Rather than 3 gold bands, the center band is gold while the two smaller side bands are sterling silver. The cap band on very early (first-year?) 149s is different. I think the clip underside one is the more common one putting Pix on the cap band is a more recent thing (some time in the 2000s I've heard 2006 quoted).ĮVOLUTION OF DESIGN FEATURESMONTBLANC MEISTERSTUCK 149Around 1991 they switched from 14k nibs to 18k nibs exclusively. However, the presence or absence of this mark does not mean the pen is fake/real many modern counterfeits dutifully include the Pix mark as well, including on the underside of the clip (for the higher-quality fakes). Often you will find this on the cap band as well as a much less obvious place: the underside of the clip. Around 1997, Montblanc introduced the 'Pix' mark as a further anti-counterfeiting feature. I am told they do not keep any database of serial numbers except for the limited edition pens. It is likely that they would be different models and separated by many years in time, though. To make matters more complicated, Montblanc does reuse serial numbers (they are issued randomly with no discernable pattern), so two pens with the same serial number could still be genuine.

The font of the serial number has changed at least once the early ons (such as my 1991 MB146) is block-lettered, while current ones use a font that resembles the computer-readable numbers in a personal check.

In general, all Montblancs made after 1991 should have a serial number, but remember that there are still a considerable number of used pens that date from before that, so lack of a serial number may mean only that it is an older pen. This has not been particularly effective. SERIAL NUMBERS AND PIXMontblanc introduced serial numbers in 1991 in some sort of attempt to counter the replica/counterfeit market. MONTBLANC PENSMontblanc is the company pen lovers love to hate.

Mont blanc pen serial number check