Montblanc flagship at the top of the Champs Elysees inspired by a luxury boutique hotel

If this summer you stop by Paris, I suggest you to experience the new Montblanc flagship at the top of the Champs Elysees inspired by a luxury boutique hotel with lobby and concierge areas, “bagagerie , salons d’écriture et d’horlogerie ainsi qu’une suite privée”…

After opening Montblanc Haus few months ago, it is great to see their new unique client experience. Full of beautiful and authentic details like a restored 1950s vintage counter, Art Deco mosaic floor, ink bar creative space and unexpected surprises making guests feeling home.

Serious pen collectors can now plunk down six figures in the plushest setting imaginable, complete with staggering views of the Arc de Triomphe over flower boxes blooming with perfect roses.

The check-in desk that once sat in a Montblanc boutique in the 1950s (photo by Davide Leggio). 

The 2,400-square-foot corner unit, home to a Montblanc boutique for the past 20 years, just reopened after an extensive renovation and expansion to accommodate a new concept that merges retail with hospitality.

“When you have a great stay at your favorite boutique hotel, you don’t ever want to leave”, Montblanc chief executive officer Nicolas Baretzki explained, bringing to mind the lyrics of a famous Eagles ditty. “We hope our customers will feel just the same about their visit. When you have a great stay at your favorite boutique hotel, you don’t ever want to leave”, he added, bringing to mind the lyrics of a famous Eagles ditty. “We hope our customers will feel just the same about their visit”.

Visitors to Montblanc Suite 4810, the number representing the elevation in meters of Europe’s famous snow-capped mountain, alight upon a mosaic threshold like those found in palace hotels or Paris’ famous covered passages, and are invited to ‘check in’ at a retro, wooden reception counter.

Watches are displayed in a fixture resembling a cocktail bar (photo by Davide Leggio). 

There, sales staff can orient visitors toward what they might be seeking, or invite them to discover the 116-year-old German luxury brand, starting with its emblematic resin writing instruments, through to timepieces, leather goods and other personal accessories.

Products are sparsely merchandised throughout the airy ground floor, but there is much to discover, from the ‘ink bar’, where visitors can test a range of nibs and quirky colors with cigar-sized fountain pens, to a wall niche displaying the latest Montblanc collectible: a hand-carved ebony pen in the shape of a wandering stick from its Writers Edition dedicated to the Brothers Grimm, priced at € 40,300.

High-rollers might be escorted directly upstairs to the VIP salons via an elevator done up in gleaming black, a wink to its emblematic Meisterstück pen, and lit up with calligraphy animations. Or they can stroll across the pale hardwood floors, the same as the ones found in Montblanc’s historic Hamburg ateliers, and discover everything from sporty crossbody bags and business cases to sunglasses, belts and wallets.

The concierge desk offers personalization, among other services (photo by Davide Leggio).

The decor resembles the lobby of a boutique hotel with its cushy armchairs, piped-in music and staff at the ready to offer refreshments. Baretzki said the boutique, which has an Art Deco feel, is a one-off that winks to other units.

Full of beautiful and authentic details like a restored 1950s vintage counter, a small concierge desk, located near the entry, is where customers can have accessories personalized, or receive advice on writing techniques. A salon dedicated to writing instruments and timepieces is done up in the style of a cocktail bar, serving up watches instead of martinis, while the penultimate room showcases large leather goods on shelves and small ones in marble drawers. There’s enough room here to test-drive roller suitcases.

Montblanc’s famous pen nibs can be found embedded in the iron safety grill, displayed over the ink bar, and recurring as zipper pulls in the leather goods department. Smartwatches, headphones and other personal tech items — Montblanc’s latest brand extension — are displayed in a pop-up location next door.

Montblanc’s Suite 4810 upstairs salons can host events and VIP clients (photo by Davide Leggio). 

The VIP suite includes an expansive living room with a bookcase, a vast straw marquetry-topped coffee table, and comfortable seating. A second room, the walls lined with safety-deposit boxes, features consultation tables perfect for inspecting rare pens, some of which are sourced from the Montblanc Haus in Hamburg, an immersive brand emporium that blends elements of a museum, art gallery, hall of fame and school offering calligraphy classes.

