Leonardo Officina Italiana Momento Magico, The OG

Several years ago, Leonardo Officinia Italiana burst onto the fountain pen scene and has been going gangbusters ever since with a variety of colors, models and filling systems, including the Momento Zero and Furore among others. In late May of 2021, they announced their newest model, the Momento Magico, which is a piston filler fountain pen that bridges the gap between the Momento Zero (MZ) and the Momento Zero Grande (MZG).

Now, I know what you’re going to say. You’re probably going to tell me that Leonardo released a new version of the Magico a couple months ago, so why bother writing about a prior version? For starters, I actually wrote this article last year but for one reason or another, it just never made it to the blog. I do plan on reviewing the new Magico (soon, my precious, soon) when it gets to me, but I wanted folks to get a sense of the original version so they can make an informed decision about which one they may like better.

The Magico has a special box sleeve and the pen was enclosed in the standard black Leonardo pen box. Inside, you will find the pen and a booklet for the Magico - on the back, you can scan the code to get instructions on how to disassemble the pen with the piston tool, sold separately.

No mistaking this box sleeve for the regular Momento Zero!

Sizewise, the Magico is the Goldilocks of the Momento Zero family, not too big and not too small in both grip size and length. The Magico is a bit larger than the MZ and a bit smaller than the MZG, both capped and uncapped. Both the MZ and MZG sports a bit of a sloped “step” in the section which some users may find distracting. The Magico has a different grip section which also has a slight flare near the end to prevent fingers from slipping forward, which the other two do not. As an owner of all three models, I have found them equally comfortable, but the Magico may be a better fit for those who don’t like the MZ/MZG grip section.

Left to right: LMZ Pietra Marina, Magico Tropical, MZG Caraibi.

Measurements: Momento Zero (with converter)

Weight (g)

29.50 (capped)

21.36 (uncapped)

Magico

23.61 (capped)

15.72 (uncapped)

Momento Zero Grande

32.00 (capped)

20.24 (uncapped)

The Magico, being a piston filler and larger than the MZ, is surprisingly lighter. This surprised me but I was reminded that the MZ converter is a bit longer and heavier than a regular standard international converter because of the longer, metal knob. It is similar in weight to a Pilot Metropolitan, a touch heavier than the Sailor Pro Gear, and a little lighter than the Esterbrook Estie. This lighter weight can give the impression that it feels less sturdy than its MZ/MZ counterparts. While not necessary for cleaning, one can disassemble the Magico with the Leonardo piston tool (sold separately). I’m not sure I’d want a piston tool to be included with every Magico, especially since they cost ~$35, which would make the price go up.

As piston tools go, this one feels substantial, which is good given its price tag.

As one would expect, the Magico’s Jowo 6 nib wrote great out of the box. The Magico uses the standard plastic feed (the MZG has an ebonite feed) and the nib unit can be unscrewed from the grip section. You can also upgrade to a gold nib. Like the MZG, the Magico also holds 1.5ml of ink. This model also sports a transparent ink window which is visible while capped.

Writing sample from the Stilo e Stile exclusive, Tropical with a Broad steel nib and Akkerman 28, the best bright green ink ever.

The pen comes in several colors/patterns as well as silver or gold trim (though there were exclusives that came in rose gold trim).

The Magico was originally released in these colors: Miele, Tramonto, Pietra Salata, Millefiori, Black Matte and Glossy (Image credit:: Leonardo Pens)

Comparison against other similarly sized pens as well as other piston/vac fillers: Platinum 3776, TWSBI 580, Sailor Pro Gear, Pelikan M600, Leonardo Momento Zero, Aurora Optima, Memento Magico, Pelikan M800, Momento Zero Grande, Esterbrooke Estie, TWSBI Vac 700R, Pilot Custom 823.

Pros

• The Leonardo Momento Magico pen is a great option for folks who want a different grip from the MZ and MZG models and also want a piston filler.
• Unlike earlier models of the MZ, which also used Bock nibs, the Magico’s Jowo nib unit is easily removable, making nib swapping a breeze.
• The Magico was available for ~$200 USD and lower prices may be found now that the 2022 version has been released.

