While Pen Boutique has been regularly carrying Leonardo pens since the debut of our beautiful store exclusive Rangoli at the 2023 DC Pen Show, we've only featured a handful of designs at a time... until now! At a special Saturday Leonardo Pen Day, we unveiled more than twenty new designs to introduce our expanded selection, and have even more on the way.
Now that Leonardo finally has a substantial presence in our store, it feels like the perfect time to formally introduce this popular Italian pen brand, explore what makes it so distinctive, and highlight what sets each model apart. It's an article I've been wanting to write for more than three years!
A Young Brand with a Rich Heritage
In the world of fountain pens, Leonardo Officina Italiana is a young company, but one with a legacy going back over fifty years. Siblings Salvatore and Mariafrancesca Matrone co-founded Leonardo in 2018, inspired by the passion and craftsmanship that surrounded them growing up. Their father, Ciro Matrone, was the co-founder and production manager of Delta Pens, and both Salvatore and Mariafrancesca have been involved with fountain pens their entire lives at the family factory. Before co-founding Leonardo Officina Italiana, Salvatore had been designing fountain pens since his early twenties, while Mariafrancesca worked on the administrative side of the family business.
Leonardo's roots are in Naples, Italy, and the names of many of the resins and models are linked to the family's home in and around Naples, taking inspiration from Mount Vesuvius, the Mediterranean, and the beautiful seaside villages along the Amalfi Coast. Salvatore and Mariafrancesca's deep love for their heritage is woven into every aspect of the brand.
I first met Salvatore at the 2023 Washington DC Fountain Pen Supershow, where I was honored to help introduce our first Leonardo store exclusive. It was Salvatore's first DC show, and mine as well. I'll never forget the huge crowd that gathered for our giveaway raffle, or the joy on the winner's face when Salvatore drew her number.
[Pictured: Leonardo CEO Salvatore Matrone with Leonardo Export Manager and Brand Ambassador Klarissa Maria, and a small portion of the crowd that gathered around us at the 2023 DC Pen Show.]
We were both extremely busy throughout the show. A constant stream of fountain pen enthusiasts stopped at the Leonardo table to admire the beautiful materials and ask Salvatore questions, while I introduced visitors to our store exclusive pens at the opposite end of the display. The show was so intense, we were never able to talk much, but I remember being very impressed when I got to watch his special attention to detail up close on Sunday when I was helping one of my favorite customers to purchase a one-of-a-kind Leonardo Momento Zero Grande Ebonite Special Edition with a beautiful swirling design. Before she left the table, he had her write with the pen, and personally tuned the nib until it was perfect in her hand.
So, although I didn't know him well, I had already come to associate Leonardo Officina Italiana with Salvatore's quiet and thoughtful passion. The only thing I couldn't quite place was the name itself. Where did Leonardo come from? The answer surprised me for only a moment. Once I learned more about Salvatore's artistic background, it made perfect sense. The name is a tribute to Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci, Italian painter, sculptor, engineer, architect, scientist, and inventor. Salvatore studied drawing, art history, and photography before beginning a career in industrial and graphic design, and, right from the start, his vision stressed the marriage of beauty and performance.
As I learned more about Leonardo, and sampled the pens myself, my mind kept returning to an expression often repeated by my great-grandfather, and then by my grandmother to my dad: "handsome is as handsome does." Yes, Leonardo chooses exceptionally handsome materials and harmonious shapes, but you can also feel the quality of the construction the moment you pick up a pen and unscrew its cap.
[Pictured: Momento Zero Grande 2.0 in Sottobosco, the Italian word for "undergrowth." The material is designed to evoke the peaceful feeling of an autumn stroll through the forest, showcasing the deep onyx, warm amber, and golden shades of yellow found on the forest floor.]
Leonardo continues to produce its pens in its workshop in Naples, manufacturing virtually every component in-house, including the feeds, piston mechanisms, bands, and clips. As Leonardo Export Manager and Brand Ambassador Klarissa Maria puts it, the artisans "sit around a big table and assemble all the pens." That attention to quality is immediately apparent, and when you hold one in your hand, you can tell it's made with heart, not mass-produced.
