When Montblanc — the craft-honouring European maker of watches, leather goods and writing instruments — unveiled the radical new Meisterstück fountain pen in 1924, they set in motion numerous events that would see them become the world’s leading purveyor of luxury pens.
Originally a closely guarded secret among the craftsmen of Montblanc (referred to as the ‘Rouge et Noir’), the Meisterstück pens of the 20s and 30s eventually culminated in the development of the ‘149’.
To say that this is the preferred writing instrument of those who write history is no exaggeration.
In the past century, everybody from Ernest Hemingway to Sean Connery (as James Bond) and modern statesmen such as Barack Obama has made their mark writing with the Meisterstück 149.
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The influence of this iconic luxury pen is down to its unrivaled combination of comfort, convenience, and sophisticated engineering. And as for the name, Meisterstück? With its memorably Germanic vowels?
That became the global moniker Montblanc bestowed on the 149 (and its sibling models like the 144) after the company decided to move away from individual regional translations of the word ‘masterpiece’.
As it turns out, the term Meisterstück has… stuck.
Today, the blueprint set down by the original Meisterstück is alive and well. Beyond the eponymous collection, discerning calligraphers will find a number of tribute lines that tell the 100-year story of the world’s most iconic fountain pen.
For instance, in the Origin Collection, there are plenty of vividly finished designs (some of which have never been released) harkening back to the art styles of the 1920s.
Watch the full video above to discover all the features that make Meisterstück pens the ultimate handwriting flex in 2025 — produced in partnership with Montblanc.