Montblanc also operates freestanding boutiques in Paris on the Rue de Rennes and Boulevard des Capucines, plus shops-in-shop at Galeries Lafayette, Printemps and Le Bon Marché.

Enjoy and happy summer. Come into the beautiful world of Montblanc.

Montblanc Revives Its Early 20th-Century ‘Baby’ Pens

Montblanc has been dishing out luxury pcket goods since 1906, and the brand is acknowledging its heritage by reviving one of its original products. The German label’s new Rouge et Noir Baby Pen is a reimagined take on its archival Baby pens from the 1910s and ‘20s.

As its name implies, these new pens garner inspiration from Montblanc’s original fountain pen developed in 1906, the Rouge & Noir. This revived accessory is put forth in a pair of sleek colors. You’ll be able to choose between a black body with platinum-coated hardware or an ivory tone coupled with gold-coated fittings. Each measures just 3.9″, making the pen a perfect choice for elevated EDC, if your job requires you to constantly be on the move.

Both colorways will also be available in either a fountain pen configuration for those with an affinity to the classics or a ballpoint pen mechanism for those who prefer something a little more modern. Finishing the pens are red Montblanc logos at the tip of the caps or pushers that’ll go perfectly with a set of cufflinks the company is also offering.

Additional pieces in this Art Deco-inspired collection include a leather-crafted pen pouch, pocket notebook, and red resin-embellished cufflinks, each of which is available in the same color palettes as the neighboring pens. While the notebook and pen pouch each serve as formidable accents to this classy utensil, they bode just as well on their own. On the other hand, the cufflinks are guaranteed to make any suit look even swankier.

If you’re interested, the new Montblanc Rouge et Noir ‘Baby’ series will be available soon over on the luxury brand’s boutiques and website, with prices ranging from $465 to $795 USD. Come into the beautiful world of Montblanc.

The iconic Montblanc Legend fragrance goes red as it celebrates its 10-year Anniversary.

The famous Montblanc Legend fragrance goes red as it celebrates its 10-year anniversary and returns in an iteration, bolder and more determined than ever. Symbolizing diverging emotions, red inspired this Eau de Parfum that captures all its complexity and masculine intensity.

There is no color more intense then red. Endless source of inspiration, it has since become a signature Montblanc colour carried down through the years, across collections from writing instuments, to leather goods, and now a fragrance with the introduction of Montblanc Legend Red.

Montblanc Legend Red opens with a burst of blood oranges and zesty grapefruit, combined with a spicy touch of cardamom. The heart reveals the intense aromatic harmony of juniper berries and clary sage, strengthened with cedarwood, while the trail of mahogany, tonka beans, and Atlas cedar form the base of the fragrance. A charismatic woody fragrance, fresh yet intense, bold yet sensitive, the olfactory experience evokes the thrill of speed and makes the heart beat a little faster.

Bearing classic Montblanc hallmarks, the original design of the flacon has become as legendary as the fragrance itself, with its curved solid shape and voluptuous smoothness reminiscent of the sensory writing experience of the iconic Montblanc Meisterstück pen with its signature lacquered surface. In its new iteration, the intensity of a red lacquered finish contrasts with a silver top to create a sleek, chic and modern look

British model Simon Clark, Legend’s muse for ten years is photographed in black and white by Peter Lindbergh. “Reinforcing the power and timeless character of Legend. Masculine, serene and elegant, Simon embodies the next chapter of Legend with authenticity and confidence”, according the brand.

Montblanc Legend Red is available as a 30ml, 50ml, and 100ml Eau de Parfum at selected stores worldwide. Come into the beautiful world of Montblanc.

Montblanc reopens its doors in Masaryk Polanco

Montblanc is celebrating the reopening of their flagship store in Masaryk, Mexico. The reopening of the boutique in Mexico City’s Masaryk is great news for lovers of the brand with more than 110 years of history. Located at Masaryk 440 in Colonia Polanco, this new vision aims to consolidate itself as a new flagship within the Maison and offer customers a much more personalized experience.

French object and space designer Noé Duchaufour-Lawrence developed a concept with a pure and uncluttered aesthetic for the reopening of the boutique in Masaryk de Montblanc. We can see the combination between black and white colors as well as the presence of wood to provide contrast and an organic feeling.

