Leonardo Poliedra Review: One Pen, Two Limited Editions Worth Hunting Down

Introduction

The Poliedra is a newer and deliberately different model from Leonardo Officina Italiana, an Italian maker better known for its classic cigar-shaped pens. The name means polyhedral, or multifaceted, and the shape explains it: a fully rounded barrel through the middle that tapers down to triangular facets at both ends.

We spent extended time with two editions of the same pen: the Desiderio special edition in a stunning night-sky resin, and the Arctic Blast limited edition from Casa della Stilografica. Both carry steel extra fine nibs, and both sell for around 250, though as limited or special editions they can take some hunting to find.

What Makes the Poliedra Different

Leonardo usually sticks with a familiar formula: flat-ended cigar bodies, clips, and roller details. The Poliedra breaks from that with a simpler, sharper silhouette that ends in clean triangles while staying completely round through the barrel’s midpoint.

That geometry matters because it flatters the resin. The thin facet sections and cutaways let light pass through the material, showing off depth and pattern in a way a standard barrel cannot. Leonardo has made versions of this shape in other dramatic resins, and the results look striking for exactly the same reason.

Desiderio Special Edition

The Desiderio edition uses a deep blue, semi-transparent resin with black and white specks scattered through it. It is easily one of the most convincing night-sky materials we have handled in a fountain pen, and the multifaceted body shows it off superbly.

Branding is subtle, with a small Leonardo marking and the edition number, in this case 47. The steel extra fine nib performed well over long writing sessions, easily getting through a converter or two of ink. This edition is a special edition rather than a numbered limited run, available from Italian pen sellers, though a bit of back-order waiting may apply. The grip section is concave and comfortable, with most of the pen’s weight resting right where the bulk of the material sits.

Build and Everyday Details

Uncapping takes a little over one rotation, which is genuinely convenient for quick notes. The threading between grip and barrel is plastic on metal, which is not unusual for Leonardo’s cartridge-converter pens, but the threads are smooth, rounded, and gentle, with nothing that grinds or catches.

The pen is cartridge and converter filled, and both editions ship with threaded Leonardo-branded converters that lock securely in place. Standard threaded converters will also work if you prefer to swap. One detail worth knowing before buying: grip sections vary between editions. The Desiderio has a concave cylindrical grip, while some other units, including the Arctic Blast, carry a subtly triangulated grip with flattened spots.

Writing Performance

Both pens here use Leonardo’s regular steel extra fine nib, sized as a standard European extra fine, with the option to upgrade to specialty grinds. Out of the box, with no rinsing or tuning, the nib wrote beautifully.

It writes on the wet side and smooth, with no harsh feedback, just the faint pencil-like feel you would expect from any standard smooth steel nib. The concave grip settles into the hand and stays locked in through long sessions. On good paper the result is exactly what you hope for from this brand: effortless, comfortable, and reliable.

Arctic Blast: Casa della Stilografica Limited Edition

The Arctic Blast edition comes from Italian retailer Casa della Stilografica and uses a resin from materials maker Jonathan Brooks: a dark base with white and teal, arctic-ice-style swirls. At first glance it reads dark and muted, but in the thin facets the blue tones genuinely pop.

This is the rarer of the two. Only 22 were made, and this one is numbered 12 of 22. The build is identical to the Desiderio apart from the grip section, which is subtly triangulated rather than fully cylindrical. It is still comfortable, but if you dislike triangular grips, check which style your particular edition carries before ordering. The steel extra fine nib wrote perfectly straight from the box, smooth and wet with a standard steel feel.

Buying Advice

These are not pens you will find everywhere. Leonardo reserves the Poliedra for special editions, so you will need to hunt through specialist Italian pen sellers, and expect customs and import fees if you are ordering from abroad. That said, at roughly 250 each, they still feel worth it.

For anyone who loves dramatic resins, the multifaceted design is arguably the best possible showcase for them. Pair the pen with a well-behaved ink to get the most from the extra fine nib, as slow-drying inks can frustrate fast writers. Choose the Desiderio if you want the rounder concave grip and a night-sky look, or the Arctic Blast if a numbered limited run and icy swirls appeal, and you do not mind a slightly flattened grip.

Conclusion

The Poliedra proves that an established maker can step outside its comfort zone without losing what makes it good. The design is genuinely different, the resins are exceptional, and the writing experience is dependable from the first page. For collectors and everyday writers alike, this is one of the more rewarding limited-edition fountain pens to track down.