$1.3 million Pen, Luxury Watch Unveiled At Montblanc’s 110th Anniversary Celebration

Montblanc continued its year-long celebration of its 110-year anniversary by showcasing a well-rounded collection of products Tuesday led by a one-of-a-kind $1.3 million writing instrument and a limited-edition high complicated watch. This coincided with a black tie dinner in New York with Hugh Jackman as the guest of honor. 

The new collections are based on Montblanc’s first writing instrument, the Rouge et Noir (“Red and Black”), introduced in 1909, when the company was named the Simplo Filler pen company. It was crafted in black ebonite and fitted with a red-crowned cap. A year later the company took on the Montblanc name and in 1913 crowned each pen with its iconic 6-pointed star emblem, representing the peak of Mont Blanc. During the 1920s the company designed the serpent clip for some of its writing instruments as an expression of the Art Deco period. 

Montblanc recreated this history with a new collection of writing instruments, timepieces, leather goods, cufflinks and jewelry called “Montblanc Heritage Collection, Rouge & Noir.” 

The crown jewel is the Ultimate Serpent Limited Edition 1 (top photo and below). The unique piece is priced at 1.2 million euro ($1.37 million) and is already sold, although those who attended the anniversary dinner were able to view the artisan, bejeweled pen. 

A 6.1-carat internally flawless diamond cut in the shape of the Mont Blanc star crowns the writing instrument. The body along with the serpent that entwines it are made of 99 grams of 18k rose gold, the most gold ever used in a Montblanc fountain pen. Weighing over 130g in total, the cap and barrel are set with approximately 1,950 dark blue sapphires in a pavé setting weighing 15.34 carats. The hand-crafted skin of the golden snake is topped with 153 diamonds cut in geometric shapes. When the writing instrument is closed, the serpent can be seen starting with the head on the clip, then winding down to the end of the cone. When the cap is removed, a second serpent becomes visible, with the head starting on the nib and once again ending on the cone. The 18k rose gold nib is decorated with an engraving of the snake’s head, with two rubies representing its eyes.

The other Rouge et Noir watch is the Collection Villeret Tourbillon Bi-Cylindrique 110 Years Anniversary Limited Edition (pictured above and below). Only three pieces have been made.

The most striking visual feature of the 52mm 18k red gold watch is a hand-engraved, black serpent made of anthracite that is coiled within the bezel, wrapping around the timepiece display. The serpent theme continues on the back of the case, this time hand-engraved in 18k red gold.

Another visual aspect that is more subtle is the Mystery Hours, in which regate-shaped hands appear to be floating above the small dial on the bottom half of the watch display. Two wafer-thin transparent sapphire crystal discs—one with the hour hand embossed on it and the other with the minutes hand—are linked to the movement and turn to indicate the time. The inspiration was the mysterious clocks of the 19th century, in which the original designs hid the mechanism in the clock case. 

The timepiece, including the hand-crafted, Calibre MB M65.63 manual movement, was developed at Montblanc’s Villeret artisan workshop. Unlike the Mystery Hours, a significant portion of the movement can be seen within the main display—most notably, the minute-tourbillon on the top half of the display. It’s detached from the movement and revolves in a case of its own. The watch has a 46-hour power reserve. The large escapement is composed of a bi-cylindrical hairspring that was developed by the Villeret manufacturer exclusively for the Montblanc Collection Villeret. It is one a few watch manufacturers that produces its own balance springs. 

Hugh Jackman, the actor, singer and producer, led the event at the Rainbow Room, the rooftop restaurant at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, a place he said held significant meaning for him because he was going to take his wife, Deborra-Lee, there for an evening of dinner with dancing for a surprise fifth anniversary gift. However, he had to film late that evening and she ended up spending the evening out with Meg Ryan. The couple will celebrate their 20th anniversary April 11.

Jackman has been associated with Montblanc for three years and described the Hamburg-based luxury brand as having a “family atmosphere.” 

“I’m the baby of the family but even after three years it is a place that I’m proud to be associated with, to call our friends,” he said. “It’s a great company and what it represents are qualities if I could half emulate I would be very happy. It is attention to detail, craftsmanship on the highest order, a real commitment to design. But more than anything what I love, is they have one eye permanently on the past and their heritage; but one eye permanently on the future…. As an artist, you can’t rest, you have to keep creating you have to be innovative, you have to keep moving forward (and) you have to take risks.”

Jackman was the top draw among several high-profile celebrities that included actress Kate Bosworth, Montblanc brand ambassador Charlotte Casiraghi, socialite Olivia Palermo and her husband, Johannes Huebl. 

Montblanc began celebrating its anniversary in January at Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) with several events attended by brand ambassadors Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco and Taiwanese actress Gwei Lun Mei, and new nautical themed timepieces. 

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Montblanc, Marc Newson Create New Writing Instruments

Montblanc M collection designed by Marc Newson

Montblanc has teamed with famed contemporary designer Marc Newson for a new collection of writing instruments designed to appeal to a younger audience.

Together they created the Montblanc M collection of writing instruments that combine the iconic elements of the famed designer with the heritage of the iconic luxury brand. It is the first time Montblanc has participated in a design partnership in its 110-year history. 

