The hallmark relates to the gold content of the nib and is also found on other 18-carat gold parts of Montblanc, e.g. on the solid-gold fountain pen. It stands in the context of export regulations: for example, in France, fountain pens may only be sold as "with gold nib" if the gold nib has 18 carat and is correspondingly hallmarked. The nib is thus exportable without further adjustment. "Export nibs" therefore frequently have 18 instead of 14 carat as well as this additional hallmark.