Limited Editions

The Graf von Faber-Castell “Pen of the Year” Edition has carved out a special position for itself amongst connoisseurs of fine writing culture. The design is inspired by epoch-making works and personalities. After Catherine the Great with “Catherine Palace, St. Petersburg” and Frederick the Great with “Sanssouci, Potsdam”, the trilogy is now complete with Empress Maria Theresa with “Schloß Schönbrunn, Vienna”. The fates of these three extraordinary ruling figures were very closely linked. As daughter of Emperor Karl VI and heir to the throne, Maria Theresa took over the regency of the large Habsburg Empire in 1740. She lost the region of Silesia to the Prussian King, her lifelong rival, not least because of the neutrality of Catherine. However in the end, Maria Theresa was able to ensure almost complete territorial integrity of her monarchy. In 1736, Maria Theresa married Francis Stephen of Lorraine (Franz Stephan von Lothringen), whom she knew and treasured from childhood. This was a marriage of love, which was very unusual for the time. The ruling couple spent the summer months in Schönbrunn Palace, which Maria Theresa had specially renovated. This magnificent building became the cultural and political centre of the Habsburg Empire. Important matters were decided there, and lively celebrations were also held. In addition, Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, among others, appeared at the palace theatre. After 29 years of a happy marriage, Maria Theresa lost her beloved husband unexpectedly in 1765. She furnished his former study with things that were the most precious to them both, thus ensuring the best way to express her love for Francis Stephen: “Nothing in this world, all diamonds mean nothing to me. The only things that give me joy come from China, especially lacquerware”. Lacquer was seen at that time as especially precious, as well as the epitome of luxury and exquisite taste due to the extremely costly and time consuming process of extracting it from the lacquer tree. Maria Theresa therefore spared no expense when furnishing the memorial room for Francis Stephen with their shared passion for Far East lacquer art. Among the prized possessions of the huge collection at Schönbrunn Palace are valuable Chinese screens from the imperial manufactory in Beijing. Their black lacquer panels masterly-painted with gold using the Chinese Miaojin technique were placed in panelling made from flamed maple and set with a gilded frame in 1770. Delicate gold paintings of landscapes, pagodas and floral patterns have been captivating the eye since that time in the Vieux-Laque Room, giving expressions of happiness, fortune, transience and immortality. Graf von Faber-Castell has acquired true artists of their craft for the design work of the Graf von Faber-Castell “Pen of the Year 2016”: the conservator of the Vieux-Laque Room Silvia Miklin and the Japanese artist Tomizo Saratani who specialises in the Maki-e technique. They worked together developing a motif that is divided into three parts, yet comes together to make a whole. During the most time consuming phases, each of the three plates are first painted black, then polished and burnt several times by hand. Then the artist lovingly draws the motif on the lacquer and then sprinkles the still wet drawing several times with 24-carat gold powder in different tints. This results in a relief that can still be perceived through additional protective lacquer works. Thus the characteristic look-and-feel of Hira Maki-e lacquer work is born. The platinum-plated variant of the Graf von Faber-Castell “Pen of the Year 2016” is also inspired by the design of the Vieux-Laque Room in a unique way. Hand-ground plates made from deep black onyx are set in elaborately created, platinum-plated frames and contrast with individually grained flamed maple in a fascinating manner. The platinum-plated fountain pen is limited to 500 units, the rollerball pen to 150. The special edition is limited to 120 fountain pens and 50 rollerball pens. The individually numbered writing instruments are kept in a highly-polished, black wooden case. It includes a certificate personally signed by the master craftsman of the gemstone manufactory Herbert Stephan attesting to the authenticity of the onyx used. Artist Tomizo Saratani also attested to the painting with 24-carat gold. The caps are adorned by a faceted Onyx which is ground and polished by hand. The Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of The Year 2016 Fountain pen uses a plunger filling mechanism and has an 18 karat gold nib. In 1761, Kaspar Faber started to produce pencils in Stein, near Nuremberg. When the fourth generation,Baron Lothar von Faber, took over the company in 1839 he turned the pencil into a true quality product and the world's first branded writing instrument. Over the centuries, he and his descendants created remarkable products. The result is the Graf von Faber-Castell Collection, a range of extraordinary writing instruments and accessories. They embody "Luxury in Simplicity" by combining selected materials, functionality and superb aesthetics. To ensure this exclusive writing instrument gives you many years of writing pleasure, Graf von Faber-Castell is pleased to offer a complimentary annual service having your Pen of the Year checked, cleaned and maintained through their specialists. You are eligible for this service after registration of your Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year on their web site (www.graf-von-faber-castell.com).  ..

