Rare 1990s Mint Rotring 700 Anodized Steel M Nib Indestructible Fountain Pen - Identical to Montblanc Noblesse Slim Line Item ID: ROT-071

ROTRING 700 Fountain Pen

Manufacturer/Model: Rotring 700 Germany
Year of production: Early to mid 1990s
Filling system: Standard international cartridges or converter - new piston converter included
Nib: Steel - M medium size
Material: Heavy highest grade anodized steel, dark grey close to black
Length (pen closed): Oversize 141mm, posted 159mm

Condition and information:
One of the best Rotring pens, made in the heyday of the Rotring, when they started growing rapidly and expanded in many sectors. On the other hand this is also one of the most controversial Rotring pens, as it is basically a 1:1 copy to Montblanc Noblesse SlimLine pens, both pens are virtually identical aside the decorative parts such as the clip.

Launched in the early 1990s, the 700 was the successor of the 600 series, but both were targeting a different market segment. As with all Rotring pens, this one too is made to be virtually indestructible and is now highly valued and sought after, and with a good reason.

One needs to handle this pen for a few seconds and will immediately understand what this pen is all about and why these pens are in such a demand by everyone who knows Rotring. The pen is perfectly balanced, very heavy, very long, can be used posted or not, anodized solid thick steel of the highest grade, perfect length, knurled grip section, fits and feels perfectly in the hand. The pen is very heavy, and due to its weight glides on the paper effortlessly.

This in fact can be also said for the Montblanc Noblesse Slim Line series with which this pen is virtually identical.

We were fortunate to have both pens at the same time in our shop, so we decided to tackle this myth, and see how far the rabbit hole goes. The last few photos show these to pens, side by side, with all of their parts interchanged between them. We knew there were similarities, but what we found was a bit surprising and may help us, collectors, understand a bit more about the cooperation of Montblanc and Rotring.

There are several notations in the pen community that apparently Rotring purchased the Noblesse Slim Line tooling from Montblanc in 1990 or thereabouts, prior to starting producing the 700, however this does not explain the whole story.

Tooling, meaning the machines, tools, tool bits and processes are just one aspect, as any machine can be configured to make a slightly different or a very different part if necessary, and hence the end result can be a completely different pen. Nonetheless, here we see two identical pens, identical to 1/10th of a millimeter, as in, they virtually share the same size, same barrel thickness, barrel tapering, lips and fitment on the grip section, same threading, same receiving socket inside the cap, same finial at the back of the pen with the same tapering, same nib and feed, and so on. The caps when switched to each pen, even click with the same sound when closing or posting, meaning the sections lips on both pens and the receiving sockets inside the caps, are virtually identical.

Aside from the obvious clip re-design, the pens are 1:1 identical. This, we believe, would suggest that Rotring acquired not just the tooling, but the rights and basically the detailed technical specifications to the Montblanc Noblesse Slim Line, to basically reproduce the entire line with the Rotring branding. Of course, at that time Montblanc discontinued the Noblesse Slim Line, which was considered Generation 2 of the Noblesse line, and introduced the Noblesse Gen 3 line, also known as Noblesse Oblige.

We very often find this close cooperation among many German pen manufacturers, even though they are competitors, they collaborate closely, and this goes all the way back from the start of the industry in Germany. One fun fact is that in this period, both owner families Rösler (Montblanc) and Riepe (Rotring), historically were close friends, and their factories were even located near each other. Sources say that Montblanc often utilized Rotring for technical stylograph tips, while Rotring used Montblanc for piston filling components. They have even shared some factory space, and in the 1980s, Montblanc reportedly used storage space within the Rotring factory.

So this close collaboration is then more easily understood, and how a clone of the Montblanc Slim Line pen would become a Rotring 700, or maybe it's fitting to call it "Rotblanc 700 Slim". On the other hand, Montblanc Noblesse Oblige fountain pens were inspired by none other than the Aurora's Hastil pen, so in a way, we see a prevailing design that has come a full circle, from the late 1960s with the Hastil, all the way till late 1990s when the 700 was discontinued.

We hope this listing sheds some light on these two amazing pens, and help us and our community get a better understanding.   

The Rotring 700 pen offered here, is in mint condition, with some minor scuffs and barely visible surface scratches from storage. The pen looks as if it hasn't been used, it is nearly NOS with its nib size sticker on the body. The Rotring’s signature red band is proudly located around the clip. This pen is meant to be brought along in the field, tossed in a bag, stepped on, dropped, it can take virtually any abuse without showing any damage. A fountain pen that will last for generations, and then some, be always ready for action, one of an unmatched quality.