I decided to give it a try, and for a budget EDC knife, and besides Spyderco’s steel selection, the size, ergonomics and action are rock solid. It’s one of those knives that just disappears in your pocket.
What are your thoughts? (Excluding the 8Cr13 debate 😁)?
Forget about brand, price, prestige, loyalty, resale value, filling system, etc
You’ve got to choose between a Montblanc 146, Pelikan M800, Pilot Custom 823 or a Lamy Studio with a 14k gold nib.
You can keep only one, the other 3 gotta go. Which one are you keeping and why?
I’ve got my choice, but I am curious about y’all’s pick
Doing a little organizing and rotating pens around, so I figured I’d take a quick family photo.
Pretty happy with where the collection is right now, although I’m already working on adding a couple more. You know how that goes. What would you add next?
From left to right top to bottom: Montblanc LeGran M nib, Pelikan M800 M nib, Pilot Falcon S/M nib, Montblanc Classique F nib, Leonardo Momento Zero M nib, Platinum 3776 M nib, Diplomat Aero M nib, Sailor 1911L M nib, Parker 75 Vintage M nib, Pilot 743 F/M nib, Visconti Van Gogh M nib, Pilot Custom 823 M nib, Montblanc 32 M nib, Waterman Expert M nib, Lamy Studio Custom (with original Lamy 14k gold M nib), Pilot E95 M nib, Asvine P20 M nib, Twisbi Eco M nib, Platinum Plassir M nib and Jinhao X450 Custom (swaped the Jinhao nib with an original Jowo M nib)
So I finally bought my first Pilot Custom 823, and I’m just going to say it: I feel kind of stupid for waiting this long. And yes, i do own other Pilot fountains pens.
I’ve been collecting fountain pens for a while and the 823 has obviously been on my radar forever. Everybody talks about it. Everybody recommends it. But I kept passing on it for one very simple reason: I never really liked the demonstrator/translucent look on the 823.
Nothing against demonstrators. I own some from other brands. But when it comes to my nicer pens, I tend to like more traditional, classic-looking pens. That’s just where my taste normally goes.
Then I found the transparent black/smoke 823. It’s obviously still translucent, but it’s dark and discreet enough that it doesn’t scream “demonstrator” to me. So I finally decided to give it a shot. Well… I should have done this a long time ago
The balance is fantastic. The weight and size feel right in my hand. The ink capacity is ridiculous. Everything about it just feels incredibly well thought out.
What surprised me the most is that I recently got a Montblanc 146, which has been one of my grail pens for a long time. I absolutely love that pen. But sitting here with the 823 in one hand and the 146 in the other, I’m honestly amazed at how well the Pilot holds its own.
I’m not saying they’re the same pen. They aren’t. But purely as a writing instrument? The 823 is playing in that league for me. No question.
And considering what I paid for each one… that’s pretty remarkable.
For the other 823 owners here, did you have that same “oh… NOW I get it” moment when you finally bought one?
After months of searching, I finally got my Meisterstück LeGrand.
For some unknown reason, this particular configuration just kept escaping me. I wanted the classic black and gold LeGrand with a Medium nib. Nothing particularly exotic, but somehow I went through months of out of stock, unavailable, and dealers unable to procure one.
I checked several authorized dealers and even tried sourcing one from outside the U.S. At one point I had a dealer overseas trying to procure one for me, but that wasn’t going anywhere either. I know Montblanc inventory comes and goes, but after a while it honestly became a little frustrating.
There were other Montblancs available, but this was one of my grail pens and I didn’t want to spend this kind of money and compromise on the configuration I actually wanted.
Finally, Dromgoole’s here in Houston had exactly what I was looking for.
It arrived yesterday, I filled it with Montblanc Royal Blue, and started testing it. The Medium nib is incredibly smooth, the LeGrand size feels perfect in my hand, and this is exactly the Montblanc writing experience I had been looking for.
After all the trouble finding one, I’m actually glad I waited for the exact pen I wanted.
The one that kept escaping me is finally home.
A little follow-up to my previous post asking about vintage fountain pens.
First, thank you to everyone who commented, shared advice, and encouraged me to give vintage pens a try. I read through the recommendations and decided to take the plunge.
My first one arrived this week: a Parker 75, French-made, matte black with gold trim and a 14K medium nib.
And… yeah. I get it now.
I’ve been using it for several days and I’m genuinely impressed. The nib is incredibly smooth, the pen feels fantastic in the hand, and there’s something very different about using a writing instrument that’s already been around for decades and is still doing exactly what it was designed to do.
