Montblanc Great Characters - Limited Edition Leonardo

Montblanc celebrates the genius of the greatest artist of the Italian Renaissance with its Great Characters Limited Edition Leonardo, a writing instrument inspired by the extraordinary inventions of Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519). A man of many talents, da Vinci was not just a remarkable painter, sculptor and architect; he was a man of science and a brilliant inventor with a particular interest in the study of flying. The design of this limited edition masterpiece draws inspiration from his ingenious inventions and the pioneering ideas that still fascinate five centuries after his death.
Designed in Montblanc' s Ateliers, the Great Characters Limited Edition Leonardo brings to life the inventor's fascination with the idea of human flight, each detail taken from the numerous studies he produced for each of his elaborate flying devices from parachutes, to hand gliders and helicopters. The cap and barrel of the writing instrument are crafted from anodized aluminium, a reference to the material now used to build today' s flying machines or aeroplanes. The polished platinum plated fittings are reproductions of da Vinci' s studies for wedge connections used to assemble two different materials in his constructions. 
The shape on the cone of the Montblanc Great Characters Limited Edition Leonardo writing instrument refers to the double movement transmission conceptualized by da Vinci over 500 years ago, now widely used in automotive engineering as “continuously variable transmission”. The red gold plated gear at the end of the clip is reminiscent of the many cogwheels the Italian master used in his designs. Handcrafted in solid 750 gold and rhodium plated, the nib is engraved with one of da Vinci' s famous drawings of a bat whose wings he studied to develop his flying machine, while the forefront of the pen is etched with his own sketch of a mechanical wing.

The Montblanc emblem in precious resin is unexpectedly concealed within the cap and its reflection can be seen in a mirror placed inside the cap top. This is a subtle reference to Leonardo da Vinci' s practice of mirror writing so his personal notes, written from left to right, could only be deciphered using a mirror. The Montblanc Great Characters Limited Edition Leonardo consists of 3000 fountain pens and 3000 roller ball pens, all crafted in the finest European tradition. Each piece is a fitting tribute to da Vinci' s extraordinary imprint on the evolution of human thinking and his creative virtuosity.