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Pen Review: Leonardo Officina Italiana Momento Zero x Pen Chalet Special Edition

August 21, 2019

For years, I went back and forth on whether to acquire the Delta Dolcevita, the flagship of now-defunct Italian pen company Delta. While I appreciated the depth of the orange material Delta used - a bright orange acrylic/cellulose acetate? - the pen was always just slightly too large for my taste, and the trim levels and scrollwork a little too ostentatious. I never ended up buying the classic Dolcevita, though I did briefly own the Dolcevita Soiree.

Leonardo uses Bock nibs, customized with an understated imprint. All of my Leonardo nibs have been well-tuned writers out of the box. The “roller clip” is another nice Delta legacy. Most of the standard Momento Zero pens feature stainless steel nibs… — Leonardo uses Bock nibs, customized with an understated imprint. All of my Leonardo nibs have been well-tuned writers out of the box. The “roller clip” is another nice Delta legacy. Most of the standard Momento Zero pens feature stainless steel nibs, with gold nibs available on premium models.

Leonardo Officina Italiana is a new pen company run by former Delta craftsmen, and while you definitely notice the Delta heritage, Leonardo pens appeal to me because they are more understated, taking the best elements of Delta’s design and material choices and omitting the superfluous flourishes. The pens are “minimalist” in the best sense: they rely on a design that’s simple and straightforward without being boring, and focuses the attention Leonardo’s diverse array of materials that range from acrylics to celluloid to ebonite.

While I’ve previously reviewed Leonardo’s “flagship” pen, the Momento Zero, I wanted to separately review a recently released limited edition made available through Pen Chalet, which transposes the Delta Dolcevita’s orange and black color scheme onto the much more functional size and shape of the Momento Zero. Even better, the pen was made available in both a gloss and matte finish, with ruthenium trim. The pen pictured here sports the matte finish.

Like the other Momento Zero pens in my collection (I now have seven total), everything about this special edition is well-executed and makes for a quality, highly functional pen. The medium size and slightly tapered shape of the Momento Zero lends itself to longer writing sessions or all-day use, whether you post the pen or not. The matte finish on the section feels nice, similar to the matte finish on the Sailor Imperial Black, and provides good grip. The nib writes a smooth, relatively wet, western fine line. Like the other Momento Zeroes that are priced below $200, this pen features a steel nib and a “captured converter” filling system, meaning that you can either unscrew the section and remove the converter as you would with a traditional cartridge-converter pen, or you can remove the blind cap and work the converter like a piston-filler. As pictured below, even the converter sports ruthenium trim!

Did I mention Leonardo’s attention to detail? Most companies would not have bothered to plate the “non visible” components, such as the end of the converter under the blind cap. Things like this make me smile.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I appreciate how Leonardo has chosen to focus its offerings on two classically styled pen models, the Momento Zero and the Furore, and expand the lineup by releasing these pens in new colors and new materials that include exclusive store collaborations. As I mentioned above, the pen featured here was an exclusive collaboration with our site sponsor Pen Chalet, and limited to a run of 25 pens. It sold out quickly. Fortunately, however, Pen Chalet and Leonardo have just launched a new, expanded collaboration that slightly tweaks the design of the pens. Check out the newest release, now available in orange and matte or gloss black acrylic with gold trim or in “Hawaii” acrylic with matte or gloss black acrylic and ruthenium trim. The orange/black/gold combination offers the classic “Delta Dolcevita” look, while the “dark Hawaii” is something truly unique to Leonardo. These pens are priced at the $199 price point - which I consider a bargain given the quality - and I’m looking forward to adding one of the “dark Hawaii” pens to my collection soon.

A few of the other Leonardo Momento Zero pens in my collection, including three from the high-end “Maestro” set made available last year.

Also stay tuned for the upcoming Momento Zero Grande, which will be a larger version of the standard pen featuring an integrated piston filling system and new materials. Follow @leonardo_pens on Instagram for details.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I purchased the pen featured in this review using store credit generated through my participation in the Pen Chalet affiliate program, which is one method I use to acquire pens to review for the blog. Many thanks to Ron and Pen Chalet for making this review possible!

Pen Review: Leonardo Officina Italiana Momento Zero

May 19, 2019

It's definitely true that some reviews write themselves, and others take a longer time to develop. Not because of any ambivalence about the pen itself - no, from the minute I picked up a Leonardo Momento Zero (and possibly from the minute I first saw the pictures online) I knew that this would be a pen for me. Nevertheless, it’s taken me a while to put this review together, if for no other reason that it takes some time to photograph five pens!