Each product category of Maison Montblanc has a dedicated space where customers can appreciate the craftsmanship and functionality of the pieces. You will be able to see a wide range of all the various products available from the brand where elegance and tradition play a key role.

Of course, the reopening of the Montblanc boutique in Masaryk also highlights the important legacy left by the brand in terms of writing culture. Montblanc has enhanced the calligraphy experience by hand with the introduction of the Montblanc Ink Bar in select boutiques around the world. Through this space, it allows the customer to test the range of nibs of the brand’s source pens and choose their ink or notebook color so that each person can experience a writing style.

Each customer will have the opportunity to customize their leather goods or writing instruments thanks to the initial engraving or embossing service available for select pieces. The point is not only to personalize the experience but to provide the customer with the option to distinguish their purchase with something very special.

Finally, in order to be able to receive customers more comfortably, the second floor is crucial in the reopening of the boutique in Masaryk de Montblanc. It is a room with a bar so that customers can enjoy their stay in the flagship and can discover every detail of the most exquisite pieces within the catalog.

Montblanc awaits you in its new flagship. Open Monday to Sunday from 11:00 to 19:00 hrs.

Come into the beautiful world of Montblanc.

If gifting is an art, here’s the exhibition

Limited to just 100 pieces worldwide, the Montblanc Happy Holidays Advent Calendar is home to the spirit of the season. Every day of the advent a ‘room’ can be opened to reveal a selection of magical Montblanc gifts, from writing instruments, fine stationary, leather goods, jewellery, to fragrances.

The shape including external and internal design of the box are a to scale representation of the Montblanc Haus, which will open to the public in 2022.

The Montblanc Happy Holiday Advent Calendar is available in limited quantities of 100 pieces at Montblanc boutiques. Come into the beautiful world of Montblanc.

Montblanc introduces new Le Petit Prince Meisterstück writing instruments

Montblanc has released a new series of Meisterstück writing instruments, inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) novella. Montblanc said its latest series of fountain, roller ball and ballpoint pens pays tribute to the power of gifting, imagination and the importance of transmitting ideas and dreams to others.

The Meisterstück Le Petit Prince edition brings together the heritage of a timeless gifting favourite and the cultural influence of a literary great. Filled with meaning and symbolism, the new special edition reaffirms Montblanc’s belief that writing is a gift, one that is passed from one generation to the other with a positive message, just like the ideas, dreams and thoughts that Le Petit Prince shares with the world around him.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince is one of the world’s most translated books, with editions in more than 250 languages and dialects. The story relates the encounter between a pilot and a little prince, and touches on imagination, open-mindedness and the value of human relationships.

Design elements on the Meisterstück Le Petit Prince are based on Saint-Exupéry’s hand-drawn illustrations.

The cap and barrel of the Meisterstück Le Petit Prince Special Edition are in blue resin to echo the colour of the universe around the prince. The milled cap features a fox face pattern, a reference to the character that instructs the young boy about the bonds of human relationships. Platinum-coated fittings and a gold star are also included.

The rhodium-plated nib features an engraving of the boy and the fox and a sentence from the novel is laser-engraved into the crown.

Meisterstück Le Petit Prince Doué Classique Edition has an 18 carat bi-colour nib with an outline of the Little Prince and the fox. The fox pattern continues on the Meisterstück Le Petit Prince Solitaire cap and barrel and the Montblanc emblem is encircled by words from the novella.

To extend the Meisterstück Le Petit Prince writing experience, Montblanc has also created special ink and refills inspired by the fox character in a dark orange color reminiscent of its fur. A leather notebook completes the writing experience and is bound in fine Saffiano leather that features a fox scenery print on its cover, inspired by the author’s famous illustrations.

Come into the beautiful world of Montblanc.

 

 

 

 

 

MontBlanc Legend Night

The MontBlanc Legend collection, in addition to the original from 2011, includes releases such as Legend Intense (2013), Legend Intense (2013), Legend Spirit from 2016, and a few limited summer versions named Legend Sprecial Edition.

