Kleid Ring Binder with cord navy

The "Kleid Ring Notebook with Cord" by NK Shinnippon is a Japanese ring-bound notebook with a hard cover that lies completely flat on both sides. It closes with a cord wrapped around a riveted leather button – a closure with character that is meant to be deliberately opened and closed. The paper is equipped with a fine 2-mm grid that provides precision when sketching without being distracting when reading. The navy color gives the cover a rich, even tone between midnight blue and classic naval blue.

Special Features

• Opens flat on both sides: The ring binding allows the notebook to lie completely flat on both sides. No springy resistance, no crease at the inner edge – the writing area extends all the way to the edge.
• Hard cover with spine backing: The cover also encloses the spine of the notebook, so all pages are protected all around. When closed, the notebook maintains a compact, stable form.
• Cord closure with riveted leather button: The cord is deliberately wrapped around the button – no snap closure, no rubber band mechanism. The closure sits securely and gives the notebook a calm, handcrafted appearance.
• 2-mm grid paper: The fine grid sits well below a standard grid size. It is suitable for detailed sketches, technical drawings, floor plans, and bullet journal layouts as well as densely written note pages – all combinable on one surface.
• Fountain pen-friendly surface: The paper evenly absorbs water-based fountain pen inks. The ink does not feather and dries without annoying smudging. Suitable for fine to medium nibs.
• Made in Japan: NK Shinnippon manufactures the notebook in Japan – with the quality standards that have been characteristic of the Japanese stationery line for decades.

Application & Tips

• Fountain pen with fine to medium nib: The smooth paper surface allows the nib to glide smoothly without scratching. Water-based fountain pen inks are cleanly absorbed – even chromatic and shimmering inks look good.
• Sketching and note-taking in alternation: The 2-mm grid can be used flexibly: fine measurement sketches, freehand drawings, and handwritten notes can be combined on the same page without the grid dominating.
• On the go and in transit: The cord closure keeps the notebook securely closed – pages don't bend and don't flip open when the notebook is in a bag or backpack.
• Bullet journaling and calendar structures: The fine grid paper is ideal as a foundation for self-created trackers, weekly and monthly overviews, or modular page layouts.
• Wet inks and brush pens: The paper is ink-fast but not designed for very wet brushes. Those working with wide brush pens or very wet inks should plan for drying time and work with blotting paper.

For Paper Enthusiasts

The 2-mm grid paper – known in Japan as engineer paper – has a long tradition in handcrafted and technical drawing. The grid sits below the perception threshold when reading quickly, but provides precise spatial orientation when writing and drawing. NK Shinnippon uses paper with a perceptible surface texture in the Kleid line: not excessively smooth like calendered art paper, but smooth enough for sensitive nibs. The result is a surface that balances between tooth and glide – pleasant even during long writing sessions.

Technical Specifications