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In honour of Prince Rainier III, Montblanc invited 250 selected personalities and stars such as Eva Green, Helena Christensen, Christopher and Gitte Lee, former tennis player Michael Stich, German top model Franziska Knuppe and Italian actress Luisa Ranieri to an exclusive gala evening in Monaco under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco on November 14th.

The occasion was the world première of the “Montblanc Prince Rainier III Limited Edition 81”, an artistically skeletonised fountain-pen edition limited to only 81 pieces.

The pen is made of 750 white gold and superbly studded with diamonds and rubies totalling more than 8 carats.

Half of the sales revenue from the writing jewel, which is worth €200,000, will be donated to the “Fondation Princesse Grace” to continue the cultural commitment lived by Prince Rainier III.   When the guests walked down the red carpet of the "Monte Carlo Sporting Club", Monaco sparkled in the glitter of the 250 invited celebrities from business, culture, the media and society. Montblanc invited them to a glamorous charity gala with a star-studded programme.

They experienced the outstanding musical talent of the Chinese pianist Lang Lang™, who at the age of 25 is already one of the best pianists in the world and is celebrated as the “Magician of classical music”.

Another performer was the Montblanc ambassadress Katherine Jenkins – as the only female singer in the world to have done so, the charming mezzosoprano has already won the Classic Brits Award two times running.

However, the highlight of the gala event was the presentation of a star which showed itself to the public of the world for the first time.The diamond-studded fountain-pen Montblanc Prince Rainier III Limited Edition 81 in honour of a great sovereign.

For more than half a century, Prince Rainier III from the House of Grimaldi stood at the head of the smallest monarchy in the world. He died in 2005, but with exceptional commitment he had made a name for himself as builder, patron and influential politician.

Through his marriage to the American Hollywood actress Grace Kelly, the Principality on the Côte d'Azur became a place of glitter and glamour. But it was only thanks to Prince Rainier’s skill and his foundations for promoting talented artists from theatre, film and ballet that a first-class international cultural life established itself in Monaco.

 

The Prince Rainier III Limited Edition 81 follows this enthusiasm for the arts: a fountain-pen edition which could not celebrate its world première in a more suitable place in the world than in Monaco. Created to honour a prince who achieved great things for a small country, the precious Prince Rainier III Limited Edition 81 reflects the noble tradition of Monaco.

The artistically skeletonised fountain-pen of 18-carat white gold is decorated with diamond- and ruby-studded lozenges totalling more than 8 carats in imitation of the red-white lozenges on the shield of the Grimaldi coat of arms.996 diamonds cut with facets and 92 rubies form a fine network through which can be seen the inner workings of the writing instrument.

 

19 more rubies, measuring 4.4 x 2.5 mm, surround the clip ring on the cap, crowned by a Montblanc star of mother of pearl. Other pieces of real jewellery artistry are the 18-carat gold nib, set with two rubies and finely engraved, and the superbly crafted clip, which is adorned with a small crown derived from Prince Rainier’s signet.

The outstanding writing jewel worth €200,000 was presented for the first time during the gala evening in Monaco, but only a few connaisseurs and admirers of noble writing instruments will be able to buy one for themselves, as the Edition is limited to only 81 pieces worldwide – in honour of the age reached by the sovereign.

During his life, Prince Rainier III of Monaco acted as an outstanding social and cultural patron and the Prince Rainier III Limited Edition 81, which is dedicated to him, continues this tradition. And so 51 percent of the sales revenue of each of the precious pens will go to the “Fondation Princesse Grace“.

The Foundation was started by Princess Grace in 1964 and serves cultural and humanitarian tasks such as the continuation of the Academy of Classical Dance and of the Princess Grace Irish Library, the awarding of scholarships to young talents of the Rainier III Academy of Music and wide-ranging medical charity projects for children.

 

Prince Albert II of Monaco also supports the Montblanc initiative enthusiastically: “Without any doubt, my father would have appreciated this object of a rare quality. … By acquiring this unique creation, you share the values of the Principality, where prosperity is combined with humanity“.