Handwriting is a very personal thing. So linked to individuality is it that graphologists claim to be able to comment on the character and motivation of a writer from mere scraps of writing. Whether one believes in graphology or not, handwriting is beautifully idiosyncratic. It breathes life into otherwise static notes and lays bare the innermost thoughts of the writer with every correction, crossed out word or hesitant doodle for the reader to dissect. The process of creation with a pen is transparent, vulnerable and incalculably richer than the polished articles word processors produce.
But handwriting is a dying art. Elegant cursive is no longer being taught. With keyboards and touch-screens replacing pen and paper, we have forgotten how to write. Taking notes with a pen, even a ballpoint pen, is an eccentricity. Yet even in the harried rush of contemporary life, hearts still yearn for yore.
Montblanc, makers of fine writing instruments, recognises that pens are no longer ubiquitous. But it also understands that beyond the eccentric advocates, there are those eager to try the fountain pen, if only it could be made personal, people who don’t want just any pen, but a tailored expression of self that delivers stellar performance every time. And so, Montblanc has introduced a bespoke nib programme.
Creating a nib tailored to a writer’s individual writing style seems almost an unnecessary luxury at first, because Montblanc already offers an array of eight - from extra fine to double bold - along with the option of the oblique slant, depending on whether one is left or right-handed.
For instance, the knowledgeable manager at Montblanc’s Dubai boutique only had to cast a cursory look at my old MB140 medium nib that had been shaped by my southpaw overhead ‘hook’ to tell me that I should have bought a bold left oblique nib to begin with. His analysis was correct – a new left oblique nib felt as natural to me as the one I had honed.
The bespoke nib programme takes Montblanc’s attention to such detail even further. Customers write on a slate with a sensor pen. Software then captures an array of measurements – from the pressure exerted on the pen and rotation of the nib, to the angle of attack and sway of the wrist – and delivers a detailed writing analysis.
This writing analysis can be used to select a nib from Montblanc’s portfolio. Should the enthusiast want something bespoke, the details are sent to a master craftsman in Hamburg, who creates a custom nib that can be engraved with your name. At 1,500 USD a pop, it isn’t exactly cheap but for your sum, you get the ultimate expression of individuality, a truly personal nib that can match your every curve, dash, umlaut and ellipsis.
WHAT Bespoke nib by Mont Blanc
PRICE 1,500 USD
WHERE Currently available at just the Mont Blanc store in the Boulevard Mall of the Emirates Towers, but other regional stores may be added soon.
WHY A fountain pen can be exquisitely made and beautiful to behold but if it doesn’t write perfectly then that’s because you’re not suited to its nib. Correct that with a product made just for you.
