High Artistry A Journey through Château de Versailles Limited Edition 3

Versailles and King Louis XIV – inextricably linked to this day. The king’s taste for the magnificent manifests itself not only in the sheer scale of the palace and its glorious gardens but, above all, in the 2300 rooms of the royal residence. The elaborate furnishings and decorations, made from the finest materials, are the epitome of regal style and splendour. The Palace of Versailles is more than a building; it is a complete work of baroque art in which architecture, garden design and arts and crafts harmonise to perfection. Louis XIV dreamed of transforming his father’s former hunting lodge into both a monumental residence and the focus of political power and cultural activity in France. With the A Journey through Château de Versailles Collection, Montblanc takes a tour through this baroque masterpiece in celebration of the Versailles World Heritage Site. With the stunning A Journey through Château de Versailles Limited Edition 3, the master artisans at Montblanc evoke a sense of nostalgia through their extraordinary craftsmanship. Bringing the magic of the château to life, the edition draws the gaze from the spectacular Hall of Mirrors to its enchanting garden. The jewellery artists have transposed the majesty radiating from the heart of the palace onto this Limited Edition 3 by skilfully applying faceted enamel inlays to enhance the cap and barrel of the solid Au 750 gold writing instrument. These breathtakingly fine miniature paintings depict the view of the gardens as reflected in the hall’s spectacular mirrors, seemingly immersing the beholder in the historical ambience of the 17th century. Each inlay is framed with gold strips, artfully hand-set with diamonds and delicate blossoms, echoing the characteristic Versailles aesthetic. In honour of Louis XIV, the ‘Sun King’, the sun takes centre stage in this edition: the artfully crafted clip ends in an elaborate diamond-encrusted medallion showing an image of the original sun king, Apollo. The opulent chandeliers of the Hall of Mirrors, in which the intricate tiers of crystals reflect the light in such spectacular fashion, are beautifully captured on the hand-crafted, solid Au 750 gold nib, complemented by a brilliant-cut diamond. The marble decorations found throughout the château inspired the engraving on the solid gold forepart. Louis XIV’s personal seal, the majestic double L monogram composed of two intertwined mirrored letters, also found its way onto this edition: the diamond-studded solid Au 750 gold cone takes the form of a seal stamp and, as such, can also be used to seal private correspondence. This skilled artwork is further refined with a pattern inspired by the design of the ornate parquet flooring in the palace. Borrowing its inspiration from the ‘Grand Chiffre’ system used at court for secret messages, the Limited Edition 3 has a similar air of mystery: it contains its own ‘chiffre’. Hidden in the cap top, a secret compartment opens to reveal the individually chosen engraving. The Montblanc emblem crowns the writing jewel, set with diamonds in pavé, surrounded by a band of diamonds.