The latest edition of the Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year tells a story of an epoch and people whose deeds made a strong impression on the history of mankind. This year, 2018, it centres on an empire that, step by step from the 8th century BC, extended over three continents: Europe, Africa, and Asia. Even today, in the early 3rd millennium, it still exerts immeasurable influence on our world: the Imperium Romanum.According to legend, Rome was founded in the year 753 BC by Romulus, who had earlier been the subject of a remarkable drama: he and his twin brother Remus had been abandoned as infants but were discovered and suckled by a wolf. That was the start of a rise to fame without parallel in the ancient world. The city on the Tiber reached the zenith of its power in AD 117. Its vast field of influence extended from Scotland in the north to Nubia in Africa, from Portugal in the west to Mesopotamia in present-day Iraq. With its numerous peoples, the Roman empire embodied the idea of an “imperium sine fine”, a boundless empire, ruled from the “eternal city”. Rome’s symbol is the Colosseum: the legendary arena where the gladiators fought is an architectural wonder that has survived the changes and upheavals of the ages. He was destined for great things from birth: coming from an ancient Roman patrician family, Gaius Julius Caesar held important office at an early age, conquered all of Gaul as far as the Rhine, and increasingly acquired the reputation of resolutely pursuing his goals. As no other, he knew how to follow up his deeds with memorable words. After the battle of Zela, when his legionnaires exhausted the troops of King Pharnaces II in just four hours, he wrote to a friend “veni vidi vici” – I came, I saw, I conquered. One need hear this concise triumphant phrase just once, and it is remembered for ever. The conversion of the Roman Republic into an Empire began with Caesar. He was the first ruler to be represented on Roman coins during his lifetime.Stone of the gods: that is how the Greeks expressed their respect for the beauty of marble. The Romans took up the theme: marble statues were reserved for gods and emperors. They were produced in large numbers to declare the power of Rome, and many can still be admired in museums. Marble of the highest quality from Carrara in Tuscany made a significant contribution to the radiance that commanded so much respect. It was laid down 30 million years ago when the African and European continental plates collided, pushing up the Alps.The radiance of the “Black Edition” stands in fascinating contrast. In the search for a suitable opposite number to white statuario marble Graf von Faber-Castell made a lucky find in the Iberian peninsula, once part of the Roman empire. Nero Marquina from the Vizcaya (Biscay) region in the Basque country combines in a refined way a basic black colour with pronounced white veins. It harmonizes perfectly with the anthracite-grey titanium PVD coating that gives an ever-changing appearance in use. The fountain pen is fitted with a ruthenium-plated 18-carat gold nib, already run in by hand, which matches perfectly the very masculine appearance of the barrel. The cap of the “Black Edition” is also adorned by an engraving of the Colosseum and a miniature Roman penny (denarius). The denarius in the cap of this edition is modelled on a very rare silver coin from the year 44 BC depicting Caesar’s head. The original was found at Ritter in Düsseldorf, a prestigious dealer and certified coin expert. The nib of the fountain pen is black ruthenium 18 karat gold. The exclusive “Black Edition” is limited to 330 fountain pens and 100 rollerball pens. A certificate bearing the signature of Count Charles von Faber-Castell attests that these are all strictly limited editions. .In 1761, Kaspar Faber started to produce pencils in Stein, near Nuremberg. When the fourth generation,Baron Lothar von Faber, took over the company in 1839 he turned the pencil into a true quality product and the world's first branded writing instrument. Over the centuries, he and his descendants created remarkable products. The result is the Graf von Faber-Castell Collection, a range of extraordinary writing instruments and accessories. They embody "Luxury in Simplicity" by combining selected materials, functionality and superb aesthetics.To ensure this exclusive writing instrument gives you many years of writing pleasure, Graf von Faber-Castell is pleased to offer a complimentary annual service having your Pen of the Year checked, cleaned and maintained through their specialists. You are eligible for this service after registration of your Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year on their web site (www.graf-von-faber-castell.com)...

The Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year 2020 draws its inspiration from the Greek heroes of Sparta and their king Leonidas. For centuries, the small city state of Sparta was the greatest military power of ancient Greece. Discipline and the legendary invincibility of the Spartans were the fruit of a strict training from an early age, the agogé. The Spartan society was very militarized and its fate lay in the hands of the gods: alongside Apollo and Artemis, the valiant Athena was one of the most important deities. Goddess of wisdom of strategy and war, she was considered the "Guardian of the city". The education to which every Spartan man was subjected from his childhood was hard and physically trying. Based on courage, endurance, fearlessness and self-sacrifice, it trained the best warriors of this era. These infantrymen, heavily armed with shield, cuirass, helmet and leggings, had to acquire their own tailor-made equipment, which was very expensive. The Pen of the Year 2020 also takes inspiration to the qualities of this equipment: strength, solidity and aesthetics. The anthracite metal body with its titanium PVD coating is adorned with a milled decoration, as well as 42 rough diamonds of 2.1 carats out of 7 rows of 6 pieces. They thus recall the rivets of the armor of the Spartans. The milled decoration on the body reminds us of the shape of the skirt with fringes of their armor. Essential element to their defense, their bronze helmet was made in one piece. At that time the Corinthian helmet was the most widespread. It protected the head, and its narrow and elegant slot for the eyes as well as the horsehair ridge intimidated their opponents. The spring-loaded clip of the pen of the Year 2020 resembles the shape of the helmet and thus imitates the neck of a horse. The bright cap is mirror polished. The Spartans were, in the middle of the 6th century, precious allies for the Hellenic and foreign states. The Battle of Thermopylae is known worldwide. Leonidas there opposed to the supremacy of the Persian king Xerxes and managed to contain his army in a narrow parade with only 300 Spartans. A courageous strategy that cost him his life, but allowed most Greeks to withdraw in time to defend their lands. The large round shields, which protected the whole upper body, were indispensable to the protection of the warriors. They have inspired the lacquered inlay of the top of the Pen of the Year 2020, marked with the lambda letter, the 11th of the Greek alphabet. The letter Lambda also served as an abbreviation for the name Lacedaemonians - the historical name of the Spartan state - and the letter adorned the shield of the warriors. The milled and matt gripping section of the instrument of the pen refers to the warriors' cuirass, which was made to measure. It was composed of two bronze plates for the front and the back, which were welded at the shoulders. Details like the decor on the body of the writing instrument recall the archaic motif on the protective armor.In its special edition "Black Edition", the Pen of the Year 2020 is limited to 80 ink rollers and 270 fountain pens. In 1761, Kaspar Faber started to produce pencils in Stein, near Nuremberg. When the fourth generation,Baron Lothar von Faber, took over the company in 1839 he turned the pencil into a true quality product and the world's first branded writing instrument. Over the centuries, he and his descendants created remarkable products. The result is the Graf von Faber-Castell Collection, a range of extraordinary writing instruments and accessories. They embody "Luxury in Simplicity" by combining selected materials, functionality and superb aesthetics. To ensure this exclusive writing instrument gives you many years of writing pleasure, Graf von Faber-Castell is pleased to offer a complimentary annual service having your Pen of the Year checked, cleaned and maintained through their specialists. You are eligible for this service after registration of your Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year on their web site (www.graf-von-faber-castell.com)...

The Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year 2020 draws its inspiration from the Greek heroes of Sparta and their king Leonidas. For centuries, the small city state of Sparta was the greatest military power of ancient Greece. Discipline and the legendary invincibility of the Spartans were the fruit of a strict training from an early age, the agogé. The Spartan society was very militarized and its fate lay in the hands of the gods: alongside Apollo and Artemis, the valiant Athena was one of the most important deities. Goddess of wisdom of strategy and war, she was considered the "Guardian of the city". The education to which every Spartan man was subjected from his childhood was hard and physically trying. Based on courage, endurance, fearlessness and self-sacrifice, it trained the best warriors of this era. These infantrymen, heavily armed with shield, cuirass, helmet and leggings, had to acquire their own tailor-made equipment, which was very expensive.The Pen of the Year 2020 also takes inspiration to the qualities of this equipment: strength, solidity and aesthetics. Seven rough 0.35 carat diamonds are placed on a matt sandblasted body, coated with a layer ruthenium symbolizing robustness, strength and uniqueness, like the valiant Spartans. The milled decoration on the body reminds us of the shape of the skirt with fringes of their armor.Essential element to their defense, their bronze helmet was made in one piece. At that time the Corinthian helmet was the most widespread. It protected the head, and its narrow and elegant slot for the eyes as well as the horsehair ridge intimidated their opponents. The spring-loaded clip of the pen of the Year 2020 resembles the shape of the helmet and thus imitates the neck of a horse. The bright cap is mirror polished.The Spartans were, in the middle of the 6th century, precious allies for the Hellenic and foreign states. The Battle of Thermopylae is known worldwide. Leonidas there opposed to the supremacy of the Persian king Xerxes and managed to contain his army in a narrow parade with only 300 Spartans. A courageous strategy that cost him his life, but allowed most Greeks to withdraw in time to defend their lands. The large round shields, which protected the whole upper body, were indispensable to the protection of the warriors. They have inspired the lacquered inlay of the top of the Pen of the Year 2020, marked with the lambda letter, the 11th of the Greek alphabet. The letter Lambda also served as an abbreviation for the name Lacedaemonians - the historical name of the Spartan state - and the letter adorned the shield of the warriors.The milled and matt gripping section of the instrument of the pen refers to the warriors' cuirass, which was made to measure. It was composed of two bronze plates for the front and the back, which were welded at the shoulders. Details like the decor on the body of the writing instrument recall the archaic motif on the protective armor.The nib in 18-carat gold of the piston fountain pen promises an exceptional writing pleasure. The pens are limited to 90 rollerball pens and 310 fountain pens.In 1761, Kaspar Faber started to produce pencils in Stein, near Nuremberg. When the fourth generation,Baron Lothar von Faber, took over the company in 1839 he turned the pencil into a true quality product and the world's first branded writing instrument. Over the centuries, he and his descendants created remarkable products. The result is the Graf von Faber-Castell Collection, a range of extraordinary writing instruments and accessories. They embody "Luxury in Simplicity" by combining selected materials, functionality and superb aesthetics.To ensure this exclusive writing instrument gives you many years of writing pleasure, Graf von Faber-Castell is pleased to offer a complimentary annual service having your Pen of the Year checked, cleaned and maintained through their specialists. You are eligible for this service after registration of your Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year on their web site (www.graf-von-faber-castell.com)...

The Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year 2020 draws its inspiration from the Greek heroes of Sparta and their king Leonidas. For centuries, the small city state of Sparta was the greatest military power of ancient Greece. Discipline and the legendary invincibility of the Spartans were the fruit of a strict training from an early age, the agogé. The Spartan society was very militarized and its fate lay in the hands of the gods: alongside Apollo and Artemis, the valiant Athena was one of the most important deities. Goddess of wisdom of strategy and war, she was considered the "Guardian of the city". The education to which every Spartan man was subjected from his childhood was hard and physically trying. Based on courage, endurance, fearlessness and self-sacrifice, it trained the best warriors of this era. These infantrymen, heavily armed with shield, cuirass, helmet and leggings, had to acquire their own tailor-made equipment, which was very expensive.The Pen of the Year 2020 also takes inspiration to the qualities of this equipment: strength, solidity and aesthetics. Seven rough 0.35 carat diamonds are placed on a matt sandblasted body, coated with a layer ruthenium symbolizing robustness, strength and uniqueness, like the valiant Spartans. The milled decoration on the body reminds us of the shape of the skirt with fringes of their armor. Essential element to their defense, their bronze helmet was made in one piece. At that time the Corinthian helmet was the most widespread. It protected the head, and its narrow and elegant slot for the eyes as well as the horsehair ridge intimidated their opponents. The spring-loaded clip of the pen of the Year 2020 resembles the shape of the helmet and thus imitates the neck of a horse. The bright cap is mirror polished. The Spartans were, in the middle of the 6th century, precious allies for the Hellenic and foreign states. The Battle of Thermopylae is known worldwide. Leonidas there opposed to the supremacy of the Persian king Xerxes and managed to contain his army in a narrow parade with only 300 Spartans. A courageous strategy that cost him his life, but allowed most Greeks to withdraw in time to defend their lands. The large round shields, which protected the whole upper body, were indispensable to the protection of the warriors. They have inspired the lacquered inlay of the top of the Pen of the Year 2020, marked with the lambda letter, the 11th of the Greek alphabet. The letter Lambda also served as an abbreviation for the name Lacedaemonians - the historical name of the Spartan state - and the letter adorned the shield of the warriors. The milled and matt gripping section of the instrument of the pen refers to the warriors' cuirass, which was made to measure. It was composed of two bronze plates for the front and the back, which were welded at the shoulders. Details like the decor on the body of the writing instrument recall the archaic motif on the protective armor. The pens are limited to 90 rollerball pens and 310 fountain pens. In 1761, Kaspar Faber started to produce pencils in Stein, near Nuremberg. When the fourth generation,Baron Lothar von Faber, took over the company in 1839 he turned the pencil into a true quality product and the world's first branded writing instrument. Over the centuries, he and his descendants created remarkable products. The result is the Graf von Faber-Castell Collection, a range of extraordinary writing instruments and accessories. They embody "Luxury in Simplicity" by combining selected materials, functionality and superb aesthetics. To ensure this exclusive writing instrument gives you many years of writing pleasure, Graf von Faber-Castell is pleased to offer a complimentary annual service having your Pen of the Year checked, cleaned and maintained through their specialists. You are eligible for this service after registration of your Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year on their web site (www.graf-von-faber-castell.com)...

Graf von Faber-Castell introduces the new 2021 edition of the Pen of the Year collection, inspired on medieval knights, heroes, mythology and legends. This limited edition will consist of 375 fountain pens and 125 rollerballs. Subtle details from the world of the knights can be found on the pen, from the crenellations that give the cap the shape of a castle tower to the fuller running down the length of the pen as if it were a sword. The materials and craftsmanship are also deliberately chosen to suit the style of medieval times. The guilloche pattern used on the cap resembles a knight’s chainmail, and the damascus steel might well have been forged in the same fires as the swords they wielded. The finial of the pens are decorated with a sun cut blood red garnet, symbol of light and truth. In 1761, Kaspar Faber started to produce pencils in Stein, near Nuremberg. When the fourth generation,Baron Lothar von Faber, took over the company in 1839 he turned the pencil into a true quality product and the world's first branded writing instrument. Over the centuries, he and his descendants created remarkable products. The result is the Graf von Faber-Castell Collection, a range of extraordinary writing instruments and accessories. They embody "Luxury in Simplicity" by combining selected materials, functionality and superb aesthetics. To ensure this exclusive writing instrument gives you many years of writing pleasure, Graf von Faber-Castell is pleased to offer a complimentary annual service having your Pen of the Year checked, cleaned and maintained through their specialists. You are eligible for this service after registration of your Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year on their web site (www.graf-von-faber-castell.com)...

In 2003, Lamy launched the Dialog series of high-end writing instruments and collaborating with famed industrial designers in their conception. The Dialog 1 in particular was designed by the Munich-born Richard Sapper, known for designing the Artemide Tizio desk lamp in 1972 and the IBM ThinkPad in 1992. The Lamy Dialog 1 has a metal body with a triangular cross-section and matte titanium finish. It uses a top-push click mechanism. The triangular shape of the pen is equilateral with curved vertices.The Dialog 1 received the Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award in 2003. Lamy is an independent family-owned enterprise which was established in 1930 by , former Parker employee, C. Josef Lamy in Heidelberg. The Lamy brand has existed since 1952 and proved its innovative prowess in the very first year with the completely novel Lamy 27 fountain pen series. And in 1966 the distinctive style of Lamy Design was born with the Lamy 2000...

