Another beautiful pen from Montblanc: the Montblanc Boheme Papillion. It's all about butterflies, and since they've been inspiring writers since the beginning of time what better subject matter for a writing instrument. The Montblanc Boheme Papillion comes in 6 different versions of yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold embellished with over 1400 diamonds in the pattern of butterflies and delicate intertwining plant stems and leaves. Plus, of course, the signature Montblanc diamond gleaming on the cap.
Butterflies and plant tendrils? How perfect for spring. Priced at about $273,000.
A holiday like Valentine's Day is all in the details, and in today's world of emails, text messages, and computerized everything what better detail than to write your sweetheart a love note by hand in beautiful rose colored and rose scented ink. Love Letter Ink 2008 by Montblanc is available either by the bottle or in cartridges, and although it's not clear how strong the rose scent is or how long it lingers (this reviewer says it's fairly short-lived) how great it would be for a long-distance lover to open a perfumed V-Day card along with a delivery of blooms (not to mention it would be so pleasant to write the note as well!).
The Montblanc pen shown above was displayed on Thursday night in Monaco at a VIP charity gala honoring Prince Rainier III of Monaco and attended by his son Prince Albert and a bevy of beauties that included Helena Christiansen and Eva Green. The Prince Rainier III Limited Edition 81is limited to only 81 pieces (Rainier was 81 when he died in 2005). Half of the sales of the been will go to the Foundation Princess Grace. The pen is a skeletonized fountain-pen of 18K white gold decorated with diamonds and ruby-studded lozenges to mimic the red-white lozenges on the shield of the Grimaldi coat of arms. It includes 996 diamonds cut with facets and 92 rubies which form a network that inner workings of the writing instrument can be seen through. 19 more rubies surround the clip ring on the cap and the 18K gold nib is set with two rubies. The pen is worth 200,000 euros.
The Daily Mail has an interesting story on a case of celebrity diamond sharing. Celebs are often loaned diamonds to wear for red carpet event but what happens when two girls want the same piece? The Daily Mail says that both model Elle Macpherson and Academy-Award-winner Hilary Swank each wanted to wear a £5million Montblanc diamond necklace to a party to launch the new Montblanc collection. What to do, what to do? The situations often provide an easy measure of star power. In this case, Elle got the gem for daytime while Hilary got the more prized night time gig. I guess those Oscars are worth something...
Emirates Airlines flies some of the most deep-pocketed people in the world. Not many airlines could hold auctions where customers bid to purchase high-end watches and jewelry. Last year, Montblanc and Emirates teamed up to auction off a watch (an auction that raised $250,000 for the Emirates airline Foundation) this year they have upped the ante with a million-dollar diamond necklace and earrings set. From now until 31st March 2008, customers on board all Emirates flights can register their interest in buying the Ruban d'amour diamond necklace and matching earrings. The jewelry includes the star-shaped Montblanc diamond and can be crafted with a choice of precious stones: the Ruban d'amour Neige is diamonds set in white gold; the Ruban d'amour Blanc et noir features black nephrite jade; pink sapphires complement the Ruban d'amour Rose; while Tahitian and Australian pearls adorn the Ruban d'amour Crème.
The winner will be chosen in April. The winner and a a companion, will be flown First Class on Emirates to Montblanc's jewelry workshop in Paris to watch the craftsmen finish the set. $150,000 of the sale proceeds will be donated to UNICEF in support of its educational projects for children in the Middle East.
Dedicated to actress and singer Marlene Dietrich, this beautiful Marlene Dietrich Commemoration Edition fountain pen from Montblanc is available in a limited edition of 1,901. The cap and barrel are made of 925 Sterling Silver with a fine barley guilloche. On the cap a blue mother-of-pearl inlay houses the Montblanc signet, as well as a single deep blue sapphire (reminiscent of Dietrich's eyes) and 22 brilliant cut diamonds. It also has a platinum-plated 18k gold nib with delicate engraving and a heart-shaped hole. And of course there's an engraving of Marlene Dietrich's signature on the barrel ring.
The 2007 pen in Montblanc's Patron of Art series is dedicated to the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt. The pen is created of granadille, rare wood similar to ebony and found in the southern hemisphere, where Alexander von Humboldt did much of his scientific exploration. The pen is trimmed in sterling silver on the ends, clip, band and in the center in an abstract motif that references the art of the indigenous peoples von Humboldt studied during his expeditions. The pen has an 18K nib that is engraved with a sextant, another nod to von Humboldt's voyages of discovery. The pen is available in an edition of 4,810 pieces. The pen sells for 1,850 euros.
