First Impressions: Leonardo Momento Zero in Primary Manipulation

It’s been a while since any pen has received as much acclaim as the recent collaboration between Leonardo Officina Italiana and Jonathon Brooks of the Carolina Pen Company. Jonathon’s “Primary Manipulation” acrylic features more than six pigments mixed to create a swirled pattern of incredible depth, and back when we still had pen shows, pens made from these materials were always the subject of an early rush at the Carolina Pen Company table. So, when Leonardo first teased this collaboration a couple of months ago, you can imagine the hype. I was lucky enough to snag a pen in each of the two patterns: “Stromboli” (with green as the predominant color) and “Vesuvio” (where red predominates).

I’ve previously reviewed the Leonardo Momento Zero and the Momento Zero Grande, with the special edition Arlecchino making my list of favorite products from the first half of the year. The “Primary Manipulation” MZG easily knocks that one off the list (though the Arlecchino is still a great pen). Leonardo did justice to this unique material, in that the design and finish on the Momento Zero Grande really shows off its depth and vibrancy.

View fullsize

The depth on this particular area of my Stromboli pen is absolutely stunning. Check out that purple swirl! Given the nature of this material, no two pens are alike.

In addition to the unique materials, this version of the Momento Zero Grande is the first pen in my collection to feature Leonardo’s new high-capacity piston filler, which holds 1.5ml of ink. Prior versions of the Momento Zero Grande, such as the Arlecchino, featured a “captured converter,” which still held a good amount of ink but wasn’t a true integrated piston. I believe that going forward, new models of the Momento Zero Grande will feature the high-capacity piston.

View fullsize

The “Vesuvio” model in-hand. Despite its size, the Momento Zero Grande feels incredibly light posted.

As I’ve mentioned before, the Momento Zero Grande shows that an oversized fountain pen can still be comfortable to use, provided the pen is well-balanced and steps are taken to keep the weight down. Comparing the two pens in hand, the Primary Manipulation featuring the integrated piston is actually lighter and less back-weighted than the Arlecchino, making it the easier pen to post. (Overall, the Primary Manipulation weights 1.2oz inked, while the Arlecchino weighs in at 1.4oz. Neither is particularly heavy as far as larger pens go.)

View fullsize

I’m developing quite a collection of special edition Leonardo’s in rare materials. From left, the Arlecchino Momento Zero Grande, a standard Momento Zero in OMAS “Burkina” celluloid, the Stromboli, a standard Momento Zero in OMAS “Burlwood” celluloid, the Vesuvio, and a standard Momento Zero in OMAS “Arco Verde” celluloid. The three pens in OMAS materials formed part of a limited edition “Maestro” set of which only 15 were made.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Everything that Leonardo continues to do impresses me, and hopefully this collaboration with Jonathon on the “Primary Manipulation” model is the beginning of a trend where pen companies and smaller artisan makers like Jonathon collaborate to bring some truly unique pens to the market. Personally, things have seemed a bit stale lately, and this project was just what I needed to rekindle my interest.

View fullsize

The two Primary Manipulation models shown here with the Arlecchino limited edition (far left).

The standard Momento Zero Grande is priced at $329 for a steel nib version, and $549 for a 14kt version, which I consider very good value for a pen of this quality. Special editions such as the Momento Zero Primary Manipulation are priced slightly higher, with Goldspot selling it from $599 (an incredible value given the uniqueness and current limited availability). While Leonardo produced a relatively small number of pens for this initial run, the Primary Manipulation pens form a non-numbered special edition, and the word on the street is that more pens are on the way. I ended up having to hunt for my pens, since this edition was in high demand, and ordered my Stromboli and Vesuvio pens from Appelboom in the Netherlands and Casa della Stilografica in Italy, respectively.

Disclaimer: I purchased both pens pictured here with my own funds for my own collection. I did not receive any discount unavailable to the general public and paid standard retail. This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates.

Pen Review: Leonardo Furore with Rose Gold Trim

Today’s review looks at the “Furore” fountain pen from Leonardo Officina Italiana, the penmakers based in Naples, Italy who have exploded in popularity over the past two years. Their Momento Zero and Momento Zero Grande are some of my favorite fountain pens on the market right now, and the “Furore” is their first attempt at a new shape that, to date, has received less attention than the Momento Zero but presents an equally excellent value proposition. 

Back to Basics: Pen Design from the 1920s Remains Relevant Today

For its second model, Leonardo chose another vintage-inspired design: a classic streamlined shape that borrows from pens like the Sheaffer Balance, an icon of 1920s-1930s penmaking. Although the larger size and bright acrylic material give this away as a modern pen, the shape and design elements such as the double cap band and roller clip will have the Furore looking right at home in your pen case next to your vintage pieces. Other things I immediately noticed upon unboxing my Furore are that (1) the ends are far less pronounced and pointy than Leonardo’s stock images make them appear, and (2) the pen itself is not long and skinny, something that also concerned me from images I had seen online. Sadly, while I’ve had opportunities to glance at the Furore on tables at pen shows, I never took the time to do a thorough overview until now.

