High Artistry A Journey through Château de Versailles Limited Edition 7

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. The Limited Edition 7 in particular honours the finest artistic jewel in the Versailles crown: the Hall of Mirrors. Without doubt, the ‘Galerie des Glaces’ represents the quintessence of grandeur at Versailles. Far more than just an architectural masterpiece, the Hall of Mirrors was the most magnificent backdrop to the reign of the Sun King, Louis XIV. Beautiful marble panels and no fewer than 357 mirrors line its walls, the latter produced in the manufacture royale, which was established to challenge the dominance of the Venetian glassmakers and underline the opulence of the French court. The gilt framed mirrors appear to draw the view of the fabulous garden indoors, and the light from the crystal chandeliers is a breathtaking crescendo of seemingly infinite reflections. The hall provided a glittering stage upon which to play out a host of ceremonies and celebrations which left guests and diplomats alike in no doubt: Versailles and the Sun King constituted the glorious embodiment of exclusivity and absolute power. The master craftsmen at Montblanc have transposed the majesty radiating from the heart of the palace onto this Limited Edition 7 made of solid Au 750 gold. Backed by a coating of silver, rock crystal inlays replicate the patina of the historical mirrored chamber – a glorious evocation of its grandeur, defined by spectacular ornate mirrors and dazzling chandeliers. The interplay of light and reflection is echoed in the polished surfaces and intricate detailing, reminiscent of the room’s opulent decor. Fine strips of gold punctuated by single diamonds frame the inlays, echoing the characteristic Versailles aesthetic, while bands of diamonds encircle cap and cone. A recurring decoration in the palace is the majestic double L monogram composed of two intertwined mirrored letters – Louis XIV's personal seal, which the king used exclusively for his private correspondence. This ‘Chiffre du Roi’, the cipher of King Louis XIV, symbolises like no other the blossoming of baroque style and the luxury inherent in French court culture of the day. The seal also features in this edition: the solid Au 750 gold cone takes the form of a seal stamp and as such can also be used to seal private correspondence. The patterns on the diamond-studded cone take their cue from the design of the ornate parquet flooring in the palace. The opulent chandeliers of the Hall of Mirrors, in which the intricate tiers of crystals reflect the light in such spectacular fashion, feature prominently in the Limited Edition 7. A delicate engraving of a chandelier graces the hand-crafted solid Au 750 gold nib. Louis XIV saw himself in the tradition of Apollo, the god of light and the arts in ancient mythology. In honour of the ‘Sun King’, as the monarch was subsequently referred to, the image of the sun is encountered throughout the palace in numerous representations and allegorical allusions to the ancient Greek god. The sun also takes centre stage in the Limited Edition 7, as the clip ends in an elaborate medallion framed with diamonds which shows an image of the original sun king, Apollo. In the style of the prestigious decorative medals frequently presented as gestures of courtly or diplomatic favour at the time, the medallion on the cap can be opened to reveal an exquisite hand-painted miniature. It captures the view from the garden of the Palace of Versailles as it appeared before the construction of the Hall of Mirrors. This historical detail offers a glimpse into the palace’s evolution, making the edition not only a work of art but also a connection to Versailles’ storied past. The cap top is a veritable jewel in its own right, with the Montblanc emblem composed of diamonds set in pavé at its centre.