RE-REVIEW: BARON FIG SQUIRE ROLLERBALL

Since I am: A) terribly late with this review of the special edition - yet currently still available - Baron Fig Squire 'Clear Habits' rollerball, so at this point I don't know how useful an in-depth review of this particular edition would still be. And B) have already reviewed the Squire, in its many iterations, almost half a dozen times by now (Links to all reviews can be found HERE). I've probably said about everything there is to say about the Squire in my previous reviews, and rambled on enough to cause at least a little migraine.

So this post will be a Re-review of the Baron Fig Squire in general, instead. And I will focus on my experiences with the Squire rollerball thus far, and how my perception of this pen has maybe changed over the years.

The Squire was a pen that immediately won me over. How could it not? Baron Fig, if anything, really has their brand delivery figured out to absolute perfection. The minimalist in me (or rather the minimal design enthusiast, I don't think a hoarder like me could possibly classify as a minimalist!) smiles every time I see the simple packaging, clean lines, bold colors and minimal graphics that look like they came straight from Apple HQ. If you identify with a minimal aesthetic like this, it's easy to get sucked into their biosphere of minimal productivity products... dare I say addictive, even?

But packaging and branding is one thing (You could even argue if it's a valid reason for buying a product?). Luckily, the Squire inside is every bit as brilliant as its packaging. Design is certainly one area where my opinion about the Squire hasn't changed a bit, which is a good thing in this case. In many ways the Squire is about as good as minimal design gets: Just two parts. A very clean and simple, almost fluid-like design that's completely uninterrupted by hard corners, edges, or seams... except where the two parts of the pen meet.

Talking about that tiny seam: the slight gap between the two parts has been my only pet peeve from the beginning of the Squire's career. Albeit a bit of a stupid one, I suppose. But I can't really fault the design in any other way, so a stupid pet peeve is what you'll get. I feel like they improved the fit between the two parts a bit over the years, but you can still see and feel a slight gap. Is it a problem? No. Do I secretly wish that they'd figure out a way to make it (almost) as seamless as a Lamy 2000? Yeah, obviously!

...Oh, and while we're at it, a roll-stopper could be useful as well!

Baron Fig's style and impeccable ability to create an attractive story, reflects in the fantastic special edition releases they've done with the Squire over the years. Even though I'm not mad about them slowing down their pacing of special releases these days (All those seasonal subscriptions started to feel like a chore, trying to keep up with one special edition after the other), they've consistently outdone themselves on every single one of them over the years. Not just the minimal color schemes and themed engravings, but also the entire atmosphere created around each theme (The 'Lock & Key' being my absolute favorite, closely followed by the highly sought-after chemistry-themed 'Experiment' that I - as a chemist - thoroughly regret missing out on) - every piece of the puzzle just always fits together.

The 'Clear Habit' special edition that you're seeing here, is based on the color scheme of the 'Atomic Habits' book by James Clear (A self-improvement book about creating and breaking Habits), and Baron Fig's own Habit-tracker special edition Clear Habit Confidant notebook. Even though I don't read self-improvement books (I probably should), I still very much like the look of this rusty-orange pen and the triangle-pattern engraving.

Despite frequently having multiple Squires hanging around my desk and in my EDC carry, it still strikes me every time how compact these things are. Especially in the anodized aluminum versions that are also very light, making for an incredibly small and nimble pen. And yet despite the almost pocket-sized dimensions, it never feels like a pocket pen in the hand. It IS quite thin, though, which remains my only comfort-related gripe with the Squire. The combination of the slick, smooth shape, and anodized finish, with a fairly thin grip diameter (even at the widest point) does make it a little prone for my hand to cramp up after a while. Granted, it's not as thin as that other Baron Fig pen, the Squire Click (which is not one I'd recommend for more serious writing tasks), but I'd still like to see them try a design with a slightly wider grip area.

The refill... this is an area where I've changed my mind quite a bit over the past years, and my opinion on the Baron Fig-branded Schmidt P8126 rollerball refill still tends to go back and forth. Since my first experience with the Squire, I've definitely been using more rollerball and gel ink pens. The P8126 was something just shy of revolutionary for me at first encounter, and it's still one of the most satisfying and consistent rollerball refills I've used to date.

