The opulent Orient Express has served as inspiration for Montblanc’s upcoming writing instrument. Celebrities and even spies rode this famed train’s elegance and comfort as they traversed Europe. The entrancing journey that influenced the writing of many literary luminaries will now grace Montblanc’s High Artistry A Journey on the Orient Express Limited Edition. Each pen displays the glitz of the glamorous train and the marquee’s unique use of techniques.
The Montblanc High Artistry A Journey on the Orient Express Limited Edition 1 has a case made from solid Au 750 signature gold. The cap and barrel are adorned with a diamond set in an art deco inspired pattern. The diamond studded grid at cap’s top is reminiscent of the ironwork on the roof of the Gare de Lyon in Paris, where travelers frequently boarded the Orient Express. A handcrafted solid Au 750 gold nib bears a nostalgic engraving of a steam engine set with a brilliant-cut diamond. Almost all the seven pens feature wood marquetry by René Prou.
The Orient Express Limited Edition 1 Papillon emulates the oval form of the Orient Express paying homage to the train with an intricate butterfly crafted of plique-à-jour enamel at the center of its design. The entire solid Au 750 signature gold fountain pen is studded with diamonds and individual-cut rubies. Montblanc’s incredible craftsmanship can be seen in its cap top which functions as a hinged door hiding a miniature automaton watch with mechanical movement and a fluorescent butterfly motif on the dial.
The distinctive, smoke engulfed locomotive of the Orient Express acted as the inspiration for the Orient Express Limited Edition 83 which incorporates advanced technological features and functionalities. Crafted from black lacquer, the design of the cap and barrel is taken from the iron machinery of the steam engine.
By combining translucent blue lacquer with gold for the fittings and an exquisite solid Au 750 signature gold rhodium-coated skeleton overlay that is reminiscent of ornate metal luggage racks, the Orient Express Limited Edition 333 achieves the spectacular exterior of the car. The Orient Express limited edition 1883 is crafted from midnight blue precious resin crowned with a Montblanc emblem in ivory-coloured precious resin to resemble the color of the Orient Express. The Orient Express limited edition 5 embodies the beautiful aesthetic of the early 20th century with a complicated pattern made of solid Au 750 signature gold and hand-carved red chalcedony stone to reflect the upholstery design of the Orient Express furniture.
In an intriguing twist of fiction and function of the train, Orient Express limited edition 10 draws inspiration from Agatha Christie’s crime novel, Murder on the Orient Express. The white chalcedony head top has a solid Au 750 gold Montblanc logo inlay on it, which is encircled with a bounty of dazzling diamonds. When the stone is unsealed, a broken small clock with a white enamel dial has the time frozen at “01:15” when the murder happened.
This is truly a collection as beautiful and mystifying as its inspiration.
