After a good experience of the Esterbrook Estie (one of the few pens I own that I haven't reviewed yet) I jumped at the chance to try out a different model, the JR.
First off, you know how obsessed I am over the unboxing experience in my reviews, and I usually find fault with most because I'm particular like that.
I dont think that I'll ever get a better unboxing than the one that Frank Pressentin of Elbwood provided, but Esterbrook does very well. The box comes in a sleeve that you remove to reveal the wonderfully tactile woven surface of the box itself. 'Esterbrook' is emblazoned across the top, and when you lift back the lid you see the JR in all its green glory.
I had a choice between 'Purple Passion' and 'Key Lime, and while I'd usually go for a purple pen I decided that variety is the spice of life and that I'd go for green instead.
I didn't regret it! The green acrylic looks better than it does in the photo on the Esterbrook website and pairs well with the gold and purple accents. Nor does it look halloween-y like I thought it might. It looks both cheerful and somehow regal as it reposes on its fluffy white cushion in the case.
The JR is smaller than I expected it to be (the Estie is quite large) but as I love pocket pens I'm actually very happy about that. It fits my hand nicely and looks adorable too! The section is well contoured so it is comfortable to grip. A gently contoured section is my favourite kind, next to a good knurl.
In the box you also find a tiny little envelope with a QR code inside so you can activate your warranty, as well as an ink cartridge (black, I think).
I prefer to use the converter inside the pen so I can use my own inks. I do notice that it fits quite snugly, and even feels like it may get stuck inside the slim barrel, but I've taken the converter out and have put it back in multiple times and this has not happened yet. I think that some silicone grease inside the barrel would probably not go amiss, but as far as I can tell this is not an actual issue. I'll update this review if this changes!
Stub nibs are my favourite, so naturally I went for the 1.1mm stub. I use stub nibs just about sideways due to my odd writing style, so I'm not sure if the very faint scratch I feel is due to me or the pen. I still feel the ghost of it when I adjust how I hold it, but luckily it
isn't enough to annoy me. This nib leans slightly on the wetter side, but not so much that it bleeds.
This looks like it will be a good pen for showing shading, sheen and shimmer, one of the reasons I enjoy using stub nib pens so much. They're naturally optimised for showing these effects, most of all when used in conjunction with a smooth paper. Just beware of longer drying times with this combination!
You can post the cap, but it doesn't feel as if it was designed to post well and I'm not sure if it would be secure enough for a long writing session. As I expect to use the JR when I'm sitting at my desk I'll use it unposted, though those of you who prefer to post your pens may want to look for something different.
The clip is very springy and firm - s0o firm that I struggled to move it! I think it will loosen up with use, and will definitely grip a pocket or a shirt well. Update - I used the clip, and it has become somewhat loose and has about 1mm of give if I push it left or right. It still feels structural, like it'd grip your shirt tightly enough, but the slight metallic rattling of the cap is slightly irritating and I'd be wary of using the clip in case it suddenly breaks completely. I'm not sure if it's a one off defect or not, and it remains to be seen whether it'll annoy me enough that I'll contact Esterbrook to fix it, but I've informed them of the issue so it can be looked into, and hopefully this won't happen to anyone else's pens. I'll update again with any new info!
Apart from this unfortunate issue, there really aren't many things I don't love about this pen and I can see myself using it regularly. It does remind me of 'mangroves and marinas' as stated on their website, and I don't regret going out of my comfort zone colour-wise!
PS. After the review, I saw UK Fountain Pens' review of the JR (I try to avoid reading reviews others have posted before I write mine in case it sub-consciously biases me in anyway). This review explains the JR part of the pen's name, and mentions that the lower accent band looks like a blind cap, something I forgot to mention. I immediately tried to unscrew mine when I got it, though there is no actual blind cap! Read UKFP's review for more details.
Disclaimer: This product was provided by Esterbrook as part of the Esterbrook Ambassador's Programme. All opinions in this article are my own, and the links in the review are not affiliate links.
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