Montblanc’s evolution from a pen manufacturer into a luxury brand offering everything from leather goods to fine watches (and, yes, pens) happened entirely organically, and it all started with travel. You see, back in the 1910s and ’20s, the brand – before it was named after the Alpine mountain and instead called Simplo Filler Pen Co – developed the Rouge et Noir safety pen, which, unlike other fountain pens before it, was leakproof, thanks to a special retracting nib mechanism. They made shorter styles, too, called the Rouge et Noir Baby, which fitted into a pocket or handbag.

So you can understand how Montblanc went from equipping writers’ desks to decking out the world’s travelling elite in just a short time. It follows then that said globetrotters wanted other nice things to take with them, such as pencases, leather luggage and notebooks, and just a few years later in 1926, Montblanc created them.

Fast-forward almost a century and the brand has reissued its Meisterstück 4810 leather-goods collection for the contemporary business traveller (Meisterstück, after its pen, and 4810, Mont Blanc’s height in metres). The whole line-up is crafted from corteccia leather, which is reminiscent of the heavily textured Saffiano leather the company used all those years ago – the idea being that the wax-coated, cross-hatch-stamped hide would resist the inevitable scuffs and bumps that come with travelling.

The textured hide of the Meisterstück 4810’s corteccia leather is inspired by bark – the origins of paper – while the rich green, golden brown, ivory and black colour palette draws on forest hues. Indeed, few things in Montblanc’s world are done without thought or reason, and the concept of putting pen to paper is never far from its reach.

Frequent flying calls for luggage that is functional and well made. It’s why Montblanc’s new collection is designed to be modular – an envelope pouch for your passport, ticket and phone fits neatly on to the tote or bowling bag, which both work nicely as carry-ons. The backpack, briefcase and document case are all designed with pockets to house modern tech devices, writing instruments (of course) and other business essentials, so that they’re always within easy reach.

Montblanc is well-versed in craftsmanship, too (if you’ve seen the making of its pens, then you’ll understand). All of these leather pieces have been produced in a single pelletteria in Florence, which has been run by the brand since the mid-1980s. Similarly, the hides are sourced only from tanneries along the Arno river, and there is a focus on labour-intensive techniques honed by artisans with years of experience. And then there is the state-of-the-art, one-armed machine that tests the durability of bag straps, which, while it might not scream “craftsmanship”, is key to ensuring that its products last a lifetime.

Montblanc’s Meisterstück fountain pen may be an icon, but perhaps the most impressive thing about this century-old brand is its ability to branch out into a whole world of new products while upholding the elegance and craftsmanship that people love it for. We can’t wait to see the next journey it embarks on.

montblanc.com