The Montblanc Writers Edition 2019 is dedicated to Rudyard Kipling.Rudyard Kipling (1865 - 1936) was an English journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist. He was born in India, which inspired much of his work. He is most famous for ''The Jungle Book (1894)'', If (1895) and Kim (1901). He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story. Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Henry James said: ''Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius, as distinct from fine intelligence, that I have ever known.''The Montblanc Writers Edition takes its main inspiration from Kipling's "The Jungle Book". The overall shape is inspired by the Ankus of ''the King's Ankus'' story from the second jungle book. The ''jungle'' green colour is inspired by the cover of the book's first U.S. edition, with the clip taking inspiration from the wolf pack. The cap is engraved with Kipling's handwritten initials R.K. The beginning and end of the poem "If" is engraved on the cap top and cone ring.The Montblanc Writers Edition Rudyard Kipling collection includes a piston fountain pen, rollerball, and ballpoint pen.Since 1992 Montblanc honours great writers whose works have become part of world literature with the Montblanc Limited Writers Edition. The stories these writers created still fascinate millions of people and indeed the lives of their authors were often just as multifaceted and as rich as their novels.Montblanc Limited Writers Editions are sought after by connoisseurs and avid collectors worldwide. Increasing their rarity and value is the unique handcrafting involved in their production process. The manufacturing tools, specially developed for the production of every Montblanc Limited Writers Edition are destroyed at the end of each production run to make reproduction forever impossible.Montblanc is since 1908 a leader in the world of luxury. It is a symbol of quality, reliability and status. Many already have written with a Montblanc. All Montblanc products manufactured in Germany are of such quality that they may bear the familiar logo . Besides writing instruments, Montblanc also makes leather goods. Montblanc offers its products in a 2-year warranty.Appelboom is authorized dealer of Montblanc...

Among the families of pens created by Montegrappa to honour the most notable personages throughout history is Genio Creativo. Following pens inspired by and dedicated to Dalì, Gibran, Stradivari, Modigliani, Canova, Tchaikovsky and Tiziano is a limited edition acknowledging the contributions of watchmaker Bartolomeo Ferracina. For Montegrappa, the honour has an added meaning, as Ferracina was not only a son of the Veneto: he was born in the same area as the home to Montegrappa. At a time when fine watchmaking has been recognised as an art, as much as it is a skill, the great horological figures of the past are enjoying new-found respect. Among those who contributed to the development of the machines that tell us the time was Bartolomeo Ferracina, a watchmaker and engineer from Solagna, a little village adjacent to Bassano del Grappa. While his projects involving hydraulics benefitted the municipalities in which he operated, it was his work with clocks for which Ferracina is celebrated. He produced models of many types and sizes, from pendulum clocks to those with automata, from table to tower clocks, including models with the indication of the lunar phases, the motion of the stars and the zodiac. He managed this even though limiting himself to applying existing knowledge, without having to invent any new mechanisms. His most notable contribution to the history of timekeeping was the reconstruction of the tower clock of Piazza San Marco in Venice, to the benefit of millions of tourists every year. Each pen is fitted with an 18k gold filigree-etched nib, available in the grades of Fine, Medium and Broad. The nib’s filigree decoration is also found on the cap’s lower band, which also hosts the Montegrappa logo. The signature clip with the traditional rotating sphere reflects the sinuous curves of the new body form. Aptly adorning the top of the cap is the perfect homage to Bartolomeo: it contains a small, perfectly functioning quartz watch, in a 16 mm silver case. The mechanism, completely detachable from the cap top, boasts a Swiss-made Ronda 6000D movement. Italy's first pen manufacturer, Montegrappa, began manufacturing pens in 1912 in its factory in Bassano del Grappa - a picturesque town along the Brenta River, which flows through Alpine foothills in northeastern Italy. Utilizing natural celluloid and precious metals, Montegrappa combines traditional methods such as die-casting with more recent innovations as low-relief engraving to form their precious art objects. Whether they use colors reminiscent of the master painters or ornamentation suggestive of Baroque palaces, the Italian heritage and romance is infused into each product. <!--cke_bookmark_1426S--><!--cke_bookmark_1426E-->..

