Tag Archives: montblanc

Montblanc Ferrari Stilema SP3 fountain pen inspired by Daytona SP3 adapts to the writing style

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When two giants of their respective industry join forces, the end result is bound to be unique. The latest Montblanc and Ferrari partnership proves it with the Montblanc Ferrari Stilema SP3 fountain Pen.

The writing instrument is inspired by the curvy 2021 Ferrari Daytona SP3, and it does reflect in the final design as well. Flavio Manzoni, Chief Design Officer, Ferrari himself delved deep into the creation of this limited-edition fountain pen. He passionately expresses that the creation was a “fascinating design challenge to translate the proportions and fluidity of the Daytona SP3, ideally contoured for dynamic performance.”

Designer: Montblanc and Ferrari

Those sexy sweeping lines of the Prancing Horse are instantly recognizable in the Ferrari Stilema SP3 contrasted by the semi-transparent blade-like section. This portion slices into the barrel of the pen that’s more like the sports car’s front section. The blade mentioned here slides back to one side to show the inner filling mechanism of the pen. Here the innards are made out of white gold.

As unique as the look is, the writing mechanics are also like none other. The pen’s nib is crafted out of malleable solid white gold to adapt to the user’s writing style or even sketching. Montblanc has used light titanium for the body frame, and the red blade alone took several months to research. The barrel has a monolithic solidity with a contoured section, balanced out with the flat surface for times when not in use.

The end result is a stunning illuminated material that reflects the same panache one would associate with a Ferrari power horse. In fact, Mazaoni says that the pen “supports the rapid movements of the hand as it writes, allowing thoughts to flow unimpeded.”

The function of this pen is also not neglected by any stretch of the imagination. It has an extremely ergonomic balance for writing pleasure. All this luxury will come at a steep price of $27,500. Keep in mind, only 599 limited pieces will be available worldwide through a special arrangement.

The post Montblanc Ferrari Stilema SP3 fountain pen inspired by Daytona SP3 adapts to the writing style first appeared on Yanko Design.

Montblanc x Naruto collection celebrates the power of storytelling and self-expression

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As one of the most popular and best-selling mangas (Japanese comics) in history, it’s not unusual to see “Naruto” printed or even engraved in many products, some of them expensive, limited editions even. Naturally, these items are meant to appeal to fans of the character and the franchise, which happens to correspond to a certain market demographic. It might come as a surprise, then, that the not-so-silent Ninja is now part of Montblanc’s family with a collection that encompasses a variety of products, ranging from pens to bags to even a smartwatch. This, however, isn’t simply fan service but is almost a perfect match for the marque’s love of storytelling and the tools that enable that kind of written tradition.

Designer: Montblanc

Given its origin as a manga, it’s too easy to brush off Naruto as something for kids, though the mature themes in its long-running story would suggest otherwise. Like many franchises that have now spanned generations, there are many topics, themes, and even philosophies that can be gleaned from its stories, and Montblanc zeroed in on two of the most important ones for readers and fans of the series. At its heart, Naruto is a story of stories and growth, where the titular character learns to express his own identity through stories, lessons, and values passed through both oral and written traditions.

Given that theme, the Montblanc x Naruto collection encompasses an almost random selection of items from the brand’s portfolio. There are the usual culprits of pens and notebooks, but there are also accessories like leather bags and pouches. There’s even a limited edition Montblanc Summit 3 Naruto smartwatch that puts the teenage hero front and center, presuming you keep the pre-installed watch face, of course.

More than just Naruto-branded items, these products carry symbolism that Montblanc explains is important to the transmission of knowledge, especially in this fictional world. These symbols are sometimes discreet, like those engraved on the side buttons of the Wear OS smartwatch or the subtle cloud patterns on the fountain pen’s barrel. At other times, they are extravagant, like the fountain pen’s 14K carat solid gold nib engraved with the symbol of Naruto’s hometown.

The variety of products in this Montblanc x Naruto collection is definitely enough to appeal to fans of all ages and genders, though do expect to pay a pretty penny for these doubly branded items. Of course, unlike your typical Naruto merchandise, these are meant not only to last but even to become heirlooms you can pass on to a younger generation of Naruto fans, almost like how they do it in the manga.

The post Montblanc x Naruto collection celebrates the power of storytelling and self-expression first appeared on Yanko Design.

Conceptual Montblanc TWS earbuds bring luxurious gentleman’s style to tech

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This is a conceptual project and isn’t affiliated to Montblanc. Any use of the brand and logo are solely for representational purposes.

