Currently Inked Pens - September 9, 2014

September 9, 2014, 5:00 am

≫ Next: J. Herbin Rouge Opera Review

≪ Previous: Further Reading September 7 ,2014

Rouge Hematite's sheen is incredible.

From left to right:

Schlicht Flexible Nib Pen - J. Herbin Rouge Hematite

Montblanc Meisterstuck 146 - J. Herbin Lie de The

Sailor 1911 S - J. Herbin Vert Pre

Montblanc Carrera - Noodler's Black

Parker Sonnet - Noodler's Midnight Blue

S.T. Dupont D-Line - Pelikan Edelstein Topaz

If you would like to have your currently inked pens featured, leave a comment or contact me.

↧

J. Herbin Rouge Opera Review

September 13, 2014, 4:22 pm

≫ Next: Further Reading September 14, 2014

≪ Previous: Currently Inked Pens - September 9, 2014

Specifications

Manufacturer: J. Herbin

Alternate Name(s): Opera Red

Color: Pink

MSRP: $5

Actual Price: $4-$5

Price I paid: 3 Euros

Amount of Ink: 10mL

Cost per ml: 50¢

Bottle: Small glass bottle; difficult to fill from

Where to Buy: JetPens and Bureau Direct in the 10mL bottle; Anderson Pens, Bureau Direct, Jet Pens, Goulet Pens, and Cult Pens in the 30mL bottle; Bureau Direct also sells it in a heart-shaped bottle.

At a Glance

Sheen: None

Shading: Good

Water Resistance: None

Feathering: Average

Bleed through: Average

Show through/ Ghosting: Minimal

Drying Time: Long (Up to 45s on Rhodia)

Wetness: High

Lubrication: Well-lubricated

Staining: None

Saturation: Low

Cleaning: Easily flushed from a pen due to its low saturation

Okay on Copier Paper?: No

Thoughts

J. Herbin Rouge Opera is a pink with low saturation and some shading. It behaves fairly well, but I have one main grievance which prevents me from using it: in most pens it's an inconsistent, extremely light pink which I strongly dislike. Another issue with this ink is its water resistance, or lack thereof. As you can see in the water resistance tests, it dissolves completely within a few minutes. Yet another grumble I have with it is that its drying times are exceptionally long- up to 45 seconds on Rhodia. For these reasons, I cannot recommend Rouge Opera, but I do recommend several other pink inks such as Pelikan Edelstein Turmaline, Diamine Cerise, Diamine Claret, and Noodler's Tchaikovsky.

Writing Samples

Main Pen- Pilot Vanishing Point Medium
Pen 2- Visconti Rembandt Fine
Pen 3- Sailor 1911S Extra-Fine
Links lead to reviews of each pen.

Extended Soak Test

Duration- 1 hour

Before

After

Gallery

↧

J. Herbin Tempête Review

September 20, 2014, 8:17 pm

≫ Next: Further Reading September 21, 2014

≪ Previous: Further Reading September 14, 2014

Specifications

Brand: J. Herbin

Model: Tempetê, the French word for tempest

Body Material: Plastic

Color: Red cap with a clear body; also available with black, blue, orange, and clear caps
Trim: Silver
Length (capped): 15.4 cm

Length (uncapped nib-end): 13.5 cm
Length (posted): 17.2 cm

Nib Sizes: Medium only
Nib material: Steel
Overall Weight: 23g
Cap Weight: 9g
Body Weight: 14g

Barrel design: Tapered cylinder

Filling type: Eyedropper

Clip: Not spring-loaded; too short and stiff to hold well

Ink Capacity: 2.2 mL

MSRP: 100 €

Actual Price: 100 €
Price I paid: 100 €

Where to buy: Bureau Direct and Overjoyed are the only online retailers that sell this pen. It isn't sold in the U.S., so Americans will have to buy online.*

*Not affiliated with any of these websites

Packaging

The J. Herbin Tempête arrives in a black box with the J. Herbin logo embossed on the top. Inside, there's a slot to hold the pen and another to hold the included eyedropper. It's not the most glamorous packaging, but it at least protects the pen during transport.

Design

The Tempête's appearance is simple but tasteful. One end tapers to a sharp point, akin to a Sheaffer Balance; and the cap's finial is also that way but much more sudden. I like this more modern design and love the way it appears with a clear barrel.

The barrel looks nice, but the most stunning part of this pen is by far the nib. Decorated with a ship and the words "Depuis 1670" (founded in 1670), it's one of the more elegant in my accumulation. If the nib weren't so well adorned, I most likely wouldn't have purchased the pen. After all, it's an expensive eyedropper with a steel nib.

One issue with the pen is how easily it scratches. Shortly after purchase, the clear barrel began to collect scratches only from writing and sitting in a shirt pocket. It isn't a major issue, but it may be enough to dissuade some from purchasing or liking the Tempête.

Another issue is that the clip is almost too stiff to attach to clothing. When sliding it into a pocket, the clip feels as though it will snap. The feeling is disconcerting but fortunately isn't reality.

