Montblanc Meisterstück, 100 years after

A writing icon

• The name

It says it all: Meisterstück, “masterpiece”. It is by far Montblanc’s most famous item. Nelson Mandela, Yoko Ono, J.F.Kennedy, Bill Clinton or Barack Obama have used a Meisterstück. Its prestige does not come only from the people who have used it, but above all, it is the result of the hands of Montblanc artisans, who have made and continue to make, day after day, exceptional items of the best quality.

• The Story

1924 – Several customers asked Montblanc craftsmen for a fountain pen “for Sundays”, and the Meisterstück was born.

1935 – New winds in the company made new launches and innovations. A new cylindrical shape, a wide ring on the cap, bold clips and the two-tone nib were used for the new fountain pen.

1949 – The birth of an icon. A new look was chosen for the fountain pen, the iconic design became famous for the cigar shape. There are 3 models: 142, 144 and 146 (by sizes). In 1952 a new size was launched: the iconic 149.

1960 – The challenge of the new re-industrialization increased creativity. The Linie 60 was made of injection-moulded resin and its jet-shaped appearance replaced the old Baroque style of the Mesiterstück. Except in one case: the unbeatable 149.

1973 – Montblanc started the 1970s with a lot of determination and regained the cigar form for the Meisterstück. To this day.

• The Nib

From AU585 or Au750 gold foil, in a 35-step process, Montblanc artisans sculpt their famous nibs. The silhouette of the nib is moulded with a pressure of up to 18 tonnes. and it is carefully pressed into its delicate shape. Montblanc artisans hand polish the iridium tip to the perfect width and size.

Each nib must pass several quality checks, including a sound check to ensure a satisfactory and smooth typing experience. 8 different nibs are offered with different widths to experiment with different styles of writing and artistic expression. Also offered is the innovative flexible nib, part of the 2019 Calligraphy line. A special nib can also be ordered on request for an exclusive and personal writing experience.

• The Matter

In the early 1920s, 1930s and 1950s, bodies were made of ebonite and celluloid. Today, Meisterstück is made with “precious resin”, which, subjected to a high temperature (280ºC), is injected to obtain the bodies of writing instruments.

There is a certain aura of mystery surrounding the term “precious resin” used by Montblanc. Resin is a coloured acrylic thermoplastic (PMMA) on which moulding and machining actions are carried out. The resin used by Montblanc is injected, using a lower resistance plastic material. The particularity of its resin is its special shine.

This material is said to be also used by the Aurora brand. The plastic in question (Zytel) contains a small part of glass , which would give it greater shine but more brittleness. The characteristic brilliance of Meisterstück is not only due to the so-called “precious resin”, but also to the careful injection process and careful polishing.

• The Construction

Assembling and testing a Meisterstück requires more than 70 processes , which Montblanc’s master craftsmen perform with unrivalled care and care . The various special, commemorative and personalised series require maximum specialisation and absolute precision. Achieving this level requires many years of practice that only a master craftsman achieves over time. Each Montblanc is imprinted with the brand’s DNA and it is a source of satisfaction for the masters to be reunited with one of their old works.

The origin collection

To celebrate the first 100 years of the Meisterstück, Montblanc has created this evocative collection of fountain pens, ballpoint pens and rollerballs. Inspired by original designs from the 1920s and the Meisterstück style itself, this collection updates the image while maintaining the original essence.

The concept has been reinterpreted through: a new clip, recovering emblematic colours, the engraving of the original logo, new vintage designs (Doué and Solitaire) and the use of a new nib.

• The New Clip

The new clip represents an approach to the designs of the 20s of the last century, recovering the curved style and the final ball.

• Emblematic colours

In a clear nod to the usual Meisterstück colours, black, coral, blue and green are used.

• Engraving

The original Meistestück logo goes back to its origins and features prominently on the cap. Made with the technique of engraving and subsequent pigmentation, it reproduces the words Montblanc and Meisterstück (in the traditional font typology) between which the silhouette of the famous Montblanc peak and the number 4810 evoking its altitude in meters can be seen.

• The designs

To some extent recovered from the old Montblanc archives of the time, the Doué and Solitare designs are incorporated into this model for the first time.

• The Centennial Nib

Made with the meticulousness and precision that only Montblanc’s master craftsmen can do, this nib features a number of engraved novelties: the number 100 (for the centenary), the years 1924 and 2024 (highlighting the period) and, of course, the number 4810 that has always accompanied the Meisterstück.

These are the wickers that make this basket so relevant. Montblanc, a symbol of writing for almost 120 years, celebrates the centenary of a masterpiece: the Meisterstück.