July 14, 2015: Q1 is Montegrappa’s most bold statement yet of its commitment to broadening the notion of a modern fountain pen, while joining Montegrappa’s Cult Collection.
Q1 is unashamedly modernist, and yet its roots are in the venerable art of handwriting and drawing. No space-age feeder system or trick cartridge: Q1 is boldly and emphatically a fountain pen, and only a fountain pen. It embraces the most fluid and elegant form of writing instrument yet devised, but one with history. The revolutionary aspect of Q1 is its presentation in a truly radical form, with features not found before in a pen.
Its appeal is masculine, yet its functionality is unisexual, for it boasts an amazing choice of materials and design, with the convenience of interchangeable colours. Q1 draws its design inspirations from the fascinating world of firearms, exercised in a manner that shares a “steampunk” sensibility with Montegrappa’s “Grappa” pen, also in the Cult Collection. Fusion is the key, with Q1 marrying ultra-tough and hard titanium for the pen’s barrel with titanium and fine Italian leather for the pen cap, stainless steel has been employed for the internal parts of the pen, while tradition demands that an 18K gold nib with filigree Montegrappa logo is fitted at the writing end.
The Montegrappa octagonal pattern on both leather and titanium creates a contrasting surface with a different tactility to that of the matte-finish barrel. The cap locks onto the barrel with a slot-and-pin system reminiscent of a gun scope or camera lens. The arched pocket clip features the signature ball end-piece for smooth ingress and egress to and from pockets.
Q1 is the fruit of two years research, which culminated in the invention of a unique multiple cartridge loading system. This system makes it possible for the Q1 pen to write with several ink colours by changing four different cartridges. The mechanism, similar to the one of a bullet cylinder in a gun, is contained entirely inside the pen barrel and is the subject of a registered industrial patent.
Q1 will be produced in an edition of only 100 pieces, and will be available only in a fountain pen mode. A final element of the Q1 experience is the inclusion of a syringe, specifically supplied for the cleaning of the feeder from the ink colour last used, when changing the cartridge for a different colour.
Priced from INR 8,00,000 onwards, the pen is available at Montegrappa Flagship boutiques at Palladium Mumbai, DLF Emporio New Delhi and leading multi brand retail outlets.