Size and Weight

With a total weight of 23 grams and a capped length of 15.4 centimeters, this pen is a mammoth but as light as a feather. Compared to other fountain pens, its always the longest whether posted, unposted, or capped. Because I prefer longer pens, this one is a great size for my hands. However, I don't post the Tempête because it grows to a comical length. All other pens, including oversize models, appear short compared to it posted.

From the left to the right, the pens are a Faber Castell Ondoro, a Pelikan M200, a Montblanc 146, the J. Herbin Tempête reviewed here, a Sailor 1911S, a Lamy Safari, and a Pilot G-2.

Filling System

Unlike many modern pens, an eyedropper filling system is used here. To fill one, you first suck ink into an eyedropper and then deposit that ink directly into the pen's barrel. It's one of the simplest and oldest filling systems, and it feels out-of-place on a 100 euro pen. Even a converter is more complex and costly to produce than this filling mechanism. It seems that J. Herbin did this to cut costs and not because ink capacity was their main focus.

The most ink the included eyedropper can hold at once

Thoughtfully included with the pen is a J. Herbin branded eyedropper. Disappointingly, it can't hold much of the pen's 2.2 mL capacity at once, so filling takes several trips from the bottle to the pen. Because of this inconvenience, I prefer using a syringe to fill in just one motion.

Lessening the pain of those two shortcomings, the pen holds a generous 2.2 mL of ink. For perspective, most piston fillers reputed to have high capacities only hold 1.1 mL, only half of the Tempête's capacity. I have to refill most pens every other day, but this one can go almost two weeks on one fill. For constant note-takers like myself, this is a great advantage.

One of my main concerns was whether it would leak or not. I had heard horror stories of bleeding eyedroppers online, so of course I was nervous the first time I took the pen out of the house. Luckily, the O-ring incorporated into the section prevented all mishaps, and my pocket remained dry.

The Writing Experience

Although a large ink capacity is a huge plus, it means nothing if the pen doesn't write well- who would want to write pages with a pen that has intermittent flow and hard starts? Thankfully, this isn't at all an issue with the Tempête. Writing is a joy as the nib never ceases to flow smoothly and evenly. After the long photography session, it still started almost immediately.

The nib is also a very wet writer, meaning that it lays down a copious amount of ink. My preference is for wet writing pens because they tend to show the true colors of inks. Considering J. Herbin's often unsaturated inks, it's a logical decision.

There is some flexibility to the nib, but it requires a substantial amount of pressure. The risk of almost springing it isn't worth the small amount of line variation.

Writing Sample

Paper: Rhodia

Ink: Pelikan Edelstein Turmaline

Pros

Wet, very smooth nib
Gargantuan Ink Capacity (2.2 mL)
Beautiful nib design

Cons

Expensive
Unwieldy when posted
Scratches easily

Closing Thoughts

I enjoy owning this pen, but with so many superior ones in the same price range, I don't recommend it unless you need a pen with a large ink capacity or want to try something different from the competition. Instead, I would recommend looking into the Lamy 2000, Sailor 1911 Standard, Pilot Vanishing Point, or the modern Wahl-Eversharp Skyline.

Gallery

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Levenger Blazing Sunset Review

October 19, 2014, 1:17 pm

≫ Next: Currently Inked Pens - October 28, 2014

≪ Previous: Further Reading September 21, 2014

Specifications

The top of the cap

Manufacturer: Levenger

Color: Orange

MSRP: $12

Actual Price: $12, but often on sale for $10

Amount of Ink: 50mL

Cost per mL: 24¢

Bottle: Glass with an included inkwell for easier filling

Where to Buy: Only available directly from Levenger

At a Glance

Sheen: None

Shading: Slight

Water Resistance: None

Feathering: Average

Bleed through: High

Show through/ Ghosting: Average

Drying Time: High

Wetness: High

Lubrication: High

Staining: None
Saturation: Average
Cleaning: Average
Okay on Copy Paper?: Yes, but there is significant bleed through

Thoughts

The inkwell inside the bottle

Levenger, a U.S.-based stationery retailer, produces a line of fountain pen inks and often removes or adds to that line. In late 2013, they released three new inks, one of which was Blazing Sunset.

Levenger's Blazing Sunset is a vibrant true-orange which is one of my favorites. In contrast to other oranges such as Noodler's Habanero or Apache Sunset, this one has few traces of yellow and barely any shading - a quality which I like for note taking. Unfortunately, water- resistance is entirely nonexistent: after a few minutes, there was no trace of the ink's former presence.

One of my favorite aspects of all of Levenger's inks is the bottle. Inside is an inkwell to make filling easy even with only a few mL left. It's also deep enough that filling pens with large #8 or #9 nibs is still possible.

Overall, this is a well-presented, vibrant ink which I highly recommend.

Writing Samples

Note: Brackets indicate that there was significant bleed through or ghosting.

Extended Soak Test

Before

Of all the inks I've tested so far, this one has the least water-resistance. It's oddly satisfying to find a blank sheet of paper after less than 30 minutes submersed in water. This would be bothersome in a practical black ink, but it's fine here because I don't often write important notes in orange.