So now I’m turning the question back to all of you who got me into this:
Show me your vintage fountain pens!
I have a feeling this Parker 75 may have opened a door I probably should have left closed.
Let’s see them!
I’ve been collecting modern fountain pens for a while now, and my collection has gradually become more focused.
Recently, I’ve started watching classic British TV shows from the ’60s and ’70s (like *The Avengers*), and seeing all those vintage pens in use has made me curious about exploring that side of the hobby.
For those of you who collect vintage pens:
What drew you into vintage?
Do you actually use them regularly, or are they mostly collection pieces?
If you were starting today, which brand or model would you recommend as a first vintage pen?
I’ve been looking at Parker 51s and Sheaffer Touchdowns, but I’m open to suggestions. I’m more interested in a great writing experience than simply owning something rare.
I’d love to hear what vintage pen made you think, “Okay… now I understand why people collect these.”
I wasn’t expecting this level of lume when I bought it.
Fresh charge, a few seconds under a flashlight, and it absolutely lights up the room. The bezel pip, indices, and hands are all evenly matched, and the brightness is honestly impressive for a watch in this price range.
Definitely one of the strongest lume performers in my collection.
I picked this one up mostly out of curiosity, and I honestly wasn’t expecting it to impress me this much.
The 38mm case is just about perfect for my wrist. It has that classic vintage diver feel, wears incredibly comfortably, and the proportions are spot on.
The lume is absolutely phenomenal. I knew it was supposed to be good, but it exceeded my expectations.
The only modification I made was swapping the original bracelet for a jubilee-style bracelet. To my eye, it really completes the vintage look and gives the watch even more character.
Sometimes a watch just clicks the moment you put it on. This has become one of those watches for me, and I find myself reaching for it far more often than I ever expected.
Does anyone know if there’s an original quick-adjust ratcheting clasp available for this bracelet, or even a complete bracelet with an integrated ratcheting clasp that fits this model? I’d love to keep everything looking as close to OEM as possible while adding on-the-fly micro-adjustment.
Sorry for the long post, but I think this experience is worth sharing.
For context, I’m not new to Montblanc.
I wanted to share my recent experience with Montblanc’s U.S. warranty service because, after collecting fountain pens for years, it’s the first time I’ve encountered an outcome like this.
I’m not posting this to attack Montblanc. I genuinely hope it’s an isolated case. But I also think prospective buyers should understand what happened and decide for themselves.
Several months ago, I purchased a brand-new Montblanc Meisterstück Classique fountain pen. I inked it once to confirm the nib wasn’t the right fit for me, and I requested a Medium-to-Broad nib exchange under Montblanc’s warranty program.
The request was approved.
I sent the pen to Montblanc’s authorized U.S. repair center, My Jewelry Repair, expecting what I assumed would be a fairly routine warranty nib exchange.
Then the waiting began.
Weeks turned into months.
The repair status remained “Parts Ordered,” and every inquiry resulted in essentially the same answer: they were waiting for the replacement nib from Montblanc factory in Germany.
A few days ago, I contacted the repair center again to see if there had finally been any progress.
The answer honestly surprised me.
The representative explained that they had still not received the replacement nib, that they had escalated the matter internally, and that they had been unable to obtain an update from Montblanc regarding when or even if the part would become available.
At that point, they presented me with two options:
Continue waiting indefinitely with no estimated completion date.
Have my pen returned unrepaired.
After waiting for months, I chose to have the pen returned.
So the fountain pen is now on its way back to me with the original Medium nib because the authorized service center was unable to complete a warranty-approved nib exchange.
That is an outcome I never expected from a company with Montblanc’s reputation.
To be clear, I’m not criticizing the representative I spoke with. She was courteous and transparent about the situation. My concern is with the overall service process.
I’ve collected watches, fountain pens, knives, and other premium products for years. Delays happen. Parts shortages happen.
What I have never experienced before is an authorized repair center telling me they could not complete a warranty-approved service because they couldn’t obtain the required part or get a meaningful answer from the manufacturer.
This experience has genuinely changed my confidence in Montblanc’s U.S. after-sales support.
I’m sharing this because people often ask whether Montblanc is worth the investment or whether they should buy their first “grail” pen from the brand.
The pens themselves are beautiful, and I still appreciate their craftsmanship.
However, ownership doesn’t end when you make the purchase. Warranty support and long-term service are part of the value proposition of a luxury brand.
Based on my experience, I think that’s something prospective buyers should carefully consider.
I’d be interested to hear from others.
