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: NAMISU NAOS 2-IN-1 FOUNTAIN PEN & ROLLERBALL

2019 was maybe not the best year for Namisu. With a bad taste of the Ixion project still lingering (all in all not a bad product, but the campaign was plagued by communication issues and delays), their 2019 Kickstarter pen -Stratos- didn't catch on. And a mechanical watch campaign met the same fate, before completely vanishing into thin air (unfortunately so, because both the pen and watch looked cool!). Luckily, Adrian and Maria didn't give up just yet, and 2020 brought us a new Kickstarter pen from the UK-based design studio: the Namisu Naos! 

This is a quick look post, and so let's try to keep it short: I like the Namisu Naos... I REALLY like the Namisu Naos! Of course, I'm a sucker for anything remotely minimal in design, and made out of metal, so don't just take my word for it.

One could argue that the Naos is just a rehash of the Ixion. True, the Ixion has a faceted (decagonal) cap and round barrel, where the Naos has a round cap and faceted (octagonal) barrel. But in any other way, the Naos looks and feels like a more mature and refined pen, that fits better in the Namisu design language.

All machined edges and facets of the Naos are crisp and clean. Perhaps the only gripe I have is that some edges can be a bit TOO crisp and would benefit from being ever-so-slightly rounded off to feel a bit easier on the fingers. The crispness does add to the minimal design though, which together with the non-tapered overall shape of the pen, makes the Naos feel a lot more modern than the Ixion.

The Naos shares some of its design elements with the Ixion (in the middle).

A small detail that makes its return from the Ixion, is the finial inlay on the back of the barrel. The ones on the Naos are completely flat, with a chamfered edge (as opposed to being slightly domed). The cap finial is completely flat, and the sides are lightly knurled so you can easily unscrew it to add or remove the optional (unfortunately a 10$ add-on) brushed stainless steel clip. The clip is very sturdy (read: not super-easy to use) and perfectly complements the design of the pen. Every small design element and detail is crisp and refined and makes for a very clean-looking pen.

L to R: Ensso Piuma, Namisu Nova, Namisu Ixion, Namisu Naos, Lamy Safari, Lamy 2000

One of the reasons why I really like the Naos is its size. In case you didn't notice, the Naos is a fairly large pen. At 14,3 cm (5.63") closed, and 13.4 cm (5.27") uncapped, it's no small pen. The straight shape (1.36 cm/ 0.53" in diameter) adds to its sizeable appearance. In the hand, you'll notice the block threads, which are a bit sharp (especially on the titanium pen), but the section is decently sized and the slightly flared-out shape towards the nib helps prevent your fingers from slipping off.

The barrel of the titanium pen received a sandblasted finish, on the bronze pen it is brushed diagonally to contrast the brushed finish of the cap and section.

There are three metal options to choose from, and each has a distinct finish and weight. Interestingly, not the aluminum, but the titanium pen is the lightest option this time, at a -still respectable- 40g total. The anodized aluminum (black, green or blue) comes in at 48g, and that's because the cap, section and finials are stainless steel (so really, only the barrel is actually aluminum). The heavyweight (80g!) is not made out of brass (an alloy of copper and zinc), but the more uncommon bronze (copper and tin), which has a distinctly more coppery-pink color. I like heavy pens, and I certainly like an uncommon material, so for me the winner is bronze, but be warned of the weight!

One of the "selling points" of the Naos is the interchangeable rollerball section. You can choose which one comes stock with the pen (fountain pen or rollerball), and additional sections can be bought (a 13$ add-on) so you can switch between the two writing modes. I suppose that's quite neat, but in the grand scheme of things, it's mostly useful if you like the design but prefer a rollerball over the standard fountain pen option. I don't see myself switching it out often (or at all) afterward, especially because it's not just something you can do on the go.

(PS: the rollerball version comes with a Schmidt 5888F refill, which is a classic rollerball. Not my favorite, but I suppose it can be 'hacked' to use a gel-based refill.)

Since I wanted to keep this post short (I know, I failed miserably, and I'm not even done rambling!), I didn't include a writing sample, but by now you'll probably know what to expect: a stock Bock nib. Love it or hate it, these nibs are a quintessential part of pretty much every metal/minimalist pen you can imagine. I quite like these nibs, and the two Naos samples I was sent, both wrote flawlessly out of the box. The titanium -as always- has a bit of softness, and yes you can get a slight bit of line variation out of it, but please don't take the writing sample on the Kickstarter page as an example... you'll most likely just bend the nib if you try this (titanium doesn't really spring back like gold flex nibs do).

The branding on the barrel is quite extensive, especially for a minimalist brand... but it might change in the production version!

As usual, the Kickstarter campaign offers a chance to get one of these at a very reasonable price point, starting at 50$ for aluminum, 73$ for the bronze, and 90$ for the titanium version. The only pitfall would be the rather pricy add-ons (clip and additional grip sections) that quickly add to the cost. I'm really impressed by the Namisu Naos, it's a close tie with one of my all-time favorites, the Namisu Nova. The design is instantly recognizable as theirs, and yet it doesn't feel like a been-there-done-that rehash of yet another minimal pen.

Most importantly, it seems that Namisu has dealt with one of their biggest weaknesses, which was their rather poor communication. They've been very responsive on the Kickstarter campaign and also in my personal messages with them, it seems like they are on top of things. It's always tricky to write a conclusion on a product that hasn't even hit the market yet, but I have a good feeling about this one and I hope that feeling lasts until I have the final products in hand. In any case, my Kickstarter order is already in, so if you'd like to do the same, head over to their Kickstarter page (within the next three weeks!). They already passed their funding goal with ease, so the project is guaranteed to move forward into production!

This product was lent to me by Namisu 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 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.