After

Gallery:

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Currently Inked Pens - October 28, 2014

October 28, 2014, 5:35 pm

≫ Next: Further Reading November 2, 2014

≪ Previous: Levenger Blazing Sunset Review

From left to right:

Pelikan M200 - J. Herbin Ambre de Birmanie

Montblanc Carrera - Noodler's Black

Parker Vacumatic - J. Herbin Ambre de Birmanie

ST Dupont D Line - Pelikan Edelstein Topaz

Visconti Rembrandt - Levenger Blue Bahama

Parker Vacumatic - Pelikan Edelstein Topaz

Parker Sonnet - Waterman Serenity Blue

Faber Castell Ondoro - Levenger Blazing Sunset

Links lead to reviews.

↧

Noodler's Neponset Quick Look

November 11, 2014, 7:19 pm

≫ Next: Further Reading - 11/23/14

≪ Previous: Further Reading November 2, 2014

My Noodler's Neponset arrived yesterday, so here are a few quick pictures.

The three-tine "Vishnu Victory" music nib

A writing sample

The Vishnu Victory nib is very flexible, but extreme force is required to show any variation; and railroading is all too common. One trick to solve these problems is to add tape over the nib. The tape acts as an overfeed, increasing the nib's wetness drastically. With this modification, the Neponset becomes a pen I highly recommend.

From my Instagram

Even though I've only owned this pen for about twenty-four hours, I still recommend it if you can find one.

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OMAS Arte Italiana Arco Paragon (New Style) Review

December 30, 2014, 5:00 am

≫ Next: Further Reading January 3, 2015

≪ Previous: Further Reading - 11/23/14

If you've been following this blog for a while, you probably noticed that there was a poll for which pen I should review next in the sidebar. The Montblanc 146 won, and I did intend to review it next; but I decided to send it off for nib work to give it a better review. I've already taken and edited pictures, so the review should be up soon after it comes back from Pendleton Brown.

Specifications

Brand: OMAS

Model: New-style Paragon
Body Material: Brown Arco Celluloid

Color: Brown/orange

Trim: Gold-plated sterling silver
Length (capped): 5.9"

Length (uncapped nib-end): 5.3"
Length (posted): 7"

Nib Sizes: EF-BB
Nib material: 18kt gold
Overall Weight: 50g
Cap Weight: 15g
Body Weight: 35g

Filling type: Piston (made of metal)

Clip: Roller-wheel clip

Ink Capacity: Advertised 1.7mL; real life 1.5mL

MSRP: $1195

Actual Price: $956
Price I paid: $585 dipped

Where to buy: Classic Fountain Pens, Fahrney's Pens, and La Couronne du Comte all have this pen for $800-$956, but I would recommend instead buying a lightly used one from eBay as they're much cheaper.

Since first seeing OMAS's Arco celluloid a while ago, I've wanted a pen made from it. Some models, like the Ogiva, caught my eye; but the seemingly terrible quality control on those prevented me from pulling the trigger. Enter the new-style Paragon. This one has a metal piston instead of a plastic one like the Ogiva's, so complaints about it are nearly non-existent. It's also huge - bigger than even the purported king of pens, the Montblanc 149. But one thing prevented me from getting this seemingly ideal pen: the price. With a street price of nearly $1000, there was no way I could rationalize purchasing one. Even a 90th Anniversary 149 is cheaper than that.

One day I was browsing eBay looking at old-style, less expensive Paragons when a listing caught my eye. A new Arco Paragon, only dipped, was selling for less than half the usual price! Naturally, I purchased it a few minutes later even though I was eating lunch at the time.

Presentation

Box fully disassembled

Packaging is the first part of the new pen experience, and OMAS certainly doesn't disappoint here. The box is large and sets the stage for the pen you're about to see. The top lifts off, and on the inside is a fairly nice calligraphic design. The pen itself is within a cloth carrying case which also serves to polish it. A bottle of ink is also included, in this case, blue; but I've seen other colors included to match the pen. You can then remove that insert holding the pen and ink to find a booklet explaining the history of OMAS and another for ... the Omas 360 Vintage edition of course. I suspect that, given the blue ink and 360 booklet, this probably wasn't the pen's original box; but that doesn't bother me as it's not really important.

Design

Despite what some (cough, Richard Binder, cough) may say about the new Paragon's design, I really like it. For those who haven't looked much into OMAS, in 2005 they redesigned several of their models to meet what they thought consumers wanted. Instead of having the desired positive effect, that mostly backfired. (Just look at the new 360 compared to the old one.) In contrast to the downsizing of the 360, the Paragon was drastically increased in size to better compete with the Montblanc 149. I personally prefer this new upscaled Paragon as it feels much nicer in my hand than the old one.

The dodecagonal faceted shape is beautiful, but the real reason I bought this pen is the stunning Arco Gold (or Bronze) celluloid. There's a depth to it not found in many other materials: certain parts seem to glow; whereas, others are almost black. It really is the most beautiful pen material out there; in my eyes, it even beats out Tibaldi Impero celluloid.

