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The Montblanc Sale of the Century at Bonhams & Butterfields

Filed under: Writing Instruments, Auctions


On Feb. 15 in Los Angeles Bonhams & Butterfields will present an auction exclusively dedicated to writing instruments from Montblanc, makers of fine pens with the famed "snow cap" motif. The sale, timed to coincide with the annual Los Angeles International Pen Show, will contain more than 130 lots of exceptional models from several of the major Montblanc categories including rarely seen examples. Highlighting the auction is one of the most sought after Montblanc pens ever produced, the Magical Black Widow Skeleton limited edition fountain pen (above), estimated at $18,000 - $24,000. Encased by a web of white gold, the instrument features a filigree spider studded with black diamonds on the clip.

Also on offer are the Diego Rivera limited edition fountain pen, crafted from white gold with a partial black lacquer finish in Aztec design, a cap overlaid with a white gold windowpane with elaborate Mexican etchings and a black sapphire set in the clip, estimated at $12,000 - $18,000; the Thomas Jefferson fountain pen, decorated with solid gold rings, petrified wood inlays, and a clip bearing a mandarin garnet, engraved with a portrait of the former president and estimated at $21,000 - $24,000; and a diamond studded Greta Garbo model crafted from solid yellow gold with mother-of-pearl inlay, estimated at $14,000 - $16,000.

Bugatti Pen by Ferrari da Varese

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Writing Instruments



Paying a million-plus euros for a car may seem like a bit much to some, but for those who have it, you can bet it's not the only expensive item they'll be splurging on. So it's little wonder that Bugatti themselves have commissioned some very enticing luxury items to accompany their most exquisite of motor vehicles.

The latest is this pen, crafted by a company (presumably unrelated to the rival automaker) called Ferrari da Varese. It's crafted of aluminum, and then coated in nickel, sterling silver, palladium and platinum for what looks to be a very deep luster indeed. The nib is make of 18-kt gold and coated in rhodium, and the barrel features a sapphire glass window. Designed by Luigi Trenti, the pen weighs a solid 95 grams, and comes in a leather and aluminum case. Only 499 roller balls and 499 fountain pens will be made, each selling for a suitably Bugatti-like $15,000.

Dunhill Fighter Provenance Fountain Pen

Filed under: Writing Instruments, Men's Style


The new Fighter Provenance Fountain Pen from London-based luxury goods firm Dunhill does not take its name in vain: the limited edition writing instrument is made from the original aluminum engine casing taken from the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine of the legendary World War II Spitfire MK1 fighter plane. Produced in very small numbers due to the scarcity of the material, the pen's details also reflect this iconic aircraft - the bolt and rivet effects in the original aluminum; the tapered edges echoing the aerodynamics; and a window feature on the side of the barrel displaying level of ink and even the pen clip design directly references the shape of the spitfire propeller. The cap is also created using plexiglass which is exactly the same material used for the bubble canopy of the late 1930's and early 1940's fighter planes. The pen nib is 18 carat gold with rhodium plating and the instrument is presented in a lacquered Alfred Dunhill display box.

[via JustLuxe]

The World's Most Expensive Lighter for $79,000

Filed under: Writing Instruments, Men's Style

st dupont lighter The venerable Parisian luxury goods firm of S.T. Dupont has come out with the world's most expensive lighter (right) priced at $79,000.

The Ligne 2 Champagne lighter, part of Dupont's Prestige Collection, is made of solid 18-carat white gold embellished with 468 brilliant-cut diamonds.

Also available is a matching fountain pen in solid 18-carat white gold as well with rhodium finished trims and 502 brilliant-cut diamonds for $74,000.

S.T. Dupont, founded in Paris in 1872 by Simon Tissot Dupont, made bespoke pieces for the likes of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Windsor. Daniel Craig also carried Dupont accessories as James Bond in Casino Royale.

