Momento-Zero-Pen-Chalet-Orange-Matte-Black

Pen Review: Leonardo Officina Italiana Momento Zero x Pen Chalet Special Edition

August 21, 2019

For years, I went back and forth on whether to acquire the Delta Dolcevita, the flagship of now-defunct Italian pen company Delta. While I appreciated the depth of the orange material Delta used - a bright orange acrylic/cellulose acetate? - the pen was always just slightly too large for my taste, and the trim levels and scrollwork a little too ostentatious. I never ended up buying the classic Dolcevita, though I did briefly own the Dolcevita Soiree.

Leonardo uses Bock nibs, customized with an understated imprint. All of my Leonardo nibs have been well-tuned writers out of the box. The “roller clip” is another nice Delta legacy. Most of the standard Momento Zero pens feature stainless steel nibs… — Leonardo uses Bock nibs, customized with an understated imprint. All of my Leonardo nibs have been well-tuned writers out of the box. The “roller clip” is another nice Delta legacy. Most of the standard Momento Zero pens feature stainless steel nibs, with gold nibs available on premium models.

Leonardo Officina Italiana is a new pen company run by former Delta craftsmen, and while you definitely notice the Delta heritage, Leonardo pens appeal to me because they are more understated, taking the best elements of Delta’s design and material choices and omitting the superfluous flourishes. The pens are “minimalist” in the best sense: they rely on a design that’s simple and straightforward without being boring, and focuses the attention Leonardo’s diverse array of materials that range from acrylics to celluloid to ebonite.

While I’ve previously reviewed Leonardo’s “flagship” pen, the Momento Zero, I wanted to separately review a recently released limited edition made available through Pen Chalet, which transposes the Delta Dolcevita’s orange and black color scheme onto the much more functional size and shape of the Momento Zero. Even better, the pen was made available in both a gloss and matte finish, with ruthenium trim. The pen pictured here sports the matte finish.

Like the other Momento Zero pens in my collection (I now have seven total), everything about this special edition is well-executed and makes for a quality, highly functional pen. The medium size and slightly tapered shape of the Momento Zero lends itself to longer writing sessions or all-day use, whether you post the pen or not. The matte finish on the section feels nice, similar to the matte finish on the Sailor Imperial Black, and provides good grip. The nib writes a smooth, relatively wet, western fine line. Like the other Momento Zeroes that are priced below $200, this pen features a steel nib and a “captured converter” filling system, meaning that you can either unscrew the section and remove the converter as you would with a traditional cartridge-converter pen, or you can remove the blind cap and work the converter like a piston-filler. As pictured below, even the converter sports ruthenium trim!

Did I mention Leonardo’s attention to detail? Most companies would not have bothered to plate the “non visible” components, such as the end of the converter under the blind cap. Things like this make me smile.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I appreciate how Leonardo has chosen to focus its offerings on two classically styled pen models, the Momento Zero and the Furore, and expand the lineup by releasing these pens in new colors and new materials that include exclusive store collaborations. As I mentioned above, the pen featured here was an exclusive collaboration with our site sponsor Pen Chalet, and limited to a run of 25 pens. It sold out quickly. Fortunately, however, Pen Chalet and Leonardo have just launched a new, expanded collaboration that slightly tweaks the design of the pens. Check out the newest release, now available in orange and matte or gloss black acrylic with gold trim or in “Hawaii” acrylic with matte or gloss black acrylic and ruthenium trim. The orange/black/gold combination offers the classic “Delta Dolcevita” look, while the “dark Hawaii” is something truly unique to Leonardo. These pens are priced at the $199 price point - which I consider a bargain given the quality - and I’m looking forward to adding one of the “dark Hawaii” pens to my collection soon.

A few of the other Leonardo Momento Zero pens in my collection, including three from the high-end “Maestro” set made available last year.

Also stay tuned for the upcoming Momento Zero Grande, which will be a larger version of the standard pen featuring an integrated piston filling system and new materials. Follow @leonardo_pens on Instagram for details.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I purchased the pen featured in this review using store credit generated through my participation in the Pen Chalet affiliate program, which is one method I use to acquire pens to review for the blog. Many thanks to Ron and Pen Chalet for making this review possible!

My Personal Hall of Fame: Favorite Stationery Products in Every Category

August 17, 2019

Since I’m having some remodeling work done in my home office next week, I’ve found myself in the unenviable position of having to move all of my belongings from one end of the house to the other. (This sounds like not such a big deal, except that my office is over the garage and separate from the rest of the house, so it is like actual moving.) The upside is that this gave me the “opportunity” to sort through years of accumulated stationery, donating some, setting others aside for blog giveaways, but also taking the time to do something I’ve never done before: making a “personal hall of fame” or “personal favorites” list. Hopefully, making a list like this will help me focus and weed out stuff that I will never use. Last year I did a huge year-end “clear out” sale in December, and I hope to do the same this year.