But gel pens have taken over the number one spot on my non-fountain pen list. The Pilot G2 (0.5) is just too good of a refill, and it's noticeably less picky about what paper you use it on, since the slightly more viscous gel ink has less tendency to feather and bleed on cheaper paper. That being said, the Squire does also accept Parker G2-style refills, which opens up a wide selection of refills that can be fitted (including the excellent Schmidt EasyFlow 9000M hybrid ballpoint ink refill that's a good compromise between ballpoint and rollerball inks).

Everything from the minimal design, aesthetically pleasing storytelling, compact and nimble size and excellent rollerball refill... Three years later, these are the things that make me reach for the Baron Fig Squire surprisingly often. And even though aesthetically you could call Baron Fig the stationery-world equivalent of Apple, their prices are actually quite reasonable I think. Starting at 55$, the Squire hits a pretty attractive price point, which makes it hard for me not to recommend picking one up. (Interestingly, the Squire's prices haven't gone up at all in the last three years, the same can't be said for a lot of other pens!)

NOTE: This product was provided by Baron Fig, so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affiliate links.

QUICK LOOK: BARON FIG SQUIRE COPPER PEN REVIEW

I know, I know! It's a bit late to do a 'quick look' review when the 'new' copper version of the ever-so popular Baron Fig Squire has already been around for more than three months... In fact I'm so terribly late that -in the meantime- Baron Fig already introduced another iteration of their pen: the Squire Brass (same as the special edition lock & Key, but now part of the standard production line). Better late than never though, right? 

The Squire may have lost some of its popularity since the original launch back in 2016 (review HERE), and there's some fierce competition from other small makers and brands (Such as Karas Pen Co., Tactile Turn, or even the brand new Mark One by Studio Neat). But in my opinion it still holds strong today. That's in part because Baron Fig managed to keep their lineup of Squire pens fresh by constantly releasing new limited edition colorways and various material options in their so-called Precious Metals collection.

Another reason why I still consider the Squire is its fantastic design. The minimal teardrop-shaped Squire is still one of the sexiest pen designs I've come across. Let's face it, Baron Fig knows how to make a clever-looking and sleek product. It's a clean and uninterrupted, clipless shape, which is of course minimal but not always practical... The shape and size of the Squire lend itself perfectly to being pocket carried, which sometimes makes me wish it has a clip. If you want, Baron Fig sells neat leather pen sleeves, which offer some protection and a place to store your pen without having it roll all over the place. 

Personally, this solid copper version of the Squire is probably my favorite so far... But then again, I AM quite partial to copper pens. Part of the appeal for me is definitely in the patina it creates. I just love to watch a pristine, shiny pink-colored copper pen create its own unique character after a short while of use, taking on fantastic hues of red, brown and blue. 

Copper is obviously also a lot heavier than aluminium, and I think the Squire in particular lends itself perfectly to these heavier metals (brass, copper, stainless steel). At 50 grams, it's twice the weight of an aluminium Squire, giving it a very solid feel in the hand. Yet at the same time, it's not too outrageously heavy because of the relatively compact form factor. Contrary to larger, beefier pens made of copper (like the copper Namisu Nova), the Squire never felt like it weighed me down or caused any fatigue while writing. (For a full discussion of dimensions, and size comparison, you can check out my review of the original Squire!) 

If you still want the extra heft, but don't like the smell of pennies that you get from copper or brass pens, the stainless steel version (review HERE) offers a similar heft but with a more industrial, silvery steel look. The choice is up to you. 

Since my last review of a Squire, my preference has shifted slightly towards gel ink pens, as I've been using the Pilot G2 a lot lately. The Schmidt P8126 rollerball refill that ships with the Squire still comes in at a very strong second place though, and it remains the most consistent performing rollerball refill I've tried to date. It lays down a consistent, black line. The ink dries fast and doesn't smear, but it does tend to bleed through lesser-quality paper (which is the main reason why I switched to gel ink, which is a bit less prone to bleeding and feathering).

