Ginza Itoya Romeo No.4 Leather Grip Brown Review: A New Color for a Beloved Multifunction Pen

Introduction

Ginza Itoya has quietly added a new color to one of its most loved multifunction pens. While a recent Romeo No.3 event was drawing attention in stores, the Romeo No.4 Leather Grip arrived in a new Brown finish, and it was enough of a surprise to earn an immediate place in the shopping bag. At 6,600 yen including tax, it costs the same as the current version of the model, though earlier buyers may remember when the No.4 sat at 5,500 yen, so prices have crept up across the range.

The Romeo No.4 is a multifunction pen with a 0.7mm black, red, and blue ballpoint plus a 0.5mm mechanical pencil. The new Brown Leather Grip keeps everything that made the original appealing and swaps the usual black colorways for warm, tactile leather.

Unboxing and First Look

The pen arrives in the same straightforward packaging as previous versions. Since this is a new color rather than a limited edition, there is no special box treatment, just the familiar presentation. The fit of the box is tight, so opening it takes a little patience.

Out of the box, the first impression is simple: a matte black brass body, a warm brown leather grip, and a slim silver clip. It looks understated and, frankly, quite smart. For anyone who already owns stationery from this brand, it slots right into the family visually.

Design and Materials

The grip is wrapped in smooth genuine leather with a firm feel and a pleasant hand texture. It offers a degree of grip that helps with slip resistance, and like untreated leather it is expected to develop a deeper color and a natural sheen over time with use. The seam where the leather meets itself is slightly raised to the touch, which is worth knowing before buying, though it is inherent to how the leather is wrapped.

The barrel is brass with a matte black coating, and the color indicators on the barrel are handled with real restraint. Instead of bold red or blue markings, each function is labeled with a small silver oval and the color name printed in black. It keeps the design unified and avoids the cheap look that bright primary accents can introduce. The knock mechanism itself is smooth and quiet, with none of the rattle you find on some other multi-knock pens, and the release button feels equally refined.

The nose cone is black, straight-lined, and compact, which makes it comfortable for writers who grip close to the tip. The clip is black on all versions of this model, slightly stiff, and on this brown leather version only it is finished in silver.

Writing Performance

On paper, the included Itoya refill leans slightly toward a dry feel, but it is not unpleasant. The red ink reads a little light, the blue is solid, and the mechanical pencil is among the easier-to-use pencil mechanisms in a multifunction pen, even if the knock action for the pencil feels heavier. Tip wobble on both the ballpoints and the pencil is minimal, and nothing about it undermines confidence while writing.

On a cushioned writing mat, the pen genuinely improves. The ink lays down noticeably darker and richer, as though the refill had been swapped, because the point settles better into the cushioned surface. If you often write directly on a hard desk, a padded mat is a cheap upgrade that pairs particularly well with this pen.

Refills and Everyday Use

Inside are Itoya’s own D1-size refills, which is excellent news for anyone who likes to customize. D1 is a widely compatible standard, so swapping to something like Pilot’s Acro Ink refills is straightforward, and that is the plan for this pen too.

Specifications are sensible for daily carry: 142mm total length, 23.4g weight, and a 10mm barrel diameter. The balance sits close to the center, and this brown leather version comes in slightly lighter than the earlier leather grip at 23.7g. In hand, it feels well weighted and easy to control for long writing sessions.

Things to Consider Before Buying

A few details are worth weighing. The leather seam on the grip sits at the front when fully assembled and has a slight step you can feel, which some writers will notice more than others. The understated color indicators are elegant but could feel too subtle for people who want instantly readable function labels; if that matters to you, think twice. Finally, grips are not meant to be swapped between colorways in practice: matching a brown grip to a black body leaves the leather seam facing forward, which looks awkward, possibly due to a difference in thread count on this version.

Buying Advice

If you value a unified, restrained design, a genuine leather grip that will age beautifully, and a smooth multi-knock mechanism, this is an easy recommendation within the multifunction pen category. It is less ideal if you want highly visible function labels or plan to mix and match grips between body colors. Anyone who loves warm, natural materials in their everyday carry will find a lot to like here.

Conclusion

The Romeo No.4 Leather Grip Brown earns its place as a standout multifunction pen: handsome leather that will only look better with use, a well-balanced brass body, a satisfying knock, and a widely compatible D1 refill system. The leather seam and subtle labeling are minor trade-offs in an otherwise refined package, and for fans of the model, this new color is a genuinely welcome addition.