Among the families of pens created by Montegrappa to honour the most notable personages throughout history is Genio Creativo. Following pens inspired by and dedicated to Dalì, Gibran, Stradivari, Modigliani, Canova, Tchaikovsky and Tiziano is a limited edition acknowledging the contributions of watchmaker Bartolomeo Ferracina. For Montegrappa, the honour has an added meaning, as Ferracina was not only a son of the Veneto: he was born in the same area as the home to Montegrappa. At a time when fine watchmaking has been recognised as an art, as much as it is a skill, the great horological figures of the past are enjoying new-found respect. Among those who contributed to the development of the machines that tell us the time was Bartolomeo Ferracina, a watchmaker and engineer from Solagna, a little village adjacent to Bassano del Grappa. While his projects involving hydraulics benefitted the municipalities in which he operated, it was his work with clocks for which Ferracina is celebrated. He produced models of many types and sizes, from pendulum clocks to those with automata, from table to tower clocks, including models with the indication of the lunar phases, the motion of the stars and the zodiac. He managed this even though limiting himself to applying existing knowledge, without having to invent any new mechanisms. His most notable contribution to the history of timekeeping was the reconstruction of the tower clock of Piazza San Marco in Venice, to the benefit of millions of tourists every year. Each pen is fitted with an 18k gold filigree-etched nib, available in the grades of Fine, Medium and Broad. The nib’s filigree decoration is also found on the cap’s lower band, which also hosts the Montegrappa logo. The signature clip with the traditional rotating sphere reflects the sinuous curves of the new body form. Aptly adorning the top of the cap is the perfect homage to Bartolomeo: it contains a small, perfectly functioning quartz watch, in a 16 mm silver case. The mechanism, completely detachable from the cap top, boasts a Swiss-made Ronda 6000D movement. Italy's first pen manufacturer, Montegrappa, began manufacturing pens in 1912 in its factory in Bassano del Grappa - a picturesque town along the Brenta River, which flows through Alpine foothills in northeastern Italy. Utilizing natural celluloid and precious metals, Montegrappa combines traditional methods such as die-casting with more recent innovations as low-relief engraving to form their precious art objects. Whether they use colors reminiscent of the master painters or ornamentation suggestive of Baroque palaces, the Italian heritage and romance is infused into each product. &amp;lt;!--cke_bookmark_1426S--&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!--cke_bookmark_1426E--&amp;gt;..

Among the families of pens created by Montegrappa to honour the most notable personages throughout history is Genio Creativo. Following pens inspired by and dedicated to Dalì, Gibran, Stradivari, Modigliani, Canova, Tchaikovsky and Tiziano is a limited edition acknowledging the contributions of watchmaker Bartolomeo Ferracina. For Montegrappa, the honour has an added meaning, as Ferracina was not only a son of the Veneto: he was born in the same area as the home to Montegrappa. At a time when fine watchmaking has been recognised as an art, as much as it is a skill, the great horological figures of the past are enjoying new-found respect. Among those who contributed to the development of the machines that tell us the time was Bartolomeo Ferracina, a watchmaker and engineer from Solagna, a little village adjacent to Bassano del Grappa. While his projects involving hydraulics benefitted the municipalities in which he operated, it was his work with clocks for which Ferracina is celebrated. He produced models of many types and sizes, from pendulum clocks to those with automata, from table to tower clocks, including models with the indication of the lunar phases, the motion of the stars and the zodiac. He managed this even though limiting himself to applying existing knowledge, without having to invent any new mechanisms. His most notable contribution to the history of timekeeping was the reconstruction of the tower clock of Piazza San Marco in Venice, to the benefit of millions of tourists every year. Each pen is fitted with an 18k gold filigree-etched nib, available in the grades of Fine, Medium and Broad. The nib’s filigree decoration is also found on the cap’s lower band, which also hosts the Montegrappa logo. The signature clip with the traditional rotating sphere reflects the sinuous curves of the new body form. Aptly adorning the top of the cap is the perfect homage to Bartolomeo: it contains a small, perfectly functioning quartz watch, in a 16 mm silver case. The mechanism, completely detachable from the cap top, boasts a Swiss-made Ronda 6000D movement. Italy's first pen manufacturer, Montegrappa, began manufacturing pens in 1912 in its factory in Bassano del Grappa - a picturesque town along the Brenta River, which flows through Alpine foothills in northeastern Italy. Utilizing natural celluloid and precious metals, Montegrappa combines traditional methods such as die-casting with more recent innovations as low-relief engraving to form their precious art objects. Whether they use colors reminiscent of the master painters or ornamentation suggestive of Baroque palaces, the Italian heritage and romance is infused into each product. &lt;!--cke_bookmark_1426S--&gt;&lt;!--cke_bookmark_1426E--&gt;..

