Unprecedented success followed the first collaboration between Montegrappa, and our ambassador, Sylvester Stallone. The Chaos Pen, unequivocal in its message, bold in its execution, impressive in its sheer presence, found a new audience never before seen in the world of pen collecting. It is the first “heavy metal” pen, an endorsement made real by the sheer joy seen on the face of Chaos fans including Scorpions’ guitarist, Rudolf Schenker.
Sly followed this with an accessory not usually associated with hard-rocking axe-merchants, bikers or cinematic mercenaries: the Chaos Cufflinks, which add an air of danger to any sober suit. Like the pen, the Chaos Cufflinks found an audience that appreciated the mythos created by Sly from medieval origins. His artistry has translated into objets ‘dart the mystical, magical ambience of a painting by Bosch, a gargoyle from Notre Dame.
For 2013, to complete a triumvirate of wearable Chaotic treasures, Sylvester Stallone and Montegrappa present the Chaos Automatic Analogue Wristwatch. Hand-made in northern Italy, where its mechanical movement is housed by artisans, the Chaos timepiece is an ideal partner for the pen and the cufflinks that inspired it.
Most striking is the case, fashioned from a choice of silver or gold, with black PVD-coated back. It features the signature skull-and-serpents motif that continues around the case, even including a small, engraved skull on the winding crown. Its highlights have been intensified by subtle shading, while other editions will offer the details in hand-applied, full-colour enamels. The case is complemented by a leather strap with contrasting edges, terminating in a buckle with the skull motif, while the dial features applied Roman numerals, suggesting the antiquity of the Middle Ages. The black, bi-level, brushed guilloché dial with luminous hands and date aperture at 3 o’clock is protected by a sapphire crystal.
Within the forged sterling silver or 18k solid gold case beats a Swiss heart. Montegrappa has chosen one of the world’s most dependable automatic “engines” to power the Chaos, the renowned ETA 2824. The massive 54x43mm-diameter case, secured by four screws and featuring a screw-down crown, protects it against water ingress to 10ATM.
Only a limited number of Chaos Automatic Analogue Wristwatches will be produced, each a “portable work of art” exuding the same ferocious spirit as the Chaos Pen. Launched at Baselworld in April, this astonishing timepiece can be viewed at The Couture Show in Las Vegas from May 30 – June 3rd, between 9AM and 5PM, at Booth #110.