So, without further ado, here are my picks. Again, these shouldn’t be confused with my “best pen” recommendations. Rather, these selections are my own personal favorites, organized by category, so there’s a ton of subjectivity here. Most of these are also products I have reviewed, so where possible, links are to my own prior posts. Otherwise the link will be to a sponsor or affiliate who sells the product.

Pens

Paper

Favorite Large Format (A4-ish) Notebook: Baron Fig Confidant Plus (shown in review in leather cover, which is sold separately by Baron Fig)
Favorite Standard Format (A5-ish) Notebook: Baron Fig Confidant Flagship
Favorite Planner: Jibun Techo
Favorite Pocket Notebook: Write Notepads Perfect Bound

Inks and Refills

Pencils and Pencil Accessories

Accessories/Miscellaneous

Any categories you think I missed? Shoot me an e-mail and I’ll consider adding it, though I don’t want to get too down in the weeds with subcategories of different types of pens, etc. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: This post contains my own subjective opinions. I was not compensated in any way for including any products in the lists featured here.

Pen Review: Schon DSGN Classic Machined Pen in PVD DLC Stainless Steel

August 14, 2019

If I had to pick one “small-batch” maker who has seriously impressed me with his ability to consistently produce high-quality pens at a relatively small scale while still maintaining an accessible price point, it’s Ian Schon and his company, Schon DSGN. You’ll recall that I reviewed the Schon DSGN Classic Machined Pen last year, but this particular pen - my Classic Model in PVD DLC Stainless Steel - was not featured in that review. Why? Unfortunately I had “misplaced” it at the time, and I was despondent. As it turns out (and as frequently happens when you have hundreds of pens lying around your house), I found it in the pocket of some shorts that I had stored away last winter and didn’t pick up again until the June. This beauty is now firmly back in the rotation.

Compact, durable, and equipped with the reliable Fisher Space Pen refill, a Schon DSGN pen - especially in a nearly indestructible material like DLC-coated stainless steel, could easily be your go-to everyday carry pen.

What is “PVD DLC”?

Let’s get that out of the way first. “PVD DLC” refers to a process by which items such as pens and watches are coated to make them darker and more durable. The “PVD” part of the process ("Physical Vapor Deposition”) actually refers to the process, and I’m not about to delve into the technicalities because it’s way above my head. You can read more about it here. “DLC” (“Diamond Like Carbon”) refers to the coating itself, which darkens the look by bonding to the steel and hardening the pen even further. Needless to say, it will be very difficult to damage a PVD DLC stainless steel pen, especially one that’s already as durably built as a Schon DSGN Classic.

I picked up the PVD DLC Classic at the 2017 D.C. Pen Show, which I believe was the first time that Schon DSGN attended. Why did I pick this particular pen to take home? Because during my conversation with Ian, he was showing it off as the pen he designed for himself, and at the time, the PVD DLC model wasn’t a regular part of the lineup. If I’m at a pen show, talking directly to a maker, and they tell me, out of all their pens, which one they built for their own use, 9/10 that’s the one I’m buying.

The Schon DSGN Classic is a short pen to use unposted, but the stainless steel model actually feels pretty good due to the added weight.

Despite the heft of this pen, I still find it comfortable to use for it’s intended purpose: short notes and marking things up in the course of day-to-day activities. While it may not be the best choice for novel writing, I had no issues posting the pen and using it to write out a full page of notes for this review. Like the other Schon DSGN Classic pens, this one accepts the Fisher Space Pen refill, and I swapped in the burgundy version.

The Schon DSGN Classic posted. Since the pen is well balanced and the cap threads on the back, I have no issues posting this one. Those with smaller hands may find it too back-weighted to use comfortably posted.

Side Note: Did I mention that the DLC coating is super hard and durable? To the point where it. will. scratch. anything. Don’t carry a DLC-coated pen in a bag or pocket with something like a phone unless you want a big scratch down the center of your screen. Personal experience here.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

When I purchased this pen in 2017, Ian wasn’t sure that he was going to make PVD-DLC a standard option, since it’s (1) a fairly “hardcore” EDC choice, and (2) expensive to make. I’m glad to see that the PVD DLC version of the Schon DSGN Classic is now available for purchase at a relatively accessible price point of $150. If you don’t want/need the added “boost” of DLC durability, Schon DSGN also makes a polished stainless steel version of the Classic priced at $108. While the default refill on this pen is the Fisher Space Pen refill, Schon DSGN also sells a D1 refill adapter.

Unfortunately I was unable to break away from the table long enough to pick up one of the new Schon DSGN fountain pens that were released at the 2019 D.C. Pen Show. These will be released to the general public on the Schon DSGN website August 20th. I would expect the first run to sell out quickly so keep your eyes peeled and act quickly if you want one!

