Montblanc Showcases UNICEF Literacy Partnership With Star-Studded Gala

Hugh Jackman (L) and Diane Kruger attend the Montblanc & UNICEF Gala Dinner. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris

Montblanc held a star-studded gala Monday to showcase its long-term support of the United Nations Children’s Fund, better known as UNICEF, and to launch a multi-media campaign that continues this support with new products and by encouraging others to participate in literacy activism. 

The event at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the main branch of the New York Public Library, was attended by Montblanc brand ambassadors Hugh Jackman and Charlotte Casiraghi; and friends of the brand, including Diane Kruger, Olivia Palermo, Elsa Hosk, Rami Malek and Johannes Huebl.

Guests dine inside the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building during the Montblanc & UNICEF Gala. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris 

The brand used the event to unveil the “Montblanc for UNICEF” writing instruments, stationary, leather goods, watches and jewelry. 

The “Writing Is A Gift Collection” is now available at Montblanc boutiques and on Montblanc’s website. For every piece in the collection sold till March 31, 2018, Montblanc will donate 3 percent of the proceeds to support UNICEF and its literacy projects, with a minimum amount of $1.5 million guaranteed by Montblanc. UNICEF does not endorse any brand or product.

The new collection features the “UNICEF Blue” signature color and the letters from the six different alphabets that children use when they first learn to write. 

Watches from the Montblanc for UNICEF collection on display during the Montblanc & UNICEF Gala. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris

Among the pieces in the collection, the Meisterstück, “Writing is a Gift Edition,” is an original twist on Montblanc’s iconic writing instrument with the UNICEF alphabet-inspired design. Each pen in the collection has a blue sapphire that signifies the bond between Montblanc and UNICEF. The leather goods feature blue lining with the same alphabet characters. Two editions of the Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum Timepieces pair a manufacture worldtime complication with symbolic references to UNICEF. 

In brief words Jackman said the initiative was a “win-win” situation.

“We can have something of beauty, things we can enjoy and have for the rest of our lives and at the same we give back to people who don’t have … access to education, he said. “Education isn’t a privilege, it is a right. It is a great honor to be ambassadors for a company that supports things that really matter.”

Montblanc CEO Nicolas Baretzi (L) and Hugh Jackman attend the Montblanc & UNICEF Gala Dinner. Photo byDimitrios Kambouris 

The event was co-hosted by Nicolas Baretzki, Montblanc CEO, and Jo Bourne, UNICEF’s chief of education, Program Division. For Baretzki, it was his first public appearance as head of the brand since taking over the top spot April 1, replacing Jérôme Lambert—who was promoted to a corporate position with Montblanc’s parent company, Richemont.

It is appropriate that a luxury brand best-known for creating fine writing instruments would be in the forefront of a worldwide child literacy and education initiative. Over a 13-year period Montblanc said it has donated approximately $10 million to UNICEF. Over the years this funding, it says, has improved learning conditions for more than 5 million children throughout the world by providing quality learning materials and better teaching.

The venue chosen for the occasion, a library, particularly the Beaux Arts designed structure with high ceilings, sculpted marble and bronze, was an equally appropriate choice.

This theme and the craftsmanship that went into the collection were on display through skilled artisan demonstrations. 

Guests receive custom name cards by a calligrapher during the Montblanc & UNICEF Gala Dinner. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris 

The event also served as the beginning of a campaign that aims to pass on the gift of writing even further through its key message: “Writing opens up the world. Pass on this precious gift.” The campaign will feature Jackman in print and online. 

Jackman noted that people don’t have to buy a product to be involved in this initiative. One way for anyone to be involved is by sharing their emotional memories about writing with a photo of a handwritten memory on social channels using the hashtags #PassItOn, #Montblanc, #UNICEF #foreverychild.

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Montblanc Unveils Its First Smartwatch

Jérôme Lambert, in his last act as Montblanc’s CEO, unveiled the luxury brand's first smartwatch in collaboration with digital giant, Google, during an event Thursday in London.