Now the house of MontBlanc crafts one of the most stylish, yet classic elegant fragrances for true men connoisseurs. This summer, MontBlanc Legend Night emanates a strong and tempting smell for most charismatic men. Created by perfumers Antoine Maisondieu and Olivier Pescheux it is described as deeply romantic and charming at heart,

Top notes: Bergamot, Clary sage, Pepermint, Cardamom
Heart: Apple, Fir, Cedar, Lavender, Violet
Base: Vetiver, Black vanilla, Akigalawood, Patchouli,

MontBlanc Legend Night inspires a mysterious and fresh at the same time aroma ideal for daily use, as well as occasional. It starts with a reinvigorating aroma made of bergamot, peppermint, and apple notes along with spices of cardamom, clary sage mixed with fir, and aromatic floral notes of violet and lavender. The base dries down on a woody layer made of vetiver, black vanilla, akigalawood, musk and patchouli notes.

MontBlanc Legend Night reportedly represents an equally charismatic but secretive gentleman, emphasizing his night-time attire and mood. The face of Legend Night is again English model Simon Clark – ideal portraying masculinity, elegance, and the contemporary expression – and the campaign was shot by photographer John Bals.

MontBlanc Legend Night is available as 30, 50 and 100ml Eau de Parfum.

 

 

Lady Emblem Elixir fragrance by Montblanc brings a new interpretation

Valentine’s day is just around the corner! If you’re thinking about what to get for your significant other (or just as a gift from you to you), Montblanc’s Lady Emblem Elixir might be it. Montblanc’s Lady Emblem is captured in a bottle with a scent that represents all her qualities perfectly. Described as a woman with an intense gaze who captures your attention at first sight, she has a rebellious streak that contrasts her calm nature. Much like her, the fragrance is a combination of notes that contrast yet complement each other.

You can picture her preparing for a decisive encounter, or stepping up to a rostrum, expressing herself with calm and passion in equal measure

Beneath the floral notes, sits a hint of wood that adds to the allure of the Montblanc Lady Emblem. The scent opens with zesty mandarin; followed by dewy lychee to create a bubbly finish. Helmed by the Damask rose, the heart carefully reveals a harmonious mix of orange blossom, jasmine and iris. The infused sparks of vanilla, patchouli and sandalwood come together to round up the fragrance trail with a woody aroma. With its gracefulness injected with a hint of black pepper, the scent bursts into sensual elegance.

Top notes: mandarin, pepper, litchi
Heart: rose, orange blossom, jasmine, iris
Base: patchouli, vanilla, sandalwood

A reflection of the 43-faceted cut cap that is reminiscent of the Montblanc diamond that was inspired by the six-valley design, the flower-shaped bottle is dressed in a pink gold hue with metallic accents. The box pairs beautifully with the bottle because of its pink gold wash, making the perfectly sophisticated combination.

The Montblanc Lady Emblem Elixir collection comes in 3 sizes: 30ml ($80), 50ml ($122) and 75ml ($155). The series will be available from mid of February 2017 at selected stores.

Diamonds, the Inspiration for Montblanc Lady Emblem

Introducing Montblanc’s new delicately feminine and resolutely modern fragrance for women.

From molecules of carbon subjected to high temperatures and pressures for millennia to stones shaped and polished by artisan craftsmen, diamonds are the world’s most precious gems. And they are of course, a girl’s best friend!

For Montblanc, diamonds are a signature. They symbolise love, purity and beauty. They are also the most undeniable way to win over the heart of the women to whom they are offered. In 2006, after many years of research, and in honour of the Maison’s 100th anniversary, Montblanc launched the MontBlanc diamond. Designed in the form of the Maison’s emblem,  whose shape evokes the snow-capped peak of the six glacial valleys of the Mont Blanc, the Montblanc diamond is the patented result of incredible technical expertise: forty-three facets, a table and crown unlike any other in the world, and a perfectly pointed culet. Inside a Montblanc diamond, the luminous rays reflect infinitely and the brilliance refracts to create a prism in a dizzying range of colours. A mineral rainbow, if you will. And it is this masterpiece of elite gemmological craftsmanship that inspired Montblanc to create its new women’s fragrance: Lady Emblem.

