THE WRITER
In these days of digital reign, beautiful penmanship is almost a rarity.

Fingers tap-dance their way across the keyboard when once upon a time, the fountain pen they wielded waltzed spellbindingly across the paper. Scratching the surface as they glided, it almost brought sensuality to the touch as the pen engaged in elegant wordplay with great minds at work.

If there is a muse I could bring wherever I go, her name is probably Montblanc. Poised with the grace of a ballerina en pointe , she would peek alluringly out of a pocket, branded by the symbol of distinction in a white star.

For the past 101 years, no other brand can lay claim to embodying the art of stylish writing. Montblanc has left its distinguished mark from Germany to 360 boutiques in more than 70 countries all over the world.



THE TRIO
Claus-Johnannes Voss. August Eberstein. Alfred Nehemias. These names might not ring a familiar bell but their conception is no stranger to generations of consumers with a taste for sophisticated writing instruments.

The start of every new century somehow evokes a stimulating effect on ingenious ideas and imaginative inventions.

Montblanc’s business stems from the humble fountain pen that, in 1906, was a new invention, yet to be fully developed. Still, the concept of a pen that could write without a cumbersome ink pot because it was equipped with an in-built ink tank was promising enough to fascinate both Berlin engineer Eberstein and Hamburg banker Nehemias in the USA and Great Britain.

In the spirit of a turn of the new century, they opened a workshop to produce fountain pens upon their return to Germany. Voss, one of the stationery traders whom they sold the pens, also saw the potential in the cutting-edge writing instrument. He entered a joint venture with the two entrepreneurs, pooling talent and financial resources to establish the cornerstone of what was to become a great international luxury brand.

In 1908, the trio made history with their first fountain pen christened “Rouge et Noir” (French for “red and black”) under the company name SIMPLO FILLER PEN COMPANY. Made of black ebonite with a red cap head, the pens were inspired by the famous novel of the same name by Stendhal.


Click on the thumbnails to view Montblanc’s old advertisements in detail.

It was only a year later that the fountain pens adopted its world-renowned identity inspired by Europe’s highest mountain, the Mont Blanc (French for “white mountain”): A technically improved fountain pen, encased in a sleek jet-black body capped with a white star that represented the six glaciers of the mountain’s snow-covered peak.

In an astute marketing move, the fountain pens were renamed Montblanc after the eponymous mountain and quickly registered as a trademark, to inhibit the possibility of nicknames. It was officially incorporated into the company’s name as Montblanc Simplo GmbH 25 years later.

The unmistakable white rounded star became the brand logo in 1913, gracing all the writing instruments alongside the new name. The Montblanc Star has come to embody the brand’s dedication to the outstanding perfection and finest craftsmanship.



THE MASTERPIECES
No flash in the pan, Montblanc made their global breakthrough in 1924 with the legendary Meisterstück 149 (German for “masterpiece”). Since 1929, the number 4810 adorns the nibs of each Meisterstück, signifying the elevation of the Mont Blanc mountain. Its classic design and values so characteristic of the Montblanc’s signature quickly turned the Meisterstück into a coveted object of desire and the world’s most renowned writing instrument.

Within the course of a century, the Meisterstück changed the face of the writing instrument industry. After more than 80 years, the famous Meisterstück 149 continues to head the Montblanc family as the ultimate symbol for the writing culture and a style icon for perfect and timeless design aesthetics. Its significant role in the most important signatures in politics, business and culture the New York led to a permanent place in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

While the Meisterstück Solitaire Collection — the Meisterstück made in solid gold, sterling silver and gold-plated silver — epitomized 20th century’s utilitarian culture, the pièce de résistance has to be the Meisterstück Solitaire Royal. Priced at approximately US $125,000, it is decorated with 4,810 Pavé diamonds, each one individually cut with 35 facets. In fact, the Guinness Book of Records registered the Meisterstück Solitaire Royal as the most expensive fountain pen in the world in 1994.

The range of Montblanc’s products grew in parallel to the company’s expansion. Product diversification commenced in 1935 when it added desk accessories and leather collection, which was further extended in 1995 with accessories for business and travel.


Click on the thumbnails to view Montblanc’s Eternel leather collection in detail.

Recently, the premium leather range broadened with Starisma Alcina, a fine collection of bags and purses crafted from highly sophisticated soft calf leather in onyx and ivory. Taking centrestage is none other than the Montblanc Star, outlined in illumination of the icon. Limited editions for the collection — variations in gold, silver and an extraordinary three-dimensional “cut-out” version in soft Italian goat suede and Italian calf-trimmed leather that fans out to reveal dark highlights behind the waves of stars — are produced in quantities of only 300 worldwide.