Neutral

• The ink window is visible while capped, which does not affect functionality. This is purely aesthetics which may or may not bother folks.
• The piston tool is not included and is sold separately for ~$35.

Cons

• If you prefer heavier pens, this may not be the best model for you as it is lighter than the other two Leonardo models.
• There is a sizable jump in price for the gold nib, as is the case with all of their models; it would cost an additional ~$200 to upgrade to a gold nib..

In short, the Leonardo Momento Magico is a great pen for folks who don’t love the MZ/MZG grip, and also prefer piston-fillers. If seeing the ink window when it is capped doesn’t bother you, consider snagging one of the original Magicos - especially if you like the Miele or Tramonto patterns. The price was very reasonable before and deals may be found now that the new 2022 model is out. I’m glad I have the OG Magicos and I can’t wait to try the next one!

(All pens in this review were purchased with my own funds and received no compensation from Leonardo Officina Italiana or any vendors for this review.)

Edison Pen Co. Comet Fountain Pen Review

(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!)

The new Edison Comet pen model first caught my eye on the Edison Pen Co. Instagram, and when I saw they were bringing them to the Chicago Pen Show, I knew I might be in trouble. Sure enough, there were trays and trays of temptation there--but this one stood out. I've been drooling over Jonathon Brooks's abalone material since its debut, but hadn't scored any yet. Edison and Brooks combined? There was no way I was going home without this pen.

The unbalanced look of this pen is a bit odd. The top-heavy domed cap is unusual and may not have captivated me if I hadn't nerded out over the inspiration--a comet with a trailing tail. The translucent material at the top reminds me of a crystal ball, and the shimmery abalone looks absolutely magical. It reminds me of very happy memories studying the Hale-Bopp comet in my 8th grade physics class, when my best friend and I were studying astronomy for Science Olympiad.

But you don't need to be a nerd to love this pen. While the cap looks top-heavy, the material is light and the cap posts deeply, so it feels perfectly balanced when writing (whether your post or not). The joins are smooth and the clip is sleek and flexible. The grip section has a comfortable concave center that flares enough to keep your fingers from slipping down to the nib. The threads above the grip section are very smooth.

Mine has a broad stainless steel nib. I don't usually get broad nibs--I prefer needle EFs--but that means I have a lot of EFs, and I knew I'd want to put lighter colored inks in this pen. I also had Brian tune the nib to be super wet and smooth--so it's the perfect pen for inks that I love that are too pale to be read easily in finer lines. Of course, getting a custom tuning of the nib is an advantage of pen show attendance, but I've always had good experiences with Edison's nibs.

Overall, the pen is beautiful, a pleasure to write with, and makes me think of happy memories. The only criticism I have is that it's so pretty that sometimes it distracts me while I'm writing and I just twist the pen in the sun watching the shimmer while time passes by.

I conveniently forget what I paid for my pen (pen show brain fog), but Edison offers a lot of customization of materials and filler systems that influence their prices. A base price for the Comet on their site now is $275, and they have a large selection in stock currently—several of which want to come live at my house. Please go buy them so I don't.

(I bought this pen at standard retail from Edison Pen Co. at the 2022 Chicago Pen Show.)

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Gioia Alleria - A Review

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

My first introduction to Gioia Pens was when I got a Gioia Partenope for my birthday last year at the SF Pen Show. It isn’t a pen that screams “Kimberly!!!” but it quickly became a favorite because it looked so different from my other pens and because it wrote so nicely. Not surprising, I was excited when the Bossman had Luxury Brands of America send me a Gioia Alleria for review.

The review pen is the Gioia Alleria in the Grotta Azzurra color which comes in Ruthenium trim. The material is a darker teal blue with swirls of lighter and darker colors and with a bit of pearlescence. The name “Alleria” comes from the Neapolitan word for “happiness” and “Grotta Azzurra” means “Blue Grotto.