The perfect accessory to compliment your summer tan, this new Montblanc Star Lady Moonphase Diamonds is a bright glistening white with a mother of pearl dial, handmade alligator strap (also available in light blue if you prefer), and a 36mm 18K white gold case. With ETA 4810/908 movement, features also include a moonphase and small second display, 8 diamond hour markers, Breget numerals, domed antireflux sapphire crystal and sapphire crystal case back, fluted crown, and water resistance to 30m. Priced around $10,175.
Montblanc released their latest jewelry collection last week with a fancy party in Chamonix. Where else to celebrate ice but somewhere icy? The event, which was attended by a bunch of celebs including Naomi Watts, Lucy Liu and Dita Von Teese was held in an ice palace at the base of Mont Blanc. Montblanc's first collection of silver jewelry for women, launched in 2005, did well and so Montblanc is stepping up the luxury with a diamond and gold jewelry collection. WWD reports that the jewelry will be priced around $500 for a basic gold ring to $20,000 for more ornate creations featuring diamonds. There are several different collections, 4810, Dame Blanche, Black and White Magic, and Secret Star which includes pieces with special compartments for engraved messages. At the launch event the company showcased a $3 million necklace with a 37-carat diamond. Some of the jewelry features the Montblanc diamond, the distinctive star-shaped cut which has been featured in Montblanc pens.
I'm not sure how you would write with it, but the Limited Edition Mystery Masterpiece, a joint creation between Montblanc and Van Cleef & Arpels, is one amazing pen. Both companies celebrated their centennials in 2006 and the pen is meant to showcase each company's area of expertise. There are three variations, set either with rubies, sapphires or emeralds, and accented by diamonds. There are three versions of each pen for a total of nine. Each pen has 840 diamonds and more than 20 carats of gemstones set in a Van Cleef & Arpels patented "Mystery Setting" that conceals the stone settings. A groove is made on the culet, the bottom facet of the stone, which is then slid onto the threads of the lattice design so that the stones can be held in place side by side without any visible support. The Mystery sells for $730,000, making it the most expensive writing instrument ever created. Truly a masterpiece of the jeweler's art, I just wish I could wear it around my neck.
The 2006 Montblanc Writers Edition pen celebrates Virginia Woolf. The pen, released 75 years after the publication of the novel "The Waves", features wave-like guilloche work on the pen's back resin body. The pen has an 18K gold nib with two engraved elm trees and a curved gold clip set with a ruby. Each pen comes in a book-shaped presentation box. There are 16,000 fountain pens, 18,000 ballpoint pens and 4,000 sets which include a fountain pen, ballpoint pen and a mechanical pencil.
The latest element in the 100th anniversarycelebrations
from Montblanc is this Star Chrono GMT Perpetual which was presented at SIHH in Geneva. The
chronograph has a COSC-certified movement and a variety of functions including a GMT display and a perpetual calendar.
The watch is made in a limited edition of 100 pieces each in 18K rose, white or yellow gold, and just three in
platinum.
The other day we mentioned the Montblanc faceted diamond and the 100th
anniversary watches. Now passengers on board Emirates flights between now and the
end of May can bid
in an auction featuring a Montblanc centennial automatic chronograph in 18K
white gold with the Montblanc logo set with black and white diamonds. The watch uses the star-shaped Montblanc diamond
and the bezel is set with black and white diamonds that have a total weight of 1.5 carats. The auction also includes a
trip to Le Locle, Switzerland. Bids have to be over $65,000 and the watch will be given to the winner in Dubai. The
proceeds of the auction will go to a unnamed charity which is involved with children.
We mentioned the Montblanc
anniversary pen a couple of months ago but now WWD has more info on the distinctive diamond that is
a part of the pens and watches that are being made to celebrate the brand's 100th anniversary. The diamond cut took
eight years of research and development to design and has 43 facets. Only stones over half a carat will can be cut into
the star shape. Montblanc's Lady profile watch which has a 18K whoite gold case, mother-of-pearl dial and the Montblanc
diamond in the crown will sell for $3,050. A party in New York on March 14 to show off the diamond will be hosted by
Claire Danes and Lauryn Hill will perform. "Mindfreak" magician Criss Angel will do the honors of presenting
the diamond.
This diamond-heavy pen was
created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Montblanc brand. The Montblanc 100 Years Solitaire Mountain
Massif Skeleton 2006 is made of 18K white gold covered in 1,277 white and 123 rare blue diamonds. The pen features
a transparent cap head that holds a diamond that has been cut into the shape of the famous Montblanc star. The pen
sells for 120,000 euros and only three are being made.