One of the reasons that Leonardo lovers are so drawn to these pens is that the company uses only artisanal resin rods--not injection-molded ones made by machine--and then turns them on a lathe to shape them before hand polishing the completed pens. Some of those rods are created by custom resin makers, including Jonathon Brooks, Bob Dupras, and Luke and Kristina Wiechman of Papa J Studio, while others are produced by Leonardo's longstanding Italian resin suppliers. Leonardo was the first fountain pen company to work with Jonathon Brooks and use his materials on a large scale, producing thousands of stunning resin pens by hand.
[Pictured: one of our Pen Boutique exclusive Rangoli pens, featuring Jonathon Brooks' vibrant PM4 material.]
Salvatore maintains a very hands-on role at the factory and cares deeply about every aspect of the business, from design to production. Understanding what the pen community wants is very important to him, and he loves visiting pen shows and retailers around the world to talk face to face with fountain pen enthusiasts, and constantly stays in touch with what the online community is excited by, keeping a careful balance between aesthetic beauty, comfort, and function.
As I used the Momento Zero that I borrowed from the store to take notes on this article, I found it hard to resist opening and closing the cap repeatedly, simply because the threads felt so smooth and satisfying. The Extra Fine nib also felt perfectly tuned, with just the right balance of smoothness and feedback. I dipped the nib once, then wrote more than four pages of notes with perfect flow from the very first stroke to the last, and kept reaching for the pen again to draw hash marks and swirls across my Midori paper, simply because it was such a pleasure to feel the nib moving over the page.
[Pictured: Momento Zero in Corricella with Silver Trim. The material is inspired by the tranquil beauty of the seaside village in Procida, one of the islands off the coast of Naples, where a mosaic of pastel houses in pink, yellow, and white helps fishermen recognize their homes from the sea.]
There's a reason Leonardo's nibs feel so nice. All of them, whether stainless steel, titanium, or 14K Gold, are hand-tuned before they leave the workshop. The #6 La Fenice stainless steel with ABS feed is available in Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, 1.1 mm stub, 1.5 mm stub, and springy Elastic Extra Fine and Fine. Leonardo's #6 14K gold nibs are paired with ABS or ebonite feeds, and #8 14K gold nibs all feature ebonite feeds.
The gold nibs are made in-house, while Leonardo's #6 stainless steel nibs are made in Germany by Jowo, then stamped with Leonardo's beautiful "La Fenice" (pronounced "lah feh-NEE-chay") design. I've admired these nibs from the first time I saw one and heard its name, which I immediately understood from my love of opera. "La Fenice" is Italian for "the phoenix," the legendary bird said to cyclically regenerate from the flames of its own ashes. It represents renewal, resilience, and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, as the young phoenix rises anew--wiser, stronger, and more powerful than before. It's a fitting symbol for a company that so thoughtfully blends heritage with fresh ideas.
Model Overview
This overview focuses on the Leonardo models available at Pen Boutique rather than the brand's complete lineup. If we expand our selection further in the future, I hope to update this article to include additional models. For now, I've chosen the pens in the photo below to represent our Leonardo lineup.
Pictured from left to right are examples of Momento Zero, Momento Magico Fantasie (limited edition), Momento Magico (regular model), Momento Zero Grande 2.0, Momento Zero Grande Pura, and Supernova 2025.
One of the most striking things about Leonardo pens is the harmonious balance between exciting modern artisanal resins and classic design details inspired by Italian fountain pens of the 1930s, which Salvatore considers the "golden age of Italian fountain pens." That influence can be seen in Leonardo's distinctive pointed conical tip, a signature design element, as well as the three cap rings, the geometric designs featured on some models' cap bands, and their "ruzzolina" clips, one of my favorite iconic Italian pen details. "Ruzzolina" literally means "tumbling," a reference to the tiny wheel's spinning movement. I've always loved "wheely" clips; they are definitely part of what makes the Leonardo aesthetic so appealing to me. The creative combination of these vintage-inspired elements with contemporary materials and construction techniques gives the pens a unique charm that feels fresh rather than old-fashioned.
[Pictured, front to back: Momento Zero in Corricella with Silver Trim, Momento Magico in Sea Sand with Gold Trim, Momento Magico in Matte Black Anima Nera with Ruthenium Trim, and Momento Zero Grande 2.0 in Sottobosco.]