The Montblanc Summit smartwatch features a slightly curved sapphire glass, which the company claims is a “world first” in smartwatches, steel and titanium cases, a choice of straps in a variety of materials and colors, a responsive and fluid user interface using Google Android Wear 2.0 that is compatible with iOS and Android smartphones, the ability to download thousands of apps, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor designed specifically for wearables, providing what Lambert says is at least 20 hours of battery life. This includes blue tooth compatibility with smartphones, which users of smart watches complain is a drain on the batteries of both the smartwatch and smartphone.

One of the most important aspects of the Montblanc Summit is its classic analog design, modeled after the Montblanc 1858 Collection. It is targeted toward millennial consumers with a taste toward a vintage watch look. The price also is geared toward younger and entry-level watch consumers at 890 euros ($956). A personalized dial can be created for a minimum of 15,000 euros.

The Montblanc Summit will first be launched in May exclusively on the online men’s fashion eCommerce website, Mr Porter for two weeks before being available on the Montblanc website and all Montblanc retail stores.

Photo by Anthony DeMarco

Lambert said with this new watch, the Montblanc Timewalker e-strap, the brand’s first entry into the digital wearable category in 2015, will be phased out. “It was a first generation connected product. Now I’d say we are entering fully in this new direction.”

Lambert says the Montblanc Summit, with its pre-installed apps and functions, makes life easier for business, fitness and travel. The avid runner, fast-paced executive and a global traveler says he been using the new watch to measure his heart rate and endurance as well as for business and travel needs, such as quick access to his schedule, a worldtime function for different time zones and a barcode integrated function that can scan digital boarding passes at airports.

He suggests it could do the work of the watches he now uses in his world travels.

“I’m moving around with three watches out of my fine watchmaking timepieces, he said in an interview Friday. “When I’m running, I need something to run with; and when we go to places that are a little bit more casual I need something other than my expensive watch or a very high complicated watch. That’s a dilemma that fits me. There are some elements I don’t want on the phone and I don’t want to open from the phone so I direct that to my watch.”

He says the watch also is handy to find information quickly when traveling to places that aren’t familiar; and in keeping information available while on the phone, instead of pausing the call to search for it on the phone.

Side view of the Montblanc Summit smartwatch

Lambert says its “quality perspective,” with its curved sapphire glass, case finishes, and dyes and materials used for the straps are all compatible with traditional fine watchmaking. This, he says, differentiates it from its competitors. This is in addition to the personalization features in terms of its look (a choice of dials) and functionality.

“It’s a very addictive watch,” he said. “It’s very easy to have the full calendar in front of your eyes and your hands and know when your meeting is and what it is about and not lose phone contact.”

The Montblanc Summit is large at 46mm but its very light on the wrist. It comes with a choice of four different materials and sizes: black PVD coated stainless steel, a bi-color stainless steel case with a black PVD coated stainless steel bezel, stainless steel case with satin finish and a grade 5 titanium case also with a satin finish. Each timepiece is fitted with a pusher in the design of the crown from the 1858 Collection. The classic watch faces are a digital representation of the 1858 Collection. They include complications like an automatic with date, small seconds or chronograph. The small seconds and chronograph can be combined with digital complications providing information, such as appointments or fitness goals. For those who prefer a sportier look, there’s a TimeWalker Urban Speed watch face with an automatic date or chronograph complication. The dial also comes with color options.

The Montblanc Summit is available with interchangeable straps in a variety of colors and materials

The watch comes with eight removable straps. The rubber NATO strap is available in black, blue, green or red. I tried this on and it had a very light nylon feel. There’s also a black calfskin leather strap, a brown or navy blue Sfumato calfskin leather strap from the Montblanc leather factory in Florence, and an alligator strap. 

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Montblanc Can’t Decide On A Name For Its Villeret Watch Business

The Montblanc watchmaking facility in Villeret in 2012. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

What’s in a name? 