Gioia Alleria, Grotta Azzurra.

You can see the different shades of blue of the Grotta Azzurra.

The Alleria is similar to the Partenope but since I do not have the latter with me, you may wish to check out some of the comments/pictures from the Partenope review. The two pens are similar in size and weight but with a different filling mechanism. The Alleria uses a piston, while the Partenope uses a cartridge or converter. The Partenope’s converter adds a bit to the weight so if you prefer a lighter pen, the Alleria might be a better fit. The Alleria does not have an ink window, which I generally prefer with piston-fillers so that I can tell how much ink is left. It is not a dealbreaker for me but something to note if that’s important to you.

Like the Partenope, the Gioia Alleria uses Jowo 6 nibs engraved with their branding. Their nib units can be easily swapped as the nib units are screwed in. This makes cleaning a breeze as you can remove the nib, and syringe it clean (be sure to move the piston a few times during cleaning as ink can get on the edges of the piston valve. The Gioia Alleria is available in Extra Fine to 1.5mm stub (the “Stub” size is 1.1 mm). This pen has a medium nib and wrote beautifully out of the box (my usual lazy self did not clean the pen prior to inking). I inked it up with Colorverse #47 Ham, which is a great match color wise and I had no problems with the ink or the pen, despite a period of 2-3 weeks where I didn’t get a chance to use it.

Writing sample with Colorverse #47 Ham on Tomoe River 68 gsm paper.

The cap has an inner cap sleeve which minimizes evaporation. The pen also screws into the cap at the end of the grip; my understanding is that this also helps with evaporation as less of the writing end is exposed to air. This does mean that there are threads near the nib end, which might bother folks who write close to the nib. I am a “close to the nib” writer, but I didn’t even noticed the threads which are smooth and not sharp or bulky at all. In fact, some users might like that because it provides a bit of a “stop” to prevent your fingers from sliding downward.

As I said above, the Alleria feels very similar in girth and length to the Partenope. I like the slightly girthy grip and am glad that it is not heavy. Some folks expect girthier pens to be heavier, and this is not that pen. The Alleria cap is lighter because it doesn’t have the Partenope’s thick clip band, so it doesn’t feel as back-weighted for those who like to post their pens. For comparison, I have included a few similarly sized pens that are with me in my currently inked binder.

Comparison with Lamy 2000, Leonardo Momento Zero, Narwhal Voyage, Gioia Alleria, TWSBI 580, Pilot Custom 74 and Platinum 3776.

Note that the Narwhal does not post at all and that the Gioia and TWSBI pens do not post very well.

The Gioia Alleria has an MSRP of $240 USD and a street price around $190. Gioia is discontinuing some of the colors to make room for new resins that will be exclusive to them. As such, some of the colors of the Alleria are being discounted; the Mare Blue, Vittoria, Nuvola and Tramonto colorways will be discontinued and pretty heavily discounted (I’ve seen them ~$150-160). The Amaranto, Crepuscolo, Grotto Azzurra and Mare Chiaro colors are not being discontinued, so they will remain at their current pricing. I, for one, don’t love seeing different pen brands using the same acrylics, so I am looking forward to seeing Gioia’s new exclusive materials.

Pro:

• Nice, lightweight piston filler
• Good nib
• Good value for a steel nib piston filler, but some models being discounted makes for an even better value.
• Lifetime warranty

Neutral:

• Piston filler does not have an ink window so you can’t see ink levels
• Clip design may not suit everyone’s aesthetic

Con:

• Pen may be too girthy if you prefer slimmer pens
• Pen may be too light if you like girthy pens with more heft

In summary, I really enjoyed using the Gioia Alleria because it is a nice writer and is very comfortable for me. The cap seal means that I can pick up the pen after weeks of non-use and know that it will write right away. I am looking forward to seeing the new versions of the Alleria with their exclusive resins when they come out later this year.

(Thank you to Luxury Brands of America, who sent this pen at no charge for review.)

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