First Impressions: Hands-on with the Uni Zento Signature!

Ok, so I finally got my hands on a Uni Zento Signature - Uni’s latest “it” gel pen that flies off shelves so fast in Japan that it hardly ever makes it’s way into the U.S. market, and when it does, it often appears at grossly inflated secondary market prices. (I’ve seen these pens priced as high as $200+, but fortunately as they become more available this degree of silliness is less common.) I’ve been trying to get my hands on a Zento Signature for about a year, and when Vanness Pens obtained a (very) small shipment for the California Pen Show in February, I managed to snag one of the black ones in the .5mm tip size. After a few weeks of use, here are my initial impressions.

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What I Like About the Uni Zento Signature

• Magnetic Cap. The Zento Signature features a magnetic cap which closes and posts securely. This feature alone makes the Signature an excellent pen for everyday carry. Standard “click” gel pens can accidentally deploy in your bag or pocket, causing a mess. You don’t have that issue with the Signature.

• Sturdy Clip. The Signature features an upgraded metal clip that’s a bit heavier duty than the wire clip on the standard and Flow pens. I haven’t had the pen long enough to know whether it will make a real long-term difference in terms of durability, but it feels secure and does lend the pen a higher-end look.

• Matte Grip. The grip section on the Zento Signature has a matte texture that reduces slippage in the hand. The metal barrel on the Zento Flow might be a touch slick for some people. If you’re writing outdoors, in a variable travel environment, or if you tend to have sweaty hands, the Signature is a good choice.

• All-Metal Construction. The Zento Signature feels durable due to the nearly all-metal construction, including interior metal threads. There’s even an o-ring to prevent leakage if a refill goes bust.

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The Zento Signature posted in-hand. The grip section is comfortable, though I find the overall shape of the pen a touch short for my hand.

The Uni Zento Flow, which is a traditional click pen format with a lower aluminum barrel.

Do I Prefer the Zento Signature Over the Zento Flow? A Few Considerations that have me leaning towards the Zento flow

• Price Point. Even at the standard pricing ($30), the Zento Signature is nearly 3x more expensive than the Zento Flow, and 10x more expensive than the standard Zento. All three pens use the same refill, so in order to justify the price difference, you need to really like the format. I would NOT suggest that anyone pay $100-200 on the secondary market for a Zento Signature under any circumstances - it was never intended to be sold at this price point and the value proposition is not there.

• Balance. I don’t consider the Zento Signature unbalanced, but for longer writing sessions the Zento Flow fits my hand better. Posted, the Signature is only slightly shorter, but the difference in weight and balance feels more pronounced. I think I prefer the more front-weighted Flow overall.

• Hype. The stationery industry goes crazy over certain products from time to time, and I’m usually able to ignore the hype but with the Zento Signature it can be impossible. This pen has drawn so much attention that I dislike using it in public and carrying it with me at shows and meetups due to the number of people constantly asking whether I’m willing to sell it. (I’m not.) In my opinion, this pen is nice but does not justify the level of social media FOMO-driven hype that it receives.

Most of the price point of the Zento Signature goes into the metal barrel. As you can see, the barrel threads are metal as opposed to plastic, which suggests that the pen will be more durable over time as one would expect for the price point. That said, both pens use the same refill, so your writing experience is nearly identical.

Further Reading on the Uni Zento Lineup

I’ve previously reviewed the standard Uni Zento and the “mid-tier” Zento Flow, which uses the same refill and features an upgraded metal barrel in five different finishes. I think the Zento refill is excellent, and consider these pens exceptionally good everyday writers for those who value a smooth writing experience. The Zento is designed to be “low friction”, and performs as advertised. At the end of the day, is the coveted Zento Signature 2-3x as good as the Flow? If you’re just looking to write with a Zento, probably not, but if you are looking for a pocket-carry EDC pen with a magnetic cap, at $30 the Zento Signature is a reasonable choice as long as you can find one at standard pricing.

We currently have a fairly large selection of Standard Zentos and Zento Flow pens in stock in our shop, including the cool “Birch” Flow that pairs a white upper barrel with etched aluminum. We recently added some .7mm options for those who prefer a wider tip size. Unfortunately, we do not have any Zento Signatures available for sale as they remain largely unavailable in the U.S. Our friends at Vanness Pens are also currently sold out. Please note that I am not interested in selling my personal pen and generally do not respond to emails and comments regarding purchases from my personal collection. Thank you for understanding!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

Pen Review: The Pentel Sign Pen (Craft Design Technology Version)

I have a soft spot for pens that have remained essentially unchanged for 60+ years, including the Lamy 2000, the Pilot Capless Series, and even less expensive pens like the one I plan to review here: the Pentel Sign Pen. Introduced in 1963, the Sign Pen is famous for its moderately flexible tip that allows for expressive line variation while remaining just firm enough to use for everyday writing. Long a favorite of calligraphers, I had written this one off as an “art marker” that wouldn’t be suitable for my more everyday needs. Let’s say I’ve had to reconsider.

