Police divers recover CZK 100,000 platinum-coated Victor Hugo-themed pen that fell into the Vltava

Police recovered a luxury pen worth CZK 100,000 that fell into the Vltava river in Prague over the weekend.

Metropolitan Police were approached by a 64-year-old man at a dock on the Smíchov embankment of the river. He said that the pen had been hanging from his T-shirt had inadvertently fallen into to water.

The owner added that the pen also had a lot of sentimental value because it was a gift, though he did not specify from whom. Photos of the recovered pen match advertisements by luxury pen maker Montblanc for its Homage to Victor Hugo Limited Edition 1831, which has a platinum coating and red lacquer inlays. Depending in the particular retailer, the pen sold for between CZK 95,000 and CZK 110,00. It was limited to 1,831 pieces, and seems to be sold out from most original sources.

The body of the pen is decorated with the Gothic arches and a rosette design reminiscent of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Hugo published the novel Notre-Dame de Paris, also called The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, in 1831. There is also a small ring at the end resembling a link in a chain that fastened the bell-ringer Quasimodo. The translucent red lacquer on the pen is inspired by the prison uniform of Jean Valjean – the main character of the novel Les Misérables, published in 1862. Upon his release, Valjean received a yellow passport, which is depicted in the form of yellow lacquer inlay.

Police divers had a hard time working because there was a large layer of mud at the bottom where the pen had fallen. “Finding such a small thing in a large layer of mud was not entirely easy, but after less than an hour, the grateful owner took the pen from the police,” the Facebook post added.

Police spokeswoman Irene Seifertová said the case is exceptional due to the value of the item, but the police often help in this way. They have in the past helped to locate items such as bicycles, keys or purses. Whether they can help always depends on the assessment of the patrol.