Caran d'Ache Limited Edition Secret Journey I Voltaire Rollerball Pen

Special order item, Usually Ships Within 4 - 7 Business Days, Subject to availability.

Caran d'Ache Limited Edition Secret Journey I Voltaire Rollerball Pen

Caran d’Ache has found its inspiration by the Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). For the first time it has dedicated a trilogy of unique writing instruments to three major authors who have been secret guests on its shores. In praise of Switzerland and the timeless beauty of the lake, the “Secret Journey” Limited Editions describe the lake shore, seen from three towns in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. But the real journey starts where the secrets are hidden. The “Secret Journey” Limited Editions are technical marvels containing a discreet mechanism that reveals quotations from the writers, together with a precious stone carefully selected to reflect a special characteristic of the author concerned. On the body and cap of the writing instruments, subtly presented old maps will lead anyone who loves rare and valuable objects into the very heart of history.

“Secret Journey I” is the first of all three Secret Journey limited edition writing instruments to be unveiled, to tell the story of Voltaire’s secret stay in Lausanne, during the 18th century. François-Marie Arouet, better known by the pen name Voltaire, was a famous French writer of his century. The enjoyable time he spent in Lausanne is immortalized in a quotation ingeniously concealed on the body of the pen, “Je dois à cette ville mes jours les plus heureux” (“I owe my happiest days to this city”). Also hidden away is a Top Wesselton VVS diamond of 0.06 carats that crowns the body of the pen, marking the city of Lausanne. It indicates the city of Lausanne on an 18th century map of Lac Léman executed in fine engravings and subtle images in black lacquer on the silver-plated, platinum-coated body of the pen. Until the special mechanism is operated manually, the secret phrase is covered by the famous engraved pattern from the world of watchmaking: “Côtes de Genève”.

The “Secret Journey I” writing instruments – 300 fountain pens and 150 rollerball pens are entirely manufactured in the company’s Geneva workshops. The silver-plated tip of the pen is coated in platinum and personalized by a guilloche design. The ring is stamped with the Caran d’Ache master craftsman’s mark. Each writing instrument is individually numbered: 1 to 300 for the fountain pens and 1 to 150 for the rollerball pens. The “Secret Journey I” rollerball pen uses a roller point cartridge. These exclusive pens are presented in a sumptuous black lacquer box carrying a representation of the Lausanne region.