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About Moleskine
There is no greater feeling than putting pen to paper, allowing your thoughts, feelings, and ideas to flow from your mind and into the world. And when you close that book, it takes all of your stresses and worries with it, plainly documenting your innermost dreams and doodles.
If you’re ready to give your overflowing thoughts a home, you’ll be interested in this Moleskine review. The brand is dedicated to providing the best of the best in terms of notebooks, planners, and stationery in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes to suit your lifestyle.
If you’ve got social media, you’re likely one of the brand’s 282k followers on Instagram. If not, chances are you’ve heard of it from Forbes, PKPR, or Newstral for its innovative designs.
As you turn to a new chapter in your life, you may be interested in opening the page to something this brand has to offer. If so, leaf through this Moleskine review — I’ll delve into everything there is to know about the brand, some of its best-selling notebooks and planners, customer testimonials, and FAQs to help you decide where you’ll write next.
Overview of Moleskine
Moleskine was launched in 1997 in Milan, Italy, though its claim to fame dates back much further. It was originally known as the first notebook, which was the personal favorite of many famed artists, thinkers, and writers like Vincent Van Gogh and Ernest Hemingway.
In 1997, the brand originally began as a publishing company named Modo&Modo, reviving the traditional notebook and naming it the Moleskine. By 2016, it was acquired by D’Ieteren, though it has always been true to its origins with a collection of artfully designed notebooks and planners.
On a mission to help people “put pen to paper, and unleash their unique voice,” the company offers the necessary tools to free the imagination, turn ideas into reality, and simply make life easier. Designed in Italy and carefully crafted in China, these products are available worldwide.
The brand also has philanthropic goals through the Moleskine Foundation, which is a nonprofit dedicated to encouraging marginalized communities to find and access their creativity.
Now that you know a little more about the company, my Moleskine review will delve into some important highlights.
Highlights
- Vast selection of notebooks, planners, writing tools, and bags
- Various colors, covers, and styles available
- Crafted from high quality materials
- Forest Stewardship Council®-certified
- Network of smart writing tools and services
- Easy to customize
- Thoughtful and personal gifts
- Free shipping over $65
In recent years, the gap between books and technology has become more and more apparent. With a goal to blend innovation with tradition, the brand has released the Moleskine Flow App as well as a number of products designed to perfect first drafts and connect paper to screen.
That being said, my Moleskine review will focus on the high quality notebooks and planners that the brand is so well known for. If you’re ready to put pen to paper but need a little inspiration, check out my list of the best sellers down below.
Moleskine Notebook Review
There’s nothing quite like a classic notebook. Fortunately, that’s exactly what Moleskine offers, with a variety of colors, styles, and sizes so you can find the perfect fit.
If you’re keen on transforming your thoughts into words or drawings, check out some of the best-selling journals and books below.
Moleskine Classic Notebook Review
Ideal for writing, drawing, or anything you can dream of, the Classic Notebook comes with your choice of dotted, squared, lined, plain, or ruled pages. It has a hard cover, ideal for when you don’t have a tabletop to lean on, soft round corners, an elastic closure, a soft ribbon bookmark for a luxurious touch.
The paper is sourced from FSC® certified forests in a soft ivory color that is acid-free and 70 g/m². It also comes in 8 different colors to suit any aesthetic.
The Classic Notebook is available in 6 different sizes, going from pocket (3.5” x 5.5”) to A4 (8.25” x 11.75”), retailing between $17-$30 depending on size.
Moleskine Cahier Journals Set of 3 Review
Designed for everyday notes, the Cahier Journals Set of 3 have an easily customizable cardboard cover and soft rounded corners. You can choose between plain, dotted, squared, or lined paper for any planning purposes and collect any loose notes in the flap of the cover.
The last 16 pages are detachable for sharing ideas or making lists, while the ivory colored paper has a luxurious feel.
Available in 6 different colors, the Cahier Journals Set of 3 come in 4 different sizes such as pocket (3.5” x 5.5”) so you can tuck it anywhere, up to XXL (8.5” x 11”), retailing between $10-$23.
Moleskine Volant Journals Set of 2 Review
With a soft and flexible cover, the Volant Journals Set of 2 are made for life, designed to go wherever you take them and handle whatever you throw at them. From grocery lists to great ideas, these little booklets are made to do it all with easily detachable pages.