Price-wise, the copper Squire sits at the upper-end of Baron Fig's offerings, coming in at 95$. The upcharge -compared to the brass (75$) or stainless steel (85$) version- seems somewhat high. It's certainly not cheap for a minimal pen, and let's be honest: not everyone is a fan of copper pens (both due to their weight and the penny smell).

That being said, after 3 years the Baron Fig Squire still brings a smile to my face every time I use it. The design is great -from packaging to branding-, it's a comfortable pen to use and you can't really go wrong with the Schmidt rollerball refill. If copper is not your thing, there are plenty of other finishes to choose from, each with their own characteristics and look (at some point I'm hoping they'll also add a titanium version, which would complete the 'precious metals' collection IMHO).

This product was sent to me by Baron Fig so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affilate links.

REVIEW: BARON FIG SQUIRE CLICK BALLPOINT PEN

The Squire from Baron Fig (read my review here) has quickly become a staple within the community. For good reason of course, as it is a superb pen all around. But when Baron Fig announced a new iteration of the Squire: the Squire Click, I was left with slightly mixed feelings. I loved the idea of a knock mechanism, but at the same time it seemed to lose a bit of the clean look of the Squire's design.

But as always, it's quite difficult to assess a product just from photos online. So my thoughts changed when I got one in hand for review -thanks Baron Fig!

I was still a bit unsure about how I felt about the design choice of using a standard Schmidt knock mechanism, although I do like that the barrel and knock sit flush against each other. When you pick up the pen, you'll notice that it slimmed down a bit compared to the regular Squire. Basically what they did is remove the taper towards the front of the pen so the diameter is now uniform across the entire length of the pen. Without that teardrop shape, the Squire click lost some of the character that the original Squire had, but it's still a good looking minimal pen.

L to R: Kaweco Al Sport, Riind The Pen, Karas Pen Co. Retrakt, Baron Fig Squire, Baron Fig Squire Click, Lamy 2000, Lamy Safari

At 12.7 cm (5"), it's the same length as the Squire. The barrel diameter was reduced from 10 mm (0.40") to 9 mm (0.35"), which doesn't sound like a lot but it's easily noticeable when you hold them side by side. They also cut the weight by 4 grams, from 24g to 20g. Overall the differences are relatively small, but surprisingly they create a very different experience in use.

The Click lost a little weight around the front of the pen

Whereas the regular Squire is IMHO a 'comfortably slim' pen, the click is a bit narrow for my taste. I did get used to it after a while, but I won't say it's the most comfortable pen ever. The size makes it ideal as an agenda pen, and it fits perfectly into a journal pen loop without adding bulk. 

Now here's the weird part: after a good while of use, the Squire Click actually grew on me...a lot! So get this, the size may make it a bit less comfortable, but it also makes it extremely versatile in use: Throw it in a backpack, pants pocket, notebook pen loop,... it's small and thin but still long enough to sit comfortably in the hand. 

Frankly, the stock Schmidt knock mechanism is a lot easier and faster to operate than the custom machined twist mechanism on the Squire. The obvious trade-off is that it doesn't look as clean and minimal.

The Schmidt Easyflow 9000 may be one of the greatest parts about the Click!

Surprisingly, the Click comes with a different refill, which helps differentiate it from the regular Squire in the Baron Fig lineup. Inside the Click, you'll find a Schmidt Easyflow 9000 ballpoint refill (instead of the rollerball refills in the regular Squire). I really enjoy the change, especially because the Easyflow 9000 is a fantastic refill that combines the good sides of both ballpoint and rollerball refills. It lacks the bleedthrough issues that rollerball refills sometimes have, but the medium line is dark, consistent and smooth. Only issue I found is that it sometimes seems a bit more prone to smudging.

It honestly took me a while to make up my mind on the Squire Click. The slimmer barrel is not my favorite, and the design is a bit less sleek because of the standard knock mechanism (maybe something to custom-machine in the future?).

On the plus side, the slimmer form factor makes it even more portable than the regular Squire, and the knock mechanism is more practical in use. Oh, and the ballpoint refill it comes with is straight up fantastic. The price point of the Squire Click is very reasonable too. At 45$ it's not too precious for everyday use, and it's an ideal pen to throw into your bag, purse, pants pocket...