Once there was a company named Minerva in the picturesque Swiss town of Villeret whose history can be traced back to 1858. For most of the 20th Century it was known for producing high-performance hand-made chronograph movements. Then the 21st Century came along. In 2000 Italian investor Emilio Gnutti purchased the company and changed its mission to produce haute horlogerie timepieces using the same hand-made techniques and the philosophy of the brand. The new owner brought in Demetrio Cabiddu as its technical director.  

In 2006 Compagnie Financière Richemont acquired Minerva and turned it over to Montblanc to add a bit of Swiss heritage to its young watchmaking operation, which began in 1997 in Le Locle. Soon afterwards the name was changed to Villeret, after the town. The decision was either Montblanc's under the leadership of Lutz Bethge at the time, or Richemont's. 

Handmade movement components. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

In a 2012 interview when I visited the facility, Cabiddu, who protects the heritage of Minerva like it was his child was concerned about the name change. “Today I laugh about it a lot more. I used to cringe (when hearing the new name). In hindsight it was probably the right thing to do as we move into the future.”

Montblanc renamed the watchmaking workshop the “Institut Minerva de Recherche en Haute Horlogerie” (Minerva Institute for Research in High Quality Watchmaking) and created a foundation under the same name. However, it was never clear how this institute or foundation operates.

A skilled watchmaker attaches the balance spring to the balance wheel and then sets it over a timing device with a reference balance. She checks the difference in beats and bends the spring until they match.  Photo by Anthony DeMarco

Despite this corporate takeover and name change the company still operated much the same way, as a separate workshop of about 40 workers producing about 200 limited-edition hand-made timepieces per year under the Villeret name. 

In 2013 Jérôme Lambert became the CEO of Montblanc and change came quickly. In less than a year Montblanc-branded watches appeared with Villeret movements at a broader range of prices and styles. 

The company, formerly called Minerva, was known for its chronograph movements. Here is some the company's earlier chronograph pocket watches.  Photo by Anthony DeMarco

In January at the Salon International Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva, Montblanc introduced two full collections and one limited edition piece. In form and function the new models pay tribute to the heritage of Minvera. In fact, the Villeret name is almost never used. Has Montblanc chosen to return the Minerva name to the watchmaking facility? I asked a spokesperson and the response I received is as follows [emphasis mine]: 

“The Manufacture in Villeret, Montblanc’s Movement & Innovation Excellence Center, is located in the same building in which the legendary Minerva Manufacture was founded in 1858 and focuses on the development, prototyping and assembly of all in-house movements from innovative and groundbreaking high-complications to small highly functional complications."

This is so confusing. 

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Meet The New Montblanc CEO

Nicolas Baretzki

Nicolas Baretzki has been named the new CEO of Montblanc, effective April 1, 2017. 

Compagnie Financière Richemont SA, which owns the German luxury brand, made the announcement in a brief statement released late Tuesday. 

Baretzki will replace Jérôme Lambert, who has held this position since 2013. Lambert will move to Head of Operations at Richemont responsible for central and regional services and all its brands other than jewelry and watchmaking at Richemont.

No reason was given for the executive changes.

Baretzki joined Montblanc in 2013 as executive VP of sales. He has worked at Richemont brands since 2002. After graduating from HEC (Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales) in Paris, he began his career at Cartier where he worked in various marketing and general management functions for eight years. He then moved to Jaeger-LeCoultre in 2002 and served as international sales director for 12 years.

“I am very pleased that Nicolas Baretzki will become the Maison’s CEO,” Lambert said in the company-issued statement. “Mr. Baretzki has played an important role in the successful development of the Maison in the recent years and will be the right person to ensure the continuation of this route.”

Compagnie Financière Richemont SA owns a number of luxury brands in jewelry, watches and other luxury categories. In addition to Montblanc, Cartier and Jaeger-LeCoultre, they include: Van Cleef & Arpels, Giampiero Bodino, A. Lange & Söhne, Baume & Mercier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Officine Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis and Vacheron Constantin. 