I don't know all the details of the story behind the founding of Leonardo Officina Italiana, but from what I can piece together from conversations I've had at pen shows and brand descriptions, Leonardo was founded by former penmakers at Delta, the now-defunct Italian company. Though Delta took a lot of flack for a tendency towards gaudy special editions and marketing gimmicks (fusion nib, anyone?), I could never argue with the actual writing experience that their pens offered. Montegrappa was far outside my price point; Omas was plagued with nib issues and just wrote too wet in general, leaving Delta and Aurora as the pens for people who actually want to use their pens for work. Of course, in the years since I've entered this hobby, both Delta and Omas are now defunct, and Aurora and Montegrappa have both made strides in making their products both more accessible and useable as daily writers. That said, I still feel the loss of Delta, and it left a void, especially for those of us who prized celluloid pens.

The work Leonardo has done in Italian celluloid is what initially drew me to the brand. The three pens in the center are the piston-filler Momento Zero in, from left, Omas Arco Verde celluloid, Omas Burlwood celluloid, and Omas Burkina celluloid.

Originally, before launching their own pens, Leonardo was a workshop that partnered with Armando Simoni Club, which had purchased certain assets of Omas (most notably, their remaining stock of celluloid rods). It is my understanding that the same penmakers behind Leonardo manufacture most of the ASC pens, which have received very good reviews in their own right, though their size, design, and price point target a vary specific customer.

The only other acrylic material in my collection that captures the depth of the material Leonardo uses has been from Conway Stewart. Shown here is the Conway Stewart Model 100 in “Honey Noire,” next to the Momento Zero in Pietra Marina (“Sea Stone”)… — The only other acrylic material in my collection that captures the depth of the material Leonardo uses has been from Conway Stewart. Shown here is the Conway Stewart Model 100 in “Honey Noire,” next to the Momento Zero in Pietra Marina (“Sea Stone”) acrylic.

Last year, Leonardo began releasing pens under their own name. The first model, the Momento Zero, took some time to "gather momentum," for lack of a better expression, because the pen was initially produced in small quantities, and not heavily promoted. I'm not sure of the official order of release, but the first Momento Zero pens I recall seeing available for sale were the "Abyss Celluloid" releases, which commanded a high price and sold quickly. As production ramped up, Leonardo not only released additional higher-priced celluloid and ebonite pens in a range of different (and beautiful) materials, but expanded the Momento Zero lineup to include acrylic pens at the $160-$200 price point, which is when I really became interested. They even included a matte black pen with ruthenium trim, which is good enough to give the Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black a run for its money, especially as a price/value proposition.

The next generation of Italian pens: from the Delta Fusion 82 to the Leonardo Momento Zero.

I Take the Plunge (or Jump Off the Cliff)

I didn't start with the standard lineup, though. Though I was never a fan of Omas pens from a usability perspective, I had long admired their materials and design - especially their celluloids. When I saw the Leonardo "Maestro" set, consisting of three Momento Zeroes in long-discontinued Omas Burkina, Arco Verde, and Burlwood celluloids, I knew that I'd have to sell some pens and pick up a set. Unfortunately, by the time I'd sold enough pens to pay for most of the purchase, nearly all retailers had already sold out, except for one set still held by Emil at Pen Venture. You can say that I liked the size and shape of these pens - since then I've acquired two more Momento Zeroes from the standard "production line," and will likely add additional pens in the future.

The Leonardo Momento Zero “Maestro” set in its presentation box. Each of these pens arrived in impeccable condition with nibs tuned to perfection.

What Do I Like So Much about the Momento Zero?

The Leonardo Momento Zero wins big in all the major categories that I look at when selecting and buying a pen.