The writing end of this pen also manages to look simply stunning. The section is made of sterling silver and plated with gold. Some complain that metal sections are too slippery for extended use, but I don't have any issues with this one. The large, two-tone nib is 18kt gold and available in EF-BB, but not the full range available on some of OMAS's other pens. It's a bit saddening that there won't ever be an Extra Flessibile Paragon, but that doesn't keep me up at night.

The cap's lip is oddly translucent.

I do find one flaw with the design, but it's more an issue with quality control: the celluloid on the piston knob isn't aligned with the celluloid on the barrel. This is just a minor inconvenience, but even those aren't forgivable in a pen of this price. I might contact OMAS about it to see if there's anything they could do about it (and do in a reasonable amount of time.)

Another design aspect which I didn't quite like at first was the large gold "O" on the cap's finial. It seemed fairly gaudy; but, as with the Montblanc snowflake, it's beginning to grow on me.

Size and Weight

As previously mentioned, this is a big pen. It fits right in with oversized pens like the M1000 or Montblanc 149 and easily dwarfs others such as the M200 and Sailor 1911 Mid-Size. This pen can post but becomes 7-inches long when you do, so I prefer writing with it unposted.

At 48 grams capped and 35 grams uncapped, this pen certainly isn't light either. It's oversized, and I like that; but some users may find it too big and heavy for extend periods of writing. To give some perspective, Classic Fountain Pens has a chart which lists the measurements of many other pens and allows you to compare them easily.

Click to enlarge the photographs. From left to right, the pens are a Pelikan M200, a Montblanc 146, an Omas Arco Paragon (new-style), a Pelikan M800, a Visconti Rembrandt, and finally a Sailor 1911 Mid-Size.

Filling System

The Paragon fills using a high-capacity piston system. OMAS has a reputation for sticky pistons which don't work well; but because the new Paragon's piston assembly is made from metal instead of their usual plastic, this pen doesn't have those issues. That being said, it's still not smooth like silk the way Pelikan's pistons are.

Ink capacity is advertised at 1.7mL, but I've only been able to get 1.5mL out of it - which is still more than any converter can hold.

The Writing Experience

The ink is Diamine Terracotta.

This pen certainly is beautiful; but if it doesn't write well, it fails at accomplishing its main purpose. Thankfully, this pen writes beautifully. Mine has a broad nib which writes like a firehose thanks to the sizable ebonite feed and, because it's 18 kt gold, also has a bit of springiness. Giving further flair to your writing, there are also some stubbish qualities to the nib: downstrokes are broader than cross strokes.

Ebonite feed

What I've just described may sound like the perfect nib to you, but it's far too broad for me to use for everyday writing. This isn't a fault with the pen; it's just that I don't care for firehose broads as much as I thought I would. I'm already planning to send it to Pendleton Brown to be ground into a nice fine italic which I could use more often. When it comes back, I'll update the review with a new writing sample and more in this section.

Writing Sample

I decided to fill this Paragon with Diamine 150th Anniversary Terracotta, a red/orange ink with beautiful shading. It's been in the pen since then, and I couldn't be happier: they're a perfect match.

Pros

Beautiful Arco celluloid
High-capacity piston filler
Large 18kt gold nib

Cons

Very expensive at full retail price
Celluloid on barrel not aligned to celluloid on piston knob
Too large for users with smaller hands
Common quality control issues

Closing Thoughts

The new-style Paragon is certainly an excellent pen. It has all the features I like to see in one: a smooth gold nib, piston filling system, and a beautiful material. Those are all nice, but you have to consider the barrier-to-entry: its price. So, is it worth the $1,000 price tag? I definitely think so.

Further Reading

↧

Currently Inked Pens - January 3, 2015

January 4, 2015, 5:00 am

≫ Next: Diamine 150th Anniversary Inks Overview

≪ Previous: Further Reading January 3, 2015

My currently inked pens have changed a lot recently, so I feel that it's a good time for another one of these.

1 & 2. Levenger L-Techs(Diamine Blue Velvet and Noodler's Black) - Very similar in appearance to the Rotring 600, these pens are two I recommend looking into if that style interests you. The nibs are among the smoothest in the sub-$100 range, so I alternate between these two as EDC pens.

3. Stipula Splash(Stipula Dark Red) - With all the bad reviews, I didn't expect to like this pen much; but it's actually very nice in person. The piston is smooth and can hold a substantial amount of ink. The nib also flexes more than most modern flex pens, and the feed keeps up very well; so there's barely any railroading.

4. Visconti Rembrandt(Levenger Blue Bahama) - A review of this pen has been in the works for a few months, but I haven't quite finished it. The resin used in the Rembrandt is truly beautiful; and although the nib is steel, it's still a very nice, wet writer. The cap system is magnetic, so it's great for quick notes.

5. Visconti Opera Typhoon(Diamine Regency Blue) - I received this pen as a Christmas gift recently, and it's quickly become one of my most used pens. At first, I didn't quite understand the double reservoir system; but after reading about it, its actually fairly easy to use. The snorkel attachment (picture) works well and makes filling from smaller bottles much easier.

