You might be surprised to hear that sales in writing instruments are growing year on year, at least for one German brand, despite the threat of the digital world to writing. It’s difficult to pinpoint why, but as Franck Juhel, Montblanc president for the Middle East, India & Africa puts it: "I have a personal belief that we are seeing the natural balance between digital and analogue. The more we go digital, the more we need to be grounded to reality and nothing is more grounding than writing on paper."

He says there are many kinds of pen collectors. "We have collectors who buy everything in twos. One to keep wrapped in its packaging, untouched, and one to use."..

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