When three men came together at the beginning of the last century, it was usually to talk about current affairs or just to exchange ideas. In the spirit of the turn of the century, many ideas were put forward in such circles and almost as many were discarded. When the Hamburg stationer Claus-Johannes Voß, the engineer August Eberstein and the salesman Alfred Nehemias met to exchange their ideas in the year 1906, nobody imagined that it would mark the birth of one of the great international luxury brands: Montblanc. Eberstein and Nehemias had got to know the newly invented but still primitive fountain-pen in the USA and England. Voss realised the potential of a fountain-pen with its own ink container that was independent of an ink-well and so could be used anywhere. The three entrepreneurs then founded what we would now call a "Joint Venture: the pooling of different talents and financial resources with the aim of undertaking a commercial risk.
The three visionaries founded a factory in the "Schanzenö district of Hamburg for exclusive fountain-pens of the highest quality and in small numbers: the "Simplo Filler Pen Company". In 1909, after almost 3 years of development, they launched the first fountain-pen series, "Rouge et Noir", made of black ebonite with a red cap head and inspired by the famous novel of the same name by Stendhal.
Image:Former Headquarters in Schanzenstrasse
Although the French name meant nothing for most German customers, the fountain-pen acquired the affectionate nickname of "Little Red Riding-Hood" and was a great success - as the advertisements then claimed, "a fountain-pen that does not make blots". One year later, the technically improved "Montblanc" fountain-pen started its successful career: the black fountain-pen with the white star on the cap does not leak at all when closed! The dark massif with its snow-covered peaks and six icy glaciers inspired this unique product. And with this name there was no more scope in marketing terms for nicknames. As a symbol of highest quality, the name "Montblanc" still stands today for the highest European craftsmanship. The potential of this name was recognised 100 years ago and the Montblanc "Star" (in fact the 6 glaciers on the summit), the symbol of the snow-covered summit of Europe´s highest mountain, was registered as a trademark. The Montblanc fountain-pen was so successful that the Simplo Fillerpen Company became Montblanc Simplo GmbH.
It was not long after its foundation that "Montblancö started its successful career around the world. After branches in Berlin, Leipzig, Breslau, Hanover and Bremen, the first European Montblanc outlets appeared in Paris, London and Barcelona. The range of products was also continuously extended. As well as fountain-pens, the shops offered writing paper, ink and mechanical pencils with the white star. The global breakthrough came in 1924 with the "Meisterstück" - the birth of a legend. The number 4810 adorns the nib of each Meisterstück and symbolises the height of the eponymous mountain in the Savoy Alps. Eleven years later, in the year 1935, the company made a promise to its customers, who were hit by inflation and so reluctant to spend their money: a lifelong guarantee. A sign that it was absolutely convinced of the quality of this perfect writing instrument. The pen, with its timeless and fascinating design, revolutionised in the course of the century not only the entire writing- instrument industry. The coveted cult object gained a permanent place in the New York Museum of Modern Art and plays a significant role in the most important signatures in politics, business and culture.
The head of the family is still the famous black Meisterstück 149. The legend of the utility culture of the 20th century has found its climax since 1983 in the Meisterstück Solitaire Collection: the precious- metal version of the Meisterstück in solid gold, sterling silver or gold-plated silver. In 1974, Roger Moore used the Solid Gold 149 fountain-pen in the James Bond Film "The man with the golden colt" to shoot the bad guy Christopher Lee. But the supreme pen is the Meisterstück Solitaire Royal for approx. US$ 125,000, decorated with 4,810 Pavé diamonds (each one individually cut with 35 facets). In addition to the Meisterstück writing-instrument lines, Montblanc has been producing since 1992 Limited Editions, which are dedicated to famous arts patrons, writers or musicians. Since only 4,810 pieces are made of each Edition, they rapidly become coveted articles for collectors. In the meantime, a whole universe of luxury goods has gathered beneath the Montblanc star: elegant, handmade leather accessories - the leather factory has existed since 1935 - fashionable eyewear, accessories, high-class silver jewellery and exclusive Swiss watches. They are produced by Montblanc´s own watch company Montblanc Montre S.A. in Le Locle, the cradle of finest global watchmaking in the Swiss Jura.
The increase in individual mobility leads to more transitory and ephemeral ways of life. Reliable and lasting partners have become rare. For 100 years, "Montblanc" has followed lasting values such as quality and traditional craftsmanship. Its uncompromising demands on shape, style, materials and workmanship have been reflected in the products with the white star for a hundred years now. High Touch is the motto of this manufacturer, which still produces its goods carefully by hand and using traditional methods.
Enjoyment with all senses, taking time, is the message for Montblanc customers, who now have a lifelong companion at their side. For taking time for things that really matter, for those whom we love, for friends and family, is the real luxury in life. That is Montblanc´s message!
