Leonardo Momento Zero Radici Review: Stilo & Stile's Rooted Limited Edition

Introduction

Stilo & Stile has built a strong track record of limited edition collaborations with Leonardo, and the Momento Zero Radici is the latest fruit of that partnership. The name means roots in Italian, derived from the Latin radix, pointing to origins: the root of a word, the source where everything begins and grows.

The pen is handmade in Italy and uses the same material that appeared on a Radius model, Radius being a sister brand of Leonardo, from a previous collaboration. That release sold out quickly and became one of the most popular collaborations Stilo & Stile has ever run, so the material has been brought back for this Momento Zero version. It is a numbered limited edition, available now, and these special editions have a history of not sticking around.

Who This Product Is For

The Radici suits collectors and everyday writers who want a distinctive Italian pen with genuine character without stepping up to a full gold nib price. The stainless steel configuration at around $200 to your door for US customers, €185 in Europe, and €173 for other EU customers makes it an accessible entry into Leonardo’s collaboration catalog. If you prefer a gold nib, that option exists too, and the shimmering amber material is the real draw here either way.

Main Strengths

The material is the headline. This is a brown and golden amber tortoise shell-like resin with layers of shimmery gold woven through it, and those golden layers add depth and a second color dimension that set it apart from typical tortoise finishes. The vintage look suits the “roots” theme well, and the gold plating on the trim matches the shimmer in the resin nicely.

Design details also hold up. The wheeled clip is a small touch with real charm, the cap band uses a classic three-ring layout, and the barrel tapers at an even rate down to a pointed blind cap end. The section is what many call Leonardo’s ergonomic section: it starts flat, angles up through the threads, and fits the fingers comfortably enough to maintain a strong grip even without a flare at the end. Inside sits a number six stainless steel nib with classy stamping and a plastic feed, with a 14-karat gold nib available as an upgrade. As a cartridge converter pen, it accepts standard international cartridges and a Leonardo-branded converter is included.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The blind cap concept is neat, and the gold plating matches the rest of the trim, but the metal piece is short enough that getting a grip on it while filling the pen can be fiddly. A quarter inch more length would have solved it.

Shimmer ink users should also temper expectations. The writing sample was done with a gold shimmer ink, and a small skip appeared, most likely caused by the shimmer in the ink rather than the pen or nib. Line variation from the stainless nib is minimal even with pressure, ink flow runs on the medium side, and reverse writing is hit and miss. Shimmer inks also mean more cleaning effort.

Writing Performance

For everyday fast writing, the feed kept up fine, and the overall nib experience is pleasant if not dramatic. The stainless steel nib delivers a consistent medium flow rather than expressive line variation, and occasional skips or hard starts traced back to the shimmer ink itself, not the pen. Pairing it with a standard ink should give a smoother, lower-maintenance experience.

Buying Advice

At €185 in Europe, roughly $200 complete to your door for US customers including shipping and tariffs, and €173 for other EU customers, the stainless steel version is positioned as a mid-range handmade pen. The gold nib versions climb to €560 for EU customers, around $610 for US customers, and €525 for other EU customers, which moves it into a different budget conversation.

Because this is a numbered limited edition available now, and because previous Stilo & Stile collaborations with this same material sold out quickly, waiting is a real risk. If the material speaks to you, acting sooner rather than later is sensible.

Conclusion

The Momento Zero Radici shows why the Leonardo and Stilo & Stile partnership keeps working: a classic Momento Zero silhouette, an ergonomic section, a well-finished nib, and a material with genuine depth that most tortoise finishes lack. The short blind cap and shimmer-ink quirks are minor against the overall package. If a warm, handmade Italian pen with golden character is on your list, this one deserves a quick look before it disappears.