Momento Magico, Momento Zero Grande, Momento Zero Grande 2.0, and Supernova all feature Leonardo's internal Workshop Piston Filler mechanism, a proprietary design made in-house. It has a generous 1.5 ml ink capacity, and is built to last a lifetime. The internal piston structure can be disassembled safely using Leonardo's proprietary 316L watch-grade steel wrench, which is available for purchase separately, allowing owners to clean and service their piston-filled Leonardos without risking damage to the resin or internal threads.
As you explore Leonardo pens, you'll often come across abbreviated model names, both in online discussions and in Leonardo's own literature. MZ stands for Momento Zero, MZG for Momento Zero Grande, and MZG 2.0 for Momento Zero Grande 2.0.
Every Leonardo model, from the friendly standard-sized flagship Momento Zero to the eye-catching oversized Supernova, is well-balanced in the hand and designed to be comfortable for long writing sessions. The shape and proportions of each model are inspired by successful vintage pen designs, and has a timeless elegance, whether combined with an impossibly cool light-absorbing silky matte black, soft relaxing pastels, translucent shimmering rainbow swirls, or anything in between.
The depth and variation of colors, chatoyance, shine, and iridescence in Leonardo's resins can be hard to do justice to in photographs, and I was only able to choose a few pens to bring home and photograph to give you an idea of the range, so, if you are able to visit our store and see them in person, please do.
[Pictured, left to right: Pausilya, Corricella, Angel Skin coral, Alumina, Pura Frosted Grey, Pura Frosted Red, Pura Frosted Petrol, Matte Black Anima Nera, Glossy Black Anima Nera, The Power of Flower Ortensia and The Power of Flower Cosmos Chocolate Flower on display at Pen Boutique.]
Momento Zero
Momento Zero (MZ) is Leonardo's standard size model (comparable in size to a Pelikan M800, Esterbrook Estie, or Sailor 1911L), and also its most popular. The name translates as "Zero Moment," meaning "new beginning," or "starting point"--a clever title that has a dual meaning. Not only was it the first model introduced when the company was founded, it is also the model Leonardo recommends for fountain pen lovers trying their first Leonardo. The size, price, and filling system all make the Momento Zero a great choice for new customers.
Unlike the other models shown, Momento Zero uses a cartridge/converter filling system. Its screw-in converter's "LEONARDO Italy" engraving thoughtfully matches the pen's trim color, and can be accessed through a blind cap at the end of the barrel, allowing you to twist the converter knob to push a little ink out of the nib without completely disassembling the pen, a feature that can come in especially handy if you are using a heavily sheening or shimmering ink that has been sitting for a while and temporarily interrupted the pen's smooth flow of ink.
Although it's also possible to fill the pen via the blind cap, it's much easier to unscrew the barrel from the section and access the converter directly, like with most other cartridge/converter filled pens.
Momento Magico
Momento Magico pens are also standard sized, but a little larger than Momento Zero, with a longer cap and barrel and slightly thicker grip section. Unlike Momento Zero, these pens are piston fillers, with a generous 1.5 ml ink capacity and an ink window hidden beneath the cap. The writing experience and feel in the hand is very similar to the Momento Zero models.
I included two Momento Magicos in the photo in the overview section above in order to show the variation in the cap designs between the standard collection and the Fantasie line, a 2026 collection of three pens using Jonathon Brooks materials, limited to only 226 pieces per design: Primary Manipulation 4.0, Ocean Sunrise, and Arctic Blast, all shown in the photo below, each with a different trim color and a wildly different personality.
This lineup has shiny accent band rings engraved with each pen's unique number, the Leonardo logo, and the proud signature of its origin—ITALY.
I chose Arctic Blast to bring home and photograph because it reminds me of my friend Eric, a Navy submariner for twenty-two years, who crossed the Arctic Circle at sea and has seen the polar ice cap from underneath. Eric loves ocean-inspired pens and ink, and has a particular fondness for petrol blues, so this pen made me think of him from the moment I saw it. When we looked together at the one on display in the store, we were both drawn to a frothy looking swirl of white that looked like the crest of a wave. This beautiful material has a turbulent look, but evokes feelings of serenity for me. The cool thing about Leonardo's materials is that they ignite the imagination and can mean so many different things to different people.
