Many things come to mind when I think of gladiators—combat, competition, and danger among them—but first and foremost, a Roman gladiator was an entertainer who enthralled spectators at public games. The events premiered around 105 BCE and spanned about 1,000 years, drawing onlookers to the often-gory displays where man met man or beast in sport.
When I first saw Montegrappa’s new Gladiator pen collection, I thought it was an insightful move to make the pen, like its namesake, entertaining—beyond its primary purpose of providing a good writing experience. With articulated parts and multipurpose components, the Montegrappa Gladiator offers a bit of hands-on gadgetry that will no doubt delight the user with its fidget-tool-meets-high-end writing instrument persona.
The Details
The limited edition comprises just 105 elite-grade fountain pens in silver and five in 18-karat gold, each with articulated arms, a hinged visor, leather detailing and a Gladius that serves double duty as a paper knife. The fountain pen nib is 18-karat gold in extra fine, fine, medium, broad, and stub sizes. I’ve always admired Montegrappa for its amazing metal sculpting and engraving, and the Gladiator doesn’t disappoint. The pen’s detail is truly incredible, from the gladiator’s realistic (and enviable) taut torso, to the incredibly rendered battle gear and helmet. Even the combatant’s face, obscured by the hinged visor, is a work of art—no easy feat considering its diminutive size.
The length of the pen is 183mm, while its diameter is 65mm. The weight of the silver version is about 370 grams and the gold is about 500 grams. Montegrappa is also known for its limited edition packaging. Here the foil-stamped box houses a miniature rendition of a colosseum in a stone-colored hue along with the pen rests. The sterling silver and vermeil version of the Gladiator is priced at $18,795.
Origin Story
The Montegrappa Gladiator is part of its Warriors series and follows the Samurai, introduced in 2018, and the Viking from 2019.
The Samurai fountain pen is limited to only 177 pens in Sterling Silver, each one unique, and a further seven in gold. Made with cutting-edge jewelry techniques, it is part action figure and part writing tool and perfectly references an ancient Samurai suit of armor via lost-wax casting techniques. The pen’s 18-karat gold nib is available in fine, medium, and broad sizes, and adding to its luxurious mystique, it is packaged in a black lacquer box with red velvet lining that also includes a customized ink bottle, embroidered silk pouches and a fully functional Katana-style letter opener.
The Viking combines military lore and Norse mythology in its design, and it features intricate shiny ornamentation contrasted by the pen’s burnished metal articulated body. From the filigree helmet to the dragon-decorated boots, the pen is another example of Montegrappa’s time-honored expertise. The silver version weighs in at a hefty 368 grams, while the 18-karat gold version weighs 470 grams. The Viking comes with a 10th century-style sword that may be used as a letter opener. A Viking longship provided the inspiration for the presentation case for this 121-piece (sterling silver) or six-piece (18-karat yellow gold) limited edition collection.
Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn.