Today, 100 years after the Joint Venture of the small manufacturing company, the coveted Montblanc products are represented in 260 boutiques and over 9,000 sales outlets in 70 countries around the world and the Montblanc logo is a fixed star in the luxurious shopping streets of the world.
Montblanc International Headquarters,Hamburg
Chronology:
1906:A Hamburg stationery trader, a Hamburg banker and a Berlin engineer decide to produce fountain pens.
1908:Founding of the SIMPLO FILLERPEN COMPANY, based in Hamburg / Germany and owned by Claus-Johannes Voss, Christian Lausen and Wilhelm Dziambor.
1909:Introduction of the ”ROUGE ET NOIR” fountain pen.
1910:Introduction of the ”MONTBLANC” fountain pen.
1913:The Montblanc star becomes a trademark. First manufacturing site established in the Hamburg Schanzen quarter.
1919-21:Opening of the first special Montblanc shop in Hamburg; others follow in Berlin, Leipzig, Breslau, Hanover and Bremen.
1924:Birth of the legendary MEISTERSTÜCK fountain pen.
Image:The Montblanc Meisterstück 149
1929:All Meisterstück fountain pens from now on bear the engraving ”4.810” - the height of the Mont Blanc mountain in metres as measured at that time.
1935:Founding of a separate leather goods production works in Lämmerspiel near Offenbach, to make small luxury leather goods.
1983:Introduction of the Meisterstück Solitaire Collection, the precious metal version of the Meisterstück in solid gold, sterling-silver or gilded silver.The 149 Solitaire fountain pen in solid gold enters the Guinness Book of Records as the most expensive fountain pen in the world.
1987:Numerous international sponsorship initiatives in the areas of literature, ballet and music mark the beginning of Montblanc‘s world-wide commitment to culture.
1989:Move to the new production and administration headquarters in Hamburg Eidelstedt. The Montblanc Museum is also established there.
1990:Opening of the first Montblanc boutique in Hong Kong
1992:Montblanc creates the ”Montblanc Arts Patronage Award”, to honour outstan-ding patrons of the arts. An international jury of artists select a winner from each of three continents - Europe, Asia and North America. The aim of the prize - to raise awareness of the urgent need for world-wide support of the arts, and to make an important contribution to the cultural enrichment of society. The 1992 prize-winners: Dominique de Menil, the Rockerfeller Foundation, Madame Georges Pompidou and James D. Wolfensohn.Montblanc launches its first Limited Edition Patron of Art pen on the world-wide market: ”LORENZO DE MEDICI” - a replica of a Montblanc fountain pen from the twenties, pays homage to a great patron of past culture. Only 4,810 copies are made; every year a new limited collector’s piece will follow.Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Writers Edition, ”HEMINGWAY”.Acquisition of Karl Seeger Lederwarenfabrik GmbH to become manufacturer of Montblanc´s Leather product collection.Extension of the Meisterstück range, introducing the product line ”NEW DIMENSIONS” including luxury leather goods, handmade paper and desk accessories.
1993 :Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Edition Patron of Art ”OCTAVIAN”, the Montblanc Limited Writers Edition ”AGATHA CHRISTIE” and its Asiatic counterpart ”IMPERIAL DRAGON”.Extension of the Montblanc boutique network. After initial developments in Asia, the first shops in Europe are opened in Paris and London.
1994 :Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Edition Patron of Art ”LOUIS XIV” and the Montblanc Limited Writers Edition ”OSCAR WILDE”.The ”Solitaire Royal” - a fountain pen covered with 4,810 brilliant diamonds, enters the ”Guinness Book of Records” as the most expensive fountain pen in the world.
1995:Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Edition Patron of Art ”THE PRINCE REGENT” and the Montblanc Limited Writers Edition ”VOLTAIRE”. Introduction of the Meisterstück ”RAMSES II”, with gold-plated body and precious stone lapis lazuli cap to complete the SOLITAIRE line.Introduction of the Meisterstück Leather Collection (an extension to the already existing range of small leather items) - well designed accessories for everyday business and travel. Foundation of the ”Philharmonia of the Nations” under the direction of Professor Justus Frantz. In June, Montblanc becomes main sponsor of the ”Philharmonia of the Nations”.
1996:Expansion of the”Montblanc Arts Patronage Award” programme to nine countries. Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Edition Patron of Art ”SEMIRAMIS” and the Montblanc Limited Writers Edition ”ALEXANDRE DUMAS”.Introduction of a third size of writing instruments: ”HOMMAGE À WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART” - the pocket-sized mini Meisterstück.Introduction of the LeGrand Solitaire Collection - precious metal writing instruments in diamond-cut sterling silver, gilded silver and Doué. Introduction of the Meisterstück Jewellery Line - stylish accessories for men, complementing the Meisterstück writing instrument range.Introduction of the Special Edition ”Meisterstück Leonard Bernstein” - the first donation pen in the world, in support of the Montblanc Philharmonia of the Nations.