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own collection. This post contains affiliate links.

Montblanc-James-Purdey-Sons-Ink-Single-Malt-Scented

Ink Review: Montblanc James Purdey & Sons Single Malt Scented Ink

August 10, 2019

While Montblanc remains one of my favorite brands, they’ve annoyed me a bit as of late. Not because their special or limited releases have been “bad,” it’s just that there are so many of them that they cease to be “special.” And, yes, I’d say some of them have been lackluster, like the recent “Blue Palette” series of six different shades of blue. In their apparent effort to turn out a large volume of high-priced releases, I feel like they’ve fallen into a bit of a rut characterized by uninspired homages and repetitive color choices.

Montblanc James Purdey & Sons is fairly dark, with good visibility for everyday writing. I’ve enjoyed using this ink at work and in my journal at home.

That said, if you take the time to sift through all of the various options, you’ll find some gems that I consider absolute must-haves. One such ink is the whisky-scented collaboration with James A. Purdey & Sons, the British gunmaker famous for their (extremely expensive) bespoke shotguns and rifles. While the pen itself is a gorgeous example of the craftsmanship Montblanc is capable of, it’s also pricey, and falls far outside what I would ever feel comfortable spending. The ink, however, presents an option for those who want to participate in this “Great Masters” release without shelling out thousands of dollars.

Montblanc Purdey & Sons matches my Newton Orville in the Conway Stewart acrylic fairly well, right? Writing samples are done on Col-o-dex and Col-o-ring Oversize paper.

As a general matter, Montblanc makes excellent, low-maintenance inks that won’t damage your pens and work well on all but the cheapest recycled copy paper (and even there they hold up as well as can be expected). The Purdey & Sons ink is no exception, though I will say that it seems slightly wetter than most Montblanc inks, which I don’t mind. The “single-malt” scent is not overwhelming and disappears as the ink dries, so my notebooks haven’t ended up smelling like they’re soaked in booze. I guess you can call that work-friendly? Sort of? Maybe after lunch.

Montblanc describes the ink as a light brown, though the color is not washed out. Like the Carlo Collodi ink from a few years back, it has a reddish-orange tint. It’s not just me: the label on the bottom of the bottle says “Encre Morron Orange”, whi… — Montblanc describes the ink as a light brown, though the color is not washed out. Like the Carlo Collodi ink from a few years back, it has a reddish-orange tint. It’s not just me: the label on the bottom of the bottle says “Encre Morron Orange”, which I assume is bad French for “brown orange.”

Takeaways and Where to Buy

A whisky-scented ink isn’t necessarily going to be an everyday user for me (unless I really want to get people talking during 7:30 a.m. meetings), but as a whisky/whiskey enthusiast, I wasn’t about to pass this one up. While I appreciate the craftsmanship in a finely made shotgun, and the pen absolutely nails the homage, the Purdey & Sons association wasn’t what drew me to this particular ink.

You can purchase the James Purdey & Sons ink from Montblanc boutiques or retailers. Since I don’t have a Montblanc boutique near me, I ordered this ink from site sponsor Appelboom, who still has it available on their website, along with the Purdey & Sons fountain pen. This ink comes in the larger 50ml bottle, so it’s not inexpensive at 41 Euros, but it is a scented ink (which ups the cost somewhat) and you can get a little bit of a discount using the coupon code “FRIEND” at checkout.

Disclaimer: I purchased the ink featured in this review with my own funds, though I received some store credit through my participation in Appelboom’s Affiliate Program. This post contains affiliate links.

Recapping the 2019 D.C. Pen Show: It's Still The Big Show!

August 7, 2019

Let’s face it … the D.C. Pen Show is always a bit of a hot mess. It’s a 3-day event with hundreds of vendors and thousands of attendees crammed into two hotel ballrooms and a few hallways. Pen shows don’t have the budget of Comic-Con or even major trade shows, so hotels are usually a bit too small and lack amenities that attendees would otherwise be used to, such as ready access to food and beverages.

Yet you still go. Other shows are catching up - San Francisco and Chicago in particular - but D.C. remains the big annual event, and I suspect it will remain so for the immediate future. It’s the only place where you are likely to see brands of all sizes and price points, ranging from Montblanc to Franklin-Christoph to small startups such as Narwhal Pens. Though this year saw a number of notable absences, D.C. is also the show where you can expect to find most of the large pen retailers, high-end vintage dealers, and fountain pen repairmen and nib grinders. Because of this diverse presence, lots of people still attend, regardless of the logistical challenges and bad locations, and the D.C. Pen Show presents one of the best opportunities out there to meet everyone and to catch up with friends. So what were the notable things I saw this year?

