P E N S O F N O T E

DolceVita Momento Zero Siren

The DolceVita, The Sweet Life, fountain pen has a great history. The pen was first issued by the Delta pen company, becoming a flagship pen. The original models were over-sized, had a generous feel in the hand, and a distinctive look. Versions included oversized, mid-sized, mini and stout. The pen ended with the closing of Delta Pen.

Talent from Delta went elsewhere, with Salvatore and Mariafrancesca Matrone creating Leonardo Officina Italiana - known as Leonardo Pen. They issued their version of the iconic orange and black pen first as the Momento Magico DNA model. The pen had a different body design being smoother and more slender. This was a great pen having a piston fill ink mechanism. I have one and love it.

Now in 2026 Leonardo updates the design and has issued the new model as the DolceVita Momento Zero. The DolceVita comes in the iconic organge and black as well as other colours. The colour I acquired is the DolceVita Momento Zero Siren - the iconic pen in a beautiful rich blue to accompany the classic orange resin for the pen barrel.

DolceVita Memento Zero Siren by Leonardo Pen

A Pen to Celebrate the Italian Way

What is "DolceVita"? It is a spirit, a way of life that was inspired by a period of time when art, culture and lifestyle of the late 50s and early 60s was at a high. A romantic high. The country was in recovery from the pain of the Second World War. Rebuilding was taking place, the economy was improving, and it was a time when one could enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing. Living your life. This type of lifestyle, especially in the streets of Rome was often seen in movies. Rome/Italy was a visual treat. You did not have to do anything to enjoy it, it just overtook you.

Since the 1980s Karen and I have been travelling annually with just a few breaks. Once we past the point of madly trying to see as many sights as possible in a day, we slowed down to enjoy a style more with more DolceVita. After being in Rome countless times a typical day may just a slow walk to enjoy the architecture, a coffee, a drink and some days do almost nothing!

I wanted a pen in my collection that said: Italy. That's the DolceVita. I have more than one but the new collection by Leonardo offered a different look to an iconic pen. The Leonardo Momento Magico DNA, previously released, has a sleek, smooth appearance, an understated cap band with a three-dimensional pantagraph with a design somewhat like the handles of a Roman amphorae. A pen that says Italy to me.

This year the model is called the DolceVita. I was completely taken with the new colour to frame the rich orange resin - a beautiful dark blue that immediately brought back memories of the waters that surround three sides of the country.

The DolcevVita Momento Zero Siren says Italy. By carrying it, the pen triggers so many great memories of our trips and the people we have met in Italy.

The body shape is that of the well known Momento Zero. I am very comfortable with its profile: 146 mm in length, a grip diameter of 12 mm and a cap diameter of 16.5 mm. I can can post the cap when I write. I like the smooth shape, especially the conical ends that add a nice feel when holding the pen. The does not just end. You hand can explore the ends of the pen that were finished with a purpose. The clip is a classic clip with a rolling ball.

The cap has a new style of band than the previous Magico DNA model. The single raised cap band uses uses a method referred to as the lost-wax casting technique. It nicely brings together my overal DolceVita collection.

My pen is fitted with a Number 6, La Fenice 14th karat gold nib, with an ebonite feed in a Stub 1.1 nib width. The Stub 1.1 creates as subtle line variation yet creates a writing line that I can use in a variety of writing needs.

The ink filling system is the Leonardo converter, I like that is the metal top sytle. You can unscrew the blind cap at the end of the pen and turn the top of the converter to fill the pen, but I usually just unscrew the nib section from the pen as I like to see the ink go into the converter so I know I have a complete fill.

The orange resin is stamped into my mind as "Italian Resin". The pen stands out, yet it does not have a garish book.

There are other colours in the DolceVita Momento Zero line. I liked the Marno Pompeii which is a burgundy colour resin with a marbled resin. I may have to add that later to my collection. But there are also DolecVita Furore models. The DolceVita Furore Parthenope looks very impressive.

The Momento Zero model is one that fits well in my hand and the pen has proven to be an excellent writer. As a final note on my overall reaction to the pen, I must say, I like that Leonardo has numbered each pen. Knowing that mine is Pen 321 just feels good.