As the current lunar year reaches its midpoint, Montegrappa is channelling the dragon spirit with its Imperial Year of the Dragon. The manufacturer’s new small-batch edition of fountain pens and rollerballs beautifully merges iconic Eastern mythology with the best European writing traditions.
Imperial Year of the Dragon is a new Montegrappa design that coincides with the current lunar year. Made in small-batch editions of 333 fountain pens and rollerballs, it offers a harmony of mythos, materials, and mechanical precision that Montegrappa describes as “verging on supernatural.” The release spearheads a cadre of dragon-themed designs lined up for release throughout the rest of 2024.
Each piece is imbued with traditional Eastern tattoo forms to innovate Montegrappa’s iconic Extra silhouette. Crafted from sterling silver, the intricate artwork is produced using fibre-laser engraving, creating ultra-high-definition features in every contour. The perfectly proportioned 360-degree’ full-body tattoo’ effect offers a striking crispness and contrast, which is heightened by oxidation and satin brushing.
Montegrappa’s CEO, Giuseppe Aquila, calls it “high-tech with a hardcore, vintage patina.”
The roller balls and fountain pens feature a 2mm, AAA ruby set into the pocket clip: an allusion to dragon’s blood to unleash the imagination. Channelling the dragon spirit is the design’s central concept. Giuseppe Aquila explains, “The imperial dragon’s five claws represent absolute power over the elements.” China’s great emperors considered themselves descendants of dragons—possessing traits like intelligence, ambition and charisma.”
Ancient legend describes dragons as hybrids of nine creatures, an auspicious number reflected in the collection’s number of pieces. Appropriately, the Imperial Year of the Dragon also represents a hybrid, uniting materials and elements from Montegrappa’s heritage.
For the first time, Montegrappa has chosen to combine silver with Juma®—an exotic, biophilic resin earmarked for further Year of the Dragon editions in 2024. They will also combine Extra’s iconic codes with the dragon motif that has been so formative throughout the family company’s history.
The Imperial Year of the Dragon’s componentry and engineering follow the Extra family’s reference-level specifications, particularly on the fountain pens, which are fitted with a custom 8mm ‘hungry dragon’ nib in 18K gold, ebonite feed and Montegrappa’s patented 32-tooth piston-fill mechanism.
High precious metal content sees it weighing in at a hefty 73g, giving it opulence and gravitas commensurate with aesthetics and performance.
Priced from €3,100, Imperial Year of the Dragon will be available from department stores, fine stationers, watch and jewellery boutiques and via montegrappa.com.