Speaking of, the paper is acid free, ivory colored, and comes in your choice of ruled or plain. It’s also available in 3 different contrasting color options or classic shades of black and white.
The Volant Journals Set of 2 are also available in 3 different sizes, ranging from XS (2.5” x 4.25”) to L (5” x 8.25”), and retailing between $5-$15.
Moleskine Planner Review
If you’ve got a busy schedule and an even busier mind, there’s no greater solution than a planner and putting potential plans into tangible events. For organizing your life, commitments, and any important dates, take a look at some of the most popular Moleskine planners down below.
Moleskine Classic Planner 2022 Weekly 12-Month Review
New year, new you. As you take on the year, it’s important to plan your weekly endeavors. Stay on track with the Classic Planner 2022 Weekly 12-Month, which features every day of the year so you’ll always have a plan.
Dated from January to December of 2022, it even comes in soft or hard covers for your preference of flexibility or stability. The daily breakdown makes it easy to plan while the monthly and yearly snapshots provide a clear visual of your year.
It also has an elastic closure, a ribbon bookmark, and an expandable inner pocket for keeping everything in order. Available in 5 colors, the Classic Planner 2022 Weekly 12-Month comes in a few different sizes, ranging from pocket (3.5” x 5.5”) to XL (7.5” x 9.75”), and currently on sale for $9-$12 (regularly $18-$25).
Moleskine Classic Planner Monthly 12-Month Review
If you prefer to have a bird’s eye view of your monthly commitments, opt for the Classic Planner Monthly 12-Month. Dated from January to December 2022, this planner provides monthly breakdowns followed by 2 lined pages for any important notes or info.
It also has an inner pocket, an elastic closure, and a ribbon bookmark so you can stay on track. The ivory-colored, acid free paper is sourced from FSC® certified forests, and the books come with your choice of soft or hard covers.
Like other Moleskine books, the Classic Planner Monthly 12-Month comes in a few different sizes, pocket (3.5” x 5.5”) to XL (7.5” x 9.75”), and retailing for $9-$12 (regularly $18-$25).
Moleskine Velvet Planner Weekly 12-Month Review
Slightly more luxurious in design, the Velvet Planner Weekly 12-Month makes it easy to stay on top of your daily commitments. Dated from January to December 2022, the weekly setup is displayed next to a lined page for any necessary notes.
Made with the classic elastic closure, ribbon bookmark, and sustainably sourced ivory, acid free paper, this planner has a super soft and reflective hardcover, crafted from Italian velvet by Pontoglio 1883.
Adding a little luxury into every day of the year, the deep black Velvet Planner Weekly 12-Month retails for $70.
Who Is Moleskine For?
It only makes sense that such a vast range of notebooks and planners with different configurations and styles would be designed for stationery lovers. There’s nothing quite like the clean, crisp pages of a new journal or cracking the spine as you begin to jot down all the thoughts you have before starting your day.
That being said, the brand also offers a wide variety of planners made for anyone looking to keep track of the day-to-day or plan out their future. The high quality design ensures the planners are durable and last as long as you need them to, existing as a keepsake of all you have done once the year is over.
And, of course, we can’t forget the travel writers, sketch artists, and designers, who always have a book in hand when they’re on the go. The different sizes make it easy for you to write or draw anywhere, whether you opt for a pocket size or an option large enough to fit in your bag.
Why Is Moleskine So Popular?
Ever heard of the phrase “tried and true”? Founded 25 years ago, Moleskine has made a name for itself in the world of stationery. The high quality design and materials, meticulous craftsmanship, and affordable prices all make Moleskine a top choice among many.
The soft brushed fabric cover options on many of the books adds a luxurious feel, while the crisp and thick pages become home to ideas, thoughts, plans, and musings alike. On top of that, Moleskines are customizable for a unique and personal touch. Here’s how:
- Click the “Personalize” button from the menu options.
- Choose a symbol, font, and color.
- Write your note of up to two lines, 12 characters each.
- OR opt for 3 letters or numbers.
Moleskine customization only costs an extra fee of $6-$10 depending on the style you choose.