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It’s The Year of the Woman For Montblanc Arts Patronage Awards As Maria Arena Bell Was Honored As The North American Winner

The North American recipient of the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award with her special edition of the Montblanc Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim writing instrument and trophy. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Montblanc)

Maria Arena Bell—the award-winning television writer, novelist and freelance writer—received the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award for North America Monday during a cocktail reception on the penthouse at Chateau Marmont, attended by a diverse group of entertainers, artists and philanthropists.

Bell was honored primarily for her work as the former long-term chair and later president of Los Angeles’ PS Arts, leading the effort to raise funds to provide arts education to more than 25,000 low-income Los Angeles public elementary school children.

In addition, Bell chaired The National Arts Awards for Americans For The Arts (a nonprofit advocacy group based in Washington D.C.) for over a decade and served as its vice chair lobbying on Capitol Hill for increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and for art in schools. She created the Americans for the Arts Bell Family Foundation Young Artist award, which has been given to artists such as actress Dakota Fanning, dancer David Hallberg and musician Josh Groban. She also served as the co-chair from 2009-14 at The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles. During her tenure, she co-chaired the search for two directors and co-chaired the successful campaign to raise the museum’s endowment to more than $100 million.

In 2012 Bell, a lifelong Southern California resident, was appointed commissioner to the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Committee.

Attendees for the presentation of the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award on the penthouse suite of the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles. (Photo by Anthony DeMarco)

In accepting the award, Bell discussed the importance of arts education, arguing that the arts are an essential part of education and life-long growth and should be taught as standard curriculum at schools. She said her love of arts was influenced by a dynamic art history teacher in her public high school in Southern California.

“It shouldn’t be the icing on the cake it should be the cake,” she said. “It should be the thing that makes us human and bonds us together. Not every student is going to be an artist but every student could appreciate art. Art can really bring out, with every person it touches, the best of himself.”

During her speech and in a private interview prior to receiving the award, she discussed the appropriateness of receiving a fountain pen as an award from a company famous for its writing instruments.

From left: Montblanc Cultural Foundation co-chairman Sam Bardaouil, actress Ashley Greene, Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award North American recipient Maria Arena Bell, actress Bryce Dallas Howard and Montblanc Cultural Foundation co-chairman Till Fellrath. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Montblanc)

“As a writer to receive an award from Montblanc because writing is my art form, it’s the thing I wanted to do since I was a child,” she said. “It was really something extraordinary for me because as a writer by profession to have the award come from an organization that produces writing instruments it really felt so incredibly fitting and powerful.”

Bell is one of 16 individuals or organizations around the world who will receive this award, which honors those who support artists and help make the arts accessible to broader audiences. She received a special edition of the Montblanc Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim writing instrument presented in trophy-like case. All the others will receive the prize.

Each year Montblanc creates a limited edition writing instrument to honor an historical figure noted for his or her patronage to the arts. This year, this honor went to Peggy Guggenheim, the late American heiress who displayed her personal collection of modern art collection in her residence in Venice, which is now home to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection museum. She is credited with advancing the careers of several important modern artists including American painters Jackson Pollock and William Congdon, Austrian surrealist Wolfgang Paalen, sound poet Ada Verdun Howell and German painter Max Ernst.

New Montblanc North America President Sylvain Costof and Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award North American recipient Maria Arena Bell (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Montblanc)

This year, for the 25th anniversary of the award, in addition to honoring Guggenheim with the namesake writing instrument, half of the award winners are women. It’s difficult whether it was planned this way or whether it was just happenstance, but if the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award could be faulted for anything, it would be its under representation of women. 

The newly appointed co-chairmen of the Montblanc Cultural Foundation, Till Fellrath and Sam Bardaouil, who presented Bell with the award, had no input in this year’s honorees, but they said it is something that may need to be addressed, while dismissing any attempt to bring quotas into the award nomination process. 

“I think it’s really important, about 50 to 55 percent of the population, depending on the country, is women and it should go without saying that if you really do the research one would expect a similar percentage to be great patrons and great innovators,” Bardaouil said.

