Delta DV Original Review: A Beloved Italian Fountain Pen Brand Returns

Introduction

Revolivals have become a recurring theme in the fountain pen world lately, and few come with as much history as this one. Delta, the Italian pen maker founded in 1982, closed its doors in 2017. Now one of the original founders has revived the brand, having reportedly purchased the old Delta inventory and equipment, so the new pens are believed to be made on the same machinery as the originals.

The pen in question is the Delta DV Original, sometimes listed as the DV Original midsize. It arrives in a simple flip-lid box with documentation underneath, and from the moment you open it, it looks exactly like what a Delta should look like.

Who This Pen Is For

This pen is aimed at collectors who remember the original Delta models and at anyone who wants an Italian resin pen with a classic character. If you already own an older Delta, the DV Original is so close to the previous production that it essentially feels like a continuation rather than an imitation. That is the strongest reason to consider it: it is genuinely on the market again, not just a lingering memory in someone’s collection.

Design and Build

The DV Original uses the iconic Delta color scheme: a black cap and black grip section paired with an orange crushed resin barrel. The crushed resin technique involves breaking cured resin into chunks and remolding it with fresh resin, producing that distinctive marbled look. While crushed resins are not always appealing, Delta has historically handled this material well, and this pen is no exception.

The cap features a metal inlay stamped with the company logo, transitioning into a clip that starts wide and tapers to a wheeled end. The clip is slightly less stiff than on the original Deltas, which makes it easier to accommodate different clothing thicknesses. At the cap end, the pen is engraved with its individual number and “Italy,” continuing Delta’s tradition of numbering pens.

The cap band deserves special mention. Older Delta models came with either laser-engraved steel bands or stamped sterling silver, and the laser version often looked cheaper. Happily, the revived brand uses the sterling silver band here, which looks genuinely classy. One very minor nit: the Sterling 925 stamp sits upside down relative to the rest of the text, and the older official national mark of Italy stamp on the silver is absent. Neither is noticeable in normal use.

The cap twists off in one and a quarter turns, and the barrel tapers subtly, with the thickest point near the back end before a band angles down to a black resin finial.

Nib and Writing Performance

Under the cap sits a number six stainless steel nib, laser engraved with the company name and logo, fed by a plastic feed. It is available in extra fine, fine, medium, and 1.1 stub, plus flex extra fine and flex fine options.

The medium steel nib tested here runs a bit on the stiff side, so do not expect much line variation even with pressure. Ink flow is decent for a medium, and the nib offers a fair amount of pleasant feedback: it never feels scratchy, but you can feel the paper. Reverse writing is a little scratchy and occasionally spotty, and the feed keeps up well with fast writing.

Writing Sample and Ink

Paired with a vibrant orange ink to match the barrel, the nib lays down a clean, consistent medium line. The feedback-heavy character gives the writing a controlled feel, and the flow stays reliable across a full page. This is not a flex or expressive nib, but for everyday writing it behaves predictably, which counts for a lot at this price.

The resin section starts with a flare and angles up to the threads, and it has the healthy girth Deltas are known for. If you prefer a section with some substance, this one is very comfortable in the hand.

Filling System and Daily Use

This is a cartridge converter pen accepting standard international cartridges, and a converter is included. Because of the metal inside the barrel, eyedropper filling is not recommended. A piston filler version of this pen also exists and runs about $100 more than this model.

The pen is long enough to use unposted comfortably. The cap does post securely, and since it is light, it does not badly unbalance the pen, though it does look a little peculiar perched on the back end, so unposted use is the better option.

Size and Comparisons

Against the older Delta lineup, the DV Original is nearly identical to the Dolce Vita oversized, though slightly thicker, and slightly smaller than the Stantuffo Oro. Clips, cap tops, and resins are all virtually the same as previous production. The most noticeable differences are small: the brushing direction on the clip differs slightly, one small component is marginally larger, and the nibs may come from a different supplier, with a plastic feed where some older gold-nib models used ebonite.

Things to Consider Before Buying

At around $235 from a number of retailers, the DV Original midsize sits in a competitive price band. The steel nib and cartridge converter filling are the main trade-offs, especially when the piston filler version exists for about $100 more. If you want a gold nib or a more premium filling system, look at that variant instead. Also note that the barrel’s metal content rules out eyedropper conversion.

Buying Advice

If you have been waiting for Delta to return, this is the pen that confirms the revival was done right. The DV Original is true to the original production in almost every visible way, right down to the sterling silver cap band and numbered caps. Anyone deciding between a new DV Original and an older used Delta should not worry much about which era they are buying: they are virtually the same pen.

Conclusion

The Delta DV Original is a welcome comeback. It captures the glamour the brand was founded to evoke, pairs it with a dependable steel nib, and offers it at a reasonable price for what you receive. For fans of Italian resin pens or anyone curious about the Delta legacy, this revival gets it right.