The finish is a matter of judgement; easier to see in person than in a photo. Genuine MONTBLANC pens are often made of good-quality resin and not plastic like the counterfeits. Genuine MONTBLANC pens are well fitted at the trims and separation rings. Likewise, the serial number, when there is one, is neatly engraved, without imprecision, and perfectly straight.

On some smooth metal models, in fountain-pen or rollerball version, the finish can be really close to a genuine model. The detail that lets you tell them apart comes from how the cap closes. On counterfeits, it clips on, whereas on genuine models it screws on. In addition, the mount of the star adorning the top of the cap sits higher than on genuine models.

Furthermore, on some ballpoint models, the thread at the cap is made of poor-quality metal, sometimes fitting rather badly.

The writing mode

There are far more counterfeit ballpoint and rollerball pens than fountain pens, particularly piston-fill models, as they are much harder to fake.

Some sellers of fake Montblanc pens do not hesitate to present their pens with a genuine MONTBLANC refill and a genuine box, to try to mislead buyers.

On a fake fountain pen, you may notice that the nib is not solid gold, as on most recent genuine models. It may be engraved “Iridium”, or “Germany”, or “18K”, but very crudely. The gold colour on fake nibs may be a simple coating that rubs off when you lightly rub the nib.

The colours

Some resin colours are not produced by Montblanc, except on certain special series or limited editions.

So if you find a bright red or apple-green “Montblanc” rollerball, it is a counterfeit.

For example, you find copies of the Montblanc Starwalker with marbled or grey resin finishes that were never produced by the Montblanc firm.

The prices

New prices are set within the brand’s catalogues. Sales and discounts are rare, given the strong demand throughout the year. So if the price is too low, be wary.

The same goes for second-hand models, which resell at a certain discount, depending on condition, but no more than that.