Fellrath added, “It’s about balance. It’s about inclusiveness. You have to look at different places and expand new geographies but also generally acknowledge those who are truly contributing to the arts regardless of whether they’re men and women. But definitely when you look properly, you will find both: a lot of men and a lot of women doing great work.”

Among those in attendance to watch Bell receive the award were actresses Ashley Greene and Bryce Dallas Howard, photographer Caroline “Chuck” Grant, entrepreneur and philanthropist Eli Broad, actress/producer Gisella Marengo, Robert “Bobby” Kennedy III, artist Jonas Wood, artist Thomas Houseago, and art dealers Jackie and Irving Blum. 

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Montblanc Unveils Peggy Guggenheim Pen While Celebrating 25 Years Of Arts Patronage

Montblanc Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim 888 limited edition writing instrument

Each year Montblanc creates “Patron of Art” limited edition writing instruments to honor an historical figure noted for his or her patronage to the arts. This year the honoree is Peggy Guggenheim, the late American heiress who spent her last 30 years in Venice displaying her modern art collection in her residence, which is now home to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. 

Guggenheim is credited with advancing the careers of several important modern artists including the American painters Jackson Pollock and William Congdon, the Austrian surrealist Wolfgang Paalen, the sound poet Ada Verdun Howell and the German painter Max Ernst, whom she married in December 1941. 

Montblanc Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim 4810 writing instrument

In addition, the German luxury brand presents the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Awards to individuals in 16 countries (including its newest countries Greece, Brazil and Colombia) who are currently supporting arts and cultural programs and making them more accessible to larger audiences. 

This year’s award winner in Italy is Giorgio Marconi, founder of the historic Studio Marconi in Milan, who established the Marconi Foundation for Contemporary and Modern Art in 2004, a non-profit institution for the promotion and diffusion of contemporary art and culture through exhibitions, publications, cultural events and meetings. It publicizes and promotes contemporary art and enhances important archives and art collections of the 20th century. In conjunction with Expo 2015, Giorgio Marconi celebrated fifty years of activity with a group exhibition and with a tribute to Lucio Fontana at the recently renewed and extended Marconi Foundation’s premises.

The Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage awards cocktail reception on the roof of Peggy Guggenheim Collection overlooking the Grand Canal of Venice. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

Both Guggenheim and Marconi were honored at a cocktail reception April 26 on the rooftop of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, overlooking The Grand Canal of Venice, followed by tour of a new museum exhibition, “Imagine: New Imagery in Italian Art, 1960–1969” and finally a dinner for 130 guests in a candlelit room inside the historic Palazzo Polignac. Guests included socialite Chloe Delevingne, model Amber Le Bon, designer Jasmine Guinness, actress Camilla Rutherford with Dominic Barker, and actor Jack Guinness.

Guests receiving a tour of the exhibition, “Imagine: New Imagery in Italian Art, 1960–1969,” inside the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

In addition to being the home of Guggenheim, Venice also served as Montblanc’s 25th anniversary celebration for this award. Since 1992, when the award was first handed out (in the neighboring Italian city of Florence), Montblanc has presented more than 240 awards along with more than four million euros in prize money, which is donated to a cultural project of the winner’s choice. 

Dinner inside the Palazzo Polignac. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

Montblanc created three writing instruments to honor Guggenheim. The Limited Edition 888 that features a geometric art deco-inspired pattern on the cap and barrel, accented with red lacquer. The engravings of lion heads on the red gold cap ring are inspired by the exterior of the “Palazzo Venier dei Leoni,” the historic name of Guggenheim’s home and museum. The cap ring is embellished with 10 garnets—the eyes of the lions—and the end of the barrel is reminiscent of the red and white striped mooring pillars found on the Venice waterways. The Montblanc snow-cap emblem, in white marble, crowns the cap. The paws engraved on the gold nib of the fountain pen recall the affection she had for her 14 Lhasa Apso dogs.