Moleskine Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
Nearing the end of this Moleskine review, it’s important to take a look at customer testimonials to get a taste of what the brand is truly about. For an in-depth look at what each product is like, I sourced comments and reviews from PCMag, Little Coffee Fox, and Amazon.
On PCMag, the brand is rated 4.5/5 stars for its classic designs yet innovative approach with the Smart Writing Set. They share that it has plenty of perks, making it stand out from other options, writing:
“The Moleskine Smart Writing Set is an impressive note-taking solution, combining the familiar tactile feel of writing in a notebook with convenient modern technology.”
On the Little Coffee Fox, one shopper shares, it’s: “easy to see why they appeal to the journal-loving audience. They have massive brand recognition, they are beautifully designed, and they are widely available.”
They also mention that the variety makes the brand an easy choice, commenting: “There are several different sizes and colors of notebooks, so you can find one that fits your needs perfectly. There are also several types of paper types, with choices between plain, ruled, squared, or dotted.”
Over 15k Amazon shoppers rate the brand’s classic notebooks 4.8/5 stars. One happy patron explains that the book becomes their go-to for all important information:
“Every year, I buy a moleskine notebook. Every year, I put the important information at the back of it… things like credit card number, special phone numbers, etc. I leave the front several pages blank. When I have to make phone calls, make a decision, just write down information, or anything I might need later, I date the page and start writing.”
Another buyer explained that it made a thoughtful and functional gift, remarking: “I gave this as a gift to someone that is a writer, and they loved it. The binding and the paper are high quality. It also has a pocket to place odds and ends and bits and pieces that can come in handy. The included cloth marker and the elastic closure are classy and functional.”
Another impressed customer describes the books as the “best that money can buy” because of the versatility:
“You can use a Moleskine book as a journal, they are perfect for business, and come in many different sizes and colors. I buy the smaller ruled books to write down short, quick ideas and notes. I buy the larger ones to write my collections of poetry and anthologies in.”
Overall, it’s clear shoppers feel there is something special about holding the thick pages of a Moleskine notebook in their hands. They are carefully and thoughtfully designed in a variety of styles to be functional and versatile, making them incredibly useful.
Is Moleskine Worth It?
In this Moleskine review I’ve shared every detail about the brand, its products, and what exactly makes it so popular. But is it truly worth the buy? With such a vast and unique selection of stationery, all of which are crafted from high-quality materials, it’s easy to say that these products live up to its years worth of hype.
The brand is definitely pricier than options you may find at bargain stores, but they’re luxury prices because of the thoughtful designs and materials. Plus, they make a thoughtful and unique gift (whether it’s for yourself or someone you love) that’s super easy to personalize.
Moleskine Promotions & Discounts
Looking to save on your Moleskine notebook? Here’s the promo codes and discounts I found at the time of this Moleskine review:
- Enjoy their up to 60% off sale
- Receive free shipping on orders over $65
Where to Buy Moleskine
Did something in this Moleskine review catch your eye? Fortunately, the brand is widely available. Here are a few places you can shop besides their brand website:
- Walmart
- Barnes & Noble
- Amazon
- Target
FAQ
Who owns Moleskine?
During this Moleskine review I discovered that the brand is currently owned by D’Ieteren, a company committed to building “a family of businesses that reinvent the industries in which they operate in search of excellence and meaningful impact.”
Does Moleskine ship internationally?
Wondering if you can get your hands on a Moleskine planner? You’ll be happy to know that the brand offers worldwide shipping!
What is Moleskine’s Shipping Policy?
Already placed an order on something from this Moleskine review? Fortunately, the brand has a few different options so you can get your order ASAP:
- Standard (4-8 business days): flat fee of $9 or free on orders over $65
- Express (3-5 business days): flat fee of $13
- Overnight (2-4 business days): flat fee of $23
What is Moleskine’s Return Policy?
If you don’t love your order for whatever reason, the brand offers a 14-day window after your delivery/purchase date for returns. Simply contact the brand’s customer care to receive a return authorization and further directions from there.
How to Contact Moleskine
I hope you enjoyed this Moleskine review! If you have any further questions about the brand or its products, you can reach out in the following ways:
- Contact form
- Phone: 833-809-9087
Their customer service team is available weekdays between 9 am to 9 pm EST.
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