Writing Wrongs with Fonderie 47

We have enjoyed covering the efforts of Fonderie 47 and their affiliated companies.  So I would urge you to consider their latest offering made possible by their partnership with Cross.

Courtesy of Cross

Simple idea - buy yourself a wonderful luxury item like this Cross pen, help get another AK 47 out of the hands of warlords and child soldiers.

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

If you're ready to step up, you can order this pen directly from Cross in the US:

Cross Fonderie 47

Here are the pertinents -

ABOUT THE PEERLESS FONDERIE 47 COLLECTION

This special-edition rollerball pen supports Fonderie 47’s efforts to help stop gun violence in war-torn regions of Africa by removing assault rifles from circulation. The design is inspired by the AK47 itself. Each pen features black PVD plating with 23KT gold-plated appointments, a moniker disk of transformed steel from an AK47 destroyed in Africa, and the unique serial number of a gun destroyed to create it. Your purchase funds the destruction of one more AK47. Carry, use, and display it as a symbol of hope and change.

• Your purchase funds the destruction of one more AK47
• Black PVD plate engraved finish with 23KT gold-plated appointments
• Blackened AK47 steel moniker inset in cap
• Each pen features the unique serial number of a gun taken out of circulation to create it
• Includes Certificate of Authenticity signed by its creators
• Presented in a luxury collectible box with a genuine wood display stand
• Lifetime Mechanical Guarantee

ABOUT THE FINISH

• Matte black PVD-plated finish engraved with an AK47-inspired design and accented with polished 23KT gold-plated appointments
• Blackened AK47 steel moniker embedded in cap
• Cap showcases the unique serial number of a gun taken out of circulation to create it

ABOUT THE TIP

• Premium threaded cap
• Exclusive gel ink rollerball formula flows freely like a fountain pen
• Includes one black gel ink rollerball refill (#8523) in pen
• Can be converted into a ballpoint pen or creamy porous felt-tip pen by changing the refill to the desired type of tip (refills sold separately)

SPECS

Width:  0.52 inches / 13.2 mm

Length:  6.16 inches / 156 mm

Weight:  1.5 oz / 43 grams

The Pen Is Mightier!

I am very proud to announce the creation of a new award to recognize significant community contributions by members of the watch industry.  The ‘Writing Wrongs’ Award will be awarded for the first time on Thursday, April 25^th at the EDELBERG booth in the Ramada at BaselWorld. 

This past year, I announced the Tempus Fugit Initiative – a call to action for members of the watch industry to do more than merely write a check for a charitable contribution.  The goal of the Tempus Fugit Initiative is to help call attention to members of the watch industry who truly endeavor to change the lives of others in a positive, meaningful, and sustainable way.

I was joined in this mission by the father and son team behind EDELBERG Haute Manufacture, Carlo Naldi and his son Samuel.  Through their daily operations, they help prove that nothing is more powerful than an idea – even if sometimes that idea might need some help to express itself.  Carlo and Samuel recognized, as I do, that a story needs to be shared, and by sharing that story we can help people working to heal a broken world.  The Naldis share my sincere desire to give these actions a voice, and to prove that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword.

This year we are very pleased to honor the work of Fonderie 47.  Fonderie 47 have set out on the rather daunting task of reducing the number of assault rifles and other small arms globally.  They have addressed this challenge by funding the destruction of over 30,000 assault rifles to-date.  In the process, they have dismantled these deadly machines and repurposed some of the components into beautiful pieces of jewelry and one of the most beguiling haute creations the world of horology has seen in some time: a watch they have named Inversion Principle. 

Courtesy of Fonderie 47

The very idea of taking an AK47 and repurposing it into an object of beauty is amazing in and of itself – but considering that this enterprise serves to fund the destruction of even more weapons and you can understand how Fonderie 47 was the unanimous choice for the inaugural ‘Writing Wrongs’ Award.

Courtesy of Fonderie 47

Inversion Principle, the new timepiece by Fonderie 47 announced earlier this year, was designed by Adrian Glessing, and developed and produced by David Candaux of Du Val Des Bois exclusively for Fonderie 47.   Peter Thum, who is a pioneer in this field, heads Fonderie 47.  Inversion Principle is a mechanical marvel with features including a jumping hour complication, a retrograde minutes display, a 3-minute flying tourbillon, and 2 power reserve indicators.  Available in white or red gold, and limited to 10 pieces of each color, each timepiece funds the destruction of 1,000 assault rifles in Africa upon purchase.   And to commemorate the transformation of weapon to time keeping wonder, a small piece of the metal recovered from a destroyed AK47 is employed to cap the ratchet wheel and can be viewed through the display back.

We welcome you to join us in honoring Fonderie 47 on Thursday, April 25^th at 5:00 PM.  No RSVP required – just a desire to change the world!