The two Montblanc Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim writing instruments on display at the cocktail event. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

The Montblanc Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim Limited Edition 4810 series (comprising 4,810 pieces) features the geometric art deco design on a black lacquered and platinum-coated cap and barrel, contrasting with the red and platinum-coated stripes on the end of the barrel. The platinum-coated cap ring is elegantly embossed with lion heads, while the Montblanc emblem that crowns the fountain pen is made of the traditional black and white resin.

A third limited version of the pen comprises 81 pieces, representing the age at which Guggenheim died, is crafted in gold with a “skeletonized” façade.

A wax of the Montblanc Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim writing instrument on display at the event. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

“We are very excited to host the first of the 16 international award ceremonies here in Venice, being a city of particular significance for the arts, culture and architecture with a flourishing artistic community since many centuries,” Jérôme Lambert, Montblanc CEO, said on the rooftop of the Guggenheim. “Furthermore, Venice became the home of Peggy Guggenheim, one of the great patrons of the 20th Century, a pioneering woman who understood the cultural importance of nurturing creative talent just like the outstanding patrons we will be honoring around the world this year.”

From left: New co-chairs of the Montblanc Foundation, Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, and Montblanc CEO, Jérôme Lambert. Photo by Daniele Venturelli

Lambert also used the stage to announce new directions for the awards program and to announce new co-chairmen for the Montblanc Cultural Foundation, which oversees the awards program and other cultural and arts initiatives funded by the company. 

“It is a good thing when you are a German company that you have a common sense of what is consistency,” Lambert said. “After 25 years we understood it is necessary to give the award a new dimension a new energy.”

Giorgio Marconi (left) receives the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award for Italy from Till Fellrath and Sam Bardaouil. Photo by Daniele Venturelli

In a private interview Lambert said that for the Patronage Awards, it means creating ways to make the winners more visible and providing more resources to attach Montblanc products to the awards program. The same holds true for the foundation’s other projects, including its “Cutting Edge Art Collection” and “Young Directors Award.”

“We want the foundation to be more present as a source of inspiration, particularly when it comes to writing instruments,” he said. 

The new foundation co-chairs are Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, co-founders of Art Reoriented, a multidisciplinary curatorial platform based in Munich and New York. They both spoke at the event.

“The art of patronage award is actually quite visionary,” Fellrath said. “It was started at a time when it was not (fashionable) to talk about what is a patron and how can we support them and what is the role of such patrons.”

Bardaouil added, “A true patron is someone who really takes risks and allows an artist to flourish and allows an arts community to develop a discourse with a platform and with all the things that is required to be really thriving and healthy. That is what we think the arts patronage award stands for and we are happy to be a part of it and see it move forward to the future.”

A calligrapher demonstrating the art of writing. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

Marconi received a Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim limited edition fountain pen encased in a trophy and 15,000 euros ($17,160) to be donated to a cultural project of his choice.

He joins a long diverse list of honorees presented with the award that includes Prince Charles, British maestro Sir Simon Rattle, Italian architect Renzo Piano, American recording artist Quincy Jones and Japanese artist Yoko Ono. 

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Hugh Jackman Finalizes Deal To Be Montblanc’s Global Ambassador

International film star Hugh Jackman recently signed a deal to be the ambassador for Montblanc in North America, which completes the two-year journey of becoming the worldwide spokesman for the luxury brand. 

For the past two years, Jackman was the international ambassador for Montblanc, with the exception of North America. 

There are few celebrities who are both as well known and as free of controversy as Jackman. He and his wife, Deborra-Lee, recently celebrated their 20th anniversary. The couple has two children. His accomplished career, from playing a comic book super hero to being a leading man in musicals for theater productions around the world, shows range and diversity. Certainly his rugged good looks is an ideal fit for the masculine brand.

The actor, singer and producer was introduced to a North American audience for the first time as a representative of Montblanc April 5 at the Rainbow Room in New York, where he helped celebrate the brand’s 110th anniversary with other celebrities and VIP guests, including actress and model Kate Bosworth, Montblanc brand ambassador Charlotte Casiraghi, actor Matthew Morrison, socialite Olivia Palermo and model Johannes Huebl. 