1997:Foundation of the Montblanc Montre S.A. in Le Locle / Switzerland.
Introduction of the masterly handcrafted Meisterstück Watch and Eyewear collections. Launch of Montblanc’s first Meisterstück Watch Collections at the SIHH (Salon de la Haute Horlogerie) in Geneva .Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Edition Patron of Art ”PETER I the Great” and ”CATHERINE II the Great”. Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Writers Edition ”FYODOR M. DOSTOEVSKY”. Introduction of the ”Hommage à WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART” Solitaire Collection.
1998:Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Edition Patron of Art - ”HOMMAGE à ALEXANDER THE GREAT”.Introduction of the Meisterstück ”HOMMAGE à FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN”.Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Writers Edition ”HOMMAGE À EDGAR ALLAN POE”.Founding of the Montblanc Kulturstiftung (Montblanc Cultural Foundation) based in Germany.Opening of the Montblanc Academy, exhibition of the art work ”Gran Paradiso II” by Stephan Huber at the Montblanc Gallery Hamburg.
1999:”Montblanc Meisterstück - 75 Years of Passion and Soul” – the legendary writing instrument celebrates its 75th anniversary. Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Edition Patron of Art - ”HOMMAGE à FRIEDRICH II THE GREAT”.Opening of the Montblanc Staircase Gallery at the Montblanc Headquarter in Hamburg, Hellgrundweg, with the video, sound & light installation ”Stairmaster” of the New York artist Tom Sachs.Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Writers Edition ”HOMMAGE à MARCEL PROUST”
2000:Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Edition Patron of Art ”Karl der Grosse – Hommage à Charlemagne”.Montblanc is main sponsor of the Menuhin Festival in Gstaad, Switzerland. Introduction of the ”Montblanc Special Edition Yehudi Menuhin”- a new Donation-Pen in cooperation with the Philharmony of the Nations.Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Writers Edition ”FRIEDRICH SCHILLER”.Introduction of the Montblanc Special Edition ”Year of the Golden Dragon”- an cooperation with the porcelain manufactory Meissen produced fountain pen. This pen is limited to 888 pieces..Launch of the new Writing Collection Montblanc Bohème - the first new Writing Collection since the Meisterstück.Launch of the “Montblanc Limited Edition Precious Dragon”. This collection includes writing instruments and jewellery accessories, which are manufactured in the Montblanc (studio/atelier).
2001:Opening of the second exhibition in the Academy Gallery: Montblanc presents the American artist JORGE PARDO with the light installation “Untitled 2000” – a series of 28 lights, which are spread over the company building and the belonging Montblanc Academy Gallery.Introduction of the “Montblanc Special Edition Johann Sebastian Bach” – a new donation-pen, which supports the Bach Patronage Berlin and for saving the original autographs of Johann Sebastian Bach.Introduction of the _Montblanc Limited Edition Patron of Art Marquise de Pompadour“ – once again a cooperation with the porcellain manufactory Meissen.
Montblanc presents at the Salon de la Haute Horlogerie“ – SIHH in Geneva the world`s most expensive advent calendar, worth 1 Million Swiss Francs – presenting the most luxurious Montblanc products.Launch of the Ladies Business Bags Collection – hand crafted elegant bags which are the ideal, universal accessory for day and evening due to their compatible design.Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Writers Edition „Charles Dickens“.Introduction of the Montblanc Special Edition „Sakura 333”- once again cooperation with the porcelain manufactory Meissen.
2002:Launch of the Limited Edition „Qing Dynasty 2002“..Montblanc presents at the „Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie – SIHH“ in Geneva the „Profile Collection“ - Montblanc’s first collection of rectangular wristwatches.Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Edition Patron of Art 2002 „Hommage à Andrew Carnegie“.
Introduction of the Limited Writers Edition „Scott Fitzgerald“.Montblanc is Sponsor of the new „Young Directors Project“ at the Salzburg Festival. In August 2002, for the first time, the Salzburg Festival will present a competition for young European theatre directors and their companies, highlighted by the Montblanc Young Directors Award.Opening of Montblanc´s Flagship Boutique on Champs-Elysées Paris introducing the new boutique furniture concept/interview by famous french architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte.
2003:Launch of the new Montblanc Eyewear Collection „Urban Casual“ and ´Trendy New Signature´.Montblanc introduces the new leather Collections 4810 Westside for younger, design-oriented business people and 4810 Eastside for lovers of outstanding leather accessories.Introduction of the Montblanc Limited Edition Patron of Art 2003 „Hommage á Nicolaus Copernicus“.
