Leonardo Momento Zero Green Blue with 1.1mm Stub Nib: A Review

(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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Sailor Pro Gear Slim Shikiori Japanese Fairy Tale Series Fountain Pen in Dragon Palace: A Love Story

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

Once upon a time I was minding my own business, stuck in quarantine and scrolling Instagram, when my eyes landed on the most beautiful pen in the kingdom. It's not exactly an uncommon story. I'd say this happens a few times a week. But this time was different! Because it was almost Mother's Day, and I was supposed to be thinking about what I'd like for a gift. Within the next few days, the Anderson Pens newsletter said they had them and they were offering curbside pickup. With the means, motive, and opportunity secured--reader, I bought the pen.

I admit, this is not my first Pro Gear Slim. It's my favorite mass-produced pen make and model, and this is my 5th one, so I generally know what to expect from them. Still, each one manages to surprise me with how delightful it is, and this one is the most delightful yet.

Part of the allure is definitely the story behind the inspiration for the series. I'm a sucker for a good story! I've bought pens just for their names before, and I regret nothing. I adore fairy tales, frequently immerse myself in them, and they're a big part of my life every day. It wasn't likely I could resist a line of pens inspired by fairy tales, especially not when they make one in my favorite color.

The Dragon Palace pen is inspired by Ryugu-jo—the palace of the dragon spirit Ryujin, which is said to exist three-days swim under the water off the coast of Cape Nagasakibana. It's the setting for numerous tales and legends, and I've been enjoying reading them as I learn more about the stories that inspired this pen.

The color is somewhere between mint and seafoam, with gold flecks that look like sunlight sparkling on the water. The body and cap are resin, with gold-plated accents. The center band reads "Sailor Japan Founded 1911" and it has the signature anchor logo on the finial. The grip section is made in the same green resin, with a gentle taper. The nib is 14k gold, with Sailor's signature scrollwork and logos. This series only comes in the MF nib, which is a great size, though it would not have been my first choice. It's a very practical size, the goldilocks of nibs--not too fine, but fine enough. Like all Sailor nibs I've used, it writes perfectly. It's a wet writer, but it doesn't gush. It's enough to show the shading and characteristics of the ink while maintaining a crisp line. It's wonderfully smooth, but not too smooth, so there's no baby's bottom or feeling like your writing is about to float out of control. The pens fit Sailor's proprietary cartridges or converters, and come with both.

The Fairy Tale series, like the four seasons series before it, is limited, so if you're as besotted as I was, you won't want to wait to grab one. The MSRP for these pens is $225, though online prices are around $180. That puts them in the same price neighborhood as a lot of steel-nib pens. It's still very expensive, but for the quality and materials, it's a great deal.

I'm sure there are more Pro Gears in my future, but this one came along at just the right time, bringing a bit of beauty and a whole new family of stories just when I needed them. This is the part where we live happily ever after.

(I purchased this pen at Anderson Pens at the regular retail price.)

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Kaweco Skyline Sport Ocean Blue Limited Edition Review

You don’t have to twist my arm very hard to get me to review one of my all-time favorite pens. Make that pen in a limited edition color? Well, when Cityluxe asked me if I would like to check out their store exclusive Kaweco Sport Skyline in Ocean Blue that was about an easy of a “Yes!” As I could give.

What is it about the Kaweco Skyline Sport that I love so much? It is the best pocket carry/full-sized writing experience on the market. That’s accounting for everything from build, to performance, to price. Add it all up and it equals excellence.

My favorite feature of this pen is its main feature: It is compact when you carry it or store it away, but provides what I consider a standard pen writing experience with the cap posted. This is my most commonly used pocket fountain pen, by a pretty good margin.

When I say pocket, I mean it. This pen goes where I go, and despite being lightweight, the barrel holds up to all the dings and drops I put it through. In fact, I think this pen almost looks better in a well-loved state than brand new.

It may be tough to see on the yellow pen, but this is what a well-loved Sport looks like.

This Ocean Blue model doesn’t quite have the wear and tear as some of my older Sports have due to the Quarantimes we are currently living in. It travels in my pocket from desk to couch, but hasn’t had a chance to cohabitate with keys, pocket knives, phones, and any of the other mess normally in my pockets. I’m anxious for the day it gets to leave the house with me.

I inked up the Ocean Blue with the supplied Kaweco Midnight Blue ink cartridges - probably my favorite of their ink lineup. This package ships with a six-pack of cartridges in a built-in area of Kaweco’s traditional tin box. I hadn’t seen this packaging design before, and thought it was a nice touch.

The use of short international ink cartridges present one of the drawbacks pocket pens have, and this Kaweco is no exception. If you are looking for large ink capacity, this is not the pen for you. And don’t bother with any of Kaweco’s attempts at converters for their Sport pens, unless you want to use them strictly for syringe filling your bottled inks.

The other drawback often mentioned around the Kaweco Sport is the inconsistency of their nibs, but that is something I rarely, if ever, experience - especially after a switch in manufacturing plants a couple of years ago. I normally use an EF nib in my Kaweco pens, but chose a Medium for something different. It’s just as consistent and smooth as any of my other Kaweco nibs.

Currently priced at $32, it is right in line with all other Kaweco Sport limited edition releases, especially since it includes a pack of cartridges instead of a single. You can get another 10% off by signing up for the Cityluxe newsletter, and Cityluxe offers a free gift of a 30ml bottle of Monteverde ink with the purchase of this pen, making the entire package a downright steal.

(Cityluxe provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!