6. S. T. Dupont D-Line(J. Herbin Lie de The) - This one has been in my collection for several months now, and it's been inked that whole time. Because S. T. Dupont's nibs tend to run broad, I chose an EF nib which wrote perfectly out of the box.

7. Fred Faggionato Le Geb (Diamine Silver Fox) - This pen is unique. I ordered it through a series of e-mails to Faggionato with Denis from La Couronne du Comte acting as an intermediary. The Cocobolo wood used to make the pen is coated with a clear layer of urushi lacquer, giving it an appropriate premium feel and a shiny finish. The nib which came on this one is a fine semi-flex: it doesn't produce vintage line variation, but it's still impressive. To see more of Faggionato's work, visit his website or La Couronne du Comte. I'm considering doing a pictures post, but not a full review, for this one sometime next week.

8. Pelikan M800(Diamine Safari) - The M800 was my first foray into broader nibs. Since Pelikans have interchangeable nibs, it's a good, albeit expensive pen for that purpose. I was able to pick this one up for significantly less than the average U.S. price by ordering from CultPens.

9. Parker Vacumatic(J. Herbin Ambre de Birmanie) - This Vacumatic came from Peyton Street Pens along with a green pearl. The green one is currently soaking in water to be filled with a new ink. This gold one has a fine nib, which is smooth; but it writes more like an extra-fine. Regardless, it's still a good, but flashy, everyday pen.

10. Pelikan M200(Diamine Tropical Green) - As this was my first pen, I try to keep it inked at all times. Right now, it's filled with the new Diamine 150th Anniversary Tropical Green which is a nice match for the Pelikan's green marbling. Its steel nib is springy and very pleasant to write with.

Paper: Black n' Red notebook

↧

Diamine 150th Anniversary Inks Overview

February 1, 2015, 2:35 pm

≫ Next: Further Reading February 6, 2015

≪ Previous: Currently Inked Pens - January 3, 2015

To help you decide whether these inks are worth your time, I put together a quick overview of each.

1. 1864 Blue Black

This ink is by far my least-liked in this set because the color isn't anything special: it's just another blue -black. It also has issues with feathering, which become more noticeable in semi-flexible nibs like the one on my Stipula Splash.

Diamine 150th Anniversary Inks Overview - 1864 Blue Black

2. Regency Blue

On Goulet's website, this ink seems to have an amazing sheen; but that sadly isn't the case in my experience. You might like this color, but I'm not particularly moved by it.

Diamine 150th Anniversary Inks Overview - Regency Blue

3. Silver Fox

Silver Fox is extremely light to the point that it can be difficult to read. It is a true grey though; and unlike J. Herbin Gris Nuage, it has no hints of blue.

Diamine 150th Anniversary Inks Overview - Silver Fox

4. Carnival

Carnival is a red with no shading or sheen, ideal for marking revisions or grading.

Diamine 150th Anniversary Inks Overview - Carnival

5. Tropical Green

This one is a vibrant green with a slight red sheen only visible in the swab.

Diamine 150th Anniversary Inks Overview - Tropical Green

6. Terracotta

Terracottta (spelled as one word by Diamine) is an orange with good shading and a green sheen. The color matches the name well, and this ink is often in my OMAS Arco Paragon.

Diamine 150th Anniversary Inks Overview - Terracotta

7. Safari

Terracotta shades well, but Safari is in another league. It ranges from a mid-green almost to black. If you're looking for the most exciting ink in this range, look no further.

Diamine 150th Anniversary Inks Overview - Safari

8. Blue Velvet

My favorite of the group, Blue Velvet is an almost radioactive blue which performs well both on Rhodia and on cheap paper. The color is reportedly close to Parker Penman Sapphire, but I can neither confirm nor deny that as I don't have a bottle.

Diamine 150th Anniversary Inks Overview - Blue Velvet

It really is as bright as this scan shows.

↧

Montblanc JFK Review

February 22, 2015, 5:00 am

≫ Next: Further Reading February 28, 2015

≪ Previous: Further Reading February 6, 2015

Montblanc JFK is a limited edition ink produced to go alongside Montblanc's JFK Great Characters limited edition pen for 2015.

Specifications

Manufacturer: Montblanc

Color: Blue-black

MSRP: $20

Actual Price: $19

Amount of Ink: 30 mL

Cost per ml: ~63.3¢

Bottle: Small traditional-inkwell shape

Samples?: Not available

Where to Buy: Fahrney's Pens (available from Feb. 23), Fountain Pen Hospital, La Couronne du Comte, Pen Boutique

At a Glance

Sheen: Some but difficult to detect

Shading: Excellent
Water Resistance: Good but not archival

Saturation: Average

Feathering: Minimal

Bleed through: Minimal

Show through/ Ghosting: Minimal

Drying Time: Long

Wetness: Wet

Lubrication: Well lubricated

Staining: Can be washed out of clothes; doesn't stain converters

Cleaning: Easy

Okay on Copier Paper?: Yes (20 lb used for testing)

Thoughts

Every year, Montblanc produces a limited number of pens in commemoration of a "Great Character." To go along with those pens, a matching ink is also released. This year's pen was produced in honor of former U.S. president John F. Kennedy, and this blue-black ink was produced to match. Supposedly, its color should remind you of Kennedy's characteristic blue blazers.

