Yes it is worth the price difference. Quality it far higher. However, if you are just making a few pens to give away or use yourself, the original junior isn't so bad, I'm carrying one at a personal user right now. I sell the II for well over $100, I tried to sell some of the originals for $75 and under and didn't get any takers. Eventually I decided that I was not going to sell the original at any price, too much risk that customers would not be happy with it for long.