Sakura Ballsign Tiara - New Knock Type with swatches

Sakura Ballsign TIARA in a new knock style (capless) body. In this video I swatch the ten colors and give you some info and background on the Sakura Ballsign TIARA ink.

 

 

 

Below is an AI transcript, if something seems weird, just check the video:

Hi everyone!
Today we're going to be talking about the newest pen in the Sakura Ballsign series.

In the U.S. (and in many international markets), the Sakura Ballsign is known as the Sakura Gelly Roll. But just a heads-up: not all versions of these pens are available globally—so when I mention the "Ballsign," you might know it as the Gelly Roll.

A bit of history: The Tiara ink originally launched in Japan in 2000—so this year marks 25 years of this sparkly, archival-quality glitter ink! What's exciting now is that, for the first time, the Tiara series is available in a knock-style body (i.e., retractable).

Let me show you. This new Tiara Knock is a little more expensive than the capped version, but it’s super convenient—you don’t have to worry about losing the cap anymore.

One thing to note: when they released the knock-style version, they reduced the color lineup from 12 to 10. The Topaz Yellow and Sapphire Blue are not included in this newer version, but the capped pens are still available, and we’ll continue to carry them as long as they’re in production.

This new Sakura Ballsign Tiara Knock comes in multiple formats:

  • 10-Color Set — includes all 10 available shades and (for a limited time) comes with a free sticker sheet.

  • 5-Color Set — includes Garnet Rose, Amethyst Purple, Aquamarine Blue, Diamond Silver, and Emerald Green, plus the same limited sticker sheet.

  • Singles — great if you just want to try one color or prefer to build your own set.

Let’s talk about the ink itself for a moment. Sakura is known for inventing the world’s first water-based pigment gel ink. What makes it special is that it combines the characteristics of both water-based and oil-based inks.

Here’s how:

  • When the ink is stationary in the barrel, it’s highly viscous (like oil-based ink).

  • As the ink gets stirred (by writing), it becomes smoother and more fluid, delivering that silky, gel-like flow.

The result is an ink that is waterproof, chemical-proof, fade-resistant, odorless, and archival quality.

It’s also designed to hold glitter particles without clogging the 1.0 mm tip—perfect for sparkling, smooth writing.

For swatching, I used one of the new Midori Paintable Roller Stamps in the plant theme to add some fun floral outlines to test each color. It’s a great way to showcase glitter inks, especially since they can be hard to capture in photos.

Pearl Pink is such a beautiful pink—it sparkles so nicely in the light. Ideal for greeting cards or scrapbook accents.

Garnet Rose is a deeper pink-red shade. Still full of shimmer, but with more of a romantic tone.

Ruby Red has that true red pop. Very vibrant and glittery.

Sardonyx Orange becomes your warmest shade here, since the Topaz Yellow isn’t included in this set. Bright and bold.

Opal Green is a lighter, almost peridot-toned green. Fresh and soft.

Emerald Green is deeper and slightly bluish—a great contrast to the Opal.

Aquamarine Blue is more of a sky blue. Light, airy, and cool.

Turquoise Blue is a bit darker and bolder than aquamarine, with a jewel-like richness.

Amethyst Purple is rich purple with gorgeous glitter accents. A favorite for fans of deep hues.

Diamond Silver is a true silver sparkle. Works beautifully as an accent with any of the other colors. Especially striking on light paper.

Note: These inks show up much better on light paper. On dark paper, the ink and shimmer can get lost—so I highly recommend using these with white or pastel-toned pages.

These Sakura Ballsign Tiara Knock pens are lightweight and comfortable to use. They are archival-quality and safe for keepsakes. Available in 10-color sets, 5-color sets, and individual singles. They are a joy for card-making, journaling, scrapbooking, and more.

The original Ballsign (aka Gelly Roll) has been around since the 1980s. I personally discovered them in the mid-’90s when I was in high school. I still remember buying a rare brown ink version at an independent stationery shop—and it felt completely different from anything available at big-box stores. It’s amazing to see how much the line has evolved in the past 40 years.

If you have any questions about the Sakura Ballsign series—especially this glitter-infused, pigment-based gel ink—feel free to reach out. I hope you’re as excited about this release as I am!

Have a wonderful rest of your week.

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