The ink itself isn't all that interesting: it's just a standard blue-black. For that matter, I have never really liked blue-blacks; and this one doesn't do anything to change that, especially with a cents per mL cost higher than Iroshizuku's. As is par with most inks of this color, shading is excellent; and water resistance is also good.

One issue I encountered with it is drying times: in a fine-nibbed Pelikan M200, this ink took over a minute to dry. Perhaps this was due to its being inked only a few minutes pior to writing, but the issue persisted even with my Rembrandt a few hours later. However, in the very fine EF Sailor 1911 S, JFK dried fairly quickly in just under ten seconds.

This ink performs fairly well, but at over 60¢/mL -- which is 4¢/mL more than Iroshizuku and only a few tenths of a cent less expensive per mL than Caran d' Ache's inks, I would recommend instead looking into a less expensive blue-black such as Diamine Regency Blue, Montblanc's standard Midnight Blue, or Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite.

Writing Sample

For best viewing, open this image in a new tab.

Water Resistance Tests

Extended Soak Test Duration (separate piece of paper): 30 minutes
Soak Test on Writing Sample (A4 Rhodia): 5 minutes

↧

Comprehensive Analysis of Fountain Pen Ink Costs (v.2)

January 20, 2018, 10:44 am

≪ Previous: Further Reading February 28, 2015

The world has changed since my first ink analysis: countless boutique brands have popped up (or died off), Iroshizuku bottles are no longer hand-blown, and I've forgotten how to write self-aggrandizing blog posts without making fun of myself in some meta-fashion. All is well. Better even.

Here's an alphabetical list.

Brand and Line

Common Price

Size (mL)