Balance and Writing Comfort. Perhaps most importantly, the pen is perfectly sized and balanced for my hand - neither too long nor too short, and I can easily use it posted or unposted. The only other pens that hit this same sweet spot are the Montblanc 146 and, sadly, the Delta Fusion 82, which no longer exists (though one remains in my collection). The Leonardo feels most like the 146 in my hand, since the barrel is wider than the Fusion 82, though it’s much lighter due to the absence of a brass piston.
Classic Design. In terms of design, Leonardo has definitely gone for the classic look. The shape somewhat reminds me of a Sailor Pro Gear, but slightly larger with peaked ends reminiscent of a Nakaya Piccolo or Long Piccolo. All of the materials - acrylic, celluloid, or ebonite - exude a vintage vibe and have excellent depth to the various patterns, and Leonardo uses simple, understated trim to avoid the trap that Delta and Omas sometimes fell into, which is making the pens too flashy or “busy” in an effort to create a unique look.
Well-Tuned Nibs. The Momento Zero features standard Bock nibs that have been personalized with the Leonardo logo, and I suspect have been tuned and set at the factory. The higher-priced celluloid and ebonite pens feature 14kt gold nibs on an ebonite feed, with steel nibs and plastic feeds on the production line pens. Overall, I've had excellent luck with the nibs on my Leonardos. Emil tuned the gold nibs on my Maestro set to perfection, and the steel nibs on the pens from the standard lineup performed perfectly well out of the box. Since any Bock nibs have the potential for quality control issues, I would recommend purchasing from a retailer who will check and, if necessary, tune the nib for you, unless you are comfortable doing the work yourself or plan to get the nib ground or tuned at a pen show.
Overall Build Quality. If you’ve used a lot of fountain pens, you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say that you can “feel” whether a pen is well-made or not. The Momento Zero feels great. These pens have been hand-turned, and to achieve this level of consistency requires years of experience and a lot of care. Another nice touch is the filling system: My celluloid Maestro pens feature a lightweight integrated piston, and while the acrylic models are cartridge-converter, the converter is semi-integrated in that it not only threads into the section, but has a metal-plated knob at the end that extends out the back of the barrel. If you don’t feel like unscrewing the section to fill the pen, you can remove the blind cap and fill the pen piston-style.

Leonardo Momento Zero nibs, ranging from the ruthenium-plated (top), to the stainless steel (bottom left) to the rhodium-plated gold (bottom right).

A writing sample from three of my pens. Compare the line width from the broad and extra fine steel nibs to the medium gold. The combination of a gold nib and an ebonite feed makes the pen a very wet writer, which is nice to have, but may affect the … — A writing sample from three of my pens. Compare the line width from the broad and extra fine steel nibs to the medium gold. The combination of a gold nib and an ebonite feed makes the pen a very wet writer, which is nice to have, but may affect the choice of someone looking to use this particular pen as a daily writer.

The end of the converter on the Momento Zero can be used piston-style by removing the blind cap.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Leonardo Momento Zero is the first pen in a long time that I’ve reviewed where I don’t have any significant critiques or “negatives” - it’s that good of a pen in terms of design, build quality, and execution. Of course, so much of this hobby is driven by personal taste that it’s entirely possible that you won’t be drawn to this pen the same way I am, but that’s how these things go. I will note, however, that the gold nib pens are wet writers - probably due to the use of an ebonite feed - so you’ll want to consider this when selecting a nib size and adjust a size down from what you would normally choose (i.e., if you’re looking for a medium, buy a fine).

I’m happy to see that Leonardo pens are now widely available, and am eagerly awaiting what else they plan to release in the coming year. In addition to Pen Venture, where I purchased my Maestro Set, I acquired my matte black model from Dan Smith (The Nibsmith), and my Pietra Marina “Sea Stone” pen from Appelboom. Other retailers who now carry Leonardo include Pen Chalet and Goldspot. Prices start at $169 for a resin/acrylic Momento Zero with a steel nib, and range up to $200 for more complex materials such as the Pietra Marina (Sea Stone) and Hawaii acrylics. For a pen with this level of craftsmanship, I find the price point more than fair. The ebonite and celluloid pens are more expensive (approximately $695), but still sit at a price lower than what you would pay for a comparable pen from Aurora or Montegrappa.

A Leonardo Momento Zero “Family Snapshot,” with some other pens for comparison purposes. From left: Montegrappa Monte-Grappa, Montblanc 146, Aurora Optima, Momento Zeroes in Matte Black, Sea Stone Acrylic, Arco Verde celluloid, Burlwood celluloid, a… — A Leonardo Momento Zero “Family Snapshot,” with some other pens for comparison purposes. From left: Montegrappa Monte-Grappa, Montblanc 146, Aurora Optima, Momento Zeroes in Matte Black, Sea Stone Acrylic, Arco Verde celluloid, Burlwood celluloid, and Burkina celluloid, Conway Stewart Model 100, and a Pelikan M800 Stone Garden.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and contains affiliate links. I purchased all of the Leonardo pens featured in this review with my own funds, for my own personal collection.

