INSTRUMENTS OF POWER: A PEN TOASTS THE TOOLS OF DISCOVERY

Few passages in history have been more transformational than the age of the great explorers. But alongside their courage and seamanship, it was the advent of handheld navigational tools that paved their path to glory. Their impactis celebrated in Age of Discovery – a limited-edition writing instrument that harbours discoveries of its own.

Explorers like Columbus, Cabot, Vespucci and Magellan profoundly changed our understanding of the world. Yet while their names are preserved in legend, the tools that enabled their expeditions have become archaic in the satellite age. As a company that has faithfully been creating writing instruments for over a century, it is understandable that Montegrappa has a stake in seeing their legacy preserved. “We see parallels between the evolution of navigation and expression,” explains Montegrappa CEO, Giuseppe Aquila. “The convenience of modern technology allows us to lose sight of its vulnerabilities.” He goes on to describe the way analogue instruments place demands on the user, and provide a failsafe in moments of doubt. “These realisations are fundamental to how our customers value our products.” The Italian writing marque is known for its evocative designs and, for its newest limited edition, the theme of ‘discovery ’is indulged in both form and function. “We wanted to create a pen with obvious charm, while also doing something creative around the notion of technology fuelling exploration,” Aquila continues. The result is a high-grade writing instrument that delivers more than meets the eye.

Age of Discovery is a mariner’s telescope in miniature, handcrafted from mahogany and brass. Materials are selected for historical accuracy, as well as their ability to age gracefully: becoming shinier with repeated use. Its vintage charms extend to a sextant-shaped clip and a rustic reproduction of Magellan’s pioneering route around the world. But it is on the inside where this writing tool’s true pedigree is revealed.

For fountain pen aficionados, Age of Discovery contains a rare, one-touch filling mechanism. PowerPush is a proprietary technology that has featured in only three of the maison’s previous production models, but never more accessibly. The piston is activated by squeezing the barrel’s telescopic action. For writers tired of the twists and turns of drawing ink, it’s a discovery in its own right. Overthe last decade, innovations like these have become a hallmark of the company’s top-tier models. Like watch collectors, enthusiasts crave the inventiveness and mechanical precision of luxury pens, and Aquila pushes his designers and engineers to develop features that heighten the joy of writing. Created in the same vein is a miniature magnetic compass – a complication the company developed in collaboration with engineers at Politecnico di Milano.

Concealed cavity within the cap, it is the first wayfinding device ever to feature on a Montegrappa pen. At the opposite end, a mock eyepiece contains the silhouette of the Victoria – the only ship to complete Magellan’s expedition. Together they are designed to engender a sense of wonder and inspire owners to follow their own course. Released 500 years after the death of Ferdinand Magellan, the edition is neatly divided into 250 fountain pens and 250 rollerballs and supplied in an imposing wooden instrument chest. As Aquila points out, “We want our owners to feel a sense of discovery every time they reach for their pen.”