In today’s fast-moving world, it is often easy to forget how precious and magnificent our planet truly is. The space travellers who have walked among the stars describe the immense emotion of seeing the Earth floating in the vast expanse of space. In a campaign for the launch of the newly designed StarWalker writing instrument, Montblanc partners with Chinese-American astronaut Leroy Chiao and Korean illustrator Jaehoon Choi to capture the moment of awe when a space traveller gazes back at earth from space and experiences that unexpected longing for home.
The former astronaut and space station commander is one of a handful of individuals to have experienced the wonder of space and witnessed the fragility of Earth, having spent 229 days in space over the course of four missions. Leroy Chiao has used Montblanc writing instruments since his student days, and was gifted a personalized one by his wife on the occasion of his 4th mission. In a series of animated stories illustrated using a StarWalker pen, he shares his impressions of looking back to earth and its mesmerizing blue Aura from the stars. “While orbiting the earth, you realize the majesty of our Blue Planet…home,” he explains. “The earth is alive … I deeply understand this looking down on our colourful planet.”
“This year marks the 50th anniversary of the landing on the moon. Like Leroy, most astronauts who had the opportunity to see earth from space over the years share the same unique feeling – the majesty of our planet is difficult to describe. That’s why we decided to take a unique perspective on space exploration by looking back at our planet from the vast expanse of space. The StarWalker line is about innovation, engineering and modernity. This product line, as well as this new campaign reminds us to preserve and cherish our planet,” says Nicolas Baretzki, Montblanc CEO.
The new StarWalker collection expresses the wonder of being part of one of humankind’s most mysterious and powerful adventures: space exploration. The black precious resin of the writing instrument recalls the dark vast expanse of space, while the translucent dome beneath the emblem evokes the earth rising above the lunar horizon as seen from the moon, a reminder to appreciate our Planet. The polished platinum-coated cap and barrel represents the astronaut. The angled clip cover and dome resembles the shape of a space rocket, while the cap screw mechanism on the forepart and cone is similar to an astronaut securing their helmet to a space suit before setting off into space.
The StarWalker lineup includes a Precious Resin edition in all black with contrasting metal fittings, a Doué edition with a black resin barrel paired with a metal cap or forepart, and a sleek full Metal edition. Each edition is available as a Fountain Pen, Ballpoint and Fineliner Pen. A matching notebook and pen pouch feature a view of the Earth from space. The earth is printed on a shiny metallic leather that shimmers through the image creating a three-dimensional effect as if seeing the sparkling cosmos.
Telling the awe-inspiring story of space exploration, the StarWalker collection inspires us to reconnect with our planet. A reminder of its brilliance and preciousness.
