Montblanc Donation Homage Chopin Fountain Pen Review

[@stringking99]

Chopin is a very cool composer and this is a very cool pen - especially the centre band with the nocturne notation!

[@peterhofmann8292]

Love this style, understated functional and not too flashy.

[@hpwan2]

This reminds me the design of J. S. Bach back in early 2000's. It's rare to see such a clean design on Montlbanc recent years release...

[@paulmchugh1430]

Beautiful pen. I have the John Lennon pen. I like the care to detail to make their special pens, well, special. You will be handing the pen back won't you?

[@jeffreybarton1297]

Great review of a lovely pen. I wish Mont Blanc would make a pen to commemorate my favourite music artist, but I doubt they'll ever make a Captain Beefheart pen 😄

[@mosesmartinez4364]

YAY DR. BROWN BRINGS BACK A MONTBLANC

[@eugenborcan]

This is a nice Montblanc... I love its simplicity.

[@theProf_01]

This is a pen I could like for all the understated characteristics you discussed. Thanks 👍👍👍😎

[@cb7560]

Excellent review - many thanks. I completely agree with you about the degree of understatement shown with many of these Donation designs, as opposed to the Great Characters. The Solti, Brahms and Gershwin were all equally restrained and sophisticated. Different design team? Anyway, many thanks and best wishes.

[@asoloma]

My Donation Solti fountain pen in M is one of my best writers. And the design is beautifil, classic, elegant but usable without shouting expensive bling, bling.

[@wisperingbeard]

As usual, a great review Dr. Brown. With Xmas around the corner it would be great if you and Miss Aziza got together with Mr. O for another Penpal Party! What say you?

[@archivist17]

I agree with your comments on the over the top nature of a lot of 'tribute' pens - by MB and others. This is much more understated and classy.

[@jaystone4816]

Another good review, Stephen. You made a very good point: it is understated, but classy. I like the piano hammer clip, the piano finish, and the musical quotation on the cap band. The overall shape of the pen is different from the 166 and 169, which further distinguishes it. All this says yes, yes to me - except of course the Montblanc price. But as you noted, in the Montblanc pricing world, the price is "reasonable." I'd much rather have this Donation Chopin than a Montblanc Starwalker, which is in the same price range. The Donation series focuses on classical composers and famous conductors, and gaudy over-embellishment is thankfully avoided.

[@buck-pucker]

Quite a tasteful Montblanc "character" pen

[@thebeansandtoddshow]

Great review Stephen… jude

[@axtang]

Is the nib size of this pen equivalent to that of the 146?

[@eileengoldenberg270]

I have small hands and I love large pens, Opus88, Majohn C4. I think it is a myth that people with small hands need small pens, since we give children big crayons.. thanks Steven..

[@jaystone4816]

Amen! I have small hands for an adult man, but I too love big, girthy pens. And while I initially didn't like smaller pens, I've found a lot depends on the quality of the nib rather than pen size or girth (within reason of course). Most vintage pens are smaller than pens today, but people then used them without complaint about "size." In general vintage nibs were much better than most production nibs today, another important consideration. I'm all for variety, and I like big and smaller.

[@ironmic9244]

The Traveler is the 147, I believe.

[@denmarkleopesi7108]

Lol you have patreon.

[@andrewtongue7084]

I have to agree with you, Stephen, Montblanc's more understated models are indeed, cooler. Extra 'bling' (as I would term it) are a turn off. You want to be able to write with it, & not be overwhelmed by the less-than-subtle adornments. The BB nib (for me, at least) is the bonus - it writes as a paintbrush, & frankly, I'm unconcerned when it comes to reverse writing - that's a niche thing. Yes, it's not inexpensive, but hey, MB don't do cheap; in this case, they've offset the cost with the benefit of a stellar blade, & that's all that would concern me. Would i purchase same ? Very possibly; right now...probably not, because where I am located (UK) right now, there are more pressing priorities - but then, globally speaking, no-one's having it easy; this is an indulgence (& it is just that), so I am happy to forego same. Excellent, succinct overview of a very nice scribe. Wishing you both a happy Festive season, a plus !!

[@jondowee]

Covet.

[@tuhinbaucus6573]

I heard that "Choppin'" joke and instantly had to disli--I mean, like the video. ;)

[@jaystone4816]

Chopin was Polish, but moved to Paris as a young adult. The way we pronounce "Chopin" today is the French pronunciation of his Polish name. The Polish pronunciation is more like "scho-pin" with the accent on the first syllable. If he weren't famous, lived today, and moved to England or America, Stephen's deliberately ignorant pronunciation would be right on.

[@kanck7909]

Dude be choppin' 🪵

[@richardc6932]

A lot of coin for bragging rights but MB has it’s loyal followers. Plastic pen with 14k nib, so many other choices with less expensive names and excellent writers. I would be interested to know if the piston mechanism is plastic as well OR is it built like a Pelikan M800 with a metal parts which give the Pelikan a little extra weight that I like.👍👨‍🦳🇨🇦