Sakura Craft Lab 007 Review: A Slimmer Take on a Beloved Brass Pen

Introduction

Sakura Craypas has been quietly building one of the more interesting premium pen lineups in Japan with its Craft Lab series, and the Craft Lab 007 is one of its more distinctive entries. Released on November 5, 2022, it carries the DNA of the much-loved Craft Lab 001 but packages it in a noticeably slimmer, smarter body. This review walks through what the 007 actually is, how it writes, and whether it deserves a place in your rotation.

The Craft Lab series launched in 2017 under the theme of creating something “new yet nostalgic,” spanning models 001 through 007. Sakura Craypas itself is a company with serious heritage: founded in 1921, it developed the classic Japanese crayon stick in 1925 and has long positioned itself as a color specialist contributing to education and culture.

First Impressions and Design

Out of the box, the 007 arrives in a box the same size as the Craft Lab 001’s, which gives it a nicely consistent presentation across the series. The color lineup covers five options: Stormy Grey, a green shade, Dijon Yellow, Midnight Blue, and Prime Wine. Midnight Blue is a genuinely attractive option, but the Prime Wine pairs beautifully with the matte metal finish if you want something less common.

The most obvious change is the silhouette. Previous Craft Lab models were never particularly slim, but the 007 is visibly thinner and smarter at first glance. Where the series once leaned on the familiar triangular clip, the 007 ships without one, which reinforces the stripped-back look.

Build and Materials

The barrel is aluminium with a pearskin finish, a treatment that adds fine microscopic texture to the surface. This improves both the design and the function, and it gives the pen a muted, matte, calm appearance that photographs far better than most glossy pens.

The grip and mouth piece are integrated and made of brass with a surface finish, and the grip carries knurling that serves a real purpose: it gives you something to hold firmly when twisting the mechanism. The pen uses a twist retraction system, so rotating the grip section extends and retracts the refill. The characteristic Craft Lab clip has a hole in the center and a wide contact surface, so it grips pockets securely, though it is a touch stiff.

Dimensions are sensible for a slim everyday pen: 132mm total length, 24g in weight, and a 9.5mm barrel diameter. The balance sits low, and the center of the barrel carries fine stepped detailing with a subtle cherry logo, showing the attention to detail throughout.

Writing Performance

The included refill is a 0.5mm black gel cartridge, and importantly, the same refill works across the Craft Lab 001, 002, and 006, so compatibility across the series is a real convenience. Sakura’s gel ink range is famously varied, so if you enjoy hunting for your perfect black, you have options.

Writing with the 007 is smooth and easy in light strokes, gliding across the page with very little effort. The slim barrel genuinely changes the writing experience compared to the chunkier 001; it is a different personality rather than a strict upgrade.

There is a small caveat. The tip exhibits a slight rattle and a faintly scratchy feedback that transmits to the hand, a characteristic of Sakura’s gel refills that some writers find divisive. It is not bad enough to spoil the experience, but side by side with the 001, the 007 feels marginally looser at the tip, and the cap-style 006 remains the steadiest of the bunch.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Two practical points are worth weighing up. First, the brass grip: brass develops a metallic smell on the hands after extended handling, which some people love and others do not. Second, the refill’s writing feel itself, which is a matter of taste rather than a defect, and it would be nice to see Sakura refine it while keeping the same cartridge standard so older Craft Lab models stay compatible.

On the positive side, the design is excellent. All unnecessary decoration has been removed, leaving a simple, refined, and quiet look, and the combination of matte pearskin texture and brass is genuinely beautiful. Better still, brass ages: the polished shine gradually develops into a matte, characterful patina, and grip improves as the texture wears in, so the pen becomes more personal the longer you own it.

If you already own a Craft Lab 001 and prefer a thicker barrel, the 007 may not replace it. But as a slimmer companion or a first entry into the series, it is a very easy pen to like.

Buying Advice

At 4,400 yen including tax, the Craft Lab 007 sits in accessible premium territory, especially given the aluminium and brass construction and the shared refill system with the rest of the series. If possible, try it in store before buying, and take time comparing the five colors, since Midnight Blue in particular makes a strong case.

Conclusion

The Sakura Craft Lab 007 is a well-judged evolution of the series: slimmer, simpler, and quietly handsome, with materials that age gracefully and a smooth writing experience. Fans of the 001 may still prefer the original’s feel, but the 007 earns its place as a distinctive everyday pen in its own right.