(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)
Leonardo Officina Italiana has quickly become one of my favorite fountain pen brands. Their resins are gorgeous, and the build quality of the pens is top notch. Although I love the Leonardo Furore I reviewed a few months ago (here), my favorite Leonardo model is definitely the Momento Zero with its conical finials at the top of the cap and bottom of the barrel.
Appelboom sent this pen for review, and I must say their presentation is always classy. They wrap the pen in black paper secured with a gold Appelboom sticker.
The pen itself is in a Leonardo clamshell box with a tan interior.
The Momento Zero is the perfect size for most people, measuring 5.6 inches/142mm capped, 5.1 inches/129mm uncapped, and 6.7 inches/169mm posted. It weighs 25 grams capped (empty) and 19 grams uncapped (with ink). Although the barrel is about 15mm at its widest, the grip is tapered down to a comfortable 10 to 11mm.
I chose gold trims for this Green Blue model. The clip is relatively small and has a rollerball on the end as is typical of many Italian fountain pens. Near the base of the cap are three thin gold rings. Another adorns the barrel where it meets the cap, and another encircles the removable knob that reveals the converter piston.
What drew me to this pen was the stunning resin. Ordinarily I would hone in on the blue model immediately (and there is a Blue Sorrento model). But this time I was immediately drawn to the Green Blue resin, partly because it reminds me of my favorite Christmas light combination! The flecked resin is beautiful with dark blues and a mixture of dark and light greens. Some flecks have chatoyance as well.
The pen is a cartridge/converter filler. However, Leonardo’s converter system is unlike the typical flimsy, plastic converters used by some other brands. It is made of high quality plastic and metal, and it screws securely into the grip (rather than just being friction fit).
Although you can unscrew the barrel at the grip to access the converter, it’s also possible (and easier) simply to unscrew the bottom knob to access the converter’s piston portion (much like a captured converter). This attention to detail and function is one of the reasons I like Leonardo pens so much.
I chose a gold-toned steel 1.1mm stub nib, which is my go-to nib on Leonardo pens because their stubs are so smooth.
At first, I was a little concerned about this nib, because it exhibited hard starts and some skipping. But, the problem wasn’t the nib. It was the TWSBI Emerald Green ink, which is rather dry. When I added some Vanness White Lightning Ink Additive to the ink, the problems cleared up.
The stub nib delivers a smooth, wet line that shows off any shading or sheen inherent in the ink. I can write with this pen and nib combination for long periods without any discomfort. The stub gives character to my handwriting.
You can purchase the Leonardo Momento Zero Green Blue from Appelboom for $171.66 (price depends on Euro/USD rates). Appelboom ships quickly and their customer service is outstanding.
(Appelboom provided this Leonardo Momento Zero to Pen Addict at no charge for review purposes.)
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