Dear Amigos,

Technology is where the big money is right now, and luxury brands like Montblanc are naturally trying to find their place in this booming landscape. It makes perfect sense for Montblanc to chase this digital rainbow and add digital writing to their iconic product mix. After all, the future is clearly digital, and brands want to stay relevant by crossing niches and expanding their core offerings.

But here’s the catch: when a high-luxury brand like Montblanc steps into tech, the expectations are sky-high. People expect nothing less than excellence—in craftsmanship, design, and overall user experience. Apple, has become quite an example, and also a benchmark. Unfortunately, the Montblanc Digital Paper doesn’t quite hit those marks. The product feels like a very expensive digital notepad that fails to differentiate itself from cheaper competitors in terms of build quality and finish. The leather wrapping is crooked and feels less refined, and the pen—Montblanc’s crown jewel—is surprisingly unimpressive.

It’s ironic that the heart of Montblanc’s identity, their pen, ends up being the most disappointing part of the package.