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CARTIER 2008 The “Inseparable de Cartier” (Lovebird) Limited Edition 250 Sterling Silver & Enamel Exceptional Fountain Pen
ST190019
Individual identification number: 065/250
Made in France
Heavy sterling silver fountain pen with sapphire eyes, hand-applied multi-color enamel, sterling silver display stand.
18K two-tone gold nib engraved with lovebirds
One of Cartier\'s rarest pens, exceedingly uncommon. Conversation piece.
* see carefully the condition report listed below *
Launched in 2005, The Menagerie signed by Cartier, of which the Love Bird collection is a part, features animal-shaped pens fashioned from exquisite materials and precious stones.
The famous Panthère de Cartier pen was the first of the Menagerie to be introduced.
The panther has long been a part of Cartier\'s imagery in jewelry and pens.
In 2006, the collection expanded with the Crocodiles de Cartier, inspired by the necklace in the shape of two reptiles that Cartier designed in 1975 for the famous Mexican actress Maria Felix.
A new collection is introduced each year, and the Inséperables de Cartier is inspired by a lovebird jewelry brooch created by Cartier in 1926.
The bird-shaped pens, each with a pen-stand perch, feature lacquer and jewels combined in Cartier\'s signature style.
There are two versions of the pen: one in sterling silver, and the other a set of two fountain pens in solid gold and paved with diamonds.
The materials chosen and the techniques used to create the 2008 Inséperables de Cartier reflect the company\'s expertise as a creator of exceptional pieces, both in jewelry and in writing instruments.
The creation process requires an artisan\'s craftsmanship at every stage, from conception to fabrication.
Polishing of the pens is a multi-step process that ultimately makes the metal more durable and allows the lacquer to properly adhere to the finish.
Since the shape of the pens is irregular, these operations can only be done by hand,by qualified goldsmiths.
More than 100 hours are needed just to prepare for lacquering.
The vivid colors on the pen are achieved through a very specific technique requiring the application of several layers of lacquer and varnish.
During the lacquering process, the pen has to be handled with great care as the different colors must only fill certain parts of the pen.
Around 25 hours are needed before the final layer of varnish can be applied and thefinal polishing is complete.
The 250-piece limited edition silver features various colors of lacquer and two sapphires that serve as eyes.
It has been alleged that the pen was plagued by production difficulties inherent to the enameling process, and that most of the pens produced were unsuitable for sale.
First announced in 2007, the production encountered many technical difficulties, mainly due to the technique of hard enamel - an unforgiving process of applying many different enamel colors to a single item.
After the solid silver body is carved from a singlepiece ofsilver, each section is filled with the enamel paste and placed in the oven heated to 800 degrees celsius.
Then the next area is applied and \"baked\", then the next, and the entire process is repeated until all areas are covered with beautiful multi-colored pattern.
The problem is that enameling process is tedious, unpredictable and capricious.
If the enamel is cracked, discolored or corrupted, the entire pen needs to be scrapped, discarded and started over.
Only a handful of masters are still practicing a beautiful and forgotten craft, most popular in 18 and 19th centuries\' jewelry powerhouses of Europe.
The cost of production sky-rocketed, as mistakes and bad batches accumulated, so Cartier decided to scrap the entire release and cancel all unfulfilled orders, even prepaid ones.
Out of 250 pens only a handful of these pens were shipped. Many dealers and their customers were disappointed, but \"c\'est la vie\", as we say it in France.
The production was planned for 250 pieces in solid silver, but far from that number was actually completed for the reasons stated above, so the pens are extremely rare.
The massive and very hefty pen depicts a loverbird (parrot) with the caprepresenting head and chestandthe barrel animates the long body.
The entire pen is about 6\" long, slightly curved and very detailed.
The beak is real and the eyes are two natural sapphire cabochons.
Wings applied in deep blue enamel. once the head is removed it exposes a solid 18k nib with hand-decorated carving of two birds, Medium (M) point.
Cartridge filling. The pen is supplied with a special contraption to remove the nib assembly and change the ink cartridge.
The pen is perched on a palladium-finished pen stand enhanced with three onyx cabochons and signed byCartieron its base.
Condition report:
The pen has been extensively used and inked. Numerous and visible signs of use and dings.
The enamel work is still quite well preserved however the lovebird shows several dings on the silver tail (both sides), there are also numerous scratches around the section.
The base stand shows many dings and signs of use.
Please ask for more pictures if needed.
The pen comes together with large Cartier display box (the inner lining is quite deteriorated and sticky), Specific Inséparable de Cartier Brochure (ENG & FR), Cartier International Guarantee (filled out and stamped by Landolt - Arbenz), Direction for use for Exceptional Fountain Pen Inséparable de Cartier and a Set of 10 ink cartridges (Made in Germany).
The white outer cardboard box is scuffed and it shows a deep tears to the back.
In order to replace the cartridge, the writing block has to be removed.
In this regard a specific tool is included. It has been developed for this model will allow you to remove the writing block and change the cartridge without damage.
Nota Bene:
For further details please do not hesitate to contact us. International buyers, please note that the listed item price and shipping cost do not include import duties, taxes, and related charges.
The buyer is responsible for these charges. Before offerding/buying, please check with your local customs or other responsible office for information on these charges.
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We have hadsome problems with our traditional shipping methods (lost packages, majorslowdown in delivery) therefore we decided to move to Fedex Priority Service.
So, theshipping costs are now slightly more expensive (between $45 and $100 dependingon destination country, volume and weight of the parcel) but the service isgreatly better.
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