Itoya Limited Romeo No.3 Fine Brush Gunmetal Apricot Gold Ballpoint Review

Introduction

Some pens sell out quickly and stay sold out for a long time. The Itoya Limited Romeo No.3 Fine Brush Gunmetal Apricot Gold is one of them. It is a store-exclusive twist ballpoint that, at the time of writing, had been out of stock at Itoya for an extended period, which is why this review went ahead without waiting for a restock. Priced at 18,400 yen including tax, it sits firmly in the premium range of the Romeo lineup, and it is aimed squarely at people who love heavy, metal-bodied pens.

Design and Build Quality

This pen is sold only at Itoya, and the two-tone finish is the headline: a gunmetal barrel paired with apricot gold fittings, a slightly reddish gold that plays beautifully against the dark metal. It is part of the Metal Fine Brush series, which normally comes in Gunmetal and Vintage Rose colorways. The barrel is made of brass with an extremely fine hairline finish, so light shifts across the surface as you change the viewing angle. Despite the smooth finish, the grip does not feel slippery.

Compared with the acrylic Romeo models, where every barrel has a unique pattern, this limited edition stands out for a different reason: a level of refinement that feels a step above. It looks at home in a suit’s breast pocket and clearly belongs in business settings.

The fine brush barrel is a mild evolution of the slim Italian Grey No.3, with manufacturing methods and part-joint precision improved. The overall dimensions are 140mm in length, 44g in weight, and 11mm in barrel diameter. The central metal band carries the familiar Romeo logo, the grip section is slightly rounded and tapers toward the tip, and the clip is a round clip with a fairly firm spring.

The Twist Mechanism

The twist mechanism is inspired by a watch crown. Rotating it extends and retracts the refill, and the feel is distinctly different from the Marble series, whose twist section looks similar but was not built from scratch the way the Metal series mechanism was.

The Fine Brush version has more vertical ridges, a larger Romeo engraving, and a noticeably stronger spring with a clear, defined lock feel. That is a matter of taste, but the crisper action feels very satisfying here. The barrel also unscrews smoothly, with a thread feel that is impressively fluid, and the refill is the standard Romeo gel, a 0.7mm G2-format refill. The balance point sits around the central metal band, giving it a center-weighted feel in the hand.

Writing Performance

Out of the box, the pen writes with the included 0.7mm gel refill, and the first word that comes to mind is smooth. With a 0.7mm gel tip, the line is fairly broad, which makes it less suited to tight planner margins, but the writing feel is genuinely habit-forming.

The tip has a slight wobble with a faint rattle, well within acceptable range. The owner typically swaps in a Jetstream refill for everyday use, which speaks to how versatile the G2-format barrel is, but the stock gel refill delivers a satisfying, glide-heavy experience on its own.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The strengths are easy to list: a genuinely handsome design, excellent balance, smooth and stable writing, a crisp knock feel, and the widely available G2 refill format. There is really only one significant caveat.

At 44g, this is a very heavy pen. If you prefer lightweight pens, this one will not suit you; it feels substantial from the moment you pick it up. The slight tip wobble is the only other quibble, and it never became an actual problem during use. The Fine Brush series is expensive, so it is not an impulse purchase, but for anyone with a tolerance for heavy pens, it may end up being a favorite.

Conclusion

Among the Romeo No.3 variants, this limited Fine Brush edition earned the top spot as a personal favorite. It is striking to look at, beautifully balanced, and pleasant to write with, with only the weight standing between it and universal appeal. If the Romeo No.3 Fine Brush series catches your eye and you enjoy a weighty pen, it is well worth checking availability, since restocks in this series can take a long time once stock runs out.