View fullsize

I’m not sure whether the “Deep Purple” Furore is a limited edition, but my pen is numbered.

Where the Momento Zero incorporates a wide range of acrylics and other materials in patterns reminiscent of vintage celluloid, the Furore line comes in solid colors inspired by landscapes along the Amalfi Coast. Leonardo has chosen colors they characterize as “bright and strong,” and that’s a good description of the lineup, which includes: “Arancio” (orange), “Blue Emerald” (turquoise), “Blue Emerald” (a darker ocean blue), “Bronze” (pearlescent brown), “Deep Purple” (pearlescent purple, pictured here), “Grey Vulcano” (pearlescent grey), “Red Passion” (pearlescent red), “White Salt” (pearlescent white), and “Yellow Sun” (pearlescent yellow). Most colors are available with either gold or rhodium trim, and the Deep Purple model shown here is offered with rose gold. Since I’m trying to reduce the total number of pens that I own at any given time, my goal is to limit myself to a single Furore, but as with the Momento Zero, it’s going to be hard. 

View fullsize

View fullsize

As I’ve said before about many other vintage-inspired fountain pen designs, there’s a good reason these particular shapes have withstood the test of time and continue to appear on pens nearly a century later. Both the Momento Zero and the Furore are insanely comfortable pens to use, posted or unposted. I love the fact that the caps post deeply, allowing Leonardo to make a larger pen that you can use unposted, but that we “posters” can still use in our preferred way without adding excess length or throwing off the balance. 

View fullsize

The Leonardo Furore uses the same filling system as the Momento Zero: a threaded converter that can be used in the traditional manner or “piston style” by removing the blind cap.

Bored with the Standard Choice Between Gold and Rhodium? Give Rose Gold A Try

Speaking frankly, I’ve been a little bored with my fountain pens. Over the past few years, I’ve fallen into a rut where I’ve accumulated a lot of pens that may not appear identical, but definitely share a common design theme. There’s nothing wrong with that - it tends to happen in collecting, especially to those who have been in a hobby for a long time and learned what they like. But the line between developing strong preferences and locking yourself into a “rut” where you stop exploring new things is fairly thin. For the longest time, I resisted picking up a rose gold pen. Now I own two. 

View fullsize

I knew little to nothing about rose gold as a material until recently. Rose gold derives its reddish hue from mixing pure gold with a copper and/or silver alloy, and the specific reddish tone can vary depending on the proportions used in the mix. Some rose gold trim appears almost pink, while others take on darker, more coppery hues. The rose gold used by Leonardo on my Furore leans toward the darker end of the spectrum, and accentuates the Deep Purple acrylic quite well.

View fullsize

Even the converter/“piston knob” is plated in the rose gold trim. I’ve previously remarked on Leonardo’s attention to detail, which continues with this pen.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I regret waiting so long to give the Leonardo Furore an extended tryout, and purple pen fans will want to give this particular model serious consideration. For whatever reason, my perception of the Furore ended up skewed by the stock images available online, which made the Furore seem like a narrower pen than it actually is. The streamlined design turned out to be extremely comfortable posted or unposted. Most notable about this purchase for me is the fact that this Furore represents the first pen with rose gold trim in my collection, I love it, and it prompted the purchase of another rose gold pen, which you all will be seeing soon. Could rose gold be a new “thing” for me? We’ll see.

While certainly not “cheap,” Leonardo pens are notable for their relatively accessible price points: you can purchase one of their designs for as little as $160 in a standard material, which will net you an exceptional pen, and you can spend more if you desire a gold nib or aesthetic upgrades such as a rare material like Italian celluloid. I purchased this pen from site sponsor Appelboom, who carries the entire Leonardo Officina Italiana lineup, including not only the Furore but the acclaimed Momento Zero and the newly released Messenger. With a steel nib, the Furore runs 147 Euros / $163 USD, depending on the exchange rate. If you opt to upgrade to the 14k gold nib, the price jumps to 328 Euros / $365 USD. Here, the 14k nib in rose gold absolutely kills it in terms of overall finish and appearance. Personally, I find Bock gold nibs much more consistent in terms of overall performance than the standard steel. While Leonardo tunes their steel nibs, and the ones in my collection are all nice writers, I prefer the feel of the gold. 

Finally, this rose gold Furore is special for another reason: it’s the first pen chose for review by my Patreon backers. One benefit I offer to my Patreon subscribers (at the “Bespoke” and “Special Edition” tiers) is the ability to vote on reviews. The Leonardo Furore won the first poll, and I have additional content in the works based on subscriber input. Many thanks to the generous Patreon supporters who made this review possible.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. I purchased the pen featured in this review from site sponsor Appelboom, using affiliate credit generated through the Appelboom affiliate program, which is one way I support the blog.

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

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.

View fullsize

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.

View fullsize

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.

View fullsize

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!

View fullsize

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.

View fullsize

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!