Italian fountain pens, watches, leather goods and accessories
Nov 8th, 2021 by Giardino Italiano
I want to talk again about pen maker Stipula, as I recently rediscovered a limited series of their ebonite pens called Vespri Siciliani (=Sicilian Vespers), which come with iron-gall ink.
This unusual match pushed me to dig deeper into the story and features of this particular type of ink.
And, for real, is there anyone still thinking that inks are all the same?
Oct 26th, 2021 by Simona Gauri-Reisch
After four years of inactivity, South Tirol-based company Storia (“history” in Italian) has resumed their production of wooden pens (and not only that).
Storia’s pens gained them accolades from all over the world, so we have decided to interview their founder, Federico Testa, to know a bit more about this unexpected comeback.
.
May 10th, 2021 by Simona Gauri-Reisch
Fountain pens are typically quite well refined, beautiful, and precious. Aesthetic refinement is at the core of their style, while technique powers the mechanism that draws the ink to the nib and produces a light, impeccable stroke on paper.
Realistically, many know fountain pens only in their poorest versions – the ones that are sold in the school isle at the supermarket. They are not beautiful, but they’re cheap, and often you regret their purchase soon after the first use.
In between, there is an entire world of underdog pens that, in our eyes, are the super-heroes of fountain pens. They are different in colour, shape, material. They reflect a variety of personalities and tastes, they are resilient, durable, have character, and affordable prices.
Dec 5th, 2020 by Simona Gauri-Reisch
The Christmas gift hunt always starts out in November with the best intentions… and then life happens. We get it!
If you still have gifts to take care of, maybe for your friends or colleagues, don’t panic. It’s not too late to order online from our website! And yes, if you order now, you will get them by Christmas.
Nov 15th, 2020 by Simona Gauri-Reisch
Like Italy, several other countries are fighting a second wave of the coronavirus. Very likely, many of us are bracing for a new lockdown period.
While we are not looking forward to spending Christmas and the holidays separated from our beloved and families, our message to all of you is of hope and warmth. Especially now that we cannot see and hug each other, a gift is an expression of love that can cheer you up and bring you together.
Mar 13th, 2020 by Simona Gauri-Reisch
Hello, I’m Susanna Buffo, owner and founder of Giardino Italiano. I would like to reassure all my customers.
We are alive and well and fully functional.
Unlike most other businesses, e-commerce has had no restrictions and we can continue to work even if we don’t sell essential goods.
There is no risk: parcels are not contaminated by the virus and Covid-19 will not travel by courier or mail.
Dec 5th, 2019 by Giardino Italiano
Stipula has been missing from Giardino Italiano’s catalog for quite a while now. And yet, the brand has always been there, alive and kicking.
I missed the Stipulas. They are beautiful, interesting, and charming pens. They remind me of those prim-and-proper ladies: they won’t surprise you with the latest fashion, but will never look out of place.
I recently spoke with Luca Viti (a business partner and the head of the pens’ department at Stipula), and he convinced me to reconsider a partnership. With the greatest of pleasure, I replied. However, I had a few things to ask him, and now I’ll tell you how it went.
Oct 30th, 2019 by Giardino Italiano
Also this month, we’re running the promotion on Visconti Giardino dell’Eden.
Each pen you buy, a nice gift you get, totally free: a beautiful wallet/cardholder by Visconti, made of genuine Italian leather, smooth and luxury.
Sep 26th, 2019 by Giardino Italiano
Until September 30, an extraordinary offer joins the pleasure of writing and the pleasure of owning and using classy and precious objects for everyday use.
A really precious gift, for a few days only, reserved to our customers.
.
Apr 18th, 2019 by Simona Gauri-Reisch
Milan has just hosted the Salone del Mobile during one of its most successful Design Weeks in years. Contextually, penmaker Visconti has taken the occasion to introduce their IoPenna to the public. Designed by architect and interior designer Gaetano Pesce, IoPenna is a creation that is going to leave its mark – both literally and figuratively. IoPenna – the Italian for ‘iPen’ – is young, stylish, and different from any other pen you have ever seen before.
Susanna Buffo was at Visconti’s launch representing Giardino Italiano.
Feb 11th, 2019 by Simona Gauri-Reisch
Leonardo Officina Italiana has recently launched a new line of colourful pens that go under the name of Furore. Furore, Italian for “fury”, show off their bright and shiny liveries, calling for liveliness, deeness, and passion.
Nothing about the feelings connected to fury shine through.
If you’re puzzled about it, know that there is more to the name than an apparent mismatch with the pen’s character.
Discover here the mystery beyond Furore pens!
Dec 17th, 2018 by Giardino Italiano
When Giardino Italiano turned 20 (20 years of online sales), Visconti made a special pen for us; a Limited Edition in 100 pieces to celebrate the anniversary, the first one in the world for pens’ webshops.
Also because the very first pen sold online in an e-commerce was actually a Visconti, therefore it was an obvious choice.
In these monts, everybody liked it, and it has been a best-seller, for a series of reason – in my opinion – that I’m trying to list here below.
Some new pens have hit the market. It’s the Momento Zero series (the Italian for “Zero Moment”). They display a beautifully classical look, with their informal and natural style. The colors of their resins and celluloid are sober, yet iridescent. Their name calls for rebirth, commitment, and enthusiasm.
The brand is Leonardo Officina Italiana, a novice in the pen-making field. This start-up was founded by brother and sister Salvatore and Mariafrancesca Matrone, whose names should ring a bell to pen lovers.
I interviewed them to discover a little bit more about their new enterprise.
Aug 21st, 2018 by Giardino Italiano
I interviewed Dante Del Vecchio one and a half years after leaving Visconti. Founder and CEO of Visconti up to 2016, Dante del Vecchio is the creator of all the Visconti pens, inventor of all its patents and author of its successes.
Instead of greeting a golden retirement, as many people would do at his age, Dante put himself on the line, starting from scratch and building for Pineider some pen collections that are highly successful.
.
Since the beginning of 2018, Visconti changed the compatibility of nibs and grips.
The great feature of all Visconti pens was the compatibility standard: a small size nib was perfectly exchangeable in all the pens that mounted a small nib, both steel or palladium. They had the same feeder, the same grip section, the same shape and size of the nib.