Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black Review: A Matte Black Beauty With Character

Introduction

Some pens earn a permanent spot on the desk rather than rotating into storage after a few weeks of use. The Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black is one of those. Matte black resin, smoky ruthenium trim, and a black ion-plated 21k gold nib give it a cohesive all-dark look that feels deliberate rather than flashy. This review covers the design, nib, sizing, and writing experience, along with a few trade-offs worth knowing before you buy.

Design and Build

The matte black exterior paired with ruthenium trim is what sets this edition apart. The trim is not a stark black, and that softer contrast reads better than a fully monochrome finish would. The cap top carries Sailor’s simple, classy anchor emblem, and the clip is the standard Sailor style shared across the Pro Gear and 1911 lines. It is not overly stiff and handles pockets and pen cases of varying thicknesses easily.

The cap band angles up at an even incline before a straight ring section stamped with Sailor, Japan, and founded 1911, a nod to one of Japan’s big three pen companies alongside Pilot and Platinum. The barrel runs straight for a couple of inches before tapering to a flat end with a metal band. The cap twists off with one and a half rotations and posts deeply and securely, with no sharp edges on the angled band to rub against your palm. Since the cap is fairly light, posting does not throw off the pen’s balance. The included presentation box contains two proprietary Sailor cartridges, a bottle of Sailor Black ink, a converter, and a care note advising that only Sailor ink should be used with the ion-plated nib to avoid damage not covered by the standard warranty.

The 21k Gold Nib and Writing Experience

Underneath the cap sits a 21k gold nib plated in black, and the plating is essential to the look here; a silver nib would have broken the aesthetic entirely. The nib has been seen in fine, medium, broad, and zoom options. The feed is plastic, and the section begins with a slight flare before angling up to a metal band that is part of the section housing.

On paper, this is classic Sailor. The nib is not glassy smooth; it has a distinctive pencil-like feedback, but it is quality feedback rather than scratchiness. You can get a bit of line variation from the 21k gold nib, and ink flow from the medium is decent. Reverse writing runs a little on the sharp side but gets the job done, and the feed keeps up fine with fast writing. Paired with Sailor Black, the line is a nice solid black. This bottle is also easier to work with than Sailor’s older low, narrow designs that made getting a nib in awkward.

Size, Measurements, and Comparisons

The Pro Gear is not an overly long pen, but it is plenty long enough to use unposted. The section is on the short side, and while most grips end up resting over the threads, they do not feel sharp or uncomfortable. Next to the rest of the Pro Gear family, the Imperial Black sits between the smaller Pro Gear Slim and larger models like the Pro Gear 2 and the King of Pen Pro Gear, and it slots naturally alongside the 1911 Small and 1911 Large.

If you already own other Sailor pens, the proportions will feel familiar, which is part of the appeal. The consistency across the lineup is one of the brand’s quiet strengths.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The price is the main point of friction. This edition sells for $472, which puts it on the high end of the Pro Gear spectrum; most Pro Gear models generally fall in the mid-to-high $300 range. That is not outrageous for what you get, but it sits close to the precipice of what many buyers will be willing to spend. The proprietary cartridge and converter system is also worth noting, along with the manufacturer’s guidance to use Sailor ink only with the ion-plated nib.

Buying Advice

This pen suits collectors and daily writers who love the matte black, all-dark aesthetic and are already fans of Sailor’s nib feel. It became a fast favorite in regular use, coming along to work and lingering on the desk rather than heading straight into the rotation.

If $472 stretches your budget, a standard Pro Gear in the mid-to-high $300 range delivers the same core writing experience with a more conventional finish. If the imperial black look is what draws you in, this edition delivers it better than anything else in the lineup. It is a strong pickup for those who value Sailor’s distinctive feedback and a cohesive design above price sensitivity.

Conclusion

The Sailor Pro Gear Imperial Black hits the right buttons for anyone drawn to matte black pens with understated trim: a cohesive all-dark design, a characterful 21k gold nib with Sailor’s signature feedback, and comfortable proportions for unposted use. The premium pricing and proprietary ink guidance are real considerations, but for fans of the brand and the finish, it is easy to see why this pen quickly becomes a favorite.