Overview:​
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Value: [5.5/10.0]

     In terms of value, there's pens out there that are significantly more valuable than a Mont Blanc 149. Just like a Maserati, where you're paying for a fork, you're paying for a snow cap when you purchase a Mont Blanc product. Yes, the nib is exquisitely crafted (we'll get to that later) and the pen is very well built, but does that justify the 800 USD price difference to that of a decent gold-nibbed pen? Long answer short, NO. In terms of value, I'd have to say a Platinum 3776 is up there; around 100 USD for a solid pen (albeit a tad bland) that writes very well. Yes, when you spend almost 1000 USD on this pen you do get your share of the beautifully carved nib and the subtly striking gold accents along with the iconic snow cap branding the pen. But ultimately, the beauty and performance aren't compelling enough to justify the price. 

Comfort/Ease of Use: [8.5/10.0]

     With my small hands, I had some trouble handling the 149. 

Performance: [10.0/10.0]

     What else would one expect from Mont Blanc's flagship pen? It writes like an absolute charm. Nothing can compare. It never skipped and was butter-smooth the first time I put the pen to paper. The generously large ink reservoir allows me to write for a long time without having to refill; I'd also have to state that that's a good thing, given that in my opinion, the pen writes a tad on the wet side. The flow is great. My model has a medium nib, and the feed kept up with my handwriting. In practice, there's some degree of line variation, but from what I could tell, only by around one to two millimeters at most. 

Construction: [8/10.0]

     It's resin. Simple as that. In other words, it's glorified plastic, and it's what Mont Blanc has used for decades. I'm confidently going to say that they've followed the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" route of pen construction. Despite the fact that there are pens constructed out of more rugged materials such as aluminum, brass, carbon fiber among others, but I have to say, Mont Blanc does a good job with their resin molding. The pen remarkably well constructed. Its piston mechanism is robust and possesses a massive reservoir. My only gripes with the pen are the clip construction and the twist cap. With the twist cap, there's a sweet spot just before the thread ends where the cap doesn't wobble while it's on the pen. Otherwise, it makes an unpleasant creaking noise. With regards to the clip, it's a very generic clip. I wouldn't recommend clipping ti anything thicker than a few sheets of paper as it's rather flimsy and at risk for permanent damage due to over-bending. 

Overall Score: 8/10

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