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An example of how I’ve been using these pens for my personal planner layouts.

Expanding My Japanese Fineliner Repertoire

Back in December we brought an assortment of Craft Design Technology products into the shop, which included CDT’s versions of a wide range of Japanese stationery items that I had never tried before. This shipment included not only the Sign Pens, but other unique finds including the Pentel Tradio, the Pilot Frixion 3 multi pen, and paper items such as the CDT Memo Rolls and Desk Note Bagasse notebooks. Of all the new additions, however, the Sign Pens and the Tradios were my favorites.

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The brush/marker tip is adequately firm for writing, and the colors are quite vibrant. Writing sample here is shown on the CDT Desk Note (Large), which contains ink-friendly, sugarcane-derived Bagasse paper.

I’ve long been a proponent of fountain pen users trying out fineliners as an “everyday” alternative. Fineliners add a degree of expressiveness (meaning line variation) to your handwriting, and have a soft feel that, like a fountain pen, requires very little writing pressure. The Pentel Tradio is actually modeled after a fountain pen, but with a stiffer tip that will feel familiar to U.S. users accustomed to standard felt-tip pens and markers. The Pentel Sign Pen invokes a traditional Japanese brush pen, with a softer tip capable of more significant line variation. As a result, the Sign Pen has become a favorite for calligraphers and artists, though the tip remains firm enough that you can use it for standard handwriting and journaling.

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The T.G.S. back-office work table.

So how do I use my own set of Pentel Sign Pens? I’m no calligrapher, and I long ago allowed my art skills to lapse, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed these pens as journaling and planning tools. The tip is flexible enough to go from a relatively fine line to a bolder marker-esque line, making them useful for drawing layouts. I’ve also been trying to improve my cursive and reduce the amount of pressure that I use while writing by hand, so these are great given that the ink flows similarly to a fountain pen. Unlike many markers, the Sign Pens show relatively little bleedthrough and feathering on decent papers, with the ink behaving similarly to fountain pen ink in that regard.

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The Pentel Sign Pen features color-coded end caps so that you can conveniently locate the pen you’re looking for.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I keep a jar of the Craft Design Technology Pentel Sign Pens on the main worktable in the T.G.S. back office - that’s how much I’ve grown to love these things. I’ve always been a fan of fineliners and other fine-tipped markers, but the Sign Pen is different enough that I sometimes feel as though I’ve discovered an entirely different product category! I have one of the 10-pen sets, and I even kept the zippered pouch so that I can take these with me when I travel. They make an excellent addition to a journaling kit if you like to write in different colors but don’t feel comfortable bringing multiple fountain pens and inks.

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If you opt for one of the multi-packs, be sure to save the pouch, as it’s quite nice for travel. (Or you can upgrade to one of the CDT Custom Leather zipper pouches.) :)

As noted above, we stock the Sign Pen in the exclusive Craft Design Technology mint green finish. For those unfamiliar with CDT, it’s a Japanese design house that collaborates with various stationery manufacturers on their own unique versions of classic items, including Pentel items such as the Tradio, Sign Pen, Energel, Sharp Kerry, and even more paper products and desk accessories. Most of their releases incorporate some version of their signature green colorway.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

New Arrivals: Uni Zento Restock, Pilot G-Tech-C, and More Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi Pens!

The Uni Zento has been one of the more in-demand gel pens on the market, so much that we sold through an entire shipment in a matter of weeks a couple of months ago. We currently have more, including most colors of the Zento Flow, which features the upgraded metal barrel, as well as the standard Zento in multiple colors. The capped Zento Signature remains elusive, but I’m trying…. Read more about the Zento and what makes it unique in this recent post. I also talked a bit about it in this YouTube video.

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Fans of the Pilot Hi-Tec-C are also in luck, as we have more of the higher-end Coleto 1000 multi pen barrels, all of the Hi-Tec-C Coleto refills (including the mechanical pencil inserts), and now the G-Tec-C4 .4mm gel pen (which is the U.S. market equivalent of the .4mm Japanese Pilot Hi-Tec-C.) These are all in stock and available for purchase both in the online shop and in-person in our Nashville location.

