Sailor Time Flow+ Ballpoint Pen Review: A Watch-Inspired Pen for Everyday and Business Use

Introduction

The Sailor Time Flow+ is a ballpoint pen built around an unusual idea: it looks like a wristwatch. Designed primarily for business settings but comfortable enough for daily note-taking, it aims to deliver a premium feel at a surprisingly approachable price. After spending real writing time with it, here is how it holds up, from design and build quality to how it actually puts ink on paper.

About Sailor and the Time Flow+

Sailor was founded in 1911 and was the first company in Japan to begin manufacturing 14k gold nibs domestically. The company listed in 1949 and gradually expanded its business, and in 2021, its 110th anniversary, it refreshed its logo with the ideas of trust, craftsmanship, and a refined, distinctly Japanese sense of beauty.

The Time Flow+ carries that heritage into a distinctive package. It arrives in a black-and-gold box that makes a bold first impression, and the lineup includes both a mechanical pencil and this ballpoint pen. The launch price was 1,810 yen tax included, and while prices fluctuate, it has been readily available online.

Design and Build Quality

The concept behind the Time Flow+ is a metal wristwatch, and the details back it up. The clip is shaped like a watch hand, and the ring at the base of the clip evokes a watch crown. The ballpoint version reviewed here comes from the Black Series, which pairs its body colors with gunmetal hardware; the Gold Series instead uses gold-finished accents.

Where the standard Time Flow uses an aluminum barrel, the Time Flow+ moves to brass with a matte coating. The finish gives it a subdued, calm appearance that feels more composed in person than in photos. The surface has a slightly moist, rubber-like softness to the touch, and that texture does a lot of the work of making the pen feel high-end.

The barrel has no separate grip section, a straight shape throughout, and a longer metal nose cone. On some colorways the plating on the ring and nose cone differs, adding a subtle accent. Sailor Japan branding is printed on the underside of the barrel. The pen measures 135mm in length with an 11mm barrel diameter, and the slight taper near the tip gives it a barely perceptible high-center balance.

Colors and Options

There are ten colorways in total across the two hardware finishes. The Black Series (gunmetal fittings) comes in White, Black, Rose Gold, Green, Silver, and Blue. The Gold Series (gold fittings) comes in White, Black, Gold, and Brown. The related Time Flow series uses a different barrel material, so buyers who want a lighter option have that path as well.

Writing Performance

The Time Flow+ uses a rock-style knock mechanism, and the click has a satisfying, almost switch-like feel. It ships with a 0.7mm black ink refill, replaced by removing the nose cone, and the refill sits roughly at the middle of the barrel.

In use, the pen writes very smoothly. The ink has relatively high viscosity but stops short of feeling oily, gliding with a fluid, easy character. The black ink leans slightly bluish and reads a touch light, and the line comes out closer to a 0.5mm in fineness despite the 0.7mm refill.

For writers who prefer thicker barrels, the 11mm diameter is a genuine strength. It fills the hand, keeps fingers from slipping, and supports stable, confident strokes. The moderate brass weight and the slightly high center balance contribute to a comfortable, controlled writing feel, and rattle at the tip is minimal.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Two points are worth weighing before you order. First, the clip. It is on the softer side and flexes noticeably, which can be a source of minor annoyance if you frequently clip the pen to pockets or notebook covers. It is the only real complaint here, and it applies to most pens of this type, but it is worth knowing.

Second, be careful when shopping online. Some sellers on major marketplaces list the Time Flow+ under headings like “multifunction pen,” which it is not. It is a single-function ballpoint pen, and those tags appear to be careless keyword additions. Check the product description carefully so you know exactly what you are ordering.

Buying Advice

The Time Flow+ suits buyers who want a premium-feeling daily writer without a premium price. Its watch-inspired design divides opinion, but in the hand it feels far more restrained than photographs suggest, and the soft matte brass texture elevates the experience well beyond its price bracket.

If you use a pen mainly in business settings, the Black Series in Black or White keeps things professional. If you want something with a warmer character, the Gold Series in Gold or Brown makes a stronger statement. Either way, choose based on the texture and color you will enjoy every day, since the writing performance is the same across the lineup.

Conclusion

The Sailor Time Flow+ is a well-executed concept: a brass-bodied ballpoint pen with a distinctive watch-inspired look, a pleasant soft-touch finish, smooth and light 0.7mm writing, and a satisfying click. The soft clip and the online mislabeling issue are the only real drawbacks, and neither outweighs how good this pen feels to hold and write with. If the design appeals to you, it is an easy recommendation for both desk work and everyday notes.