Sailor Pro Gear King of Pen Blue Dawn Review: A Limited Edition Worth the Hype

Introduction

The Sailor Pro Gear King of Pen Blue Dawn is a 2021 limited edition flagship fountain pen, and it is the kind of pen that tends to stay out of reach for most enthusiasts. It was never something I planned to own myself; Japanese pens were notoriously expensive where I lived, and Sailor’s King of Pen offerings never quite won me over. That changed the moment I tried this one. It arrived as a gift from a friend, and after extended time with it, I can safely say this is one of the most delightful writing experiences I have had with a fountain pen.

This is not a pen you buy for clever engineering or clever packaging. The box is plain and forgettable, which is perfectly fine, because the pen is the highlight.

First Impressions and Design

The Blue Dawn is a new colorway in Sailor’s Meta Shine finish, which refers to the fine glass particles mixed into the casing. The result is a unique and luxurious sparkle that reads less like glitter and more like pearlescence: a deep ocean blue with a subtle sprinkling of stars throughout. It is hard to describe in words and genuinely lovely in person. The taper of the barrel is smooth and elegant, and the overall look is refined without being loud.

Details are handled with care. The finial carries the anchor logo, the slim profile clip is springy and pleasant, and the thick gold center band is engraved with Sailor Japan, founded 1911. It is a genuine limited edition too, capped at 500 units and individually numbered.

Size, Balance, and Everyday Handling

The Pro Gear is a flat-top design, and the King of Pen is a genuinely big pen with a fairly generous girth. Compared to familiar benchmarks, it is surprisingly shorter than a Montblanc 146 but thicker, sitting closer to a 149 in thickness. If exact dimensions matter to you, Sailor’s published specifications are easy to find.

What surprised me most is the hand feel. I always assumed a King of Pen would be too heavy or too girthy to be comfortable, but the length and balance fit my hand beautifully. There is a lot of metal inside, so the balance sits slightly toward the front, but it never felt fatiguing. It also posts quite snugly if you like writing posted, though I write with it unposted.

Filling is handled by the Sailor cartridge or converter system. The converter does not hold a large volume of ink, which some people dislike, but it has grown on me over time, and it is a genuinely easy converter to clean out.

Writing Experience: The Star of the Show

This is the real reason to care about the Blue Dawn. The 21 karat broad nib is a juicy, smooth writer with a single slit and a round breather hole. The gold name plate is engraved with the number 21 in curling script, referring both to the 21 karat gold nib and the 2021 release year. This particular nib has also been tuned by nib grinder Mark Bacchus, and the tuning is flawless: slightly yielding, very smooth, with just a touch of feedback rather than a glassy feel. The ink flow is generous, the line is wet, and the whole experience is simply luxurious.

The King of Pen nib accommodates some gentle pressure and responds with a wetter line, letting you move from roughly a Japanese broad toward a Western broad in line width. It is not a flex nib, but it has a bit of give, which makes it feel more responsive than the firmer 14 karat nibs on the 1911 Large and standard models. Against Sailor’s smaller gold nibs, which are quite firm with fair feedback, the King of Pen nib feels springier and more alive. If you appreciate a wet, smooth broad nib, this is about as good as it gets.

Things to Consider Before Buying

This is a large, expensive, limited edition pen, so it is worth a moment of reflection. The converter’s modest ink capacity will bother some writers, especially those who write all day. The girth is generous, so if you prefer slim pens, this will feel oversized. And as a numbered 500-unit limited edition, availability depends on finding one secondhand or at retailers that still have stock. None of these are deal-breakers for me, but they are honest trade-offs.

Buying Advice

I used to dismiss the King of Pen as too expensive and, frankly, never thrilled by the colorway offerings. The Blue Dawn changed my mind completely. It is an elegant, classy pen with a stunning finish and a writing experience that justifies the flagship status. If you have been curious about a King of Pen but hesitant, this colorway is the one that could convert you. Look for a broad nib if you want the full wet, smooth character this pen is known for, and consider a nib tuning service if the stock feel does not suit you.

Pair it with a deep blue ink to complete the ocean theme; the pen is shown here with a limited edition Pilot blue, but any rich blue will look right at home.

Conclusion

The Sailor Pro Gear King of Pen Blue Dawn is a rare case where a pen lives up to its flagship billing. The Meta Shine finish is beautiful, the size and balance are more comfortable than the silhouette suggests, and the 21 karat broad nib delivers a writing experience that is genuinely hard to match. It is a treat to own, and one I am honored to have in the collection.