Leonardo Israel 75 Years Version Celebration Solid 18kt Gold Fountain pen

And the tradition continues …. There is a rich history as it comes to making fountain pens for special occasions and pens being made for the state of Israel are no exception to this. 

The creation of this pen would not have been possible without the knowledge, sheer passion and friendship of a German enthusiast and collector of fountain pens. Together with two Dutch friends & fountain pen loves, who are responsible for the design of the Leonardo Israel 75 years “Chai”, our friend was an inexhaustible source of knowledge and an important link in the communication. Without him, this project would not have been the success that it is today!

Yom Ha'atzmaut, Independence day, is the national day of Israel, commemorating the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948.  Because Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, which corresponded with the Hebrew date 5 Iyar in that year, Yom Ha'atzmaut was originally celebrated on that date. However, to avoid Sabbath desecration, it may be commemorated one or two days before or after the 5th of Iyar. Although Israel was founded on May 14, 1948, its 75th year celebration will be, by the Roman/Latin calendar, on April 26th, 2023.

There has gone in a lot of thought in the design of this pen. Every detail has been carefully chosen and has a connection with the state of Israel or Jewish life. For Leonardo it was not about extravagance of the design, but in meaning. More is not always better and sometimes simplicity is the best way to get a message across!

The colour of the pen could not be anything different than the blue and white, like the flag of Israel. Leonardo chose a marbled design, because the blue and white are inseparable, just like the Jewish people and the state of Israel!

The Chai comes back on several places on the writing instrument. Chai means life in Hebrew.  It consists of 2 letters from the Hebrew alphabet, namely the Chet and the Yod. These letters also have a certain worth, numerology. The Chet = 8 and the Yod = 10. Together they make 18, which for many Jews mean luck. There they say “Le Chaim”. To life!  

A special sleeve decorates the blue and white resin body. The sleeve which is made in bronze (rhodium plated), silver or solid gold 18kt, depending on which edition. On the sleeve it shows the star of David with in the center the Chai or the number 75. On the sleeve we can also find:

• The dates 1948-2023 (Roman/Latin calendar) and 5708-5783 (Hebrew calendar). 
• The text “Israel 75 year statehood” both in English and Hebrew.

The Star of David, Hebrew Magen David (“Shield of David”) can also be found on the writing instrument. Its shape is that of a hexagram. This Jewish symbol composed of two overlaid equilateral triangles that form a six-pointed star. It appears on synagogues, Jewish tombstones, and the flag of the State of Israel.  

The Leonardo Israel 75 Years is avaialble in four different limited editions:

• Version 1K - sleeve in bronze, rhodium plated, 948 FP (numbered 001/948) •
• Version 1KS – sleeve in solid silver 925, limited to 148 FP (numbered 001/148) •
• Version Celebration – sleeve in solid gold 18kt, only 18 FP (numbered 01/18) with diamonds and sapphires (on the top of cap the precious stones decorate the “Chai”) •
• Version R (rollerball) – sleeve in bronze, rhodium plated, 148 Rollerball (numbered 001/148)

Leonardo Officina Italiana made this Israel 75 years “Chai” with love and passion and hope it will give you joy for life.  

The fountain pen has a 14kt gold nib with ebonite feed and uses a piston filling mechanism.

And the story goes on... A family tradition. Leonardo Officina Italiana is a forge, a laboratory where experience and craftsmanship are mixed giving life to “pleasure”, the pleasure of writing. Over 45 years of experience in the field of writing instruments, handed down from father to son, from generation to generation. Today Leonardo Officina Italiana works on emotional and vintage projects, taking up the old loading systems, the materials and the working techniques that once characterized the craft of the craftsman. The Leonardo pens have a soul, a human warmth that only passion can give. Each Leonardo collection is hand made in Italy.