Disclaimer: I was not paid or sponsored by Sailor or any retailer to write this review. I purchased these pens myself, and everything I’ve shared reflects my own honest experience and personal opinions. I do not earn any commission from any purchases made based on this review. Please buy at your own discretion and assess whether this pen fits your needs, budget, and writing preferences.
The Sailor TUZU Adjust Fountain Pen is one of Sailor’s newest offerings designed especially for people who want to transition smoothly into the world of fountain pens. Developed around 2019 and officially released in April 2024, the TUZU line represents Sailor’s attempt to create an intuitive, comfortable, and highly adaptable everyday writer. Sailor, founded in 1911 in Hiroshima, is known for precise nib craftsmanship — and the TUZU carries that heritage while staying accessible for beginners.
What makes this model unique is its rotating nib mechanism and a natural-fit grip section that adjusts to a wide range of writing habits and hand positions. Whether you’re right-handed, left-handed, or simply have an unusual grip, the TUZU helps you find a writing angle that feels natural. Its stainless steel nib — available in Fine, Medium, and Broad — is durable, smooth, and surprisingly refined for its price tier.
Each box typically includes:
- the TUZU Adjust fountain pen
- a Sailor proprietary converter
- at least one Sailor ink cartridge (two pieces in my experience)
- user manual and warranty materials
- and Sailor’s “TUZU Exclusive” packaging, which feels more premium than standard beginner pens.
Sailor Tuzu Adjust FP is currently available in the following colors:
Standard / Core colors
- Black
- Gray
- Green
Limited-Edition / Special / “Glassy” / Translucent versions
- Red (Limited Edition)
- Translucent Navy (Limited Edition)
- Light Blue (Limited Edition)
- Translucent Violet / Violet (Limited Edition / Glassy)
- Crystal-style “Glassy” variants — for example Crystal Cherry, Crystal White, and Crystal Sky (as part of the Glassy TUZU series)
My Experience with the TUZU (Translucent Purple & Crystal White)
I currently own two TUZUs — Translucent Purple (Medium) and Crystal White (Fine) — and they’ve quickly become two of my favorite everyday writers.
Nib Feel: Pencil-Like Feedback
What surprised me most is the pencil-like feedback of the nibs. It’s not scratchy at all; instead, it gives just enough texture to feel controlled, precise, and satisfying. I especially love this because it feels like writing with a well-sharpened soft pencil (like 2B), the kind of pencil that I often use for sketching.
The rotating nib mechanism really works, too. After a bit of experimentation, I found a sweet spot where the nib glides smoothly but still gives that delicate feedback I enjoy. For someone who writes for long stretches or switches grips depending on mood, this tiny feature makes a big difference. I find writing it for longer period of time compared to my other similarly-sized pens.
Another feature I like about the pen is that the clip is sturdy, I’ve clipped it in my notebook and ID lace and it held on. The cap snaps shut with a satisfying sound similar to my experience with my Pilot Prera.
Writes on Almost Anything
The Fine nib, in particular, shines when writing on ordinary bond paper or supermarket-bought notebooks, the kinds of paper that typically feather or bleed with wetter pens. The TUZU handles them gracefully, with crisp lines and minimal spreading.
Transparent Body = Ink Window Upgrade
Both my pens have transparent bodies, so I can easily check ink levels in the converter. It’s such a simple detail, but extremely useful if you write daily or switch inks often.
Value for Money
The TUZU is undeniably pricier than other beginner fountain pens (like the Pilot Kakuno), but I still consider it bang for my buck because:
- it includes a proprietary Sailor converter (which is quite pricey when bought separately),
- the nib is genuinely one of the best steel nibs I’ve ever used, and
- you get an extra cartridge and solid overall build quality.
For a pen that offers real innovation, premium components, and Sailor-level nib tuning, the value holds up at Php 1, 1995 or about 34 USD. I bought my purple one at Everything Calligraphy while the crystal white I got from Scribe SM Aura branch by contacting their Viber number: +639985824783. I am particularly impressed by how fast Scribe SM Aura branch shipped out my pen. I called them up to tell them I want the pen, paid for it via Gcash, and was able to get the pen via Lalamove two hours after. The transaction was seamless! So if you’re interested to get the pens, I highly recommend getting them from these two stores.
Hope you enjoyed reading this one!
References:
Sailor Pen Co., Ltd. (n.d.-d). TUZU ADJUST Fountain Pen “Glassy” – Details & Materials. https://en.sailor.co.jp/product/11-0463/ Sailor Pen
Pen Heaven. (n.d.). Sailor TUZU Adjust Fountain Pen — Grey / Black / Red. https://www.penheaven.com/sailor-tuzu-adjust-grey-fountain-pen penheaven.com+2penheaven.com+2
Stylo.ca. (n.d.). Sailor TUZU Adjust Fountain Pen (Recycled Polycarbonate, Stainless Steel Nib). https://www.stylo.ca/en/show-product/28002.html stylo.ca+1
Third-News. (2025). Introducing the Limited Edition TUZU – Adjustable Fountain Pen and Ballpoint Pen Glassy from Sailor. https://third-news.com/article/c21583ce-8df6-11f0-bcd7-9ca3ba0a67df Third News
Fountain Pen Network. (2024, March 27). Sailor has a new pen: TUZU! [Forum discussion]. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/374683-sailor-has-a-new-pen-tuzu/
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