Imperial Year of the Dragon is a luxury, handcrafted, limited-edition writing collection designed and manufactured by Montegrappa.

Eastern mythology intersects with European writing tradition on Imperial Year of the Dragon, a new Montegrappa design that coincides with the current lunar year. Made in small-batch editions of 333 fountain pens and rollerballs, Imperial Year of the Dragon offers a harmony of mythos, materials and mechanical precision that Montegrappa describes as “verging on supernatural.”

The release spearheads a cadre of dragonthemed designs lined up for release throughout the rest of 2024;

Imperial Year of the Dragon uses traditional Eastern tattoo forms to innovate Montegrappa’s iconic Extra silhouette. Crafted from sterling silver, each intricate artwork is realised using fibre-laser engraving that achieves ultra-high definition in every contour. Perfectly proportioned around 360 degrees, the resulting ‘fullbody tattoo’ effect offers striking crispness and contrast, heightened by oxidation and satin-brushing. Montegrappa C.E.O., Giuseppe Aquila, calls it “high-tech with a hardcore, vintage patina”;

The editions also feature a 2mm, AAA ruby set into the pocket clip: an allusion to dragon’s blood to unleash the imagination. Channelling the dragon spirit is the design’s central concept, as Aquila explains: “The imperial dragon’s five claws represent absolute power over the elements.” China’s great emperors considered themselves descendants of dragons—possessing traits like intelligence, ambition and charisma. “We want Montegrappa owners want to feel the same kind of empowerment,” he adds;

Ancient legend describes dragons as hybrids of nine creatures: an auspicious number reflected in the editions’ 333 denominator. Appropriately, Imperial Year of the Dragon also represents a hybrid—uniting materials as well as elements from Montegrappa’s own heritage. For the first time the design brings silver together with Juma®— an exotic, biophilic resin earmarked for further Year of the Dragon editions in 2024.

They too will combine Extra’s iconic codes with the dragon motif that been so formative throughout the family company’s history; - Componentry and engineering on Imperial Year of the Dragon follow the Extra family’s reference-level specifications, particularly fountain pens which are fitted with a custom, 8mm ‘hungry dragon’ nib in 18K gold, ebonite feed and Montegrappa’s patented, 32-tooth piston-fill mechanism. High precious metal content sees it weighing in at a hefty 73g, giving it opulence and gravitas commensurate with aesthetics and performance;