This product was sent to me by Baron Fig so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affilate links.

REVIEW: BARON FIG SQUIRE STAINLESS STEEL PEN

Baron Fig is on fire at the moment! They have been releasing new product after new product non-stop for the past couple months. While I stand in awe and drool at everything they put out, I struggle to catch up with reviews on some of their latest and greatest.

One of the newest releases is this: the Baron Fig Squire in solid stainless steel. My thanks to Baron Fig for sending one over for me to have a look at!

A new rectangular box design for the stainless steel Squire, is this the end of the cool tubes?

Remember the Lock & Key special edition? I jumped on that faster than fast, and I have been totally in love with the brass Squire ever since. The Squire is a great design on itself, but the hefty brass construction puts it at the top of my list. It has developed a subtle but beautiful patina over time, which is one of the many things I love about brass.

Top to bottom: Squire Al charcoal, Squire stainless steel, Squire "key" brass

I also like how it makes your hands smell like pennies. But I'm weird, and I know a lot of people don't share my love for smelly metal pens. Stainless steel is a valid alternative if you don't like brass for its smell. It has a similar solid weight to it, but it obviously lacks the smell. It also lacks the patina. Instead of the warm gold color of brass, it has a cold, industrial-looking silvery color. It's a different version altogether, but it has its charm.

The design of the squire has of course remained the same. It's still that subtle teardrop-shaped pen, that I very much enjoy. It's a seriously good-looking minimal pen. Since the stainless steel is a standard edition, it features the same sword logo engraved on the barrel as the aluminium version, compared to the key on the special edition brass 'Key'.

The surface of the stainless steel is polished, but if you look close you can still see a slight brushed finish. It's worth noting that, just like the brass Squire, this polished metal finish doesn't really offer the best grip. If you're worried about that, the anodized aluminium pens provide a bit of texture that offers slightly more grip.

Putting the three squires side to side, I noticed that Baron Fig seems to have dealt with the gap issue between the barrel and the twist mechanism (check out my original review where I discussed this issue). I fixed it on the aluminium squire, but both the brass and stainless steel pens didn't have this issue out of the box. With this problem seemingly fixed, they got rid of the only real gripe I had with the squire when it originally launched. So attention to detail and the overall fit and finish is definitely on point.

L to R: Riind Pen, Karas Pen Co. Retrakt, Baron Fig Squire SS, BNworks Twiist, Lamy vista, Lamy 2000

The Squire is a relatively compact clipless pen, yet in the hand it's perfectly sized. With a length of 12.5 cm (5"), and a girth of 1 cm (0.4"), it perfectly hits that sweet spot for me. The shape makes it a very comfortable pen to hold. 

Weight is of course the biggest differentiator between the different metals. At 48g (1.7oz), it's effectively twice as heavy as the aluminium Squire. The difference between the brass 'Key' is  just 3g heavier than the stainless steel, which is a negligible difference. For such a small pen, you'll be surprised by how hefty it is when you first pick it up, yet I personally think it's not too heavy (your mileage may of course vary if you are used to light pens).

Maybe you'll notice that there is no written review at the bottom of this post. That's because the Squire Stainless Steel comes with a rollerball refill that I reviewed plenty of times before: The Schmidt P8126 (you can read about it in my original review of the Squire). It's a smooth refill that lays down a nice consistentl, deep black line. If one thing, I wish it wouldn't have the tendency to bleed on cheaper paper. But all in all I think it's an enjoyable refill to use.

The Baron Fig Squire stainless steel retails for 85$, which is a considerable step up from the aluminium version (55$). But it's in line with comparable pens from other brands, and I think it's a  rather fair price for what you get. If you like a more substantial pen, it's definitely worth considering.

I'm having a hard time finding something I don't like about Baron Fig and their products. They just know what they are doing. And they run their business with an impeccable sense for style and minimal design. The pace with which they crank out new products is impressive to say the least. But if they can continue that productivity without sacrificing quality or originality, I'll be looking forward to what they come up with next! Maybe a copper Squire?...

This product was sent to me by Baron Fig, so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affiliate links.

