The History of Montblanc

 

Montblanc's First Workforce  

 In 1906, three men shared the dream of manufacturing fountain pens of the highest quality. Nearly a century later their company would be responsible for preserving the legacy of writing culture and defending the heritage of high-touch in an increasingly high-tech world.

 1906  Entrepreneur Claus Johannes Voss and Merchant Christian Lausen with the aid of Wilhelm Dziambor founded the Simplo-Filler Pen Company.

 1910   The Simplo-Filler Pen Company name was changed to the official trade name Montblanc. Legend has it that the founders decided to name the company Montblanc during a game of scat when an analogy was drawn between the highest mountain in Europe, Mont Blanc, and their desire to create writing instruments of the highest quality.

 1913   The cap with the white star was introduced. The white star represents the snow peaked cap of the Mont Blanc mountain.

 1919   The first Montblanc Boutique opened in Hamburg, Germany. 

1924   The Montblanc Meisterstück fountain pen was introduced. This award winning design has been showcased in museums worldwide.

1992   Montblanc expanded its luxury lifestyle offerings to include precious and unique writing instrument finishes, leather accessories and highly collectible Limited Editions.

 1995   Montblanc North America opened five Boutique locations in major markets such as New York, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco. There are now over 125 Montblanc Boutiques worldwide with 25 Boutiques located in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

 1997   Montblanc introduced the Meisterstück Watch collection at Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, Switzerland.

  1999   Montblanc celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Meisterstück line by creating a collection of Limited Anniversary Editions commemorating 75 years of passion and soul.

 

The Montblanc Philosophy

In this high-tech world, the pace of life moves ever faster. The result of this hectic chaos is that we crave things that allow us to pause and reflect. Things which remind us of what is really important in life. Friendship, feelings, individuality. We desire things that reconnect us to our soul. Things which provide the true luxury of time. Time for beauty, time for reflection, time for love. 

Montblanc strives to uphold the standards and traditions begun nearly a century ago.  Every Montblanc product combines craftsmanship, function, quality and continuity of design. These give the customer a feeling of true luxury and convey timelessness. In this way, Montblanc products provide a counter-weight to the ephemeral nature of so many aspects of modern life.

 

What is De-acceleration?

De-acceleration means taking time to pause and appreciate what is truly important. In today's high-stress world we constantly rush but never really get anywhere. It seems impossible to keep up with  technology and trends yet, impossible to slow down. By taking the time to de-accelerate, we restore balance and harmony to our lives.

De-acceleration is  a core philosophy of Montblanc's and so they have dedicated the entire second floor of their Flagship Boutique on Madison Avenue to the concept. The “De-acceleration Studio” is a respite from the turbulence of everyday life. Customers are invited to sit and read rare books or peruse art exhibits while sipping tea and listening to classical music.

You don't need to visit the Studio to put the concept into practice. You can de-accelerate in the midst of a busy day at the office. Simply touch the nib of your Montblanc fountain pen to the paper. The ink flows effortlessly as your words glide across the page. Suddenly, you realize that your thoughts have slowed and your words have more importance. You have stolen a moment of time and preserved it.

 

Meisterstück Means Masterpiece

Montblanc's Meisterstück products have their origins in the centuries-old tradition of European craftsmanship. In Europe, the Meisterstück, or masterpiece, is the final and most difficult challenge a young craftsman faces, the task which decides his future, and brings to an end the long hard years as an apprentice.

The future master pours all his skills and ambitions into this piece of work, which must meet the highest standards to earn the name “masterpiece.” It is only once this level of artistry has been achieved, that he earns the honorable title of “Master Craftsman.”

Each and every Montblanc product is hand-crafted by Master Craftsman who take infinite pride in their work. The effect is that each Montblanc product is a unique expression of individuality and holds the emotions of its creator. In short, each Montblanc has a soul.

 

 

PRINCIPAL