‘The Little Prince’ adorns classic writing instrument
The beloved literary character is the hero in a new collection of fountain pens
With its clean lines and distinguished appearance, the Montblanc Meisterstück has long been a favorite of collectors. Last year, YouTube channel Gentleman’s Gazette included the fountain pen in its list of “12 expensive products for men that are worth their money.”
“There are lots of other great manufacturers of fountain pens… however, the Montblanc Meisterstück has been around for a very long time,” said the channel’s Sven Raphael Schneider. “It’s a very classic status symbol for many... that writes very beautifully.”
At one point, the vlogger used to own over a hundred Montblanc fountain pens. He has since narrowed his collection down to three Montblanc Meisterstück pens with different nibs that he uses to sign documents or take down notes.
Schneider might want to check out the recent launch of the Montblanc Meisterstück X Le Petit Prince collection, which incorporates text and images from the classic “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
In a first for Montblanc, the cap and barrel of the special-edition pens are made of a blue resin that evokes the deep blue sky around the prince. The milled cap is decorated with a repeating fox face pattern with platinum-coat- ed fittings that contrast with the blue of the writing instrument. A golden star adorns the clip of this edition.
Core products
The full collection, available exclusively at Rustan’s, includes cuff links, a lined notebook bound in Saffiano leather, dark orange ink cartridges, and an ink bottle.
“This collection is the first in a series,” said Matthieu Dupont, Montblanc president for Southeast Asia. He is optimistic that the limited-edition collection will do well in the Philippines because “our writing instruments are the core products here.”
There has been traction with the brand’s leather goods, including wallets, backpacks, business card holders and travel bags. “We’re seeing double-digit growth in this section. There’s a strong acceleration because of our value proposition: the quality of the products and the value for money that we give to our customers,” Dupont said.
He likewise noted how the “elasticity” of the brand appealed to different ages. “There’s something for everyone.”
Dupont said that their customers were almost evenly split between male and female customers. “Montblanc is a gifting brand, yes, but women also buy for themselves,” he said.
Gentleman’s Gazette might have to tweak its list, given how both men and women are drawn to Montblanc Meisterstück.