Leonardo Officina Italiana Momento Zero Positano Numbered Edition

[dms525]

Last month, I received a Leonardo Officina Italian pen. This was a limited edition (10 made) in redwood ebonite with a 14 kt gold stub nib. It is a piston loader. I posted a detailed review of that pen. (https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/334672-leonardo-officina-italiana-momento-zero-ebonite/?do=findComment&comment=4029696) I liked it so much I bought another, but one of the "numbered" (not "limited") editions. This review will be less detailed, emphasizing the differences.

 

 

Numbered Edition above, Limited edition below

 

 

Numbered Edition, uncapped

 

The size and form of these pens is exactly the same. The quality of fit and finish is the same also, as far as I can tell. However, the cap of the Numbered edition unscrews, revealing the end of a captive converter. The section also unscrews, giving access to the converter. As far as I can tell, the converter is not removable, at least not easily. It seems to be standard, good quality converter. Another significant difference is that the Limited edition comes with 14 kt. gold nib while the Numbered edition comes with a steel nib.

 

The Numbered edition comes in several materials - Positano (blue), a "Horn" resin and a black resin. I chose the pen in Positano. The photos I saw online made this material look very similar if not identical to the material Montegrappa used in their Modigliani limited edition writing instruments. Rods of this material are available to pen turners, and I had a custom binde made of this material for a Pelikan M600 by Shawn Newton. Putting that pen next to my new Leonardo shows they are almost (but not quite) identical.

 

 

Pelikan above, Leonardo below

 

As many of you know, my daily handwriting is in italic script, so most of my fountain pens have italic or stub nibs. I found one of the select few pen shops that carry Leonardo pens that had the model I wanted with a stub nib. This was a bit of a gamble for me, but I found it writes almost identically to the gold stub on my ebonite Limited edition Leonardo.

 

 

 

Bottom line: I find this to be a beautiful, well-made pen which is comfortable to use and writes beautifully. With a price that is about one fifth of the Limited edition, it is a real bargain, in my opinion.

 

David

[Ichiro]

Wonderful pens and I want you to know that your italic posts over the years are what inspired me to try fountain pens and italic. 👍

[Inky.Fingers]

Capolavoro

[southpaw]

I have the same pen, albeit with a fine nib. Stunning material and a great writer. I really enjoy your reviews, especially when they include that artwork you call your daily writing.

[dms525]

Wonderful pens and I want you to know that your italic posts over the years are what inspired me to try fountain pens and italic.

 

Thanks for sharing that. I hope you find pens and italic handwriting as rewarding as I do.

 

David

[dms525]

Capolavoro

 

Grazie mille!

 

Davide

[dms525]

I have the same pen, albeit with a fine nib. Stunning material and a great writer. I really enjoy your reviews, especially when they include that artwork you call your daily writing.

 

 

This is simply my penance for 40+ years of writing in the proverbial doctor's illegible scrawl.

 

David

[southpaw]

Ha ha ha! There may be hope for me yet. Started off as chemical engineer (engineers also have quite the reputation for bad handwriting). Furthermore, I'm a lefty. Maybe of I find the time and drive to really practice...

[farazqamar]

beautiful writing and a beautiful pen!

[mehandiratta]

Thanks for the review...
looks really good

[Tseg]

Thanks for this review. I just pulled the trigger on the exact same one:

 

Leonardo Momento Zero blue positano fountain pen - Nib : Stub

 

 

I'm looking forward to learning how to write with a stub.

[biancitwo]

dms525, you said: Last month, I received a Leonardo Officina Italian pen. This was a limited edition (10 made) in redwood ebonite with a 14 kt gold stub nib. It is a piston loader. I posted a detailed review of that pen. (http://www.fountainp...e/?do=findComment&comment=4029696) I liked it so much I bought another, but one of the "numbered" (not "limited") editions. This review will be less detailed, emphasizing the differences.

 

Excellent review as usual. But, question: you refer to this being a numbered edition. Ive looked at several sites and find no reference to a Leonardo numbered edition. Could you help me?

Edited February 22, 2019 by biancitwo

[Barkingpig]

I understand your question because I had not realised the Leonardo Momento Zero pens were numbered when I ordered one recently. I was surprised to notice my pen was indeed numbered, following the Company name on the barrel of the section: "Leonardo Officiano Italiano No 161" (on my pen.)

 

Mine was from Fontoplumo & I just referred to their website & despite their being no mention of numbers of the pen, it is clearly visible in a detailed photograph of the pen on their site.

 

I have no idea of how many pens will be made & "numbered" but I presume the possibility is limitless, since these are NOT a "limited" edition. I just felt it was a nice touch of the pen's manufacture & not really so surprised after receiving the pen & being so astounded by it's quality. I was pleased to receive a screw in converter on my Delta Dolce Vita, but wouldn't have expected one on a pen of this price, yet indeed there it is! The nib is as described, a perfectly lush wet stub nib, one that seems to be nicer than expected on a steel nib.

[Tseg]

For the price, these "numbered" pens have a lot of very nice features:

• Elegant pen design
• Beautiful resin patterns and colors
• Screw off blind cap to access converter
• Thick section and good sized pen overall
• High build quality
• Artistic, highly functional clip
• Branded nib
• Nib selection beyond F, M, B
• Very solid writing nib with character
• Individually numbered pens
• Old school barrel engraving

[TheDutchGuy]

^---Exactly. +1.

[Balekan]

Great pens, I have the Momento Zero 2 Mediterraneo and the Blue Hawaii. Both are fantastic writers! Extremely high fit and finish. The piston on the Mediterraneo was stiff when new, but now broken-in, it is as smooth as butter. Love them both, happy to have them!

 

An answer to a question above, easy way to know what you are looking at is that the resin pens are numbered, but are not limited. The celluloid pens are both numbered and limited.

 

My Mediterraneo celluloid is 006/100 and my resin Blue Hawaii is 221.

 

Their resin pens are the best value in their price range out there, IMO.

Edited February 24, 2019 by Balekan

[biancitwo]

The section appears large. How does it compare to a Pelikan M800?