WHAT MOVES YOU, MAKES YOU
Montblanc inspires you to follow your passion and develop your full potential with extraordinary stories of “Mark Makers” in its latest campaign featuring the UltraBlack collection
ETERNALLY BLACK
SYMBOLIC OF MYSTERY and profundity, sophistication and luxury, boldness and subversion, black is the one true colour that stands the test of time. Above all, it has been part of Montblanc’s DNA since its inception in 1906 with ebonite as the main ingredient in the production of Montblanc’s original writing instruments, and one of only two colours in the company’s emblem, created in 1913. In its ongoing mission to inspire people to express their full potential by doing what truly moves them, Montblanc introduced in 2021 the UltraBlack collection, its first-ever cross-category collection united by an all-black theme.
The collection brings together multiple product categories from leather goods to writing instruments, from watches to new smart technologies. A statement of sleek elegance, each piece was created to inspire those seeking flexibility, versatility and style as they travel their own personal journey to reaching their goals, on their own terms.
“Black is the Maison’s essence, and is core to the brand’s identity, even as it evolved over the years to become the Maison of Luxury Business Lifestyle. The pieces and their functionality, while unified by their black design, were carefully selected based on the everyday needs and mindset of those who don’t just strive to succeed, but who leave a mark with everything they do, always with meaning and purpose. Montblanc UltraBlack offers smart wearable technology for enhanced connectivity, leather pieces for seamless mobility, writing instruments for bold ideas and creativity, watches for audacious elegance,” says Nicolas Baretzki, Montblanc CEO.
MONTBLANC 1858 GEOSPHERE ULTRABLACK WATCH
The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere UltraBlack continues the legacy of over 160 years of Minerva’s history in fine watchmaking, linking the past and the present through design, style and innovation Icon of the 1858 collection, the timepiece features the Manufacture Worldtime complication with two turning domed hemisphere globes, which make a full rotation in 24 hours providing an instinctive way of reading different time zones.
The ultra-sleek timepiece celebrates the colour black with contrasting grey and white elements in a distinctive black coated steel case with a special satin finishing, achieved by manual washing and brushing. This technique gives each watch its own and unique patina In the dark, the 1858 Geosphere UltraBlack glows as the cathedral shaped hands, the indexes, the compass indications and the hemisphere globes are all coated by hand in white Super-LumiNova.
MONTBLANC ULTRABLACK LEATHER COLLECTION
Mobility, performance and elegance are trademarks of Montblanc UltraBlack leather pieces, represented by a backpack, a clutch and a mini folio. With an identity that is unmistakably Montblanc, they feature the original “M” monogram inspired by the geometry and lettering of graphics from the Montblanc archive, underscoring the richness of the Maison’s heritage. Bolder than ever, the all-over “M” monograms are embossed leather. A new expression of the iconic Montblanc emblem takes the iconic star from decorative element to functional feature of the design, technical, tactile and playful in anodized aluminium. The emblem closure becomes a distinctive element and allows for easy opening.
Always on the move with sophisticated and functional leather companions the backpack is equipped with exterior and interior pockets including a padded compartment for laptop the clutch and the mini folio can be hand-carried or worn across the body thanks to the detachable shoulder strap.
#WHATMOVESYOUMAKESYOU
When Montblanc launched its new brand campaign What Moves You, Makes You last year, it set out to inspire people to express their full potential by doing what truly moves them, rather than following a more conventional path to success. It did so by telling the extraordinary stories of “Mark Makers”, individuals living their life doing what inspires them the most and leaving their mark along the way. After spotlighting the journeys of award winning director Spike Lee, actor Taron Egerton, actor, singer and writer Chen Kun and actress Xin Zhi Lei, Montblanc is telling the stories of two exceptional Mark Makers Cillian Murphy and Peggy Gou.
CILLIAN MURPHY
Irish-born stage and film actor Cillian Murphy, who has starred in The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, Dunkirk and most recently A Quiet Place II, currently leads the cast of TV series Peaky Blinders. Critically acclaimed for his versatility, the breakout star of 28 Days Later is always striving to push his craft forward, and move others through his own performances.
EMOTION OF THE STORY IS THE THING THAT IS KEY FOR ME. IF I DON’T FEEL ALTERED BY THE STORY AND THE TRUTH OF THE PERFORMANCE THEN IT HASN’T WORKED FOR ME AS A PERFORMER AND A VIEWER.
—CILLIAN MURPHY
EVERY STROKE MATTERS.
—CHEN KUN
SOMETHING SHOULD MOVE YOU TO BE BETTER. TO DO BETTER. IF YOU DON‘T FEEL THAT, I FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN A SAFE ZONE AND YOU SHOULD FIND SOMETHING THAT MOVES YOU, ALWAYS.
—PEGGY GOU
CHEN KUN
Original Mark Maker Chen Kun has returned for the second wave of the What Moves You, Makes You campaign in a new film that reveals that going deep into a role and finding the best way to interpret it is what moves the Hundred Flowers Best Actor Award-winner. A keen writer as well, Chen Kun has published and coauthored several books; his first book Suddenly Walked
to Tibet, a collection of autobiographical essays, led him to becoming the first and only actor to be listed in the China’s Writers Rich List.
As the leading star of The Yinyang Master meditates in the campaign’s film, he thinks of all the possible ways to deliver the performance in his head. In his mind space, he walks into an endless black room dragging a large calligraphy brush. He starts by dipping the brush in an inkstone next to him, then he pushes the brush onto the wall and delivers a graceful stroke. Not satisfied with that stroke, he starts again, causing another Chen to appear next to him, tying the line in a different way and creating a new version of himself until he finds one of his best performances, with his Montblanc pen.
PEGGY GOU
Berlin-based South Korean DJ Peggy Gou always follows her passion as she forges her own unique path to becoming a successful DJ, record label founder and fashion entrepreneur. In a series of short films created by Montblanc, Peggy invites us into her world in a satirical twist of a classic interview where she is both the interviewer and interviewee, having a conversation with her multiple-selves and sharing her many facets. The conversation revolves around her identity and work, from music to style, to food, revealing a more intimate and authentic picture of the rising star and the things that move her.