We will be open this week in our Nashville store normal hours, 1-6pm Thursday and Friday and 10am-6pm on Saturday. Be sure to come see us as we will be getting ready to jumpstart the holiday shopping season soon!

The Pilot Iro-Utsushi Dip Pen (and in General, Simple vs. Fancy Dip Pens)

This past weekend I did a post on ink swatching, and walked through how I create the ink swatches that I use both for the shop and to organize my own personal ink collection. Like most people with a lot of ink to organize, a key component of my ink swatching kit is a dip pen. Because I’m a writing enthusiast with an interest in the calligraphy and art sides of things as well, many of the pens that I personally use are on the more expensive side - particularly my glass pens and Drillog metal dip pen.

But what if I told you that an $8 alternative exists, and that in many ways this other pen is just as good and will serve you well for basic ink swatching and even some writing and journaling where you might want to switch up your inks mid-session and don’t want to fiddle with emptying or refilling fountain pens? That solution is the Pilot Iro-Utsushi Dip Pen.

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I chose the fine since most of my other dip pens range from medium to double-broad.

The Pilot Iro-Utsushi is a very basic product: a standard dip pen with a stainless steel fountain pen nib (fine or medium) attached to it. This pen differs from a calligraphy dip pen in that the nib is tipped for writing, and it can’t be swapped out of the holder. While some might find this “limiting,” I think that’s the point and what makes this product special: it’s intended for one thing, which is writing with fountain pen ink.

While I’m not sure I’ll ever make the Iro-Utsushi a “core tool” in my repertoire - I have way too many fun glass pens to reach for - I see no reason not to have one, since it’s an excellent option to have within reach for travel, meetups, and quick writing samples.

As I mentioned above, you can use the Iro-Utsushi for both ink swatching and standard writing. In my last post, I mentioned how I like to keep small sheets of “micro swatches” that are more portable than full-size swatch cards. This dip pen would be perfect for that, especially in the fine nib. And it offers a nice experience for standard writing too. Despite the lack of a feed, the underside of the nib holds a fair bit of ink and I regularly get 3-4 full lines of writing with the fine nib version. While the holder is a bit narrow for my hand and therefore may not be especially comfortable for longer writing sessions of a page or more, that’s not something I’d typically do with a dip pen anyway.

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Testing out some Nagasawa Kobe Ink #69 (Kikusui Biotope Green).

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I don’t have any problem saying that the Pilot Iro-Utsushi is one of the best basic dip pen options on the market to use with fountain pen inks. Whether you’re a glass pen enthusiast looking for a less-fragile option to take to meetups or away from the security of your desk, or just someone looking for an inexpensive option to finally finish swatching and categorizing all of your ink samples, it’s hard to do better than the Iro-Utsushi, especially at the price point.

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And, yes, I know that some of you have probably heard the internet rumors from the Japanese market that the Iro-Utsushi is being discontinued, but other intel has suggested that Pilot is merely releasing new colors and the pen will continue to be offered, at least in the U.S. market. Pilot is a bit different than many Japanese pen companies in that they continue to offer certain products in the U.S. (i.e., the E95s fountain pen) even after they are discontinued in Japan. Stay tuned, but I’m not panicked on this one yet as I can still get them here.

You can pick up a Pilot Iro-Utsushi dip pen in our own shop, starting at $8, in a range of clear acrylic and wood finishes. Nibs come in fine or medium, but note that not every color available in both nib options.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop (an authorized retailer of Pilot pens) and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Our brick-and-mortar store is open Thursdays and Fridays from 1pm-6pm, and on Saturdays from 10am-6pm. Please check our main store page for up-to-date hours and announcements regarding special events.

New Arrivals: Introducing The Brass Wren Fineliner from Tom's Studio!

I’ve loved watching Tom’s Studio release the Lumos and Lumos Pro Duo Fineliners in a series of special finishes, and now it’s the Wren’s turn! Tom’s Studio announced The Brass Wren, and it arrived yesterday alongside a batch of the Pigment Black Ink and additional Wren colors, including “Iris” (dark purple). If you’re interested in trying out a refillable fineliner that is capable of using fountain pen ink, consider giving the Wren a try. Don’t be intimidated by the filling process - once you get the hang of it, it’s very straightforward. I even did a video demonstrating how to set up the Wren.

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Also, just a head’s up that the TWSBI Carrara + Onyx ECO fountain pens have landed and are ready to ship. I unboxed mine last night! So far I’m enjoying mine, which I promptly filled with Laban Greek Mythology Aphrodite Pink (marble column theme and all).

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We will be open this week for normal hours, including from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm on Saturday. You can always check the main store page for updated hours and announcements regarding special events.