QUICK LOOK: BARON FIG LOCK & KEY SPECIAL EDITION SET

Being shamefully behind on reviews, I wanted to share a quick post about the Baron Fig Lock & Key set. The special edition Squire rollerball is unfortunately sold out already, but you can still grab the matching Confidant notebook.

After my failure to get a hold of a Baron Fig Squire Experiment (what more could a chemistry student ask for??), I decided to act fast. And boy did I act fast this time! I don't think I ever impulse-bought anything as fast as this. Which -in itself- should give you a good idea of how excited I am with this release.

How excited? VERY excited! For the simple reason that this is the first time Baron Fig went with a different metal for the Squire rollerball. It's as simple as that. Give me something brass, and I jump through the roof.

... Ok maybe not literally, but I do nevertheless really like this take on the minimalist Baron Fig Squire rollerball. As usual it's a relatively small, yet comfortable-in-hand clipless pen. The machined brass almost doubles the weight of this Squire, compared to the aluminium ones. That's a lot, but given the relatively compact size, it still only weighs in at around 50 grams. Which -to me- is a sweet spot in terms of heft (YMMV of course).

The Squire received a faint brushed finish, and the 'Key' theme is visualised by the antique key logo on the top of the pen right underneath the twist knob. On the opposite side of the barrel you can find the clean Baron Fig logo laser-etched, and that's all the branding you'll find on this pen. Even though the logo is large (in relation to the size of the pen), it still feels subtle because the laser etching isn't very obtrusive, and the font is simple and modern. 

Of course the most exciting part about using brass in a pen is the fact that it will create a beautiful patina. I haven't had the pen long enough to see that happen, although it has already become a bit darker with the first use! I definitely hope this will be the first in a series of new Squire designs to use different metals such as brass, copper and titanium. I may have said this before, but I love the differences in look and feel between different metals, and I think they give each pen a distinct character.

If you want to read more about the Baron Fig Squire rollerball, you can read my full review of the original (aluminium) version HERE.

Then for the matching Confidant: the 'Lock'. The packaging of this notebook is absolutely beautiful -albeit perhaps a bit excessive. The dark green paired with a gold foil embossed maze pattern on the outside box invokes a very obvious vintage look and feel, while still keeping the modern and minimal aesthetic that we know from Baron Fig. 

Inside the box is a large fold-out maze in gold foil on white paper. The maze contains hidden messages in a secret sign alphabet, which can be solved with the code on the packaging of the Squire. At least that's what I think it is, I honestly haven't taken the proper time to find out what it says! 

The notebook itself  is an A5-sized hardcover Confidant, cloth-covered in the same dark green color as the packaging, and with the 'Lock' and maze design embossed over the entire cover (but not filled with gold foil). It counts 192 pages of dot grid paper.

I won't be doing a full detailed review of the notebook and the paper quality in this post. But I have o of course tried it with a bunch of (fountain) pens, and my first impression is actually much better than expected. The paper seems to handle most kinds of ink -even in wider nibs- flawlessly. I couldn't find any bleedthrough or feathering in my test, very impressive! Anway, I'll leave it at that, and keep a full review for a different time! 

Even though the Squire is already sold out, you can still go for the Confidant notebook (and I fear those won't last much longer either). I think Baron Fig has really outdone themselves on this special release.

The Baron Fig Confidant Lock notebook retails for 20 USD, which I think is fair for the quality and the fantastic design you get. If you want one, act fast because the stock won't last much longer I'm afraid. It's a shame that the Squire sold out already, but I'm hoping we'll see Baron Fig experiment with more exotic metals like brass, copper, titanium,... in the future!

Note: I received a discount on the purchase of this product from Baron Fig. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affilate links. 

BARON FIG SQUIRE ROLLERBALL PEN REVIEW

"THE PEN IS A MIGHTY SWORD" - Baron Fig

Baron Fig's Squire (aptly named for the above quote), was the product with which they showed 'look world, we can do much more than notebooks!'. And indeed, just a year (maybe two) later, they've expanded their minimalist, modern product line up to what is now an impressive collection of products to write with, to write on, and the paraphernalia associated with those two things. 

