In the same year that the Meisterstück came into existence and started Montblanc’s story of writing craftsmanship, the Olympic Games brought together the countries of the world to celebrate athletic excellence and sportsmanship. In 1924, participants gathered for the 8th Olympic Games in Paris and for the first ever Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix, at the foot of the Mont Blanc mountain. With its new Meisterstück x Olympic Heritage Collection, Montblanc celebrates the 100th anniversary of its writing instrument while paying homage to the centenary of the 1924 Olympic Games.
The collaboration is a tribute to the two icons, which share a rich heritage and history, an important anniversary and a place of belonging. At their core, both Montblanc and the Olympic Games Paris 1924 and the Olympic Winter Games Chamonix 1924 embody with master craftsmen and sporting heroes the pursuit of some of the best possible human achievements.
The outcome of intense research and enriching exchanges with the Olympic Museum and the International Olympic Committee, the Meisterstück x Olympic Heritage Collection features editions that spotlight the art and design of past Olympic Games.
Meisterstück x Olympic Heritage Paris 1924 Special Edition
The warm shade of red of the Meisterstück x Olympic Heritage Paris 1924 Resin LeGrand was the official red color of the Olympic Games Paris 1924. Its handcrafted solid Au 585 gold nib is embellished with a javelin thrower, a reference to a vintage Olympic poster of that year. The Olympic Rings, as part of the Olympic Heritage logo engraved on the cap top ring, express the activity of the Olympic Movement and represent the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from across the world at the Olympic Games. The Olympic Heritage logo, in turn, is flanked by an encircling wreath of leaves, reminiscent of those presented as the highest accolade to victors at the Olympic Games of Antiquity.
The cap is engraved with the words “Olympic Games Paris 1924” inside a frame inspired by the cover of the official Games report. Embedded in precious coral-colored resin in the cap top is the Montblanc emblem, a signature design element since 1913 that embodies the Maison’s, pioneering spirit and ambition in shaping writing culture.
Meisterstück x Olympic Heritage Chamonix 1924 Special Edition
1924 was a year of firsts for both Montblanc and the Olympic Movement. While the first Olympic Winter Games were staged with the Mont Blanc as a backdrop in Chamonix, France, the first Meisterstück was introduced to customers. The Meisterstück x Olympic Heritage Chamonix 1924 Edition is made up of three different versions – a Classique Edition made from precious resin in a tone resembling the official blue-grey color chosen for the Olympic Winter Games, a Doué Edition combining a precious resin barrel with a platinum-coated cap featuring an engraving of the mountain landscape of the Chamonix valley and a Solitaire Edition with a platinum-coated cap and barrel adorned with the same engraving.
The caps of all editions are engraved with the words “Olympic Winter Games Chamonix 1924” within a cartouche. The representation of the ski jumper on the handcrafted solid Au 750 gold nib takes its cue from graphic works created for the Olympic Winter Games Chamonix 1924. The cap top ring is embellished with the Olympic Heritage emblem composed of the Olympic rings, while the Montblanc emblem on the cap top is set in precious coral-colored resin.
The Montblanc Meisterstück x Olympic Heritage Paris and Chamonix 1924 Editions are available as a fountain pen, ballpoint pen and rollerball.
To accompany the writing instrument collection, Montblanc is introducing Meisterstück x Olympic Heritage Paris and Chamonix 1924 Inks in original Red and Blue, presented in a square glass ink bottle. Special edition Notebooks feature original artwork and typography from the Olympic Games Paris 1924 and Olympic Winter Games Chamonix 1924, completing the overall writing experience.
The Story of a Writing Icon
Regarded as the quintessential writing instrument, the Meisterstück has left an indelible mark on our collective culture, having been wielded by many influential individuals who shaped history. The all-black fountain pen was named Meisterstück or “masterpiece” in German to describe its status as a work of the highest level of craftsmanship made through the skills of a master. Through a century of continued popularity, the Meisterstück has already left its mark as a Montblanc writing icon.
In its lifetime, the Meisterstück’s shape has evolved from its simple black safety pen appearance to reflect the influences of different eras, acquiring certain distinctive design attributes along the way. Those that have remained until today include the number “4810” engraved on the two-tone gold nib as a reference to the height of the Mont Blanc mountain in meters, bold clip design, streamlined „cigar” shape and the three gold rings. These attributes now define its recognizable identity immortalized over 50 years ago.