Have you experienced anything similar with recent Montblanc service in the U.S.?
Has anyone else had a nib exchange delayed indefinitely or ultimately canceled?
Is this an isolated case, or have others noticed changes in parts availability or after-sales support?
I’d genuinely like to know whether my experience is unique or whether this reflects a broader change in how Montblanc’s U.S. service is currently operating.
I bought this Land Tortoise because I loved the case and size, and it’s been with me for a few years now.
Over time, though, I kept finding myself wishing it leaned a little more toward the diver side of the family.
So instead of buying another watch, I decided to slowly evolve this one.
First, I replaced the factory Hardlex with a domed sapphire crystal featuring blue anti-reflective coating.
That alone completely changed the personality of the watch and made the dial come alive.
I also swapped the original bracelet for a more refined jubilee-style bracelet, which completely transformed the comfort and gave the watch a personality that suits its new look much better.
The latest change was swapping the original compass bezel insert for a classic black ceramic dive insert. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but once it was installed, it finally looked like the watch I had been imagining.
It’s still very much a Land Tortoise underneath, but now it feels like the Land Tortoise that secretly always wanted to be an aquatic one.
Some people prefer keeping everything original, and I completely respect that. For me, though, modifying watches is part of the hobby. It lets me create something that’s a little more personal while still appreciating the original design.
I think this one has finally reached its final form.
I made an exception to my usual automatic-only rule and picked up this JDM Casio Wave Ceptor in titanium.
I knew it would be light… but I wasn’t expecting this light.
I wear an Apple Watch Series 11 in titanium very often and somehow this Casio feels even lighter. Once it’s on the wrist, it honestly disappears. It’s one of those watches you forget you’re wearing after a few minutes.
Between the titanium case and bracelet, Tough Solar, Multiband 6, and 100m water resistance, it feels like Casio engineered it to be the ultimate grab-and-go watch.
Anyone else own one of these titanium Wave Ceptors?
I’m starting to understand why they have such a loyal following.
Went with a classic today.
I grew up watching James Bond movies with my dad, so 007 has always been something we shared.
When Omega released the Seamaster 300 “Spectre,” it immediately became one of those watches I knew I’d eventually own.
Beyond the Bond connection, I just love the vintage styling, the broad arrow hands, and how comfortable it is on the wrist. It’s one of those watches that never gets old.
What’s on your wrist today?
The Omega Seamaster 300 never disappoints after the lights go out. One of my favorite nighttime companions.
Let’s see your best blue lume!
My first Proxima finally arrived, and I have to say… I’m seriously impressed.
I’ve owned and handled plenty of watches across very different price ranges, and this doesn’t just look good in photos, it genuinely feels like a quality watch on the wrist.
The finishing is excellent, the dial and applied markers have real depth, the domed crystal looks fantastic, the bezel action feels solid, and the lume is great.
The bracelet and clasp also deserve some credit. The clasp is a substantial piece of steel and feels far more solid than I expected. Once sized, the whole watch feels very well balanced and comfortable on the wrist.
Nothing about it feels rattly, flimsy, or cheap.
The seller also regulated it before shipping, and the timegrapher showed -1 s/day, 301° amplitude and 0.0 ms beat error.
What surprised me most is that I’m not thinking, “This is great for the money.” I’m thinking, “This is just a genuinely good watch.”
For those of you who’ve owned Proxima watches for a while, which model do you think is their best? I have a feeling this won’t be my last one.
Giving the Seiko Land Tortoise some wrist time today. I’ve changed a few things over time: domed crystal with blue AR and a beads-of-rice bracelet, and it has become one of the most unique watches in my rotation.
What’s getting wrist time for you today?
Seiko lume never disappoints. What’s glowing on your wrist tonight?
Caught this view of the Battleship Texas during sunset this evening. The lighting, signal flags, and reflections on the channel made for one of my favorite shots from the trip.
It’s easy to forget you’re looking at one of the most historic ships in the U.S. while enjoying a Gulf Coast sunset.
Anyone else enjoy watching the ship from this angle?
Took the Montauk out on the Galveston-Bolivar Ferry today. It spent the day at the beach, on the water, and in the Texas heat without missing a beat.
The beads-of-rice bracelet continues to be one of the most comfortable I’ve worn, and the blue dial looks even better in natural sunlight.
Anyone else wearing a dive watch today?
Took the Squale Montauk to Galveston this evening. The combination of the clean dial, slim profile, and beads-of-rice bracelet makes it incredibly comfortable, and it just feels like it belongs by the water.
What are you wearing today…?