I acknowledge the immense power of the pen. It is with the pen and the written word that I have been able to give life to my thoughts. Montegrappa has forged the most beautiful writing instruments in the world. — Paulo Coelho
When you have held a Montegrappa pen in your hand, no other pen is of interest, including expensive, but mass-produced, pens from Mont Blanc.
The only problem is that you dare not take out of the house for fear it will be lost or stolen.
Pens range from the simple but stylish and elegant Parola to limited edition works of art like the recently launched The Alchemist pen.
Parola is Italian for word. Words, whether spoken or written, have the power to change the world.
A Montegrappa pen is slow fashion, a quality handmade writing instrument that you value for life.
First a quick look at the final assembly of limited edition pens, then eat and drink in their showroom where many pens and watches are on display, then a detailed factory tour in small groups of around 20.
The basic builing blocks are resins (for entry level pens), celluloid (Montegrappa are the only pen manufacturer to use celluloid as highly unstable and explosive) and precious metals.
Both the resins and celluloids are chosen to Montegrappa high specification. Colours and marbling effect are mixed in. The celluloid is kept in ovens for six months to stabilise.
Montegrappa combine high tech with hand craftsmanship. Lathes and milling machines are used, scanning microscopes to check the final product. Each cap on The Alchemist pen is individually engraved by a master engraver, thus each pen unique.
The metal parts are sand ground to remove any burs and sharp edges. Then polished in a machine. The resin and celluloid are also polished in a machine.
Celluloid is used as it has a very natural feel. But such is the quality of the resin used and the polish, that even the entry level resin pens have that natural feel.
For the fountain pen, a graphite feeder is used.
Inside the pens, a barrel with a piston, which is used to draw up the ink.
The only component not made by Montegrappa is the nib. This is made by a third party party to a Montegrappa specification.
A gold nib is not for show. Gold is soft and writes better. Steel is hard and scratches the paper.
Around 40 component parts to each pen.
Each pen is individually tested by being used to write. It then has to be washed to remove the ink.
A laboratory carries out random tests for quality control. A few pens are tested to destruction, for example the clip repeatedly stressed for metal fatigue. The lab also tests incoming materials for quality control.
Do not keep a Montegrappa pen in the pocket. Like wine, it should be stored in a horizontal position.
Special thanks to our guide who took a great pride in the workmanship at Montegrappa.
I acknowledge the immense power of the pen. It is with the pen and the written word that I have been able to give life to my thoughts. Montegrappa has forged the most beautiful writing instruments in the world. — Paulo Coelho
Montegrappa’s exclusive creation celebrating Paulo Coelho’s best seller, The Alchemist.
The collection was officially launched in Bassano del Grappa on St Joseph’s Day 19 March 2012. VIP guests from all over the world joined the launch and then attended Paulo Coelho’s St Joseph’s Day Party that was held in the Castello Superiore di Marostica that evening.
We arrived as the launch started at 3am, dripping wet as it was pouring with rain. We squeezed in at the back.
The launch was the first time Paulo Coelho had seen the pen. Montegrappa would not let him have a pen before the launch just in case he was tempted to show it to anyone.
A man talked about alchemy, but went on and on and was eventually cut off by Montegrappa. Strange we thought as the expert on alchemy was Paulo Coelho.
The pen is heavy with symbolism. A work of art and a delight to look at.
The cap and barrel represent circles or spheres, which stand for the seven alchemical processes. The chain of elements links the Sun with gold, the Moon with silver, Mercury with quicksilver, Venus with copper, Mars with iron, Jupiter with tin and Saturn with lead. They are represented through sculptural representations, with engraved symbols and ancient names.
The Alchemist pen is a limited edition of less than 2,000.
The Alchemist Pen will be issued in an edition of 1,987 fountain pens and roller balls in total, in honor of the year (1987) The Alchemist was originally published. The series will consist of 71 in solid gold (38 fountain pens and 33 roller balls), for the 71 languages into which it has been translated. Nine hundred pens will be offered in resin and sterling silver (450 fountain pens and 450 roller balls) to represent the number of copies in the first edition print run.
One thousand more pens will be produced in sterling silver with accents in translucent enamel. There will be four colors of enamel, representing the four elements: air, fire, earth and water. Only 125 fountain pens and 125 roller balls will be made in each color. Lastly, 16 pens (eight fountain pens and eight roller balls) will be produced in gold with diamond enhancements, the precious gems described in the Alchemist’s journey.
The launch was followed by a factory tour, many of the workers had books signed by Paulo Coelho sitting at their side.
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