Montblanc makes a sea of different nibs for its fountain pens, and they all have their own characteristics. First of all, all Montblanc nibs are made of gold. Some are 14 carats and others are 18 carats. Certain pen nibs are also plated with platinum, so we get a nice golden/white surface. Montblanc fountain pens have a crack towards the tip. This is where the magic happens and it's called the capillary force. The tension of the ink and the gap in the tip means that the ink can be "sucked" from the reservoir/ink cartridge out to the tip. The outer part of the tip is a slightly different color than the rest. To prevent the tip from wearing out, a small ball of iridium is melted down. Iridium is unusually hard and can only be cut with a diamond. But this is where sublime craftsmanship is needed to create the writing qualities. The most important craft is nib grinding, and this is a metier that takes many, many years to learn. A Montblanc fountain pen is not just a fountain pen. It is a craft and a story. See our selection of Montblanc fountain pens here.