But of course an immense product line wouldn't mean a thing if the products are no good, so let's find out if the Squire rollerball can live up to their reputation....

First of all, let me express my fondness for minimal design. I'm probably repeating myself, but I can't stress this enough because of course my opinions reflect my own opinion and preferences, as I explained in THIS POST. So now that that is out of the way: Baron Fig really did create a brilliant minimalist pen. I won't say it's perfect, but the shape, the size, the details (or the lack thereof),... I'm impressed.

First of all, the looks. What can I say? Baron Fig knows their stuff when it comes to making sexy, sleek-looking products! All the way from the simple cardboard tube packaging, down to the little sword logo that represents the Squire product line, every detail in the design is pretty close to perfection. The design, that tapers down from the section towards the rounded-off twist knob is easy on the eyes, and has an almost organic feel to it. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it just looks  and feels balanced.

L to R: Kaweco Skyline Sport pen, Karaskustoms EDK, Karaskustoms Retrakt, Baron Fig Squire, Lamy Safari, Lamy 2000

I'd call the Squire small, but that's not entirely correct. Indeed, when placed next to a fountain pen (as you can see above), it does look rather small. Even next to some other ballpoint/rollerball alternatives, such as the KarasKustoms Retrakt, it's on the smaller side of things. But especially the comparison with a capped fountain pen is quite deceptive because the Squire, with the refill extended, stands just a little taller than the Lamy Safari or Lamy 2000 uncapped!

With a length of 12.8 cm (5", tip retracted), and a width of 1 cm (0.4") at the widest part around where you grip it, this is not a particularly small pen in the hand, but it's also not too big if you want to carry it around in your pocket.

It's a pretty comfortable pen in the hand. As I said sizewise, it's not too small nor too big, the section has a comfortable girth near the tip where I hold it (there's no dedicated grip section so you don't necessarily have to hold it a certain way), and there are no sharp edges or threads that can get in the way. The lack of a dedicated grip section does mean that it can be a bit slippery at times. However I found that the texture of the anodized aluminium surface provides just enough texture to hold on to. I never felt like I was death-gripping the pen. In fact, I've put quite some use in this pen over the last couple weeks, and writing with it always felt balanced and comfortable.

People often say designing a minimal pen is the easy way of doing things, but I actually think it's the opposite way around. What you see is what you get. There aren't that many details, so naturally even the tiniest imperfection will stand out so much more. Machining is flawless, you can barely notice the lines from the CNC lathe, and the anodized finish (shown here is the Charcoal grey version) is smooth and even. 

Mind the gap

So far so good. I really like the Squire, but that doesn't mean it's entirely perfect. The one flaw I could find was a small gap between the barrel and twist knob. It seems like a small detail, but as I said even small details stands out on a minimalist pen like this. I assume the twist knob is press-fit to the mechanism, because I could actually get it to fit a little better with a firm push, but it still has a tiny bit of lateral play to it. 

Another detail that I would've liked to see differently -not necessarily a flaw but more a matter of personal opinion- is the engraving on the barrel. It says 'BARON FIG' on one side, and has the minimal sword logo on the opposite side. It looks clean, but in true minimal style I would've left one of the two off. Maybe just the sword logo would've looked even cleaner than it already does, but it's definitely not a deal breaker.

It seems that the Schmidt P8126 cap-less rollerball refill has pretty much become the industry standard for many pen manufacturers. And with good reason, Schmidt sure knows how to make a great refill! The fine (0.6mm) point is smooth and free-flowing, and it lays down a clean, consistent black line without stuttering. The P8126 is the same size as a Parker G2 refill (not to be confused with Pilot's G2 refills), so it can be interchanged with a wide variety of other refills.

The Baron Fig Squire retails for 55 USD, and is only available through the Baron Fig website. 55 seems to be around the average for luxury rollerball pens these days, it's not dirt-cheap but you get a quality pen for the price and the minimal design is top notch. Worth mentioning are the seasonal limited editions that Baron Fig also offers. There have been two limited editions so far, and they both sold out in no time, definitely worth looking into!

Note: This product was sent to me by Baron Fig, free of charge, so I could write this review.  I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affiliate links.