Since 1912, Montegrappa has embodied Italian excellence in the art of fountain pens. Montegrappa fountain pens combine refined craftsmanship, elegant design and exceptional performance for smooth, enjoyable writing.
The story behind the brand :
In 1912, Heinrich Helm and Alessandro Marzotto founded the first Italian fountain pen manufacturer.
The bell tower of Casa Erizzo’s private church inspired the creation of one of their first models in 1915, the Reminiscence. Its octagonal silhouette is still instantly recognisable today. It is a hallmark of the brand, as is the rotating ballpoint clip that was created later and adorns most of the models.
The brand manufactures its pieces mainly in ebonite or galalith. The latter was used to make marbled models before the discovery of celluloid in the 1920s. This material, which allowed complete freedom in the creation of coloured models, gave the company a new lease of life. It changed its name to Montegrappa in 1928, offering colourful, marbled and sparkling designs.
A decisive meeting
In 1938, Montegrappa met a stationery merchant. Leopoldo Tullio Aquila, a lover of nibs and beauty in general, built up a fruitful relationship with the company’s directors. This relationship has lasted for 4 generations. His descendant Gianfranco Aquila acquired the company in 1981 and toured the world presenting the brand. In 2000 it came under the management of the Richemond group, before being taken over by the Aquila family nine years later.
Montegrappa manufactures timepieces that are meticulously crafted with an eye for detail. The brand also makes a point of paying tribute to characters or events that have left their mark on history. These models are made from precious materials and metals. For example, the model released in 2000 celebrates the Grand Jubilee of the Catholic Church, or the Muhammad Ali, the Dante Alighieri: the Inferno, the Queen or the Hemingway. These fountain pens are true works of art.
In 2018, Montegrappa created two pioneering personalisation platforms: Atelier and Configuratore. The first allows customers to have any design element they like (portrait, drawing) engraved or painted. The second allows customers to choose a basic model and adapt the material and colours as they wish. All Montegrappa’s expertise and high standards for passionate customers can be found in these personalisation services.
In 2020, Montegrappa will introduce the ambigram of the letter M, which will appear on all models.
Montegrappa is now Italy’s oldest fountain pen manufacturer. Its models are instantly recognisable, both for their typical clip and their superbly engraved nib. But above all, by their strong presence in the world of writing.