Click on the thumbnails to view Montblanc’s new Starisma Alcina collection in detail.

Montblanc made its foray into jewellery with men’s accessories in 1996 and a year later, to mark the brand’s centenary, it created a buzz among top jewelers when it made its debut at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) watch fair in Geneva. To meet the high expectations of the Montblanc brand, Montblanc Montre S.A. was founded in Le Locle, the cradle of the world’s finest watchmaking in the Switzerland.


Click on the thumbnails to view Montblanc’s timepiece collection in detail.

In 2005, Montblanc further diversified and introduced its silver jewellery collection to cater to the growing number of female clientele by presenting a jewellery collection that encapsulates modern elegance in 925 sterling silver, semiprecious stones and diamonds. Overwhelming success led to the Montblanc Diamond Jewellery collection this year.


Click on the thumbnails to view Montblanc’s Diamond Jewellery collection in detail.

Valerie Tan, public relations manager of Montblanc Singapore, enlightened on the new company direction: “The brand vision for the next century is to be the next luxury player in haute horlogerie timepieces and haute joaillarie, through its embodiment of outstanding perfection and finest craftsmanship and the patented Montblanc diamond that will illuminate the success story of this renowned luxury brand for centuries to come.”

But no matter the product in the universe of luxury goods gathered beneath the Montblanc Star — the landmark Meisterstück fountain pen, the stylish desk accessories, the hand-crafted Meister-Bütten paper, the fine leather, the magnificent jewellery or the elegant timepieces — all of them embody the values of tradition, timeless elegance, success, culture, sophistication and exclusivity.


Click on the thumbnails to view Montblanc’s tributory light projections in detail.

No Montblanc article is made without the hand of fine craftsmanship, an enduring appeal that commands respect and bestows a sense of eternal grace. Apart from the iconic Montblanc Star, master craftsmen and their passion, artistry and skill born of years of experience, persevere to bestow each and every piece with something magical: A soul.



THE ARTIST
Art has found a new muse and patron in Montblanc.

In respect of emerging artists’ struggle to showcase their talents, Montblanc embarked on The Montblanc Young Artist World Patronage Project in 2004. As a brand bound to the tradition of quality design, artistic passion and master craftsmanship, it is fitting that Montblanc dedicates its boutiques to young contemporary artists who share similar values. The generous offer provides them much-needed space in more than 230 venues around the world to exhibit their artworks.


Click on the thumbnails to view works from Montblanc Young Artist World Patronage Project 2005 in detail.
Photos: Helge Mundt

From January 2005 onwards, every Montblanc boutique exhibit a commissioned artwork — featuring an interpretation of the Montblanc Star — for a period of six to eight weeks straight, before introducing another artist’s interpretation. This series of solo exhibitions will proceed through the year. Original artworks will be housed at Montblanc’s headquarters in Hamburg, as part of the Montblanc Cutting Edge Art Collection, for permanent display.

No other brand has harnessed its worldwide presence as a platform to promote the accomplishments of up-and-coming art talents. International press, clients, artists and public alike have embraced and shown their support for the project. Featured artists will be prominently credited with their contact information, and on top of international exposure, every Montblanc customer will receive a brochure that provides further insights on the artist and the inspired artwork.

The Montblanc Art Council, comprising a group of six art experts, selects of promising artists. Among those casting a professional eye, Dr. Christoph Heinrich is the curator and director of the Hamburg Gallery of Contemporary Art. “Montblanc has created a unique platform for young artists via this project that allows them to present their works within a very unconventional and innovative framework,” he said.

“As a rule, artists rarely have the opportunity to present their works to a broad, international public. This opportunity is what makes the Montblanc project so interesting.”


Click on the thumbnails to view works from Montblanc Young Artist World Patronage Project 2007 in detail.

Shortlisted from about 50 entries, this year sees six specially chosen artists from Italy, France, England, Argentina, China and Singapore. All finalists will receive a cash prize of 2,007 euros. Homegrown artist Justin Lee beat two other local artists to represent Singapore. He is the first Singaporean to attain the panel’s consensus. His artwork Double Happiness demonstrates a witty fusion of East-meets-West cultural influences.

The 44-year-old’s pop art piece ingeniously incorporates familiar iconography from today’s world of consumerism into the traditional motif made up of Chinese characters that mean “double happiness”. Taking a closer look at the engaging visual mélange is hard to resist. Beneath the exuberant surface lies his subtle expression of an underlying, thought-provoking, awareness of the present societal condition in Singapore.