Galen Leather. The feel-good story of the weekend was Galen Leather, who attended with a seriously impressive stockpile of inventory, including their leather pen cases, notebook covers, and brass accessories. More on what I purchased below. I’m also happy to announce that Vanness Pens is now the exclusive U.S. retailer for Galen Leather, so you will be able to purchase Galen Leather products from a U.S.-based source, reducing shipping cost and time for those of us in the States!
Matthew Martin Custom Pens. After debuting his pens to much fanfare in Atlanta, veteran knifemaker Matt Martin came to D.C. with a serious stockpile of “The Original,” his machined fountain pen that comes in various designs and materials including titanium, brass, copper, and zirconium. Matt uses a special technique to reduce the weight of the pen, which makes them much more comfortable to use than many heavier machined pens made from brass and copper.
Faber-Castell and Graf von Faber-Castell. For the first time I can remember, representatives of Faber-Castell, USA attended the D.C. Pen Show, and they were a lot of fun to get to know! These two brands, with some of the best nibs on the market, unfortunately tend to go unnoticed at shows, but this year a LOT of people were purchasing Faber-Castell pens, and I picked up my first Graf von Faber-Castell, a now-discontinued Guilloche model.
Kanilea Pen Company Aolani. Apparently a large stock of Aolani pens came to D.C., but only a very few were left by Sunday, making the pen wildly successful. Check out my first impressions here!
Atelier Musubi. Daryl traveled all the way from Singapore toting his gorgeous fabric journals, including some unique prototypes. More on Musubi as a brand here.
Straits Pens. Everyone who came looking for unique sizes of Tomoe River paper was directed to Sunny at Straits Pens, who was attending his first D.C. Pen Show. For future reference, Sunny also does nib grinds, and will be attending the San Francisco Pen Show.
Vinta Inks. Some of the biggest draws at the Vanness Pens table this year were inks from Vinta, a new brand out of the Philippines that has both standard and shimmer options. I’m looking forward to testing these out soon. Blue Blood and Sikatuna Sandugo both caught my eye.

Galen Leather was set up in the front Ballroom, and Zeynep from Write to Me Often was working the table all weekend!

It’s amazing how much self-control you can exercise when you’re behind the table all weekend, and the show is so busy that you don’t have time to browse and find anything to buy until Sunday. My one Friday purchase was something I have coveted for a long time: a Writing Box from Galen Leather, and they had at least 20 of them there to choose from. (Seriously, the logistics of moving the volume of product they had at the show was impressive!) On Sunday, I managed to snag two really sweet deals: a Graf von Faber-Castell Guilloche fountain pen from the Faber-Castell distributor that was on clearance, and a Franklin-Christoph Model 20 “Marietta” prototype in a dark green-flecked acrylic. I also took home a bottle of the special show ink, “Supershow Teal” from Monteverde that will be available at retail at some point. It’s a nice color!

By the end of the day on Saturday, there wasn’t much Colorverse or Akkerman Dutch Masters left, and our stock of both was depleted even further on Sunday.

Takeaways from this Year’s D.C. Pen Show

The D.C. Pen Show is undergoing some “transition” pains as it recovers from the loss of its long-standing location at the Sheraton Tysons Corner, and new people become more involved in running the show. After a bit of a slow start on Friday, however, Saturday and Sunday were extremely busy and it was back to business as usual for most vendors. The most frustrating thing about this show, to me, doesn’t have to do with the show itself, but rather the location and lack of food and entertainment options within walking distance. This not only hurts the vendors - most of whom don’t want to drive to dinner after having been on their feet for nearly 12 hours - but also the attendees, who lose out on show time, parking spaces, and just an overall better experience. As I’ve mentioned before, taking time out of pen shows - even 20 minutes - to eat, rest, and recover is important, and you don’t have many easy options unless you want to visit the mediocre hotel restaurant and bar.

The two on the left are my 2019 D.C. Pen Purchases, shown here in a Galen Leather A5 Zippered Notebook Folio in Crazy Horse Brown distressed leather. Check out my review of the Galen Leather A5 “zipfolio” here.

That said, I will be attending the D.C. Pen Show as long as my friends are, since I go more to socialize and meet readers rather than shop. People have been talking about the “decline of the D.C. Pen Show” for nearly 10 years now, and nothing significant has changed other than moving locations. As I mentioned above, for the time being D.C. is still the biggest event of the year in terms of sheer numbers of vendors, makers, and attendees, and it’s difficult to recapture the spirit of this show elsewhere.

D.C. was the last pen show that I have planned for this year, though I may try to attend San Francisco (unlikely since it’s so close), Dallas, or Ohio as a last-minute trip. If not, I’m looking forward to the Philadelphia and Baltimore Shows in 2020!

Just a teaser of my new Galen Leather Writing Box - more pics coming soon!

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. All of the products purchased at the D.C. Pen Show were paid for by me with my own funds, though I did get a slight discount on the Faber-Castell Pen since I was working at the Vanness Pens table.