By Bill Riepl

Montblanc has been producing some exceptional pens of late, and the Gold and Black series has proved to be no exception to this recent trend.

A striking design in a very clean, elegant art deco style, the Gold and Black went straight to my heart as soon as I saw it in a press release image. It's rare enough that a photo can really present the "feeling" of a pen, but the simple design of the black and gold cap and barrel had me intrigued from the start. I've since found that in hand, the pen is even better than in pictures.

Available in several versions, including a metal cap Doué version, you can get everything from a twist actuated ballpen or capped rollerball to two sizes of fountain pen in the all metal version, and all but the larger fountain pen in the Doué version.

Having a clear propensity towards larger pens, I immediately gravitated towards the 146 sized fountain pen, and found my expectations more than fulfilled. It's a full sized pen, maybe not quite as large as I might normally like, but as with my sterling silver 146, the added weight adds a feel of substance that makes up for any deficit in size I may have felt.

In absolute terms, the size is identical to the other all metal Montblanc 146 size pens, at 5 3/4 inches long and 7/16 across at the section. Weighing in at 1 1/2 ounces, it's a great feeling pen in the hand. It balances well both posted and unposted.

Posting the pen brings to light the only problem I can find with it, and it's more a quirk than a problem. The cap posts at a slight angle to the barrel. This is a trait that I have seen in other all metal Montblanc pens. As I said, it's more a quirk than a problem, the cap posts securely enough, it just sits at a slight angle. It bugs me, but then I also get all hung up on making sure that the clip lines up exactly with the nib when I post the cap. I may have too much time on my hands...

When it comes to writing, it performs exactly as it should. Essentially a 146 in terms of nib and feed, it's a great writing pen. The nib is 18K, two tone plated, and is a smooth, capable performer. I've never yet had a problem with a modern Montblanc146 or 149 nib.

They tend to be somewhat rigid, but I've always found them to have well shaped tipping material, and a reliable flow. Part of this reliability in ink flow probably comes from the piston fill system, which with few exceptions, seem to work better than cartridge converter systems in almost any pen, whatever the brand. The nib has the same two tone masking and engraving as the regular 146 model.

The smaller version is set up as for the 144 size pen, with a cartridge converter mechanism, and the smaller sized nib. On the Doué version, the cap is of the slip on variety, the all metal version features a screw on cap.

Although I might prefer the larger 146 sized pen, I have to admit that the smaller all metal version in this pattern comes across as a very nice pen. The slim shape plays well with the simple pattern of the black and gold. This impression also holds true with the ballpen version, which in addition to being slimmer, has a pronounced taper towards the tip.

The slim version is a bit too slender for my taste, I really prefer a larger pen. I consider the 149 sized behemoths to be "about right"! But personal taste aside, it really is a nice little pen, and with the cap posted, it balances well in the hand, and if you prefer a slim section, this pen is likely to serve you well.

Weight and balance of the larger version are close to "perfect" for my tastes. Maybe a bit on theslim side through the section for me, and a touch on the heavy side if you're looking for long term writing. If you plan on page after page of writing, a regular 146 might be a better choice. But if you're going to use it the way most of us do, for a note here, or a simple letter, it's well within reasonable weight.

It's also not so heavy that tucking it away in a regular shirt pocket is out of the question. It's not one of those pens that is so heavy that you end up leaning to one side all day long if you try carrying it on your person!

If I were to choose only one, as you might guess, it would be the biggest, in the 146 size. However, really, both sizes work well from a standpoint of looks and first hand impression. It's just plain a simply great design, and one that really makes the Gold and Black stand out. Without going too far and leaving you feeling like you're on display simply for using one in public. A "well done" for Montblanc with the Gold and Black!

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Images copyright 2005 William Riepl