English Version | The Voyage Issue: A ticket to the past, in first class

12 Jun 2023
By Vogue Portugal

Montblanc's new High Artistry edition is inspired by the most famous train of all time, the Orient Express, and takes us on a journey through a collection of pens that are true works of art.

Montblanc's new High Artistry edition is inspired by the most famous train of all time, the Orient Express, and takes us on a journey through a collection of pens that are true works of art.

The Orient Express traveled across Europe, from Paris to ancient Constantinople, and was synonymous with luxury and opulence, leaving an indelible mark on history ever since its inaugural journey in 1883. The train that has inspired countless travelers, artists and writers has now also been the inspiration for Montblac to bring to life another High Artistry edition, entitled A Journey on the Orient Express. The journey through this collection includes seven stops, one for each model, and each of these is a reflection of the creativity and mastery of Montblanc artisans: these writing instruments transcend their function and rise to true ultra detailed and of course ultra luxurious artistic pieces. All aboard? 

The first stop on the journey is the Montblanc High Artistry A Journey on the Orient Express Limited Edition 1 with Case. Crafted in solid Au 750 gold, it is an ode to René Prou's interior design. The body of the piece is encased in diamonds set in a floral pattern, inspired by Art Deco. Historic routes from 1930 are outlined in diamonds, rubies and blue sapphires, and the top of the cap is reminiscent of the roof of the Gare de Lyon, where passengers boarded the Express. To celebrate the evolution of machinery and industrialization that so marked the era, the cap of the pen can be opened by pressing a button, through a pressure mechanism. The wooden travel box, on the other hand, contains a mechanical clock, which reminds us of the importance of timekeeping on these rail journeys.

In a tribute to the various mystery and romance stories inspired by the Orient Express, comes the Limited Edition 1 Papillon. In this model, the opening of a small door reveals a plique-à-jour enamel butterfly, in a reference to Baden-Powell, who encoded secret information in butterfly designs. Hidden in one of the wings is an engraving inspired by those secrets. Once again, train routes appear inscribed on the pen, which can be opened by means of the pressure mechanism. The top of the cap functions as a hinged door that hides a miniature automaton clock with mechanical movement, plus a butterfly motif on the dial.

The design and fashion of the 1920s were the inspiration for the Limited Edition 5, which incorporates design elements of the train in this piece, such as the pattern of the upholstery. Recovering the theme of espionage, we find the engraving of a magnifying glass and a fingerprint on the nib. In the body of the pen, a small window reveals a portrait of Mata Hari, exotic dancer, spy, and regular passenger of the Express. Like the previous models, we find allusions to train routes and the importance of timing. The lid, made of white chalcedony stone, is reminiscent of the ivory-colored vaulted tops of the carriages of the Orient Express. To honor the most luxurious train of all time, the - literal - crown jewel is a Montblanc diamond.

The following piece is a tribute to Agatha Christie, who traveled and wrote about the Orient Express, creating one of the most celebrated works of mystery ever, A Crime on the Orient Express. The cap and body of the Limited Edition 10 pen are produced in stained sycamore wood and decorated with handcrafted gold leaf and crystal, reminiscent of the luxurious interiors of the train, including wood marquetry by René Prou and molded glass and silver inlays by René Lalique. At the top of the lid is a gold Montblanc emblem, outlined with diamonds, which can be opened to reveal a ruined miniature clock, in which the hands mark 1:15, precisely the time at which the crime took place. The top ring of the cover is set with 12 stones, the number of times the victim was stabbed, and the nib contains an engraving of the murder weapon, a dagger. On the front, a floor plan of Cabin 2, where the murder took place, appears. The clip embedded in the cap also has a hand-engraved snake, a reference to the 1993 Montblanc Writers Edition, which honored Agatha Christie. The Limited Edition 83 is a reference to the date the Express was inaugurated, in 1883. It alludes to the machinery that made up the train and the ultra-luxurious interior decoration. Again, there are subtle references to the famous train and the Gare do Oriente. Finally, the last two stops on this journey are an ode to Art Deco style. Limited Edition 333 captures the glamour of the train through the colors of night blue, ivory and gold, present on the exterior of the carriages, and adds unique details inspired by the train's ornate metal luggage racks. Also inscribed is the route the Express took in 1930, the heyday of Art Deco. The final piece in the collection is the Limited Edition 1883, which marks the train's first journey, produced in night blue precious resin and crowned with a Montblanc emblem in ivory-colored precious resin to resemble the color of the Orient Express. 

Translated from the original on our The Voyage Issue, from June 2023.Full credits and stories on the print version.

Vogue Portugal By Vogue Portugal

Relacionados


Moda   Compras  

14 joias com carimbo português para oferecer no Dia dos Namorados

06 Feb 2025

Eventos   Tendências  

Este foi o acessório que toda a gente usou durante a Semana de Moda de Copenhaga

06 Feb 2025

Notícias  

Sabato De Sarno deixa a direção criativa da Gucci

06 Feb 2025

Pessoas  

“Chamo-lhe campo de férias”: como é realmente ser um VIC (“Very Important Client”) na Semana de Alta-Costura de Paris

05 Feb 2025