What’s the fanciest pair of TWS earphones you can think of? By fancy I mean, wearing a Rolex or signing documents with a Montblanc fancy. Yeah, I couldn’t think of anything too. Sure, there was a time when wearing Beats headphones were a status symbol, but now everyone wears AirPods, and there’s nothing really premium about them as far as social perception goes. In come the Montblanc TWS Earbuds, a conceptual pair of ear-candy from the mind of Jinwoo Hong. They look classy, and even sport the insignia on the outside, allowing people to notice the brand from a few feet away. They are, in that regard, the perfect flair and perhaps the perfect TWS earbuds to pair with formalwear like a tuxedo.

Designer: Jinwoo Hong

These conceptual Montblanc TWS earbuds have the appeal of cufflinks, with their monochrome design and bold use of Montblanc’s insignia. The earbuds, rather compact, rest in an all-black case with a matte-gloss interplay for drama. Pop open the lid and the earbuds reveal themselves, cradled in their charging docks. They come with silicone tips to ensure a perfect seal when in the ear, and even though there’s little information on the actual details of the earbuds, it’s safe to assume that the Montblanc logos are touch-sensitive, allowing you to tap to control playback, volume, and answer/reject calls.

That cufflink analogy really shines through with how the earbuds themselves are designed. The earbud form is perfectly circular, to mirror the Montblanc logo, and the absence of a stem or overarching earpiece makes them really look great when they’re in the ear, effectively shrouding everything except Montblanc’s branding.

The Montblanc TWS earbuds are a great exercise in understanding luxury. A lot of people equate luxury with opulence, an overdose of gems, gold, etc., but that direction has fast become outdated. In modern times, luxury has found a way to embrace minimalism in a unique way, which is why Steve Jobs wore the same clothes over and over (an attitude that Zuckerberg copied). Jobs and Jony Ive even instilled that thinking into Apple’s line of tech, resulting in phones, tablets, and laptops that strongly evoked the less-is-more approach to great design.

Sadly these Montblanc TWS earbuds don’t exist. They were designed as a form exercise by Jinwoo Hong, who wanted to see how a premium stationery brand’s aesthetic could seamlessly be carried to audio technology. The crossover, although ambitious, works really well, and Hong’s been especially clever with how he’s allowed the brand’s 116-year-long legacy to speak volumes without letting the tech aspect overshadow anything.

The post Conceptual Montblanc TWS earbuds bring luxurious gentleman’s style to tech first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Montblanc-inspired motorcycle is the most luxurious crossover ever!

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Here’s what I absolutely love about the design profession. The Montblanc Motorcycle is clearly a concept. I imagine the luxury stationery and timepiece company isn’t even interested in entering the automotive industry… but there’s always the potential for a crossover, and there’s always an indie designer who’s ready to realize that potential. Meet the Montblanc Motorcycle, a fan-made conceptual two-wheeler created by Huigyu Kim who felt that the pen and watch manufacturer’s design DNA definitely had a quality that could be easily carried into bike-design.

The Montblanc Motorcycle comes with the same, uber-luxurious design language seen in the company’s pens. I’m talking clean surfaces, gloss black paint-job with the judicious use of metallic accents. My favorite detail, however, has to be the bike’s headlamp, which directly borrows its design from Montblanc’s pen-caps and watch crowns. The lamp comes with a rounded conical glass cover under which sits Montblanc’s famous star-shaped logo. The edge of the headlamp sports a metallic rim too, with protrusions on the side that make way for the bike’s indicators… features that directly resemble the crown seen on Montblanc’s watches.

The bike comes in all black, with a relatively modern appeal. Chrome accents in just the right places make the bike stand out, while the black-on-black satin text on the bike’s fork-guards helps highlight the company’s branding without being too direct or obvious. The bike’s handlebars and dashboard possess the ability to rise up when the bike’s powered on, allowing you to easily steer… and they lower back into the bike’s body when it’s locked too, adding a second layer of security by preventing the handlebars from turning freely. Even the leg-rests autonomously fold inwards when not in use, and can fold out and slide forward or back based where you want them. Overall, credit where it’s due, the Montblanc Bike is an absolute masterpiece, looking just as slick and high-end as the rest of Montblanc’s products. The use of black and chrome, and the clever reinterpretation of the Montblanc insignia as a headlight feels incredibly clever, and if the company were to ever foray into transportation design, I suggest they should definitely use this fan-made concept as their template!

Designer: Huigyu Kim

This is a conceptual project and isn’t affiliated to Montblanc. Any use of the brand and logo are solely for representational purposes.

Montblanc’s first smartwatch is the luxury Summit

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Luxury brand Montblanc has already made a few tentative steps into the smart things space. And just as a simpler stylus preceded a fancier note digitizer, Montblanc is now ready to follow up its e-Strap accessory with a fully fledged Android Wear 2.0...