RIIND 'THE PEN' REVIEW

RIIND. The Pen. 'The Pen that rewrites them all'... Pretentious? Maybe, but it has to be said that 'the Pen' has seen a LOT of use in the past months that I had it in hands. It's a rollerball pen(or gel ink, or ballpoint, depending on the refill you choose), yes. But it did kind of win me over the more I wrote with it. In fact, I wrote most of my recent exams with it. Why? Like it or not, but fountain pens aren't always the most practical solution, especially if you have to write non-stop for 4 hours on the worst possible copy paper. 

So the Riind pen, why do I like it? 

Well first off is the design. The Pen (I'll just type it with a capital letter because it's the name of the pen, right? Or doesn't it have a name at all??? Really confusing.) is a beefy, long pen with a rather simple general shape that's easy on the eyes. Just a straight cylinder with nicely rounded ends. 

I guess you could call it a 'minimal' design, but I'd choose to use terms like futuristic, and industrial. The knurled grip and twist knob give the pen some visual interest (and add functionality of course), and it makes the pen look rugged at the same time. The knurling is noticeable in the hand, but doesn't feel abrasive or sharp. Apart from the knurled sections, the anodised aluminium has a lightly brushed finish to it, which adds to the raw and industrial appearance of the pen.

Your eye will immediately be drawn towards the unique steel wire clip, so let's talk about that: This asymmetrical folded steel wire clip is somewhat remniscent of the Lamy Safari, but has quite a strange shape. When you see it for the first time, you'd most likely think it's broken. But the shape -with one end of the clip attached to the barrel slightly higher than the other- actually gives it its spring-loaded action. 

The design of the clip is quite clever, although not the most functional in the real world. For starters, it's quite stiff and sits snugly against the barrel; clipping it onto something requires two hands. Secondly, the fact that one side is attached to the barrel almost a centimeter lower, means that it doesn't clip very deeply. Oh, and they call it 'virtually indestructible', well I'm glad they said virtually because... well, I broke it. Admitted, I'm a bit of an asshole, and upon reading their statement I may have pushed it a little too far, but I can now say that it CANNOT bend indefinitely. However, credit where credit is due: it  just popped out of the socket at one side. An easy fix, and it still works just fine after putting it back in.

Not the biggest fan of the laser-engraved logo on the back of the barrel, but it's relatively unobtrusive.

The Pen is entirely made out of anodized aluminium, and is available in three subtle colors: clear (natural aluminium), grey and black anodised. Both the clear and grey versions come with a chrome-colored steel clip, the black one can come with either a black or chrome clip. Which makes for a total of four different available colorways. I received both the grey/chrome and black/black versions. Both have a very different look to them. The grey one looks refined, whereas the all-black version is sleek and stealthy.

L to R: Karas Pen Co EDK, Retrakt, Riind The Pen, Retro 51 Tornado Big Shot, Lamy Safari.

The Pen is a rather sizeable writing instrument. It measures in at 14.2 cm (5.6") long with the refill retracted, and has a diameter of 1.14cm (0.45") across the entire length of the pen. It's a surprisingly beefy pen, and has a solid weight of 29 grams. For me, it hits the sweet spot in terms of size and weight, and the knurled section makes it sit comfortably in my hand. Everything about this pen feels solid and well-made. If you unscrew the nose cone to change the refill, you can see how thick the barrel is, so I dare to say it's well-suited for EDC.

Then there's probably the coolest thing about the entire Pen: the twist knob! The 'Continuous Cam' mechanism makes it able to turn it BOTH WAYS, AND IT KEEPS ON TURNING!! You probably think I'm going insane (after all, I DO spend my days reviewing pens...), but this really is super cool. It's such a silly detail, but it's very handy (you don't have to remember which way to turn, making it easy and fast to deploy), and it's fun to fidget with. The twist action is solid and robust, and especially in the beginning it can be quite stiff. But the knurling helps to twist it with one hand with a firm snap. I've literally been playing with it for months now, and the mechanism still feels solid and has virtually zero play... The people behind Riind didn't go to MIT for nothing! 

But enough about the twist knob. After all, what's a pen if it doesn't write properly? That's why the Riind is -supposedly- compatible with over 35 different refills, so you'll always find one that fits your fancy. There's a pretty long list of compatible refills on their website (that you can find here). I didn't bother changing out the refill it came with, which is a Pilot G2 gel ink refill (0.5mm). I'm not a gel ink fan necessarily, but the Pilot G2 puts a smile on my face every time I use it. It leaves a dark and consistent line, doesn't smudge easily, and doesn't bleed through (something my #1 favourite rollerball refill, the Schmidt P8126, does.). The Pilot G2 is also generally quite affordable and easy to get, and comes in a variety of colors to choose from.

All in all, Riind did a fantastic job on their debut product, 'The Pen'. It won't win any prizes for most creative name, but it does score high marks in all other areas. To answer the question that I asked myself at the beginning of this review: Why do I like it? Well, the Riind Pen succeeds at combining an interesting, industrial design with a comfortable form factor. It has some original features (some more useful than others) that set it apart from other pens out there, and most importantly: it very pleasant to write with! 

But all that does come at a cost. It was one of the biggest gripes during their Kickstarter campaign in 2016, and it certainly is now, when you have to pay the full retail of 100 USD. That's not cheap. Especially considering there are other comparable offerings on the market that sell for considerably less (Think about Karas Pen Co. Retrakt, Tactile Turn Shaker,...). Considering the quality and design you get, 100$ is not outrageously expensive, but it's not exactly an impulse buy either. If they could reduce the price by maybe 10 or 20 dollars, it would be a no-brainer for me. 

This product was sent to me on loan by Riind 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.

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.