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Photo: Montblanc
When was the last time you indulged in a good book, penned something meaningful down on paper, or received a note handwritten in calligraphy that surprised you with its thoughtfulness?
If indeed society has increasingly overlooked the beauty, cultural significance, and (we dare say) romance of time-consuming literary arts, Montblanc still stands as a champion to preserve this proud tradition.
In the Swiss brand’s universe of forging luxury writing instruments, its Writers Edition series is an annual tribute to the world’s great authors, merging the art of writing with the craftsmanship of pen making.
It all started in 1992 with the Ernest Hemingway pen, an ode to the famous American author noted for his simple narrative style and adventurous life. This first edition paved the way for subsequent annual editions that inducted other literary greats like Agatha Christie, Franz Kafka, Oscar Wilde, and Mark Twain.
Passions interpreted
This year, the honour goes to Jane Austen, one of Britain’s most celebrated novelists. Responsible for some of the most timeless bestsellers that included Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma, the 18th century author is today regarded as one of the forerunners of feminist fiction.
The Montblanc Writers Edition Homage to Jane Austen Limited Editions 97 and 1813 (Photo: Montblanc)
Even though her books are social commentaries of the gentry class during the Georgian Era, Austen was a single woman who supported herself through her works, which were published under a pseudonym of “By A Lady” until she was identified posthumously.
Each of the four writing instruments in this Homage to Jane Austen collection revolves around the themes closest to her heart: the countryside, the house, the travel, and the ball. The wax seal she used for the estimated 3,000 letters she wrote during her lifetime inspired the pens’ shape.
The design on the nibs showcase the silhouette of the author in a style reminiscent of Regency and Shadow portraits, while the clip shape on the pen caps draws inspiration from the band of a reticule, which is a pouch-like handbag from the Regency Era considered to be the late period of the Georgian years.
The Montblanc Writers Edition Homage to Jane Austen Limited Edition (Photo: Montblanc)
From pens to timepieces
Montblanc’s love of writing is also being extended to its watchmaking universe, with its lauded Montblanc Star Legacy Suspended Exo Tourbillon honouring Enheduanna, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Meisterstuck writing instrument collection.
A high priestess and the daughter of Akkadian king Sargon during 2,300 BCE in the Sumerian city of Ur (modern-day Iraq), she wrote religious poetry and hymns in Cuneiform, the oldest system of writing known to mankind and made on clay tablets. Her texts are the earliest known examples of first-person writing. One of her poems was studied for over 500 years and reproduced countless times, with 100 copies still in existence today.
The Montblanc Star Legacy Suspended Exo Tourbillon Enheduanna bears multiple fascinating Sumerian motifs (Photo: Montblanc)
To create this watch, Montblanc worked with Catherine Mittermayer, professor of mesopotamian studies at the University of Geneva’s department of ancient sciences. This 10-piece limited edition features numerous high-end ornaments inspired by Enheduanna, her works, and her era.
The onyx dial of this 44.8mm yellow gold timepiece is engraved with an extract from one of the Temple Hymns of Enheduanna. Instead of the traditional logo, the Montblanc name has been translated into Sumerian with the symbols for white, and mountain at the end of the text.
Below the off-centered dial, a yellow gold engraving of Enheduanna sits elegantly above the Exo-Tourbillon. As she is the high priestess of the moon god Nanna, the crescent moon is displayed at 12 o’clock, horizontally, as it appears in this part of the world. Completing these ancient details, a frieze inspired by the Royal Game of Ur, an ancient Mesopotamian pastime, appears behind the bull.
The stone-lined presentation case, which is an interpretation of the Tower of Babel, features etchings Enheduanna’s hymns (Photo: Montblanc)
As for the watch movement, the patented Suspended Exo Tourbillon complication was developed entirely in-house by the master watchmakers at the Montblanc Manufacture in Villeret and required three years of development.
This exclusive watch comes in a special presentation case that is an artful interpretation of the legendary Great Ziggurat of Ur, or Tower of Babel, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Covered in stone, the case boasts an exterior etched with two extracts of Enheduanna’s Temple Hymns. When opened, the cover serves as a display base.
