Montblanc makes its nibs itself. The most important German nib supplier is the firm Bock; many brand makers like Faber-Castell and earlier also Pelikan have nibs made there, which is why Bock counts as a 'hidden champion'. Whether the nibs with the engraving 'Iridium Point Germany' come specifically from Bock is not unambiguously clarified. In general, steel nibs can technically write just as well as gold nibs; gold nibs are softer in writing feel due to the material.