If you've spent any time in stationery circles, you've seen this debate play out on Reddit, YouTube, and Instagram. Three brands, three very different notebooks, and a lot of conflicting opinions. After years of supplying both Singapore and Malaysia — and watching customers switch, return, and upgrade — here's what we actually think.
Moleskine: Famous for a reason, but know what you're buying
Moleskine built one of the strongest brand identities in stationery. The collabs are excellent — limited editions with artists, designers, and cultural properties that make them genuinely collectible. If you're a pencil user, a casual note-taker, or someone who wants a notebook that looks good on a boardroom table, Moleskine delivers.
But if you use a fountain pen or a rollerball, forget it. The paper ghosts and bleeds. This isn't a niche complaint from enthusiasts — it's the single most consistent piece of feedback we hear from customers who've switched. Moleskine's paper simply wasn't designed for liquid ink, and no amount of brand prestige changes that.
For professional writers, executives who take meeting notes with a good pen, or anyone who cares about the writing surface, Moleskine is the wrong choice.
Rhodia: The calligrapher's favourite
Rhodia paper is extraordinarily smooth. Several calligraphers we work with swear by it, and for good reason — ink glides across the surface cleanly, dries well, and shows off shading inks beautifully. If pure writing performance is your only criterion, Rhodia competes at the top.
The limitations are real though. Rhodia's hardcover options are limited, and their colour range is narrow compared to what Leuchtturm1917 offers. The bigger issue for everyday users: Rhodia's dot grid has large, dark dots that sit prominently on the page. They don't recede into the background when you write. For some users this is fine. For others — particularly those doing layouts, spreads, or any visual work — the dots compete with your content in a way that gets distracting over time.
Leuchtturm1917: The best balance of performance and practicality
Leuchtturm1917 was designed for people who actually use their notebooks. Numbered pages, a table of contents, a bookmark ribbon, an expandable back pocket, a spine label. These aren't marketing features — they're the difference between a notebook you can navigate and one you have to flip through to find anything.
The paper handles fountain pens, rollerballs, fineliners, and most ballpoints without issue. For heavier ink use — broad nibs, wet inks, alcohol markers — the Edition 120g takes it further with 120gsm paper built specifically for that purpose.
The dot grid deserves special mention. Leuchtturm1917's dots are small, light, and designed to fade into the background when you write. They guide without dominating. Once you've used them, the heavy dots on other brands feel like noise.
And then there's the colour range. This matters more than most people expect — including for corporate buyers in both Singapore and Malaysia.
Side-by-side comparison
| Specification | Leuchtturm1917 | Moleskine Classic | Rhodia Webnotebook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper weight | 80gsm acid-free (120gsm Edition available) | 70gsm | 90gsm Clairefontaine |
| Fountain pen performance | Good (80gsm) / Excellent (120gsm) | Poor — ghosts and bleeds | Excellent |
| Rollerball performance | Good | Poor — feathers and bleeds | Good |
| Binding | Thread-sewn, lies flat | Glued, prone to cracking | Thread-sewn, lies flat |
| Page numbers | Yes | No | No |
| Table of contents | Yes | No | No |
| Dot grid quality | Small, light — fades when writing | Small, acceptable | Large, dark — prominent on page |
| Hardcover options | Yes — wide range | Yes | Limited |
| Colour range | Extensive — 20+ colours | Limited core range | Narrow |
| Corporate branding | Embossing, debossing, foil, silkscreen | Limited options | Limited options |
| Available in SG & MY | Yes — official distributor at lt1917.com | Selected retailers | Selected retailers |
A note for corporate buyers in Singapore and Malaysia
One of the most practical advantages of Leuchtturm1917 for corporate gifting is the breadth of the colour range. There is almost always a colour close enough to your company's Pantone that you can find a match without ordering a custom run. That means no large MOQ just to get your brand colour right. Your procurement team will appreciate it. Your boss will too.
We've seen this play out directly. One of our corporate buyers switched their organisation from Moleskine to Leuchtturm1917 notebooks. The quality difference was immediately apparent — the customisation was sharper, the detail finer, and the notebooks held up to daily use in a way Moleskine's didn't. When she moved to a new employer, she brought those notebooks with her. Her new director used one cover to cover and has been lobbying ever since to get the budget approved to switch the whole team. That's what a notebook that actually performs does — it sells itself, years after the original purchase.
For Malaysia corporate buyers, the same advantage applies. We supply directly to companies across Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Penang, and Johor Bahru with the same customisation options available for Singapore orders — logo embossing, debossing, hot foil stamping, individual name embossing, and more. There is almost always a Leuchtturm1917 colour close enough to your company Pantone, which means you don't need a large minimum order quantity just to get the colour right. For corporate enquiries from Malaysia, visit our Malaysia corporate notebook gifts page.
Which should you buy?
Moleskine — if brand collabs and aesthetics are the priority, and you write in pencil or ballpoint only.
Rhodia — if you're a calligrapher or fountain pen purist and writing surface smoothness is your single criterion.
Leuchtturm1917 — if you want a notebook that performs across every writing instrument, organises well, looks excellent, and comes in a colour you'll actually want to carry.
The full Leuchtturm1917 range is available at lt1917.com — the official authorised distributor for Singapore and Malaysia.
Sourcing corporate notebooks for your Singapore or Malaysia team?
We are the exclusive authorised distributor of Leuchtturm1917 for Singapore and Malaysia. Logo embossing, debossing, hot foil stamping, and individual name personalisation available. No large MOQ required to match your brand colour.
Singapore Corporate Quote Malaysia Corporate EnquiryFrequently asked questions
Is Leuchtturm1917 better than Moleskine for fountain pens?
Yes, significantly. Moleskine's paper ghosts and bleeds with fountain pen and rollerball ink. Leuchtturm1917's 80gsm paper handles most liquid inks cleanly, and the Edition 120g is built for heavier use.
Why do calligraphers prefer Rhodia?
Rhodia's paper is exceptionally smooth, which suits calligraphers who prioritise ink flow above all else. But for most everyday users, Leuchtturm1917's combination of paper quality, organisation features, hardcover options, and colour range makes it the better notebook.
Does Leuchtturm1917 come in corporate colours?
The colour range is wide enough that there's almost always a match close to your company Pantone — no custom run or large MOQ required. For corporate enquiries in Singapore, visit our Singapore corporate page. For Malaysia, visit our Malaysia corporate page.
Can Malaysian companies order Leuchtturm1917 notebooks?
Yes. We are the exclusive authorised distributor for both Singapore and Malaysia. Corporate orders with delivery to KL, Penang, JB and other Malaysian cities are handled directly.
Where can I buy Leuchtturm1917 in Singapore and Malaysia?
At lt1917.com — the official authorised distributor for both markets.