--- title: "ROMEO Initium: Itoya's Titanium Dip Pen, 22 g" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/romeo-initium-titanium-dip-pen/" description: "ROMEO Initium 0.5 Titanium, Itoya's Good Design Award 2026 dip pen: a grooved 64 titanium nib, 144.5 mm and 22 g, made in Japan, with care tips and US options." category: "Pens" type: "Dip pen" published: 2026-10-23 updated: 2026-10-23 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 4 products: - name: "ROMEO Initium 0.5 Titanium dip pen (RZD0101)" brand: "ROMEO" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Pure titanium barrel; 64 titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) alloy nib (Itoya)" released: "2025-10-16" price_band: "$$$$ (over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "ITO-YA LTD. (株式会社伊東屋), Tokyo" model: "RZD0101" mpn: "RZD0101" url: "https://www.ito-ya.co.jp/item/45826215262381.html" --- # ROMEO Initium: Itoya's Titanium Dip Pen, 22 g > The ROMEO Initium 0.5 Titanium (RZD0101) is a one-piece dip pen from Tokyo stationer Itoya, machined from titanium and made in Japan. Its grooved 64 titanium nib holds enough ink, Itoya says, to write more than a sheet of letter paper per dip. It is 144.5 mm long, weighs 22 g and won a Good Design Award in 2026. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/romeo-initium-titanium-dip-pen/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-23 - Updated: 2026-10-23 ![ROMEO Initium titanium dip pen drawn to scale at 144.5 mm, with an inset of ink held in its grooved nib](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/romeo-initium-titanium-dip-pen-16x9.png) *The Initium at 144.5 mm, drawn at 1 mm = 5 px from Itoya's sizes; groove layout drawn by eye.* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | ROMEO Initium 0.5 Titanium dip pen (RZD0101) | ROMEO (by ITO-YA LTD. (株式会社伊東屋), Tokyo) | Japan | Japan | Pure titanium barrel; 64 titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) alloy nib (Itoya) | 2025-10-16 | $$$$: over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (ROMEO Initium 0.5 Titanium dip pen (RZD0101)): Japan. Itoya's online store lists 生産国 日本 (country of production: Japan) for the RZD0101. Source: https://www.ito-ya.co.jp/item/45826215262381.html ## Key takeaways - Itoya lists the Initium at 11 × 144.5 mm (0.4 × 5.7 in) and 22 g, with a pure titanium barrel and a 64 titanium alloy nib. - It costs ¥82,500 (about US$520) including tax at Itoya, or ¥75,000 (about US$475) before tax, in our $$$$ band (over $75). - Itoya says the nib has 8 grooves that hold ink by surface tension, not capillary action as in a glass pen. - It won a Good Design Award 2026 (award number 26G030112); the G Mark entry gives an October 16, 2025 release. - Itoya's page lists Japan as the country of production; we found no US retailer for it on October 23, 2026. ## What is the ROMEO Initium? **It's a dip pen made entirely of titanium, sold by the Tokyo stationer Itoya under its house brand ROMEO.** You dip the grooved nib in a bottle of ink and write; there is no reservoir, cartridge or converter. Itoya named it from the Latin *initium*, "beginning," because the dip pen and the quill came before every other pen. The full name is ROMEO Initium 0.5 Titanium, model RZD0101. ## How big is it, and what is it made of? **Itoya lists it at 11 mm across and 144.5 mm long, weighing 22 g, with a pure titanium barrel and a 64 titanium alloy nib.** 64 titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) is the stronger alloy used in aerospace and medical parts, Itoya says. | ROMEO Initium 0.5 Titanium | Itoya's figure | |---|---| | Size | 11 × 144.5 mm (0.4 × 5.7 in) | | Weight | 22 g | | Barrel | Pure titanium | | Nib | 64 titanium alloy, 8 grooves | | Package | 190 × 50 × 36 mm (7.5 × 2 × 1.4 in) | | Model | RZD0101 | | Made in | Japan | Itoya says titanium weighs about 60% as much as iron, which is how a metal pen stays at 22 g. It also notes titanium is said to be less likely to cause metal allergies. ![ROMEO Initium drawn to scale: 144.5 mm long, 11 mm across, pure titanium barrel and grooved 64 titanium nib, 22 g](https://stationerytimes.com/images/romeo-initium-titanium-dip-pen-dimensions.svg) *The Initium's sizes and materials from Itoya; nib length drawn by eye from Itoya's photos.