I was feeling down this week, and then remembered I have a lot to be grateful for. Like stationery, and friends to share that stationery with. I brainstormed this list in all of five minutes, and it changed my day. I hope it helps you out, too.
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(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 her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)
I've purchased several Tactile Turn pens over the years--one for my father and two for my husband. MY TURN.
I've drooled over a number of their seasonal and limited releases, but I caved and bought the Buccaneer the moment their newsletter hit my inbox. Because pirates.
This pirate-themed pen comes in three sizes: Standard, Short, and Mini. I opted for the Mini, because I love a good pocket pen. Regardless of size, the pen is made of titanium with a Cerakote finish that makes it look like wood. It looks very realistic and even fooled one of my coworkers. On the finial, there is a Jolly Roger and the clip is laser engraved and aged to look like an old treasure map. Aesthetics are ten out of ten. Everything is machined with precision and works smoothly, with the nosecap fit so seamlessly that I couldn't even find it at first.
The pen operates with a bolt-action knob, which is 24kt gold-plated stainless steel. The liner of the bolt mechanism is a perfect pirate red.
The Standard length takes a standard Pilot G2 refill, the Mini takes the mini G2 refill, and the Short length takes the Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 refill--all fantastic writers, so you can't go wrong. Mine has been my primary writer since it arrived (which admittedly was only a few days ago) and it has been a delight to use. And that fidgety knob has gotten me through some stressful hours.
The pen came in a sturdy foam coffin inside of a special cardboard sleeve, and it came with a cool postcard, a sticker, and temporary tattoos! Delightful.
Overall, Tactile Turn makes excellent pens, which is why they've been a go-to for my gift purchases in the past. I've enjoyed watching the evolution of their designs, and I know I'll continue picking up their limited releases because they're just too much fun.
The Buccaneer sells for $149, which I obviously thought was absolutely worth it. For the quality, Tactile Turn's prices are very fair. I say this knowing that a non-pen person would think I'm insane. But in da clurb, we all fam.
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(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
The Leonardo Momento Zero has been around since 2017, and I think it's safe to say it's been a hit. It's a vintage-inspired design that pays tribute to its Italian roots. On top of that, there are plenty of vibrant colorways to choose from.
I've had a chance to use the Leonardo Momento Zero Alga with silver trim recently, and there's certainly a lot to like about this pen. Let's get into it.
On the surface, the Momento Zero looks a bit like many other traditional fountain pen designs. The shape is well-balanced with both ends quickly tapering to a soft point. There's only one bit of branding on the pen, and that's a debossed Leonardo name and the unique number of the pen located on the back of the cap opposite the clip.
The clip is the same design that many of Leonardo's pens share. It's an elegant shape that compliments the pen shape, and the tip is a functional roller that makes it easy to attach and remove from fabric or other objects. There are three decorative silver bands at the base of the cap, as well as a couple of bands on the pen body that correspond to the connection points of the three pieces.
The material is acrylic resin and is shaped from a solid rod. The Alga colorway I chose is a mixture of deep and medium greens that give it an overall emerald look. It looks like the rods are made by combining many smaller square rods into one. Through turning the material into the final shape, the small rectangular pieces make the material look like it is striped and like the shape of the pen is faceted. The pen shape is definitely cylindrical, but I appreciate the optical illusion due to the unique materials. The combined color of the different greens with their mix of hues and lighter accents make this pen beautiful to me. Some of the materials are more transparent than others, which gives the pen a slightly luminescent quality.
The cap of the pen is secured with threads, and it's easy to use. The cap also comfortably posts on the back of the pen, though I don't like the balance of the pen for writing in this configuration. For me, it's the perfect balance without the cap attached.
It's a "standard" size fountain pen, so it's comfortable to hold when writing. The shape of the grip section is comfortable and provides a nice area to hold the pen regardless of your grip style.
The #6 JoWo nib is a perfect match the size of the pen, and the EF version in this pen works flawlessly. It's a fairly plain nib, but there is some decorative scroll work along with the nib size.
Moving into the pen, I was delighted to find a cartridge-converter included with the pen. The pen takes standard international short cartridges, but this converter is slightly longer than the typical international converter size. It also screws into the section so you don't have to worry about it shaking loose inside the body of the pen. At first, I thought the silver handle on the converter twist mechanism was purely decorative, but I soon discovered that this pen has a hidden feature.
Like any normal fountain pen, you unscrew the pen body from the section to get at the cartridge or converter. But, this pen also has a small blind cap at the end of the pen that unscrews from the pen body completely. When this piece is removed, it exposes about 0.25" (7mm) of the converter twist handle so you can make small adjustments without taking the pen apart. I've found that there isn't enough purchase to reliably operate the converter when filling the pen, but it's fine for a quick turn if you're trying to revive the ink flow after the pen has been sitting for a week or more. It's an intriguing feature, but I think it's more for show than for any real practicality. Still, it will definitely make it easy to clean the inside of the pen body if you ever have any internal ink accidents.
Finally, writing with this pen has been so pleasant. The shape of the grip, the length and balance of the pen, and the feel of the smooth acrylic material after it's warmed up in my hand make this is an excellent writing instrument for long writing sessions. The JoWo nib is smooth and delivers consistent, reliable ink flow. It's a fantastic pen that also has a unique design and beautiful materials. It's been at the top of my rotation lately.
Vanness carry the Momento Zero in a variety of colors — too many to list out, so be sure to browse the in-stock options to find the right colorway for you. Along with the colorway choices, you also have several nib choices from the standard EF-B sizes, but also a fun Elastic (Leonardo's name for flex nib available in EF or F) and a 1.5mm stub nib.
The normal price for the Momento Zero is $199, which I think is more than fair given the materials, build quality, and exceptional writing experience. At the time of this review, the Alga with silver trim model featured here is on sale for $159. I'm happy to recommend the pen at either price point.
(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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!
