Montegrappa

Montegrappa’s pens are reserved for those who can’t live without the emotions inspired by the feel of a crafted writing instrument between their fingers, responding to their delicate movements. As they guide the Montegrappa pen across the paper, the eye follows the ink as it seeps in, corresponding inevitably to the mood of the writer, betraying every rise and fall in his or her spirit. These are pens for those who can indulge in a daily luxury, possessing beautiful handcrafted objects, pens inspired by Italian style.

Whether it be the colors reminiscent of the master painters, the ornaments of Baroque palaces, or the streamlined outline of a yacht’s mast, it is all part of Montegrappa’s Italian heritage. In the land known for drama and love, where writers especially have come to get a taste of romance, no object is too small or too practical not to strive for beauty.

As with any handcrafted object, a synergy must be achieved between the hand of the craftsman and the material used. Montegrappa pens are made of natural celluloid and precious metals—as would befit a jewel. By combining traditional methods, such as die-casting, with more recent innovations such as low relief engraving (a technique that only Montegrappa uses) and cold enameling, the traditional pen is formed of quality materials and transformed into a precious and beautiful object.

As Italy’s first and foremost pen manufacturer, Montegrappa has always recognized writing by hand to be a noble pleasure worthy of a jewel. Because the hands that craft our pens transmit the emotions of Italy.

Montegrappa - Fine Writing Jewels Since 1912
As the first Italian manufacturer of writing instruments, Montegrappa started manufacturing pens in 1912. Its factory in Bassano del Grappa—a picturesque town along the Brenta River which flows through the Alpine foothills in northeastern Italy—was founded as a “Manufacturer of gold nibs and fountain pens.” The Bassano factory found itself in a key position during World War I. Among the many soldiers who used Montegrappa pens (then known as Elmo) to write letters home, were also two celebrated American writers, Ernest Hemingway and John Dos Passos, who were both volunteer ambulance drivers at the front. Ernest Hemingway continued producing some of America’s greatest literature with Montegrappa’s pens throughout his life.

It was in the 1930s that the company enjoyed a period of notable splendour, meeting the taste of a niche clientele with the soberness of its designs, the variety of its colours and materials (including galalite and celluloid, which were very innovative at that time), its successful technical solutions, and the originality and accuracy of its manufacturing techniques. These are values on which Montegrappa today still bases the creation of its writing jewels.

Focusing on a product whose creations justified the term “jewel” through the goldsmith’s workmanship (the glory of Vicenza’s craftsmen), Montegrappa launched its first limited edition of 1912 pieces on the occasion of its 80th anniversary. This immediately won the international approval of connoisseurs of exceptional, exclusive objects. Since then, limited editions have represented the diamond point of Montegrappa production.

As well as its limited editions, freely inspired by great moments of history and the most ancient passions of mankind, Montegrappa produces an exclusive array of writing jewels designed for a clientele who enjoy expressing their personality by using beautiful objects made with art.

Acquired in 2000 by Richemont, one of the great world leaders in the field of luxury goods, Montegrappa still preserves its characteristic craftsmanship of the highest level, creating writing jewels which, letter by letter, express the succession of emotions over time through the thread of writing.   

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