Exploring Stock Stub Nibs, Part II: Higher-end Options

February 7, 2019

A couple of years ago I wrote a piece on stock stub nibs, which focused on inexpensive options such as the Pilot Metropolitan and the TWSBI 580, both of which offer a very affordable stub nib that gives you line variation and makes your writing look more interesting at a price point as low as $15. As I wrote in that article, the main advantage to starting out with these inexpensive specialty nibs is that they allow you to learn how a stub writes without having to (potentially) sacrifice a pen in your collection to a nibmeister. I say this because for every pen I have had custom ground that ended up amazing, an even greater number of grinds didn’t work out, mostly because I chose a poor grind for my handwriting style, but a couple flopped because I went to a pen show and had the pen worked on by someone who didn’t know what they were doing.

Here, I want to discuss a couple of excellent stock stub nibs that are available on pens at higher price points. You might ask why spend money on an expensive stock stub when you can get a pen custom ground to your own personal preferences? A few things to consider:

If you’re looking for a stub nib at a standard “broad” width, a stock nib offers this at a stock price point (though sometimes with a slight upcharge) without having to undertake the additional expense and uncertainty of going the custom grind route.
You don’t have to visit a pen show. If you’re thinking of getting a pen custom ground for the first time, I highly recommend visiting a pen show and having the nib work done in person. You can work with the nibmeister to adjust the grind to your specifications as opposed to working through the mail. The costs of return shipping can add up!
Most importantly, a stock stub nib is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty and return policy. Everyone in this hobby thinking of having their nibs custom ground should realize that it voids the warranty on the pen, so if the grind doesn’t work out, you have to replace either the nib or the pen. On the other hand, if a stock stub is bad, or the grind doesn’t work for your particular writing style, you can return it to the retailer or distributor for an exchange.

So which stock stubs am I currently enjoying? I added a couple to my collection last year:

Three writing samples, starting from top: the Leonardo Officina Italiana Stub; the Aurora stub, and a custom ground .6mm Masuyama stub for comparison purposes.

Aurora. If you enjoy a crisper nib that offers more line variation than your typical stock nib, Aurora makes an excellent 18k stub. It’s approximately .7mm in width and has an ebonite feed, making the line width and ink flow perfect for everyday writing. It’s also surprisingly smooth, and mine has little to no tooth. A few years ago, I had picked up an Aurora Ipsilon Quadra with a stock italic nib, and I didn’t care for that nib at all because it was far too sharp and skipped and hard-started like crazy when I tried to use it as an actual writer. The stub on my 88 Minerali, however, is superb, on par with custom work. Lately, the word has gotten out about Aurora stock stubs, so they have been a bit harder to find. Currently, Pen Chalet has a stub nib option available in the all-black Aurora Unica Nera, and Dan Smith at The Nibsmith also keeps them in stock as an option for most Aurora pens.

Leonardo Officina Italiana. If you prefer a wider, smoother stub, consider the offerings from a new pen company based in Italy, Leonardo Officina Italiana. I was a fan of Delta pens before that company went out of business, and Leonardo was founded by former Delta employees. The company’s products reflect its heritage, though I’d say the Leonardo pens I own are a step above Delta in terms of fit, finish, and quality control. (It also doesn’t hurt that they have access to some discontinued Omas celluloids, due to a manufacturing partnership with Omas successor Armando Simoni Club.) Though wider than the Aurora stub (about 1.1-1.3mm), the Leonardo nib also features an ebonite feed and writes a narrower line than you would expect, making it another good option for everyday writing. I hear good things about Leonardo’s steel stub nibs as well, but haven’t personally tried them. I acquired the pen pictured here from Pen Venture as part of a three-pen set, and Emy tuned the nibs to perfection prior to shipping.

Franklin-Christoph and Pilot. Two other brands I should mention are Franklin-Christoph, which offers a wide variety of stub, cursive italic, and S.I.G. (Stub Italic Gradient) nibs in both stainless steel and gold. Those nibs are all excellent, and deserve their own article. The other brand I should mention here is Pilot, and in particular the Vanishing Point. Pilot offers a stub (“SU”) nib option for the VP that is roughly the same width as the Aurora, but I haven’t had the opportunity to write with one extensively.

If you’re interested in custom grinds, you can also check out this article, in which I talk about some of my favorite specialty grinds.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. Both pens pictured in this post were purchased by me with my own funds, for my own collection.