Facets and brilliance: by understanding the similarities between gemmology and perfumery, Dominique Ropion and Nicolas Beaulieu focused their talents on the concept of brilliance. “We sought a timeless creation inspired by an eternal …” explained Nicolas. “Each element was crafted to maintain and enhance purity”, added Dominique.

A mystifying rose sake is the focal point. The exceptional rose sake is obtained through highly sophisticated distillation to maintain refinement,  naturalness and grace. Seductive and green, it is like a Zephyr’s caress, floral one moment and fruity the next. The sake note, which was invented by the two perfumers, has the fresh, crystalline zing of the finest rice spirit. There is a slightly metallic hint of litchi and cut grass. The Japanese call this ‘Nihonshu’.

What enhances, envelops or accompanies the sake base affects the formula like a melody carved into a precious stone. Pink peppercorn is a spicy head note, complementary to  pink grapefruit. The two blend like a diamond whose brilliance pierces the thousand facets and dazzles, inducing dreams. To bring out the rose, jasminum sambac from China provides the feeling of real petals and exquisite pomegranate, as juicy as it is fragrant, makes the heart race. Powdery, velvety sandalwood provides amber tones from the bottom to the top, and crystals of musk gently emerge. This creates a delicately sensuous base for an exquisite and extraordinary feminine elixir.

Represented by Lesly Masson and photographed by Carlotta Manaigo, the image created for this fragrance is that of an independent and contemporary woman. With an almost piercing yet undeniably alluring look and slightly tousled hair, the Lady Emblem woman has a distinctive versatility that makes her the perfect companion to her male Emblem counterpart. One thing is certain: she is undeniably feminine, eschews ostentation and possesses beauty and a distinctive sense of style.

A carbon copy of the Montblanc diamond, it has the same number of facets, reflects the same brilliance and draws the same dreams. Heavy in hand, crowned by pink gold and garnished with a luxurious glass top, it is nestled in a rose tea-coloured box to be opened like an offering. And of course, there is the signature Montblanc emblem at the summit.

Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Spirit Collection

The journey from a piece’s initial inception to realisation is a breathtaking passage to follow. At every step, our master craftsmen work diligently to pour their hearts and souls into the fine products, creating out of individual parts a truly alive and resplendent piece for you and you alone.

Montblanc’s tale began with the creation of our Meisterstück fountain pen in 1924. Perfectly handmade with the finest of European craftsmanship, the iconic writing instrument has secured cult status – and our affair with writing instruments did not stop there. It has grown to include a variety of magnificent collections, including the bejeweled Bohème and sleek, contemporary Starwalker, among venerated others.

While their precious writing instruments record the moments of your life, their equally exquisite watches aid you in keeping track of them.

Like their writing instrument counterparts, their splendidly crafted leather products, elegant jewelry, enthralling fragrances and contemporary eyewear, their master timepieces are each meticulously crafted by hand to the finest of Swiss tradition. Discover the all-encompassing Meisterstück Heritage collection that Montblanc has to offer.

Steel and rose gold, silver dial – white domed with a ‘soleil’ finish and indexes in rose gold, domed sapphire crystal.

The Montblanc Heritage Spirit Date Automatic steel watch manifests the values of the Montblanc Meisterstück and focuses on essential and useful functionalities embodying the finest Swiss watchmaking codes.

Steel, silver dial – white domed with a ‘soleil’ finish and indexes in rose gold, domed sapphire crystal.

There’s nothing overtly fancy about the watches from this collection, just classically good-looking timepieces that will sit beautifully on any wrist and do what a watch at the very basic does best: tell time in an elegant yet unobtrusive way.

Steel, silver dial – white domed with a ‘soleil’ finish and indexes in steel, domed sapphire crystal.

Featuring faceted hands on silver-white dials, they come in a variety of finishes from stainless steel to 18K red gold (or even a blend of both stainless steel and red gold) with the added option of either picking up the timepiece with leather straps or a metal bracelet.

 

The Montblanc Heritage Spirit Date Automatic steel watch is now available via Montblanc boutiques worldwide, I would consider them a step-up from the brands you would wear in school, and perfect if you need something distinguished yet affordable as you start work in a corporate environment where a G-Shock just wouldn’t cut it, if you know what I mean.

Come into the beautiful world of MontBlanc.