Delta 96: the fountain pen that celebrates our 1996
In 1996, Giardino Italiano launched the first version of its website.
It was the dawn of the internet in Italy: modems screeched to connect, very few people knew about e-commerce, and we had already opened our shop.
The first order arrived from the United States – by mail.
Today, thirty years later, that year 1996 has become a pen.
The Idea Behind the 96
When we proposed the idea of a celebratory fountain pen to Delta, we had something precise in mind: not a generic pen with an engraved logo, but a project in resin, colors, and materials that would tell a true story. Delta—which has been producing artisan fountain pens in Naples since 1982—understood immediately.
The result is the Delta 96 L.E.: 96 numbered pieces with a certificate of authenticity, three color variations of 32 pieces each, 14Kt gold or steel nib in 7 grades, integrated piston filling system.
Our previous celebratory pen was the Visconti Giardino dell'Eden, for our twentieth anniversary.
The Delta 96 celebrates the year—1996—more than an achievement: a starting point that continues to be relevant.
The box—with its original design of a garden with red, blue, and black flowers—already anticipates the three colors of the collection: Rosso Amarillo (Amarillo Red), Blu Fiordaliso (Cornflower Blue), Nero Tulipano (Tulip Black).
The Three Colors: Italian Pearlescent Resin
The main material is Italian pearlescent resin, handcrafted by Delta. The turning process creates iridescent veins and reflections that are never exactly repeated between one piece and another: each piece is unique among the 96 total. The three colors amplify the pearlescent effect differently depending on the light—this is a structural characteristic of the material, not a surface finish.
Rosso Amarillo (Amarillo Red)
Dark, deep red, with glints that change with the light: warm, intense, almost iridescent. It's not the flashy red one might expect—it's a red that commands attention without asking for it.
Recommended ink: J. Herbin Rouge Grenat or a warm orange-brown to amplify the nuances of the resin, such as J. Herbin Terre de Feu. For those who prefer contrast, a deep black like Iroshizuku Take-Sumi (Bamboo Charcoal Black).
Blu Fiordaliso (Cornflower Blue)
The blue of the 96 shifts from intense blue to turquoise to slate gray depending on the angle: the pearlescent resin multiplies the color in unpredictable ways. It's a pen that never looks the same.
Recommended ink: Pilot Iroshizuku Asa-Gao (Morning Glory Blue)—the brilliant blue interacts with the resin's reflections in an almost cinematic way.
Nero Tulipano (Tulip Black)
The most formal version and the first to sell out. The pearlescent black is never flat: it has depth, anthracite, and pearl gray reflections under direct light.
Tulip Black is sold out. Rosso Amarillo and Blu Fiordaliso are still available.
The Construction
Dimensions and Grip
The 96 is a large pen: similar in proportions to Delta's Dolcevita Media, but longer. It stands out on the desk and feels right in hand: well-balanced uncapped and comfortable even during longer writing sessions.
Mixed Finishes: Solid Silver and Gold
The central cap band is the famous solid silver bas-relief band from the Dolcevita line—an element Delta reserves for its flagship productions. Alongside it, gold-plated rings, gold clip, and gold nib. The mix of the two metals works, especially on dark resin.
Integrated Piston
The piston is an integral part of the barrel: direct filling from the ink bottle, without external converters.
Greater capacity than standard cartridges, evenly distributed weight. A system that makes the pen feel complete, not just assembled.
The Nib: Two Characters
The choice between steel and 14Kt gold significantly changes the pen's character.
The steel nib (€340) is precise, consistent, reliable. It writes exactly as expected. This is the option for those who want to use the 96 daily.
Available in 7 grades: EF, F, M, B, Stub, Flex F, Flex EF.
The 14Kt gold nib (€800) introduces a natural flexibility that progressively adapts to personal style. The line variation is richer, the response to pressure softer. With the Flex F and EF tips, interesting variations can be achieved for those who practice expressive writing. The same 7 grades are available.
Why Only 13 Remain
The Delta 96 was launched in the summer of 2024. In just over a year, out of 96 total pieces, only 13 remain—all in Rosso Amarillo and Blu Fiordaliso, with a steel nib (except for one 14Kt gold Rosso EF piece).
This is not a pressure tactic; it is an objective fact. Delta's numbered limited editions have historically maintained or increased their value in collecting. This is, by definition, the last window.
Who the Delta 96 is For
It's a pen for those who have a connection with Giardino Italiano, or want to create one.
For those who collect Italian limited editions.
For those looking for a large and significant fountain pen that tells a specific story every time it's taken out of its case.
It's not the pen for those looking for the lowest price, nor for those who want the maximum technical performance.
It's a pen for those who believe that a well-made object has something to say over time.
We have believed this since 1996.
→ Buy the Delta 96 L.E. on pens.it
Dario Giordani
Giardino Italiano