Mysticum Arrives With the Count Cagliostro Pen Inaugurating Montegrappa’s new series, Mysticum, is a personality who embodies all that the worlds of the metaphysical and the mysterious encompasses. Mysticum celebrates that which occupies the spaces between the known and the unknown. Appropriately, to initiate its catalogue of notables, the first is a controversial figure encapsulating a mixture of notions from Hermetism, Alchemy, Kabbalah and Freemasonry. He is the legendary Count Cagliostro. Count Cagliostro Count Alessandro di Cagliostro (1743–1795) was the alias of the occultist Giuseppe Balsamo. An Italian adventurer and magician, he became a glamorous figure associated with the royal courts of Europe, practising for them various occult arts, including psychic healing and alchemy. His origins are shrouded in mystery. Cagliostro’s legacy, beyond the romantic attraction of leading a life full of adventures, includes credit for the creation of the Egyptian Rite of the Freemasons and intensive work in the diffusion of Freemasonry, by opening lodges all over Europe and by introducing the acceptance of women into the community. Bringing the saga into the 20th century, notorious occultist Aleister Crowley believed Cagliostro was one of his previous incarnations. The Count Cagliostro Pen Montegrappa acknowledges the importance of Cagliostro in the history of the occult with the Count Cagliostro Limited Edition, available fountain pen and a rollerball pen, in both black resin and sterling silver or with solid 18k gold trim. The fountain pen is piston-fed, with 18k gold nib with filigree decoration. To convey the trappings of the occultist, the Count Cagliostro Pen is decorated with images associated with the various mystical arts. The pen’s clip is crafted with the lost-wax casting technique representing the Caduceus and Cagliostro’s personal seal symbols, while the pen’s barrel and cap are a mixture of silver or gold cutwork and micro-milling. Among the sigils engraved on the pen are the “eye in the pyramid” associated with Illuminati, the square-and-compass of the Freemasons and the grid that represents the Tree of Life of the Kabbalah. Numerology defines the Kabbalah and is a critical element of the occult. So, too, are the numbers of pens issued in the series. It consists of 289 fountain pens in sterling silver and 289 rollerball pens in sterling silver, for the number of the Masonic lodge in London located on 289 Gerrard Street in Soho, to which the Count was admitted. 22 fountain pens have been fashioned in solid 18K gold, representing the 22 paths of Life, as inscribed on the pen’s barrel, with 10 rollerball pens in solid 18K gold, in accordance with the 10 sephiroth on the Tree of Life. While Montegrappa ascribes no mystical powers to the Count Cagliostro Pens, those who write with it will undoubtedly experience its charms. Italy's first pen manufacturer, Montegrappa, began manufacturing pens in 1912 in its factory in Bassano del Grappa - a picturesque town along the Brenta River, which flows through Alpine foothills in northeastern Italy. Utilizing natural celluloid and precious metals, Montegrappa combines traditional methods such as die-casting with more recent innovations as low-relief engraving to form their precious art objects. Whether they use colors reminiscent of the master painters or ornamentation suggestive of Baroque palaces, the Italian heritage and romance is infused into each product...