THE CENTENNIAL… & BEYOND
In more ways than one, Montblanc stands for more than the art of writing. The international luxury brand is closely associated to the world of arts and culture, to which the Montblanc Limited Editions are tributes. Limited numbers of pieces are produced for each edition based on significant numbers related to the brand or product, of which their exclusivity skyrockets their value as coveted collector items.

In 1992, Montblanc spearheaded a massive arts initiative. The Foundation d’Enterprise Montblanc de la Culture supports and pays tribute to the significant patrons of the arts today who have made indelible contributions. Every year, the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award is conferred to art patrons in acknowledgement of their personal contributions. The winners of 2007 include Agnes b. from France, Donatella Flick from United Kingdom, Wynton Marsalis from United States, Yang Lan from China and Mansai Nomura from Japan.

Over the years, Montblanc also acknowledges great writers and their contributions to the literary world with the Limited Writers Edition. Montblanc paid homage to Virginia Woolf last year with a set of writing instruments that recalls her most outstanding work in the novel The Waves, through the fine guilloche work covering the body of jet-black precious resin in the form of waves. A faceted ruby on the gilt clip symbolizes her individualistic avant-garde style and the pinnacle of her literary creation.


Click on the thumbnails to view pens from Montblanc Writers Edition “Virginia Woolf” and “Marlene Dietrich 1901 Commemoration Edition” in detail.

Special Theme Editions commemorate historical events and personalities with the issue of specially designed pens and accessories. As a strong role model for women to have the conviction to fulfill their visions, it is Marlene Dietrich’s turn in the spotlight in 2007. The dazzling 925 sterling silver pen, embellished with 16 Wesselton diamonds and a dark-blue sapphire in carré cut, is limited to 1901 pieces, in reference of the charismatic movie star’s year of birth.

Likewise, Montblanc’s Donation Pens honor outstanding personalities in music, such as Leonard Bernstein and Johann Sebastian Bach.

Montblanc has always believed in taking time out in appreciation for the essential things — one’s thoughts and feelings, beauty or culture — and as today’s modern lifestyle revs up, this simple philosophy seems to take on a new meaning and greater significance: That special moment which devotes precious minutes to things that really matter is the real luxury in life.

However, changing times and hectic lifestyles do not impede Montblanc from taking an active role in serving the global community. To fight the worldwide problem in illiteracy and emphasize the importance of the written word, Montblanc partnered UNICEF in 2004 and asked 149 celebrities the likes of Mikhail Gorbachev, Bianca Jagger, Nadja Auermann and Luciano Pavarotti, to write their personal statement “I like to write because…” with none other than the Meisterstück 149. The statements, including the fountain pens with each celebrity’s engraved signature, were auctioned in eBay and generated more than US$ 800,000. All proceeds were directed to UNICEF.

For 2007, 149 personalities from the arenas of politics, culture, business, sports and showbusiness demonstrated their support for UNICEF aid projects in Latin America, Africa and Asia by setting aside time to raise awareness and sell as many Meisterstück 149 UNICEF 2007 fountain pens as possible in Montblanc boutiques worldwide. Their commitment incorporates their exclusive signatures engraved on the UNICEF 2007 edition to raise funds.


Click on the thumbnails to view the Meisterstück 149 UNICEF 2007 in detail.

For Montblanc International, it will donate US$149 for every pen sold to provide for education programs. In support of this worthy cause, part of the local proceeds from the149 sets of the UNICEF 2007 edition carrying the personalized signature engraving of Singapore’s President S R Nathan (sold only from 01 November to 31 December), will be donated to The Dylexia Association of Singapore.

In 2006, Montblanc celebrated their 100th anniversary of soul making. During the year-long fete, the time-honored brand launched exclusive Anniversary Editions endowed with a unique diamond of 43 facets, cut in the form of the Montblanc signet. It took Montblanc eight years of research and development to attain maximum brilliance from the Wesselton diamond. The efforts paid off — Montblanc is now the first brand worldwide to possess a patented diamond cut derived from its trademark.


Click on the thumbnails to view the Montblanc Diamond and the Montblanc 100 Years Solitaire Mountain Skeleton Massif 2006 in detail.

This seems to be a testimony of Montblanc’s uncompromising demands in upholding the standards worthy of a prestigious brand. There is no mystery behind Montblanc’s brand longevity; it is as crystal clear as the fact that Montblanc customers can always expect a lifelong companion by their sides, at a time where transition and transience are the ways of life.


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