Montegrappa Imperial Year of the Dragon Limited Edition

Eastern mythology intersects with European tradition as Italy’s ‘prince of pens’ falls under the spell of the imperial dragon. Symbolic of power, strength and good fortune, our dragon unites forces in ways that verge on the supernatural. A fusion of precious metals, stones and craftsmanship puts all the essential elements of flow within your grasp. Now master them with writing’s ultimate flex.

-  Eastern mythology intersects with European writing tradition on Imperial Year of the Dragon, a new Montegrappa design that coincides with the current lunar year. Made in small-batch editions of 333 fountain pens and rollerballs, Imperial Year of the Dragon 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;

-  Imperial Year of the Dragon uses traditional Eastern tattoo forms to innovate Montegrappa’s iconic Extra silhouette. Crafted from sterling silver, each intricate artwork is realised using fibre-laser engraving that achieves ultra-high definition in every contour. Perfectly proportioned around 360 degrees, the resulting ‘full- body tattoo’ effect offers striking crispness and contrast, heightened by oxidation and satin-brushing. Montegrappa C.E.O., Giuseppe Aquila, calls it “high-tech with a hardcore, vintage patina”;

-  The editions also 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, as 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. “We want Montegrappa owners want to feel the same kind of empowerment,” he adds;

-  Ancient legend describes dragons as hybrids of nine creatures: an auspicious number reflected in the editions’ 333 denominator. Appropriately, Imperial Year of the Dragon also represents a hybrid—uniting materials as well as elements from Montegrappa’s own heritage. For the first time the design brings silver together with Juma®— an exotic, biophilic resin earmarked for further Year of the Dragon editions in 2024. They too will combine Extra’s iconic codes with the dragon motif that been so formative throughout the family company’s history;

-  Componentry and engineering on Imperial Year of the Dragon follow the Extra family’s reference-level specifications, particularly 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;

-  All Montegrappa writing instruments are manufactured by hand at the family-owned company’s headquarters, located beneath Monte Grappa in Bassano del Grappa, Italy. Artisan-operated since 1912, Montegrappa’s historic factory combines expert craftsmanship with state-of-the-art machinery and tooling to continually push the limits of writing instrument design.

Montegrappa Imperial Year of the Dragon Limited Edition

Collections

  • Bottled Fountain Pen Ink

    Choose bottled fountain pen ink if you want the widest color selection and a more refillable writing experience. Bottled ink works with compatible fountain pens using a converter, piston filling system, or other bottle-fill mechanism.

  • Fountain Pen Ink Cartridges

    Choose ink cartridges if you want a simple, convenient refill option with less setup and easier travel. Cartridges are a good choice for everyday writing, school, work, and anyone who wants a faster refill process.

  • Flushing your fountain pen regularly—

    especially when changing ink colors, every six weeks, or before storing the pen—is essential to prevent ink residue buildup, muddy color mixing, and clogged feeds that can lead to scratchy or inconsistent writing.

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