* ## How does the Initium hold ink? **Through eight grooves cut into the nib, which hold ink by surface tension and release it when the point touches paper.** Itoya says the grooves widen toward the barrel, so for a long writing session you dip right up to the top of them. That is different from a glass pen, which draws ink up its flutes by capillary action. Itoya says one full dip writes more than one sheet of letter paper (便箋) in a fine line that keeps kanji legible. Our [guide to dip pens for beginners](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-dip-pens-for-beginners/) covers cheaper steel-nib pens that work the same basic way, and the [Kakimori stainless steel nib](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kakimori-stainless-steel-nib/) is a grooved metal nib that fits a holder. ## What award did it win? **A Good Design Award 2026, award number 26G030112, in the stationery category.** JDP announced the 2026 results on October 15, 2026; see all 23 [Good Design Award 2026 stationery winners](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/good-design-award-2026-stationery-winners/). The judges' comment on the [G Mark entry](https://www.g-mark.org/gallery/winners/35813) praises the precise cuts that stop drips while holding enough ink to write steadily, and notes it is far less likely to break than glass. ## Which ink works best? **Itoya recommends fountain pen ink without glitter or shimmer, because particles can clog the fine grooves.** Itoya also sells ROMEO bottled inks named Imagination (purple) and Concentration (brown), and its case lid is sized to hold a ROMEO bottle. Any standard fountain pen ink, such as [Pilot Iroshizuku](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-iroshizuku-system-guide/), suits it. If ink beads up on the nib, Itoya says skin oil is the usual cause; wipe the nib with alcohol or wash it in warm water and mild detergent. ## How much does it cost, and can you buy it in the US? **Itoya lists it at ¥82,500 (about US$520) including tax, or ¥75,000 (about US$475) before tax, which puts it in our $$$$ band.** Itoya sells it in its stores and on its Japanese online store. On October 23, 2026 we found no US retailer listing for the Initium on Amazon.com. US buyers need a Japanese store that ships abroad or a proxy service; check the import costs before ordering. ## Where is the ROMEO Initium made? **In Japan.** Itoya's online store lists 生産国 日本 (country of production: Japan) for the RZD0101. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is the ROMEO Initium a glass pen? No. It looks like one, but it is solid titanium, so it won't shatter if dropped. Itoya says it holds ink in surface grooves rather than drawing it up by capillary action as a glass pen does. ### What ink should I use in the Initium? Itoya recommends fountain pen ink without glitter or shimmer particles, because the nib's grooves are fine. Itoya sells its own ROMEO bottled inks for it. ### How much does the ROMEO Initium cost? Itoya lists it at ¥82,500 (about US$520) including Japanese tax, which puts it in our $$$$ band, over $75. ### How do you clean a titanium dip pen? Itoya describes three steps: dip and write, rinse, wipe. If skin oil makes the ink bead up, it suggests wiping the nib with hand-sanitizing alcohol or ethanol, or washing it in warm water with mild detergent. ### Who makes ROMEO pens? ROMEO is a house brand of Itoya (伊東屋), the stationery store based in Ginza, Tokyo. Itoya also sells ROMEO bottled inks made to pair with the Initium. ### Is the Initium made in the USA? No. Itoya's online store lists Japan as the country of production. ### Does the Initium come in a case? Yes. Itoya says it comes in a drawer-style wooden case made of tamo (Japanese ash), whose lid works as a pen rest and fits a ROMEO ink bottle. ## Sources - [Itoya online store: ROMEO イニチウム 0.5 チタン (11 × 144.5 mm, 22 g, made in Japan, RZD0101, ¥82,500 incl. tax; read October 23, 2026)](https://www.ito-ya.co.jp/item/45826215262381.html) - [Itoya feature: 「書く」ことの原点へ 〈ROMEO〉イニチウム 0.5 チタン (grooves, materials, care, case)](https://www.ito-ya.co.jp/tokushu/INITIUM.html) - [G Mark gallery: ROMEO イニチウム, Good Design Award 2026 (26G030112; release October 16, 2025; ¥75,000 before tax)](https://www.g-mark.org/gallery/winners/35813) - [JDP, GOOD DESIGN AWARD: 2026年度受賞結果](https://www.g-mark.org/learn/past-awards/gda-2026/results)