Fast forward to 2002 – I was much older then but still very much a sucker.
That year Montblanc launched 2,002 Qing Dynasty fountain pens, each with a delicately engraved jade cap, gold-plated mountings and18-karat gold nib.
I bought one.
The one I own is numbered 0126/2002. It cost an arm and a leg.
Here’s the rationale – according to Montblanc of course – for the brand’s launch of the jade pen:
In Europe as early as the Middle Ages, China was spoken of with reverence as a civilization rich in artistic and cultural tradition. Stories were told of the finest porcelain, wafer-thin paper, precious silk and a legendary stone that was worked by expert hands into an exotic material – jade.
During the Qing Dynasty, Chinese master craftsmen used this fascinating material to create unique sculptures and everyday objects that helped shape a whole epoch.
The Special Theme Edition Qing Dynasty pays tribute to this great era of Chinese culture. An outstanding feature of the pen is the cap, which is made of pure jade and surrounded by a lovingly hand-engraved dragon with five claws – the Chinese symbol of happiness, strength and long life.
The 18-karat gold nib, which is decorated with a dragon, is the finishing touch to this exclusive pen from the Special Theme Edition Qing Dynasty – a combination of European craftsmanship and Chinese artistic tradition.