Ah, the Montblanc Meisterstück, an iconic writing instrument that has retained most of its design codes since its inception in 1924. There is no mistaking the black cigar-shaped instrument with its snowcap emblem for any other brand, and having one clipped on your shirt pocket is always a flex.
Yet, this recognisable aesthetic holds so much more under the hood — or, in this case, under the cap — with the nib existing in various forms or grinds. Most Montblanc boutiques only offer Fine, Medium, or Broad nibs from the get-go, but writing preferences differ from person to person. As a matter of fact, it is not just writers who benefit from a good tool. Artists do too.
This is where Montblanc’s bespoke nibs come into play. Not only can customers find the best nib shapes for their needs, they can also choose to decorate said nibs with gemstones or carvings of their initials. There is a certain magic to having a nib that truly speaks to your soul, and what better writing instrument to let your creativity fly than through the legendary Meisterstück with a customised nib?
Here are some of the special nibs that veer from the usual standard, and keep in mind that these templates can be further customised to suit how somebody holds their writing instruments, or how much ink flow they prefer.
Signature
While its main purpose lies in its namesake, this nib makes for a surprisingly pleasant writing experience, especially if one is partial to flat nibs with line variation (thin across, thick vertically).
What makes it different from other flat nibs is its rounded edges, which do not snag the paper as rectangular and italic nibs tend to do. It is also an effortless way to add uniqueness to your handwriting without having to learn any special techniques beforehand.
Twin Line
The Twin Line is not just a rare option in Montblanc’s bespoke nib category, but a nib that is rarely seen in the fountain pen world in general. Just like the Signature, this nib is flat and wide, offering a similar level of line variation, but with one catch: there is a notch on the nib that does not come in contact with the paper.
What results is a parallel line, one thick and one thin, that provides a 3D-like effect, especially when writing Western script. Because of how large the nib is, it is best suited for headings or titles, so more greeting cards and fewer pen-pal letters, especially if you write in cursive.
Ballpoint BB/M
Not to be confused with ballpoint pens, this nib is literally shaped like a ball. While normal nibs may require a certain tilt in order to function optimally, this bulbous point allows the user to hold the writing instrument at any angle and still enjoy uninterrupted ink flow.
The interesting part of this nib is that one side provides a double-broad width while the other writes in medium. So not only will users get a foolproof fountain pen experience, but they will still enjoy two nib widths in one package.
Curved
The curved nib is often referred to as a fun option due to its varying line widths when held at different angles. In this case, the more perpendicular you hold the writing instrument to the paper, the thinner the line becomes. It suits Asian calligraphy as it mimics the characteristics of a brush, but it is also popular among artists due to its ability to draw fine lines as well as lay on thick swathes of ink with the same nib.
Extra Extra Fine (EEF)
This is for the technical people, or those with a penchant for small handwriting. Fountain pens are not usually the first choice when it comes to projects that require accuracy. But with a sufficiently fine nib, even the most intricate of diagrams poses little threat.
There is a lot of nuance that goes behind nibs this fine, and one needs to know exactly what they want, but one quick way to know if this nib suits you is by looking at the loops in writing. If the letter ‘e’ looks like a blob with an EF nib, then it makes sense to go one step down and procure this EEF instead.
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