Montblanc Vintage 1960–1989 Noblesse — the slim metal pens from 1973 into the 1990s

The Noblesse was Montblanc’s slim range with a metal core, below the Meisterstück (forum post of 31 January 2007, forum post of 30 October 2010). The model catalogue lists it from 1973, each version as a fountain pen, rollerball (“Quickpen”), ballpoint and push pencil.

Versions and filling system

The first pens came in matte stainless steel with chrome-plated or gold-plated trim, and in brass, gold- or platinum-plated with triple-cut pinstripe guilloche. The fountain pens take cartridges or a converter. The first version predates Montblanc’s threaded converters, so ordinary converters fit (forum post of 31 January 2007).

The groups of the model catalogue

• NOBL 1: stainless-steel pens with chrome-plated or gold-plated trim (1974–1982 and 1974–1987)
• NOBL 2: gold- and platinum-plated with triple-cut pinstripe guilloche (1973–1988)
• NOBL 3: new design with a flat cap top — 1987–1994 gold-plated, silver-plated or in Chinese lacquer with a closed clip, 1992–1997 in gold- or silver-plated brass with a slotted clip
• NOBL 4: 1997–2000 the versions with a domed cap top, also marbled and as Doué

Lacquer Noblesse and Dunhill

In the 1980s the Noblesse in gold-plated brass with multi-layer lacquer on cap and barrel and an 18 ct nib was added. Montblanc made the same pens, with a different body and nib engraving, for Dunhill as well (forum post of 12 January 2006). The model catalogue lists the lacquer Noblesse of group NOBL 3 in deep black, burgundy and midnight blue (1987–1994). There were also white or beige Noblesse (forum post of 29 January 2008).

Ballpoint and pencil

The first ballpoints (19xx, 1974–1977) had a clip mechanism: the spring-mounted clip triggers the retraction of the refill through a small “nipple”, a development of the clip-lever mechanism (forum post of 10 May 2009). Because it was too fragile, the push button soon followed (17xx, from 1978) (forum post of 23 October 2010); the group NOBL 3 has a twist ballpoint.

The gold-plated pencil with pinstripe guilloche from the late 1970s into the 1980s has a black instead of a white star. According to a forum post it is the only Montblanc with such a logo (forum post of 20 July 2011).

The name “VIP”

Two pens carried the name “VIP”, one after the other. The first was the metal fountain pen 1225 of 1973–1975, made by Aurora in Italy; according to forum posts it is identical to the Aurora “Hastil” apart from the logo (post on Penexchange (thread “Montblanc Turbo (Schulfüller 70-80er Jahre)”), post on Penexchange (thread “Schmaler Füller ohne Austrockenproblem gesucht”)). Photos are on the VIP pen page. Montblanc took it into the range to occupy the market and to test, ahead of the Noblesse, how slim metal pens would be received.

After the Noblesse was introduced, the name continued with a pen of its own, all black and in the Noblesse style: fountain pen 1124 (1976–1980) and rollerball 1324 (1978–1980). The model catalogue lists both as “Noblesse VIP – black” for 1976–1984, with a platinum-plated 14 ct gold nib and a black plastic clip.

On the fringes of the range

Under “Noblesse”, “Collectible Stars” also lists pens that according to forum posts stood below the Noblesse: a simpler pen with a steel nib, 1976–1979 (forum post of 17 August 2005), and a cartridge filler from the plate on p. 70 said to be a SlimLine (forum post of 17 December 2012).

Montblanc no longer supplies spare parts for the Noblesse (as of 2006, forum post of 13 December 2006). On the late Noblesse (“Noblesse III”) the section tends to break between thread and gold ring (forum post of 8 November 2018).