The number of Montblanc counterfeits on eBay has not gone down; eBay does not basically check the origin of articles, and Montblanc itself hardly takes active steps against counterfeits. Even the pencils of the Writers Editions are being counterfeited; often they are hardly distinguishable from originals on photos. The Oscar Wilde pencil has a stepless rotary mechanism, a 0.9 mm lead and an eraser identical in construction to that of the LeGrand pencil and separately purchasable. Brownish discolouration on vermeil surfaces like tip or clip is tarnished silver under the gilding and can be removed again with a silver-cleaning cloth. Before a purchase, it is recommended to have the piece checked by a dealer one trusts, and to pay attention to positive ratings and relevant sales history, or to buy via trustworthy platforms like penboard.de.