Hadrian was one of history’s most powerful and respected rulers. As one of the ‘five good emperors’ he reigned during an epoch viewed by chroniclers as the happiest of the ancient period. Starting in 117 A.D., Hadrian ruled for 21 years over an empire spanning three continents. Hadrian ended his predecessors’ expansion politics, stabilized the provinces and became a great emperor of peace and prosperity. His legacy was immense, since Hadrian invested in infrastructure and the arts in all parts of his enormous realm. It wasn’t only Rome and Athens that had him to thank for new buildings and comprehensive restorations, but many other cities of his empire as well.
Design Features
- The shape of cap top and cone inspired by typical ancient Roman building, especially those with a concrete dome
- The pattern at cap top ring and cone ring are also inspired by decoration typically used in Roman Empire, with a connection to the Roman god Janus, who is the god of time
- Clip inspired by a grain of wheat, which comes from the story of Hadrian as the first Roman emperor who passes the initiation of Eleusinian Mysteries
- Cap ring with special engraving inspired by two portraits and an arch: Greek Hero Antinous, who became a symbol of Hadrian’s dreams of Pan Hellenism and Medusa, who is often used on Roman architecture. The pattern around rebuilds a Roman arch
- The special engraving on nib is inspired by the phoenix: which is based on a story between Hadrian and his predecessor Trajan; Hadrian wants to create something different from his adopted father and be remembered. The fountain pen nib is 18kt gold available in Medium and Fine widths.
- The quotes engraved on cap and cone ring are from the books Historia Augusta (Augustan History) stating that Hadrian is a great emperor.

REACHES FOR THE MOON LIMITED EDITION. 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of NASA landing on the Moon. It represents one of mankind’s greatest achievements, defining the USA as the victor in the space race with an accomplishment to rank with Christopher Columbus discovering the New World. Inspired by the Apollo 11 mission that delivered astronauts to the lunar surface, in a licensed collaboration with NASA, Montegrappa has reproduced the iconic Saturn V rocket, interpreted as a writing instrument. The Moon Landing Collection, made in white pearlized resin with sterling silver trim, adorned with enamel to reproduce a three-dimensional trompe l’oeil effect of the First, Second and Third stages of the rocket body. Around the First Stage are the legend USA, the American national flag, laser-cut and enamel-filled in exquisite detail. The pen cap is structured to represent the Second Stage and the Apollo command module, with the silver lost-wax signature clip, cast in the form of the stairway structure supporting the rocket. Completing the realization of a Saturn V in miniature, the blind (end) cap is reproduced with the exhaust nozzles of the engines of the space-craft, detailed with red enamel. The fountain pen is piston-fed, and its nib is crafted in 18kt gold. By turning the bottom part of the pen barrel sideways, the Saturn V pen opens up its mid-section, to reveal its inner filling mechanism, augmented by a lunette-aperture showing the ink inside. Montegrappa has issued 363 numbered fountain pens in resin and Sterling Silver, the number denoting Saturn V’s height in feet when standing vertically. 110 numbered rollerball pens are offered in resin and Sterling Silver, as the equivalent of 363 feet is 110 meters.