[via JustLuxe]

Girard-Perregaux Launches New Pen Line

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Writing Instruments


Swiss watchmaker Girard-Perregaux has been making fine timepieces for well over 200 years, but 2009 marks the first time they've manufactured a writing instrument. The firm, founded in 1791, is debuting a luxurious new line of pens based on their famed Three Bridges gold tourbillon watch. There are three models of writing instrument, adorned with precious metal engraved with delicate guilloche work, based on a vintage 1945 Three Bridges Tourbillon, a famed Girard-Perregaux model. The clip on the caps is double-arrow shaped, like the bridge on the watch.

Three openings on the pen body showing the ink level refer to the timepiece's power reserve indicators. Fountain pens come equipped with an exclusive high-capacity double reservoir system preventing leakage. There are three models available: a piston fountain pen in guilloche silver and resin (above), limited to 999-pieces; a piston fountain pen in guilloche pink gold and resin, limited to 99 pieces; and a rollerball in guilloche silver and resin, limited to 999 pieces. A matching set comprising the silver fountain pen and rollerball is also available in an edition of 199 pieces.

Park a Maserati on Your Desk

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Writing Instruments


Perfect for those who love their Maserati, wish they had a Maserati to love, or are just all about all high-end sports cars, the latest writing instrument from OMAS is a silver, sleek Maserati pen. The inspiration from the Italian auto can be seen in the aerodynamic design, in the grille pattern on the upper half of the case, and of course by the Maserati logo engraved on the pen's silver nib. Made of sterling silver the pen will be issued in a limited edition of only 1,914 in honor of the year Maserati was founded, 1914. Available in fountain or rollerball styles, $2,750

Via Bornrich

Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year 2008

Filed under: Writing Instruments


The Pen of the Year 2008 by Graf von Faber-Castell bears a unique detail, the world's smallest parquet of finest Indian satinwood. The design was inspired by Countess Ottilie's private salon in the Faber-Castell castle, which has 100-year-old panelling in luxurious East Indies satinwood. The pen's herringbone pattern comes from the Countess's writing desk. There are no fewer than 84 Satinwood rectangles on the pen and they are all individually handcrafted The barrel is repeatedly polished and varnished. The numbered edition is crowned by a chessboard-facted citrine gemstone. It can be found for £1840 at Pens from Heaven.


Montblanc Marlene Dietrich Commemoration Edition pen

Filed under: Writing Instruments


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.

Via Retro to Go

Marlen Astrologie Pen

Filed under: Writing Instruments


We've been covering a lot of cool astrology-related stuff lately. The simple, stylized glyphs work so well as design elements. Marlen's Astrologie fountain pen does more than display the zodicac signs; it also celebrates the history of astrology with a function that shows the planetary hours. A quick turn of the titanium sleeve shows off the planet glyphs associated with the day and hour. I'm not sure how useful this is in our modern age but it is certainly cool. The pen also has a blue titanium barrel and a sterling cap and 18K gold Astrologie fountain pen nib engraved with an strolabe design. The pen is limited to 488 pieces worldwide and has a list price of $3,000.

Waterman Serenite Pen

Filed under: Writing Instruments


The Waterman Serenite pen has a beautiful curved shape that echoes the days of writing quills. The new blue lacquer version has a solid silver ring designed to look like melting ice. The cap has a solid silver clip like a needle and the 18K gold nib is overlaid with rhodium. The pen is available as a fountain pen or a rollerball. The pen stands upright open or closed. The fountain pen costs $720 and the rollerball is $595 from Fountain Pen Hospital. The pens are available for May delivery.

Revolution Pen

Filed under: Writing Instruments


This unique object is the Revolution pen from Parafernalia. The pen, which is hand-made with 31 miniaturized metal components and a push mechanism, has been exhibited at the Modern Art Museum in New York. The pen has been available as a ballpoint or a mechanical pencil for a while but can now also be purchased in a fountain pen model for $90. It may look odd but the triangular shape is actually said to be quite comfortable to write with.

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