Each pen is like that, and, if I had time, I could probably rhapsodize about them all. In the standard Magico collection, I was especially intrigued by the Matte Black Anima Nera model that I've shown several times in the article already, and by Sea Sand, which pulls at so many memories for me. I can almost feel the wonderful grit of sand on my skin and hear the soft swash of nighttime waves as I stare into the resin, smiling at the memory of the heavy feeling of relaxed and happy weariness at the end of a long day at the oceanside.
I also especially love the fretwork on the central band of the regular edition Momento Magico pens, which pays tribute to the "Geometric Art" period of artistic awakening in Ancient Greece from 900 to 700 BC.
Momento Zero Grande and MZG 2.0
Momento Zero Grande (MZG) and Momento Zero Grande 2.0 (MZG 2.0) are both large or "grande" sized pens, the "big sisters" of the Momento Zero. Like Momento Magico, they are piston fillers, with a 1.5 ml ink capacity. Momento Zero Grande 2.0 has an ink window hidden beneath the cap, while Momento Zero Grande does not.
The new edition Pura, which features frosted translucent finishes in a range of three solid colors, is a MZG model. This series' updated metal cap bands now feature a three-dimensional pantograph, paying tribute to the "Geometric Art" era of Greek civilization between 900 and 700 BC. Our customers are crazy about the soft matte texture and glassy glow of all three new variations of this pen: Frosted Grey, Frosted Petrol, and Frosted Red, each with a different trim color. I've always been drawn to the mysterious dusky greenish-blue color petrol, but I reached for Frosted Red when it came time to choose a Pura to photograph. I love the rich and regal shade, and the way it contrasts with its gold trim.
The beautiful translucent material also reminds me of a pomegranate, blood orange, or refreshing frosty Italian bitter soda!
The sumptuous Power of Flower collection, which you may remember from its debut last year, is Momento Zero Grande 2.0 sized, and Leonardo has now released a second limited edition of three more flower-inspired pens, this time with material from Papa J Studio. We are almost completely sold out of the first edition, with material by Jonathon Brooks, but still have a very limited amount of the gorgeous Fiordaliso Blue with Rose Gold Trim. The new series features a delicate floral cap band design, and three soft shimmering pastel shades.
They are all breathtaking, but I chose Cosmos Chocolate Flower, a tribute to Cosmos atrosanguineus, for my photos. I feel like I could get lost in the depths of this resin!
If you miss out on Leonardo's limited edition series like Power of Flower, don't despair. The standard edition pens, which feature Leonardo's classic three cap rings, are amazing, too. I especially love the warm rich tones of the Sottobosco model I've featured throughout this article.
Supernova
Supernova 2025 is a distinct model featuring a flat end finial capped with a metal tassie, unlike the pointed resin finials on the other pens featured in this article. It's a limited edition pen series made from Jonathon Brooks' spectacular Primary Manipulation 5 resin, a swirling blend of warm plum, purple, magenta, and orange with a touch of cooler green, cyan, and blue. This series, which is slightly larger than the standard Momento Zero Grande 2.0 models it most closely resembles, created a sensation when it was released last year. The bold geometric cap rings and other trim details have Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, and Ruthenium variants, giving each version of the pen a different feel.
[Pictured, from left to right: Ruthenium, Yellow Gold, Silver, and Rose Gold Supernova pens.]
Although Supernova is impressive in any light, the direct sunlight of my loft in the late afternoon really made Brooks' resin look out of this world.
I also found myself entranced by the way the limited edition numbers stamped on the pens' metal tassies were somehow projected by the sunlight onto the surface of the box. How cool is that?
If big, bold color brings you joy, we still have limited quantities of this superstar edition left in stock.
After spending several weeks researching Leonardo, photographing these pens, and writing with them, I understand why the brand has developed such a devoted following. It's easy to admire the beautiful resins and thoughtful design from across the room, but it's only when you pick one up, unscrew the cap, and begin to write that you appreciate just how much care has gone into every detail.
I set out to write an overview of Leonardo's different models, but as I got deeper and deeper into the article, I found myself appreciating something much bigger than a lineup of beautiful pens. Behind every resin, every carefully tuned nib, and every thoughtful design detail is a company that clearly loves fountain pens as much as the people who collect and write with them. After finally spending time with several Leonardo models myself, I understand that devotion a little better, too.
-Laura P.
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