Pens of Note

Momento Zero, Vintage Brown

"I named this pen the Momento Zero, to signify the emergence of a new initiative from its starting point."

Matrone Salvatore

 

I am very fortunate to have the Momento Zero, Vintage Brown, No 826. This is regular production pen designed and created by Leonardo Officina Italiana. Leonardo established the line at the end of 2017 and I acquired this pen in 2018 on a visit to Rome, at Novelli Pen.

The Pen Material

The pen is made from a beautiful rod of resin, hand turned in a rich blend of earthy colours. The style of the Momento Zero body is classic. The resin has depth with a rich combination of blacks, browns, golds. When at Novelli Pen in Rome I was debating which colour to get. It was a hard decision. But when I carried this pen from the display case the light caught the pen, and the rich array of colours appealed to me. This pen has such a classic look. The trim is rhodium plated silver. Consistent with the overall style and look of the Momento Zero line at the time, there are two rings at the base of the cap, a ring at the end of the nib grip section that nicely aligns with the end of the cap when the pen is closed, and a ring where the cap to expose the twist end of the converter.

Overall, the pen is light in weight and will be easy to hold and write for long periods of time. I appreciate the workmanship to have such a smooth transition from the cap to the body. No harsh feeling in the hand.

The Size

The pen is an excellent size. It measures somewhat similar to the Pelikan M800. The length of the pen when closed is 142 mm, without the cap 129 mm and when the cap is posted, a good 170 mm. The body has a maximum diameter of 15.3 mm.

Filling Mechanism

The pen uses a converter for its ink filling mechanism. The converter is the extended version that uses the entire length of the inner body. Screw off a cap at the end of the pen, the twist a small nob to expel in draw up ink.

The Nib

The resin line of Momento Zero pens come with a steel nib available in Fine, Medium, Broad and Stub. Leonardo used steel nibs from Bock in its initial runs. My Vintage Brown comes with a nib in a Stub width and it is an extremely smooth writing experience. Some may think that steel nibs are something to be avoided. Not so. I can attest to the smooth writing experience.

The Clip

The clip of a pen is a very important aspect of its design. Clips can range from being too small to being too large and clunky. Sometimes the design of the clip overtakes the overall look of the pen. The Momento Zero has a very classic subtle clip. The clip runs about 3/4 the length of the pen cap. At the end of the clip a small roller aides in allowing the clip to effortlessly slip over the shirt pocket material. It has such a classic look and so very suited to the overall look of this pen.

The Cap & Body

The cap of the pen can also impact the style and look of a pen. In this case, the cap of the Momento Zero is well portioned for the overall size of the pen. It is in the same resin as the body so the pen has a smooth look. The body is well portioned, I say this as there are some pens where there is a conscious decision to have a cap short or long. Leonardo go this right. On the body of the Momento Zero is the engraved brand statement: "Leonardo Officina Italiana", the number of the pen follows. Where the pen is not part of a limited edition, there is just the number. In the case of my Vintage Brown, 326. Had the pen been part of a planned limited edition run of pen number of the total would be indicated.