So DH announced he wants a Mont Blanc ballpoint pen for Christmas....

[handsfree]

Well, they cost a little bit more than a bic!!

Does anyone have any suggestions of how I might be able to obtain one at a slightly more bargainous rate?

Bought my husband one for our wedding day around 2 years ago and he uses his everyday at work to sign documents etc .. He loves his and I don't regret buying his for a second

Actually, get him a toblerone and a bic.

I had a Mont Blanc fountain Pen and I loved it so much, then it got nicked from my desk at work.

Yes they’re really expensive but (assuming some thieving robdog doesn’t nick it) will be a source of pleasure for a lifetime.

I have a set of Cross pens (fountain/biro/rollerball/pencil) which I love, really solid and heavy.

DHZ said he wanted to buy me a new pen, I said not to bother unless it was a Mont Blanc. He bought me one, but it is one of the slimmer, lighted ladies' ones. I prefer the Cross pen.

I gave never told him this as it was an incredibly thoughtful gift. I have blue ink in one, black in the other,

Live and learn. I'd never heard of Mont blanc pens before this thread.

I was thinking tourist tat from up Mont blanc!

I had a chat with DH (the pen enthusiast up-thread) about why Mont Blanc pens are such a status symbol.
Firstly he said the resin quality on Meisterstück is unbeatable. Can't argue with that.
Secondly he said they refuse to sell in the low price category, so their target clients have plenty of cash to spend (wisely or foolishly depends on your point of view). And that's simply luxury brand marketing.

But according to him the real bargains, quality and writing efficiency are to be found in the £50-100 area where makers like Pelikan, Cross and Parker are jostling for the cash from discerning buyers who spend less but buy more frequently.

Personally I'm a fan of the Italian brand Aurora. Stainless steel and rose gold Magellano model is on my wishlist for my next significant birthday. Probably less than €100.
Luckily we have a real pen shop in our next big city and we'll make an outing of it !

I'd love a nice pen, as would DH - who's also a lefty but wouldn't know where to start. Those who've said to go and try them out so you know what you like, where is best for this?

I've just remembered my childless, city worker uncle buying me a Parker pen for my birthday when I was about 8, not a regular gift for a child but I felt so grown up and loved it!

Being a lefty doesn't exclude fountain pens.

My DH is a lefty and still uses the Mount Blanc fountain pen he was given for his 21st so many moons ago

If you’re left handed and righting with ink don’t you just smear it though?

Dh’s Writing is pretty atrocious actually. I did say to him that if he had a pen that cost this much money I would expect it to make his writing much neater!

Sorry for the awful spelling of writing in that message! I have literally no idea how that happened!!

I think I'd be opting for a divorce TBF

Do you want to PM me?

I’ve got a brand new Mont Blanc pen, it’s never been used or out of the box until I took this photo. My DH was given it as a gift & it’s just sat in a drawer.

That’s very kind of you MrsK but I think we’ve decided to take the advice to go and try some out x

Handsfree, no worries I hope you find something you’re husband likes 😃