Leonardo Momento Zero Grande Pura Review: A Frosted Piston Filler Worth a Close Look

Introduction

Leonardo has quietly become one of the most consistent names in the fountain pen space, and the Momento Zero Grande Pura lineup shows why. The newest additions bring three frosted resin colors to an already strong platform: petrol, gray, and red, each offered with a choice of gold, ruthenium, or palladium trim. Of the three trims, the ruthenium gunmetal look is arguably the most striking, and it pairs especially well with the frosted materials.

The red Pura reviewed here uses a matte exterior that is sandblasted on the interior to create a genuinely frosted appearance, with just a subtle glimpse of the ink chamber and nib. It is a piston filler, so it is strictly a bottled-ink pen, and it comes fitted with a stainless steel number six nib for approximately $275 depending on the euro to dollar exchange rate.

Who This Product Is For

This pen suits writers who want a large, comfortable piston filler with real visual character. If you enjoy bottled inks and like being able to see a hint of the ink level through the barrel, the darker ink chamber window is a nice touch rather than a drawback. It also fits people who appreciate restrained trim details: the ruthenium-plated nib matches the gunmetal exterior for a cohesive, dark overall theme.

Collectors who already like the Momento Zero Grande platform will find this a natural extension of the lineup, and the frosted Pura treatment is distinctive enough to stand apart from standard glossy resin releases.

Main Strengths

The frosted resin treatment is the headline feature. The matte exterior with a sandblasted interior creates depth that photographs and in-hand reviews do not fully capture, and Leonardo has used this material family to memorable effect in earlier releases. The design details hold up too: the cap angles up and then straightens for roughly the last inch, the band tapers slightly into a smooth transition toward the barrel, and the wheeled clip is short but adds a cool, purposeful look.

Nib flexibility is a major selling point. The pen is available with eleven different nib styles or tippings: extra fine, fine, medium, broad, 1.1 and 1.5 stubs, elastic fine and elastic extra fine, cursive smooth metallic in medium and broad, and an architect grind. In this medium stainless steel configuration, the nib is fairly smooth with medium ink flow, and the feed keeps up nicely during fast writing. Reverse writing is a bit hit and miss, but that is common at this level.

The section is slightly thick, which many writers prefer, beginning with a small flare before angling up gently. The plastic cap threads are not sharp, and the step up to the barrel is medium sized. Uncapped, the pen is plenty long enough to use unposted, and the nib imprint looks genuinely classy.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The cap does post securely and adds noticeable length, though it does not overly back-weight the pen. One thoughtful design element: when posted, the cap contacts the barrel rather than the piston knob, so there is no risk of accidentally engaging the filling mechanism. Still, if you prefer smaller pens, this is a fairly large pen posted or unposted, so it is worth knowing your preference first.

As a piston filler, it only accepts bottled ink, which is a limitation if you primarily use cartridges. Also, line variation from the stainless medium nib is minimal unless you deliberately push the nib, so writers seeking dramatic flex should look at the elastic options instead.

Buying Advice

The pricing structure is straightforward. The stainless steel version reviewed here sits around $275, keeping it under $300, which is reasonable for what you get. There is also a version with a steel number eight nib at roughly $400, and a number six gold nib version at around $600. The pen is available from the Leonardo website and from a wide range of retailers.

For ink pairing, a deep red like Leonardo Red Passion suits the red Pura naturally, with similar velvety reds such as Birmingham Pen Company’s Fred Rogers Cardigan Red also working well. If you like the frosted look but red is not your color, the petrol and gray models round out the three new additions, and the blue frosted resin from the earlier Pura releases remains a favorite in its own right.

Conclusion

The Momento Zero Grande Pura is a solid addition to one of Leonardo’s best lineups. The frosted resin, cohesive gunmetal trim, eleven nib choices, and a dependable piston filler mechanism add up to a pen that feels considered at every detail. At under $300 with a steel nib, it earns a place on any shortlist for a large, characterful everyday writer, and it is definitely worth checking out.