$/mL

Akkerman Dutch Masters	$38.00	120	$0.317
Akkerman Standard	$28.00	60	$0.467
Aurora	$18.00	45	$0.400
Beaufort	$9.45	45	$0.210
Beaufort Trial Pack	$9.45	40	$0.236
Birmingham	$8.00	30	$0.267
Blackstone (Bulk Large)	$35.00	250	$0.140
Blackstone (Bulk X-Large)	$70.00	1000	$0.070
Blackstone Colors of Australia	$8.00	30	$0.267
Blackstone Colors of Australia (Large)	$14.00	60	$0.233
Blackstone Colors of Australia (Pouches)	$5.00	50	$0.100
Blackstone Mixing Ink Set	$36.00	120	$0.300
Blackstone Scents of Australia	$12.00	30	$0.400
Blackstone Waterproof	$14.00	30	$0.467
Blackstone Waterproof SE	$30.00	50	$0.600
Bungubox	$39.00	40	$0.975
Callifolio Bottle	$12.00	40	$0.300
Callifolio Pouch	$8.00	50	$0.160
Caran d' Ache INKredible	$33.20	50	$0.664
Chelpark	$18.00	60	$0.300
Colorado Pen Liquid Velvet (Large)	$15.00	90	$0.167
Colorado Pen Liquid Velvet (Small)	$8.00	30	$0.267
Colorverse	$30.00	80	$0.375
Conway Stewart	$12.95	80	$0.162
Cross	$15.00	59.15	$0.254
Daytone	$4.70	1000	$0.005
De Atramentis	$12.95	35	$0.370
De Atramentis Archive/Document Ink	$19.95	35	$0.570
De Atramentis Scented Ink	$14.95	35	$0.427
Delta	$11.95	30	$0.398
Diamine (150th Anniversary)	$15.50	40	$0.388
Diamine (Normal Size)	$15.00	80	$0.188
Diamine (Sample Size/30)	$7.50	30	$0.250
Diamine Box Set	$99.00	300	$0.330
Diamine Registrar's 30	$16.95	30	$0.565
Diamine Shimmertastic	$18.50	50	$0.370
Duke	$19.70	80	$0.246
Egoistar	$3.61	15	$0.241
Faber Castell	$18.00	62.5	$0.288
Fahrney's Ever-Write	$12.00	75	$0.160
Fountain Pen Revolution (Large/60mL)	$8.50	60	$0.142
Fountain Pen Revolution (Small/30mL)	$6.00	30	$0.200
Franklin Christoph (1 oz)	$8.25	29.57	$0.279
Franklin Christoph (2 oz)	$12.50	59.15	$0.211
GLARE	$8.00	60	$0.139
Graf von Faber Castell	$30.00	75	$0.400
Hakase Sepia (Dark)	$63.21	50	$1.264
Hakase Sepia (Light)	$54.18	50	$1.084
Hero	$3.00	56	$0.054
Higgins Fountain Pen India Ink	$4.90	73.93	$0.066
J. Herbin (Large Size/100mL)	$22.00	100	$0.220
J. Herbin (Normal Size)	$11.25	30	$0.375
J. Herbin (Sample Size)	$4.75	10	$0.475
J. Herbin 1670/1798 (Sparkly)	$20.00	50	$0.400
Kaigelu	$13.19	50	$0.264
Kaweco	$13.50	30	$0.450
KOBE	$30.00	50	$0.600
Koh-i-noor	$1.99	50	$0.040
Krishna	$2.82	20	$0.141
Krishna RC Series	$4.31	20	$0.216
KWZ	$15.00	60	$0.250
KWZ Iron Gall	$16.00	60	$0.267
L’Artisan Pastellier Callifolio	$12.00	40	$0.300
Lamy	$10.00	50	$0.200
Levenger	$15.00	50	$0.300
Louis Vuitton	$52.00	50	$1.040
Montblanc (New Writers/Great Characters)	$43.00	50	$0.860
Montblanc (Normal Size)	$23.50	60	$0.392
Montblanc (Shakespeare Velvet Red)	$20.50	35	$0.586
Montblanc Permanent Inks	$28.00	60	$0.467
Montegrappa	$20.00	50	$0.400
Monteverde (Large)	$15.00	90	$0.167
Monteverde (Small)	$8.00	30	$0.267
Montblanc (Old Writers/Great Characters)	$20.50	30	$0.683
Nemosine	$8.00	35	$0.229
Nemosine TwINKle	$10.00	35	$0.286
Noodler's Black/Firefly (4.5oz)	$18.00	133.08	$0.135
Noodler's UK/Russian Series	$19.50	88.72	$0.220
Noodler's Waterase Ink (4.5oz)	$19.00	133.08	$0.143
Noodler’s (Eyedropper Size/4.5oz)	$21.00	133.08	$0.158
Noodler’s (Normal Size/3oz)	$12.50	88.72	$0.141
Octopus (Large)	$18.32	250	$0.073
Octopus (Small)	$6.10	30	$0.203
Onoto	$13.57	80	$0.170
Organics Studio Elements	$13.50	55	$0.245
Organics Studio Ernest's Vintage/Masters of Science	$16.00	55	$0.291
Organics Studio Masters of Writing	$14.00	55	$0.255
Ostrich Ink (Carton)	$19.00	4080	$0.005
Papier Plume (Large/50mL)	$12.00	50	$0.240
Papier Plume (Medium/30mL)	$8.00	30	$0.267
Papier Plume (Small/15mL )	$5.00	15	$0.333
Parker Quink	$7.18	50	$0.144
Pelikan 4001 (1000mL)	$78.00	1000	$0.078
Pelikan 4001 (30mL)	$9.00	30	$0.300
Pelikan 4001 (60 mL)	$13.80	62.5	$0.221
Pelikan Edelstein	$23.00	50	$0.460
Pen BBS	$16.00	60	$0.267
Pilot (350mL)	$22.00	350	$0.063
Pilot (70mL)	$16.00	70	$0.229
Pilot Drafting (30mL)	$8.00	30	$0.267
Pilot Iroshizuku (Full Size)	$20.00	50	$0.400
Pilot Iroshizuku (Sample Size in Boxset)	$25.00	45	$0.556
Pilot Iroshizuku (Sample Size Individual)	$10.00	15	$0.667
Pilot Namiki (Normal Size)	$12.00	60	$0.200
Platinum (Regular/Pigmented/Carbon)	$20.00	60	$0.333
Platinum Classic	$25.00	60	$0.417
Private Reserve	$11.00	66	$0.167
Raduga 2	$5.00	70	$0.071
Robert Oster	$17.00	50	$0.340
S.T. Dupont	$26.00	40	$0.650
Sailor Jentle Pigmented	$24.50	50	$0.490
Sailor Jentle/Four Seasons	$15.00	50	$0.300
Sailor Shikiori	$15.00	20	$0.750
Sailor Storia (Regular Size)	$18.00	30	$0.600
Sailor Storia (Smaller Size)	$14.25	20	$0.713
Scribal Workshop Invisible Ink	$10.95	29.57	$0.370
Scribal Workshop Washable Ink	$10.95	59.15	$0.185
Scribes’ Regular Inks	$12.00	45	$0.267
Scribes’ Scented/Wine/Liquor Inks	$12.00	45	$0.267
Scribes’ Waterproof Inks	$18.00	45	$0.400
Seitz-Kreuznach (Large)	$15.60	100	$0.156
Seitz-Kreuznach (Small)	$7.78	30	$0.259
Sheaffer Skrip	$9.00	50	$0.180
Staedtler	$13.29	30	$0.443
Stipula Calamo	$22.00	70	$0.314
Stipula Ferrogallico	$35.00	70	$0.500
Super 5	$20.60	30	$0.687
Takeda Jimuki/KYOTO TAG	$21.50	40	$0.538
Thornton's Luxury Goods	$5.00	30	$0.167
Toucan	$12.50	59.15	$0.211
Toucan (Sample Size)	$6.90	30	$0.230
Visconti	$17.50	40	$0.438
Wahl-Eversharp Wahlberry	$15.00	80	$0.188
Waldmann	$23.00	30	$0.767
Waterman	$8.50	50	$0.170

Here's a clickbaity list of the TOP TEN MOST EXPENSIVE INKS!!!!!!

