Leonardo Momento Zero Grande Dutch Pen Show 2022 Summer Sky: A Hands-On Look

Introduction

The Leonardo Momento Zero Grande Dutch Pen Show 2022 Summer Sky is a limited edition fountain pen built exclusively for the third edition of the Dutch Pen Show. Each year the show commissions a Momento Zero Grande, and for 2022 attendees of the previous year’s event voted on a blue color theme, resulting in the Summer Sky. The material was created by Jonathan Brooks, and the name fits: it is a Dutch summer sky blue, complete with faint white clouds, since a fully cloudless Dutch sky is a rare thing indeed.

This pen was lent out for evaluation and is intended to be resold later, which means every detail below comes from extended first-hand handling rather than a quick showroom glance.

Design and Materials

Jonathan Brooks is known for making beautiful custom resins, and this one is genuinely impressive. Beyond the blue and white cloud swirls, there are subtle hints of very light purple that are hard to pick up on camera but are clearly present in person. The material also has a pleasing chatoyance that shifts as you turn the pen.

The trim is gold, and the pen carries a dark blue finial accent, a new gold center band pattern that looks refined, and the standard Leonardo clip with a small wheel that works well. The barrel tapers down smoothly, and the engraving reads “Leonardo Officina Italiana” along with “Dutch Pen Show 2022 Exclusive Limited Edition” and the individual number out of 100. This unit is number 20 of what is understood to be 100 pieces in gold trim, with 100 more available in silver trim.

A particularly nice detail: the ebonite feed is blue. It is slightly darker than the trims, but it clearly matches the overall theme, and that kind of attention to detail is worth calling out.

What Is in the Box

The packaging is generous and slightly unusual. There is an outer sleeve, then a fairly cubic main box that pops open to reveal the pen, with the Dutch Pen Show logo inside the cap cover and a small medallion on the clip. A bottle of black ink is included in the box, which is a nice touch for a limited edition release.

Pricing and Availability

The pen is listed at 491.74 euros excluding European VAT. That is by no means cheap, but the pricing logic is understandable: this is a small limited edition run, the custom resin is not standard stock material and had to be made specifically for the pen, and it carries a 14k gold nib as standard. Note that the example reviewed here has an 18k nib because of the specific timing of the review arrangement, so prospective buyers should confirm which nib they are getting. A flex nib option is also available for those who want one.

Nib and Writing Experience

The nib on this unit is an 18k fine with the Dutch Pen Show logo, paired with the blue ebonite feed. Out of the box it writes well and appears to be nicely tuned: not a gusher, not super dry, just a consistent, balanced flow. The feed keeps up comfortably with the ink.

The fine nib has a noticeable bit of feedback, but it is the pleasant kind. It never feels scratchy, and it gives you the sense that you are writing with a fountain pen rather than a ballpoint. The nib is not a flex nib, so there is no meaningful line variation, and a flex upgrade is a separate option if that matters to you.

Reverse writing and upside-down writing are not really possible with this nib, and it also does not perform well flipped. None of this is surprising for a fine nib, but it is worth knowing if you experiment with those techniques.

Piston Filler and Ink Capacity

The Momento Zero Grande is a piston filler, and the turning knob is very comfortable to use. The ink capacity is a standout figure for a modern piston pen: one and a half milliliters, which is genuinely impressive and one of the strongest practical arguments for this model.

Section Comfort and Size

This pen appears to carry what looks like a new section design for the Momento Zero Grande. Instead of the original style, it now tapers down and flares out slightly, and it is quite comfortable to hold. That said, this is a big, girthy pen, and it is larger than a typical everyday writer. If you have smaller hands, your fingers may not fully wrap around the section, which could become cumbersome over longer writing sessions. If possible, try it out before buying.

Writing Sample and Performance

Filled with a blue Robert Oster ink that was a Dutch Pen Show exclusive, the pen produced a clean, consistent line. The ink itself is almost turquoise and sits on the lighter side, so it may not be the ideal daily writer color, but it matched the Summer Sky theme well.

Posting the cap is very comfortable, and overall the pen is a pleasant long-session writer if the girth suits your hand. On the practical side, there is one recurring omission for this model: there is no ink window. You have no idea how much ink remains, which can be a real issue when you are on the road.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The price is the obvious hurdle at 491.74 euros excluding VAT, and the large girth may not suit smaller hands or extended sessions. The missing ink window is a genuine practical drawback. On the other side of the ledger: the material is beautiful, the blue ebonite feed shows real attention to detail, the 1.5 ml piston capacity is excellent, and the new section is more comfortable than the original design. The limited run of 100 pieces per trim finish also means this is a pen with a clearly defined ceiling on availability.

Buying Advice

This pen makes the most sense for collectors and enthusiasts who value custom materials, limited editions, and a big, comfortable piston filler. If you want a truly special piece from the Momento Zero Grande line and the blue Summer Sky theme appeals to you, it is a very pleasant pen that is easy to like.

If you have smaller hands or prefer slimmer pens, handle one first. And if you specifically want flex writing, remember that this pen’s standard nib is not a flex nib, so look at the flex upgrade option instead.

Conclusion

The Leonardo Momento Zero Grande Dutch Pen Show 2022 Summer Sky is a gorgeous limited edition with a well-chosen theme, a beautiful Jonathan Brooks material, a nicely tuned fine nib, and an impressive 1.5 ml piston capacity. Its drawbacks are equally clear: a high price, a large girth, and no ink window. If the aesthetics and the exclusivity speak to you, it is a very easy pen to enjoy.