Newson is one of the most important and successful contemporary designers in the world. He has designed products ranging from clothing to airplanes. He is best known for designing the Lockheed Lounge chair, one of which sold at auction for $3.5 million, the most expensive object ever sold by a living designer. Most recently he was hired by Apple as part of its design team and has had input in the design of the Apple watch.

The Montblanc M collection has been available since September but they received their first proper public unveiling at the recently concluded Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva. Newson said the writing instruments were designed with an aesthetic and a price that should appeal to a younger audience. 

“The idea was to try and design something which perhaps is a little more accessible for a slightly different demographic … a slightly younger person,” Newson said prior to Montblanc’s 110th anniversary celebration January 18 in Geneva. “A product that is not in the same price range and that we could potentially target for a different segment. It could in some ways be perceived as an entry into the world of Montblanc.”

Montblanc M fountain pen retails for $565, compared with the Montblanc Meisterstück 149 fountain pen at $935. A rollerball and ballpoint models are available at $400 each. There’s also a “ScreenWriter” for use on touch screens and a thin “Montblanc Artfineliner” for technical drawing.

“The purpose of the item was not to design a cheap product or a disposable product,” Newson said. “It was designed as a very high quality writing instrument for a younger demographic; who I might add probably doesn’t have the same historical relationship with writing instruments as someone of my generation.”

The M pens have a sleeker design than the typical Montblanc writing instrument. The rounded shape gradually moves to a flat surface at its end—a new design direction for the luxury brand. These elements are among Newson’s trademark biomorphic style, defined by its fluid and pure organic forms. 

Meanwhile, the pens have the iconic elements associated with Montblanc, such as Montblanc emblem made of white resin on the tip and on the flattened end. The platinum-plated clip is mounted into the cap so it doesn’t interrupt the design flow. The ruthenium-plated metal (a platinum alloy) forepart that balances the weight of the writing instrument is engraved with “MONTBLANC.” The 14k gold nib for the first time is plated in two tones, using rhodium and ruthenium. The nib is engraved with the letters “MN” for the designer.

“If you look at the type of person we were trying to pitch, I think the product had to be recognizably Montblanc and it had to be slightly more modern slightly more contemporary in its lines at the same time,” Newson said. “If you saw it in the window of a shop you have to be able to recognize that it’s a Montblanc. There were these two dynamics that we had to play with.”

A key functional aspect of this writing instrument is the magnetic closing of the cap and barrel, with what is described as “an additional snap mechanism” designed to the make the closure smoother and ensure the cap stays firm.

Newson said Montblanc CEO Jérôme Lambert approached him with the problem of designing a new writing instrument for a new audience. The two have worked together previously when Lambert had the same position with luxury watch brand Jaeger-LeCoultre. Newson designed the Atmos 561 and 566 clocks. 

Newson described the task as a problem solving exercise. 

“He asked me if I would be interested in designing something quite specific for Montblanc,” Newson said. “Not a project but a specific target in mind and he thought I could add some value. A series of writing instruments with the same sort of design.”

The result is a collection that is both contemporary in form and speaks to the legacy of the brand. 

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Montblanc Honors Princess Grace with a Sparkling Collection

Princess Grace

There may be no greater symbol of royalty, style and fashion than Grace Kelly. The Philadelphia-born actress was thrust into the international spotlight when she married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and became known throughout the world as Princess Grace. It was a role she was born to play and till this day she is looked upon as one the world’s great fashion icons.

With this in mind, Montblanc, has created the “Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco,” as a tribute to the person and the place. It is a limited-edition collection of jewelry, timepieces and writing instruments, encompassing the specialties of the luxury brand. All of the pieces are embellished with filigree petal cut stones, honoring the Grace de Monaco pink rose, a flower named after Kelly in 1956 for her wedding day. Diamonds and pink sapphires are strong influences in the collection.

The collection comes with a charity partnership between Montblanc and the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, which assists emerging talents in the performing arts.

The haute joaillerie collection is made up of three one-of-a-kind sets featuring petal cut stones and diamonds. Each set includes a necklace of cascading pink sapphires and diamonds (pictured), long earrings ending with drop cut pink sapphires and a refined matching bracelet.

The timepiece collection consists of a limited edition of eight watches in 18k red gold with 76 baguette cut diamonds on the bezel and the horns (3.30 cts.). The crown is topped with the Montblanc diamond (0.05 ct, F-G color). There’s a three-dimensional pink sapphire drop at 6 o’clock. The flange and dial are set with a cascade of 177 brilliant cut diamonds (0.53 cts.). The dial is made of white mother-of-pearl. A white alligator strap and a buckle are set with 76 brilliant cut diamonds (0.32 cts.).The case back is engraved with the Princesse Grace de Monaco monogram.

The fountain pen, available in a limited edition of three as a tribute to Princess Grace’s three children, is crafted entirely of champagne colored solid gold with diamonds and rubies on the cap and barrel. The Principality of Monaco coat of arms provided the inspiration for a circle of rhomboid-shaped cut rubies arranged on the cap of the writing instrument. The piece is topped with a heart-shaped hole of the gold nib and the finely engraved Princesse Grace de Monaco monogram on the cap-top.