Hakase dethrones Louis Vuitton.

Brand and Line

Common Price

Size (mL)

$/mL

10. Montblanc (Old Writers/Great Characters)	$20.50	30	$0.683
9. Super 5	$20.60	30	$0.687
8. Sailor Storia (Smaller Size)	$14.25	20	$0.713
7. Sailor Shikiori	$15.00	20	$0.750
6. Waldmann	$23.00	30	$0.767
5. Montblanc (New Writers/Great Characters)	$43.00	50	$0.860
4. Bungubox	$39.00	40	$0.975
3. Louis Vuitton	$52.00	50	$1.040
2. Hakase Sepia (Light)	$54.18	50	$1.084
1. Hakase Sepia (Dark)	$63.21	50	$1.264

As well as the top ten cheapest by cost per mL.

Bigger isn't always better, but it usually is: six of these clock in at/over the 250 mL mark.

Brand and Line

Common Price

Size (mL)

$/mL

10. Pelikan 4001 (1000 mL)	$78.00	1000	$0.078
9. Octopus (Large)	$18.32	250	$0.073
8. Raduga 2	$5	70	$0.071
7. Blackstone (Bulk X-Large)	$70.00	1000	$0.070
6. Higgins Fountain Pen India Ink	$4.90	73.93	$0.066
5. Pilot (350 mL)	$22.00	350	$0.063
4. Hero	$3.00	56	$0.054
3. Koh-i-noor	$1.99	50	$0.040
2. Daytone	$4.70	1000	$0.005
1. Ostrich Ink (Carton)	$19.00	4080	$0.005

Observations

The world really has changed: Iroshizuku 15 mL bottles are now at the same unit cost as the large bottles once were, and those large bottles no longer crack the top ten most expensive. Kon-Peki is one step closer to being as affordable as it is popular (especially when Amazon has it for $17.) On that note, let's do some math:

According to scholars' most trusted source, Wikipedia, a standard Olympic swimming pool is 25 meters wide, 50 meters long, and 3 meters deep* and thereby holds 3750 cubic meters of water, i.e., 3750000 liters or 3750000000 milliliters, equivalent to 75 million 50 ml bottles of Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuki Yo. Since a 50 mL bottle of Tsuki Yo costs (on average) $20, 75 million would cost 1.5 billion dollars, a surprisingly reasonable sum, given that the two frontrunners in the 2016 election collectively raised that along with a few hundred million to spare on a nice Kon Peki kiddie pool.

Let's say we're tight on money this Olympic cycle, so we need to fill our pools with something significantly cheaper. Sense doesn't exist here, so water is out. The next cheapest option is Tianjin Ostrich ink, which you can buy in a minimum quantity of five barrels for $20 a barrel. A single barrel holds 158987.3 mL for $20, so five of them hold 794936.5 mL and cost a reasonable $100. Since an Olympic swimming pool holds 3750000000 milliliters, one of them would hold ~4,717 5 barrel orders of Tianjin Ostrich ink. At $100 for each of those, we're looking at $471,736, with which you can buy a fairly nice home in Atlanta, assuming you can also travel back in time to 2014 when CBS's top minds put together that slideshow. Also interesting to note is that this price is significantly lower than the one you'd incur if you tried to fill the same pool with your run-of-the-mill bottled water at $1.22 per gallon (a little over $800,000 for your whole pool).

*FINA specifies a minimum of 1.35 meters; we're being optimistic to make the numbers work out: Wikipedia says 2-3. There's no official maximum depth, so like Jay-Z we're doing some approximating, and let's say...3.

Here's a fancy embedded version for those interested in sources/sleep-deprived notes. Assuming that version won't work, follow this link to the original (locked) Google sheet. Thanks goes out to reddit's /r/fountainpens for drawing my attention to several of these inks, especially the Indian brands I'd never heard of before.

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Currently Inked Pens - September 9, 2014

J. Herbin Rouge Opera Review

Further Reading September 14, 2014

J. Herbin Tempête Review

Specifications

Further Reading September 21, 2014

Levenger Blazing Sunset Review

At a Glance

Currently Inked Pens - October 28, 2014

Further Reading November 2, 2014

Noodler's Neponset Quick Look

Further Reading - 11/23/14

OMAS Arte Italiana Arco Paragon (New Style) Review

Further Reading January 3, 2015

Currently Inked Pens - January 3, 2015

Diamine 150th Anniversary Inks Overview

1. 1864 Blue Black

2. Regency Blue

3. Silver Fox

4. Carnival

5. Tropical Green

6. Terracotta

7. Safari

8. Blue Velvet

Further Reading February 6, 2015

Montblanc JFK Review

Specifications

At a Glance

Thoughts

Writing Sample

Water Resistance Tests

Further Reading February 28, 2015

Reviews

Giveaways

New Releases

Other

Comprehensive Analysis of Fountain Pen Ink Costs (v.2)