Introduction of the Limited Writers Edition „Jules Verne“.For the second time Montblanc presents the “Montblanc Young Directors Project“ as part of the Salzburg Festival. The prize money of EUR 10,000 and the precious “Max Reinhardt Pen” are awarded to the winner Alvis Hermanis.In October Montblanc opens its new Flagship Boutique at 598 Madison Avenue in New York. At the same time Montblanc presents an art exhibit of oversized shopping bag sculptures at Rockefeller Center.
2004:Launch of the Limited Edition Patron of Art “Hommage à John Pierpont Morgan”.
Launch of the Montblanc Limited Writers Edition “Franz Kafka”. Launch of the Limited Edition “Annual Edition 2005”.Launch of the project “Sign Up for the Right to Write” against illiteracy in co-operation with UNICEF.
2005:Launch of the new leather collection for a female target group, “LadyStar” and “Bohème Skyblue” in fresh colours. The calf leather bangles of the “Bohème Skyblue” leather collection are available only in the spring/summer season 2005. Launch of the new Meisterstück Leather Collection with suitable travel cases for business people.
Feminine, variable, elegant – Montblanc presents the three innovative collections of “Montblanc Jewellery”. A genuine affirmation of both contemporary style and timeless refinement. Playful and intriguing collection of 925 sterling silver, in exciting contrast to colourful semiprecious stones and diamonds which can be combined to create a highly personal style.
2006:Montblanc’s 100th anniversary: Soulmakers for 100 years. When the Hamburg stationer Claus-Johannes Voß, the engineer August Eberstein and the salesman Alfred Nehemias met to exchange their ideas in the year 1906, nobody imagined that it would mark the birth of one of the great international luxury brands: Montblanc.
The world-famous Montblanc star, a symbol of the highest levels of craftsmanship and quality. After a development time of eight years, Montblanc has created an sophisticated, patented diamond cut that now shows the brand logo in the radiant, three-dimensional form of a Montblanc diamond in each 100 Years Collection. It took eight years of research and development to optimise the facets on the Montblanc diamond and at the same time to achieve maximum brilliance and light refraction. The high valence of this diamond is based on the four well-known "C´s": carat, colour, clarity, cut. While the first three criteria are determined by nature alone, the last one, the cut, depends solely on the diamond-cutter´s craftsmanship. Only if the facet surfaces and angle measurements are in perfect harmony does the stone reflect a maximum of incident light and produce its brilliant fire.The development of the extremely complicated "Montblanc", which Montblanc has patented, is equivalent to a world premiere. For Montblanc is the first brand in the world to possess a diamond cut derived from its logo.
The Montblanc Diamond
The 100 Years Solitaire Editions are launched, including the Solitaire Mountain Massif Skeleton 2006, limited to only three pieces, the Meisterstück Solitaire 1906 made of sterling silver and real Mont Blanc granite and the Meisterstück Solitaire 100 made of solid 750 yellow, rose or white gold.In the exclusively limited editions of only 100 or three pieces, Montblanc presents the fountain-pens "StarWalker Limited Edition 100" and "StarWalker Platin Edition" to celebrate the 100 years of the brand's existence. Also a limited anniversary edition of the StarWalker fountain pen and ballpoint pen is launched including an 18-carat anniversary nib and the 100 years' engraving on the clip ring, crowned by a floating diamond in a transparent cap head, cut in 43 facets to form a Montblanc star.
Montblanc celebrates 100 years of endurance and launches a real jewel among the editions: the Limited Edition "Bohème 100". A fountain-pen of solid 18-carat gold - available in either white gold, yellow gold or rose gold with star-shaped guilloche work covered with a wafer-thin lacquer harmonising with the gold tone and corresponding semi-precious stone in the clip. Limited to 100 pieces.
The Limited Edition "Bohème 1906" is also launched: a black and white marbled body of precious resin with platinised cap, platinised fittings and a jet-black onyx on the clip. The world-famous Montblanc star is honoured twice - as a logo in guilloche work on the platinised cap and as a diamond in the cap head.Launch of the new Limited Edition Patron of Art “Sir Henry Tate” in honour of one of the most successful entrepreneurs of the Victorian Age and greatest art-lovers and patrons of his time.
Product Updates:
Edition Ingrid Bergman (2009)
Patron of Art Edition Max von Oppenheim (2009)
StarWalker Black Mystery (2009)
Writers Edition “George Bernard Shaw”(2008)
Meisterstück Solitaire Ceramics Black Prisma (2008)
Montblanc and Van Cleef & Arpels Limited Edition Mystery Masterpiece (2006)
Writers Edition “Virginia Woolf”(2006)
Meisterstück Solitaire Royal(2002)
Meisterstück Hommage à Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (2002)
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