Its Meisterstück, launched in 1924, would become the world's most celebrated pen. Now part of the Richemont Group, the company took its first steps in watchmaking in 1997, gradually upgrading production with the Profile, TimeWalker and Star collections. In 2006, Montblanc brought Minerva into its fold, a movement manufacturer based in Villeret, in the Swiss Jura. A year later, Montblanc unveiled its Fine Watch collections, first Villeret 1858 then Nicolas Rieussec, now rooted in a union of state-of-the-art technology and handcrafting.
The stationery trader Claus-Johannes Voss, the banker Alfred Nehemias and the engineer August Eberstein recognize the signs of a “modern” new century. Ingenuity and Imagination help the fountain pen to make its technical and commercial breakthrough as a writing instrument. The three decided to produce fountain pens in Hamburg, placing the cornerstones for the future internationally successful company Montblanc with this “Joint Venture”.
The company’s first high quality pen “Rouge et Noir” is launched under the company name “Simplo Filler Pen Co. GmbH”.
The first Montblanc fountain pen was launched. This new writing instrument featured significant improvements, and its name was chosen – so the story goes – to represent its peak of technical achievement and highest European craftsmanship.
The six-point white star – representing the snow-covered summit of Europe's highest mountain, the Mont Blanc – became the company's trademark.
The first Boutique selling exclusively Montblanc products opened in Hamburg, soon to be followed by others in Berlin, Leipzig, Breslau, Hanover and Bremen.
The legendary Montblanc Meisterstück fountain pen was launched. As its name proudly proclaimed, it was a masterpiece of precision craftsmanship.
The engraving "4810" first appeared on the Montblanc Meisterstück nib. Recording the height in meters of the Mont Blanc as it was measured at the time, this figure has been engraved on all Meisterstück fountain pens ever since.
Montblanc established its first leather goods workshop near Offenbach, a town renowned for its leather craftsmanship, to produce luxury small leather items.
Montblanc introduced the Meisterstück Solitaire Collection, the first precious-metal edition of the Meisterstück. The Meisterstück Solitaire 149 fountain pen in solid gold entered the Guinness Book of Records as the most expensive fountain pen in the world.
Montblanc moved into new, purpose-built Headquarters in Hamburg, integrating design, production and administration, as well as the Montblanc Museum.
Montblanc opened its first ever Montblanc Boutique in Hong Kong showing its strong commitment to Asia.
Montblanc established the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award to honor outstanding historical and modern patrons of the arts. Since this year, a Limited Edition has been regularly dedicated to a great patron of the arts and culture as well as an internationally renowned author of literature.
Its first Limited Edition Patron of Art pen celebrated the art patron Lorenzo de Medici, while the new annual Montblanc Limited Writers Edition paid tribute to Ernest Hemingway.
Dunhill Holding, having acquired Montblanc in 1985, was taken over by Vendôme, which subsequently became Richemont, one of the world's largest luxury conglomerates, encompassing – alongside Montblanc – such prestigious names as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Jaeger-LeCoultre and IWC.
The Meisterstück Solitaire Royal, painstakingly set by hand with 4,810 diamonds, became the world's most expensive fountain pen.
Montblanc became the founding sponsor of the Philharmonia of Nations, under the conductor Professor Justus Frantz.
Inauguration of the Montblanc Montre S. A. in Le Locle/Switzerland. Introduction of the masterly handcrafted Meisterstück Watch. First presentation of the collection at the SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) in Geneva, Switzerland.
The first Montblanc flagship store was inaugurated in New York, to be followed by others in major cities across the globe.
Premiere of the Montblanc Cutting Edge Art Collection: first vernissage at Montblanc Headquarters in Hamburg.
Montblanc joined forces with UNICEF to launch "Sign Up for the Right to Write", a campaign to promote quality education for the world's children. This and subsequent initiatives, including the Meisterstück "Signature for Good" special edition in 2009, raised millions of dollars for UNICEF.
Montblanc celebrated its centenary in the most sublime way imaginable, with the unveiling of the precious Montblanc Diamond. Eight years in development, this breathtaking 43-facet cut revealed the Montblanc emblem in three-dimensional form. Montblanc thus became the first luxury brand ever to have a patented gem cut derived from its logo – a unique achievement that was the inspiration for the launch of its fine jewellery collection.
Montblanc's watchmaking expertise was further enhanced by the establishment of Institut Minerva de Recherche en Haute Horlogerie at Villeret, Switzerland, perpetuating the 150-year tradition of Minerva, a small manufacture famed for its exceptional handmade movements.
At the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, Montblanc unveiled the MB R100 calibre, the first movement manufactured entirely in its own workshops. Integrating the new movement, the Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph paid tribute to the inventor of the chronograph, Nicolas Rieussec.
Montblanc inaugurated its largest flagship store in Europe on Paris' famous Rue de la Paix. The 500-square-metre space, presenting the Montblanc fine jewellery collection under one roof for the first time, also houses a design studio and fine jewellery atelier.
World Premiere of the Montblanc ‘’Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco’’.
World Premiere Opening of the biggest Montblanc store in Sanlitun, Beijing: 1,800m2, Montblanc’s most impressive, innovative, four-storey interactive concept in the world.
