Over at our sister site, RefillFinder.com, we pride ourselves in being able to offer compatible refills for all the most popular fine pens, including proprietary makers like Lamy, Parker, and Caran d'Ache, etc. Since the site was launched in 2010, we have offered Monteverde for MontBlanc refills that are compatible with the standard-size MontbBlanc ballpoint and rollerball. With a combination of volume discounting and a lower price point, MontBlanc pen owners could get a refill for their pen at about 40% less than buying a MontBlanc-brand refill.
But a lower price isn't enough for some MontBlanc owners.
One reason why is the MontBlanc LeGrand sized pen. The standard size rollerball does not fit the LeGrand. Our thoughts were, if you're going to have a website where people can find refills for their pens, you should probably have all of the popular favorites. We would get e-mails every week from customers looking for the LeGrand or ordering the standard size rollerballs, hoping it would fit. Since Monteverde has yet to produce a LeGrand version of the rollerball refill, we opted to expand our selection with the genuine article.
But it doesn't stop with the LeGrand, RefillFinder also carries MontBlanc bottled inks, fountain pen ink cartridges, document marker, fineliner and pencil leads. All refills are made in Germany and have the indicated "Sell By" dates to guarantee ink freshness. And who doesn't love fresh ink?
If the snowflake matters most, then there's no replacing the need to buy a Mont Blanc.
However, if writing quality, style and value matter more, then we can certainly help you find a holiday pen gift that has a Mont Blanc "style" for hundreds of dollars less. Here are some suggestions :
The newest generation of Expert is here. Classic cigar-shape profile, weighted brass inner barrel and classic lacquering style make this line a perfect, affordable competitor to a Mont Blanc.
The Japanese-made Sailor pen is renown for high writing quality and superb gold nibs that make writing an absolute joy. Prices for the fountain pens are a bit up there ($310 Retail), but compare to a Meisterstuck large fountain pen that can cost hundreds of dollars more still, Sailor demonstrates a better value.
The Marquis Metro collection has been one of the best selections for corporate gifts to have engraved and buy in bulk. The pen is built from an inner metal barrel coated in polished lacquer and chrome trims. The accompanying gift box presents this pen extremely professionally, leaving the gift recipient wondering how much this pen must have cost. Both rollerball and ballpoint are under $50 separately at the time of this writing.
Classic, Italian-crafted design that pulls no punches when it comes to quality, Aurora has always been an excellent choice for pen-shoppers looking for Mont Blanc style for a much greater value (under $100 for a fountain pen in the ipsilon resin collection).
When it comes to imitating the luxury style of a Mont Blanc, Taiwanese pen manufacturer Laban does it the best with high quality materials like gold and sterling silver. This gold-plated edition looks gorgeous, writes just as well and is a faction of the cost to own a Mont Blanc.
We asked the lively folks on the Fountain Pen Network forum to weigh in on their recommendations for nominees in this year's 2011 Goldspot Reader's Choice Pen of the Year. After 56 replies and some deep contemplation, here are your nominees that are in the running for the prestigious honor :
Please note that you can click on any of the nominees above to get some more information and look at more pictures to help you decide. Voting will be open until Monday, November 14th at 11:59pm Eastern US Standard time. The winner will be announced next Tuesday, the 15th. Have fun and cheer on your favorite pen from this year! Vote below and share with your friends:
In worldwide pen news, courts in India snubbed Montblanc and halted sales of the limited edition Ghandi pen. Critics of the expensive pen argue that it is "an inappropriate way of honouring a man who is known for his austerity."
In an op-ed piece for the St. Louis Suburban Journals website, Mike Williams champions for the lost art of using pen and paper.
Pen friend and fellow blogger Officesupplygeek is interviewed on his blogging success.
Tiger Pens Blog teaches a quick history lesson on why a pen is a 'Biro' in the UK.
Earlier in the week, we shared this great "How it's Made" video of Aurora Pens on Facebook and Twitter:
Have a great weekend. For many of us in the Northeast, that entails staying warm and keeping your back straight while shoveling.