Hugh Jackman attends the Montblanc 110 Year Anniversary Gala Dinner on April 5 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Montblanc)”

Jackman, before introducing a short film about the brand in which he starred, described the Hamburg-based company as having a “family atmosphere.” 

“I’m the baby of the family but even after (two) years it is a place that I’m proud to be associated with, to call our friends,” he said. “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. 

He said that as an artist he has an appreciation for this approach. “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.”

The promotional film celebrates the founders of Montblanc (stationer Claus-Johannes Voss, banker Alfred Nehemias and engineer August Eberstein), their entrepreneurship and their pioneering spirit that took them on a ship to America to return with the idea for its first watch, the 4810. Later they would create the Meisterstück, arguably the world’s most iconic luxury writing instrument. 

Prior to Jackman’s presentation, Jerome Lambert, Montblanc CEO, explained the depth and breadth of the Hamburg, Germany-based company and its diverse product portfolio. Its headquarters is where its writing instruments are manufactured, including its high artisan products. In Switzerland, the company has two facilities for watchmaking: Its main manufacturing operation in Le Locle; and the artisan watchmaking facility, Villeret, in the town by the same name. Formerly known as Minerva, it specializes in producing handcrafted movements. Finally, its leather goods operation is based in Florence, Italy. 

For its anniversary the company went to its heritage to create new products. In this case it went back to its very 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 a 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 and cufflinks called “Montblanc Heritage Collection, Rouge & Noir.” The products were led by a one-of-a-kind bejeweled writing instrument with a $1.3 million price tag, the Ultimate Serpent Limited Edition 1, and the Villeret Tourbillon Bi-Cylindrique 110 Years Anniversary timepiece, limited to three pieces.

However, there are many other Heritage Collection, Rouge & Noir products in varying price ranges and different levels of availability. For example, there’s a pair of one-of-kind red gold cufflinks (pictured above) in a skeletonized frame designed to be worn with the Ultimate Serpent Limited Edition 1 writing instrument. Each cufflink is topped with a 1.9-carat diamond in the shape of the Montblanc Star.

Three other Heritage Collection limited edition fountain pens feature similar motif and artisan attributes of the one-of-a-kind writing instrument. 

The Imperial Serpent Limited Edition 3 features the snake creature engraved in solid white ruthenium-coated gold filigree, set with 55 diamonds and 106 sapphires. Limited to just three pieces, the cap and barrel of the writing instrument are hand engraved with a snakeskin design finished in grey ruthenium, while the crown is topped with a 2.25-carat internally flawless Montblanc star-shaped diamond. Finally, the serpent’s green eyes (made of tsavorites) stand out on the clip and the engraved 18k gold nib. 

The Royal Serpent Limited Edition 10 combines grey PVD-coated snakeskin motif with a cone, crown and fittings crafted from white gold. The serpent, which swirls around the fountain pen, is set with diamonds and rubies, while the Montblanc emblem is set with a pavé of 72 diamonds. The pen is limited to 10 pieces.

The Serpent Limited Edition 110 is made of PVD coated titanium in a graphite color, with the winding hand-engraved serpent crafted of 18k white gold. Red rubies are used for the eyes of the snake on the clip and the 18k white gold nib. The clip features a flexible tongue like a real hissing serpent. The Montblanc emblem is crafted from mother-of-pearl embedded in bright coral and ivory colored resin.

Among its leather goods offerings is the Montblanc 110th Anniversary Steamer Bag, Montblanc’s first interpretation of early 20th century luggage. Originally designed to accompany larger trunks for sea voyages, the colors are inspired by Rouge & Noir fountain pen with contemporary design references. A red serpent wraps around the bag to the “M.B.” personalization mark reminiscent of Montblanc’s early visual identity. The motif is repeated on the suede lining inside the bag. 

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$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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