SETTINI® Hardcover Lined Journal Notebook A5 120 GSM Lay-Flat, Mocha

Wow! That was the first word out of my mouth when I opened up the box containing the journal. It comes in an attractive, sturdy, black (subtly patterned) gift box. Upon unveiling, the journal is enveloped in a crisp sheet of tissue paper, revealing a Settini logo banded strip encasing the notebook. What a presentation! The journal is made of vegan leather but looks very much like the real thing. It measures 8.5" x 5.5". We ordered the mocha brown color when is very handsome and rich-looking. There is a sienna brown elastic bookmark band which allows the writer to easily return to the page they were previously using. There are 192 pages. Of the lined sheets, 96 of them are ruled for easy penning and organization. It looks like the notebook is bound well, as you can flatten it out and not have to worry that a page will come loose. The ivory-colored paper included in this journal is thick. In terms of weight (grams per square meter), it is rated 120gsm. Most often, the higher the gsm, the thicker the paper. Most types of printer paper is rated 90 - 100gsm. At 120gsm, you are getting thickness similar to a promotional poster. Also included with the notebook is a self-adhesive pen holder. This is a great feature, as I am always hunting for a pen to write with. No need to with this journal as the pen accompanies the journal at all times, if you utilize the pen holder loop. Upon further inspection of the notebook, I noticed there is a pouch to hold notes or other flat papers on the back inner cover. I doubt I would ever use this feature, but others might.If you are looking to purchase a journal as a gift or for yourself, you can't go wrong with this Settini notebook. It's presented beautifully and looks and feels to be quite sturdy.

The notebook was delivered on-time and as expected. I rely on A5 notebooks for journaling.I waited for my wife to unbox/unveil the journal with me because I had seen images of the packaging in other reviews, and expected a treat. I was not disappointed at all.The package was wonderful to open. It felt like we were opening a very expensive gift, something special. The unboxing felt almost, but not quite, like opening a new product from Apple.As I opened the box, i remember thinking that this most cost Settini quite a bit more than what their competitors spend on their cheap plastic shrink-wrap. Their investment in 'going the extra mile' to make the experience great for the customer is well worth it.Oh, I almost forgot... the notebook itself is good too. Clearly, the cover is not leather as is evidenced by the feel of it. If you've ever owned and used a Rhodia Web notebook, you'd understand what I mean. I have used much nicer, more well-made notebooks at this price point, but the care Sattini has put into their packaging sets the company apart in the notebook/journal space.We'll be sending these journals as gifts for graduations, birthdays, fathers/mothers day, or just to say, "I was thinking about you, and thought you would enjoy this journal".-h

The SETTINI A5 Writing Journal is wonderful. It arrives in a sturdy box that protects it during shipping and makes it easily giftable. Upon opening the box, the first thing you notice is the cover. Although it is imitation leather, it looks and feels like the real thing. I opted for mocha brown and it is a deep, rich color. It just feels good in the hand.Open the journal and you will find the pages to be a thick, ivory-colored paper. I tried it out with some fountain pens that I had inked. Great feel, nice and smooth with a little feedback. There was no feathering and practically no bleed through to the back of the page. My Kaweco pen is a wet writer and even with it, you can see just a little bit of bleed through. I believe this could be easily remedied with a different ink.Besides that, the SETTINI A5 Journal has many of the features we've come to expect, such as a pen loop, elastic closure, and a ribbon bookmark. It also has a handy pocket in the back for receipts, business cards, etc.Overall this is a very nice journal. It would be an ideal gift for anyone who enjoys documenting their life using fine writing materials.

this journal quickly became my prayer journal. The size is perfect to slip in my purse and fits well on my bedside table. The cover is nice, and I love the off-white lined pages. If you like journals this is a good one to have.

Given it as a gift. They seem to like it.