100 Years of the Montblanc Meisterstück

Words by
Lisa Barnard

30th October 2024

Montblanc, famed for its fountain pens, has been pushing the boundaries of innovation since 1906, but it was in 1924 when the company launched the iconic Meisterstück writing instrument, hence celebrating 100 years this year. As a lover of notebooks and 'proper pens', SPHERE's stationery queen Lisa Barnard could not resist an opportunity to delve into the fascinating Meisterstück journey led by the brand's archivist at the Montblanc Flagship Boutique in Bond Street. We were invited to inspect Meisterstück creations spanning 100 years and discover the latest innovations in the range, including the Meisterstuck Traveller. 

So what makes a Meisterstück a Meisterstück?

The Meisterstück is famous for its cigar shape, the Montblanc emblem on the cap top, three gold rings on the cap, representing the three individuals who shaped the company - Lausen, Voss and Dziambar. But above it has the nib of all nibs, handcrafted in 14K or 18K gold and engraved with 4810, the height of Montblanc in metres (a useful piece of trivia for SPHERE readers). 

Arguably the most famous pen in the world. it's been wielded by individuals ranging from Barack Obama, John F Kennedy, the late Queen Elizabeth, and Anne Franck who scribed her diary with a Meisterstuck,

 

Montblanc Meisterstück - original
The original Montblanc Meisterstück in print

Now celebrating the 100th anniversary of the iconic Meisterstück, a new innovation has been unveiled. The Meisterstück Traveller Limited Edition 1924. If you tend to opt for a fountain pen over a biro, the last thing you want is ink leaking over the inside of your bag, which is a peril of air travel. Reimagining the way its pens are filled, Montblanc has introduced a new filling mechanism with the Traveller, allowing the refill of the barrel with only one push and protecting the inside of any briefcases from being left black and blue.

The ground-breaking mechanism of the Traveller has been in the works with Montblanc engineers for the past five years. Making a move forward from their trustworthy Piston Filler that has been used in their pens for the past 90 years. Now fresh from development and being introduced to the world, how exactly does this cutting-edge piece of pen tech work? The mechanism draws the ink into double tanks through the cone instead of the nib. Not only speeding up the filling process, but also doubling the ink capacity. Meaning you can write for far longer without the need to dash off and refill. First remove the cone at the base of the pen, press it onto the special ink adapter on the ink bottle and watch as the pressure difference allows ink to flow effortlessly into the tanks. Once filled, the cone is reattached, and the pen is ready to write. Montblanc even includes a cleaning tool to help keep your pen in tip top condition.

Montblanc Meisterstück - pen
Meisterstück Traveller Limited Edition 1924

Whether scribbling letters on an airplane or taking notes on the train, the new Meisterstück Traveller is ideal for anyone who loves to write by hand or is seeking a more ergonomic and zero-spill experience with fountain pens.

Montblanc Meisterstück - 1924
Montblanc Meisterstück 1924 guarantee certificates

“Montblanc has always focused on evolving the writing experience through technological ingenuity and creative vision, applying its innovations to addressing any challenge associated with the act of writing,” commented Montblanc Global Managing Director of Watches and Writing Instruments, Laurent Lecamp. “As more people re-discover the joy of writing by hand, it was time to explore a different way to fill the writing instrument that was even more simple and would offer new benefits such as delivering longer writing time while remaining leak-free,”Lecamp continues. “Going from a turning mechanism to a push mechanism is a significant evolution, breaking new ground in the culture of writing just as our legendary Meisterstück did one hundred years ago.”

Montblanc Meisterstück - traveller mechanism
The Montblanc traveller mechanism in action

The design of the limited centenary edition, Meisterstück 149, also pays tribute to the classic Montblanc pens. The body is crafted from coral resin, with gold-coated fittings that reflect the original colour palette of the manufacturer’s first writing instruments. The gleaming  cap top is embossed with the famous Montblanc emblem in mother-of-pearl and engraved with a stunning illustration of the Mont Blanc massif mountain range. This echoes the artwork from the original Meisterstück packaging while telling the story of Montblanc’s founding ideals. To mark the centenary, the pen’s handcrafted solid gold nib is engraved with ‘100’ along with the years ‘1924’ and ‘2024’. Adding a commemorative distinction to an already optimal writing experience.

Montblanc Meisterstück - origins
Montblanc Meisterstück The Origin Collection in original packaging

The Meisterstück Traveller Limited Edition 1924 comes in a sleek black leather box. Complete with two ink bottles (black and blue), a cone adapter, a cleaning tool, and a leather pen pouch inspired by vintage Montblanc accessory collections.

Montblanc Meisterstück - accessories
The Meisterstück Traveller Limited Edition 1924 set complete with accessories

This limited-edition pen is available at selected Montblanc boutiques

For more information, visit https://www.montblanc.com