Aurora Black. A standard black ink that has unadvertised water resistance, flows a little wet and is a dark black color. This is an excellent ink, and for good reason has become a lot of people’s favorite black ink.
An everyday ink? Yes.
Month: August 2015
Pen of the Day: Pelikan M600 Ruby Red
Pelikan M600 Ruby Red with fine nib. The M600 is the perfect size for me, and red is a favorite color, so this special edition Pelikan from a few years ago sees frequent use. The cap is the most translucently beautiful part of the pen.
The ink is Pelikan Edelstein Turmaline, ink of the year for 2012, a very cheery pink. It will be the perfect match for Pelikan’s forthcoming pink-striped M600. Pink-o-phobes, I apologize.
One Minute Ink Review: Pelikan Edelstein Ruby
Pelikan Edelstein Ruby. A red ink that’s on the quiet side, Pelikan Edelstein Ruby has unusual qualities for a red. It may not appeal to those who want brightness and high saturation, but it’s that rare red that could be described as pretty. Definitely not the “You Got an F” traditional red ink of student nightmares. It’s also easier to clean out of a pen than most reds.
An everyday ink? If I used red ink every day, Pelikan Edelstein Ruby would be one of my choices.
One Minute Ink Review: Montblanc Alfred Hitchcock
Montblanc Alfred Hitchcock Ink. Montblanc’s Alfred Hitchcock ink is a gorgeous burgundy with more vivacity and cheer than might be guessed from the matching pen’s allusion to the movie Psycho. This limited edition ink from 2012 is no longer made and commands high prices on the secondary market — for good reason.
An everyday ink? Alas, only if you are a multimillionaire.
Pen Case Review: MY63 Single-Pen Cases
Through Fountain Pen Geeks Forum, I have gotten to know a fellow member MY63 — Michael — who does leather work including custom handmade pen cases. He very kindly surprised me with a single-pen case as a gift, and I liked that so much I bought a second in a different style.
The first case is tubular in shape. It consists of two halves held together by a leather cord that closes with a leather toggle. Mine has a mahogany exterior with yellow stitching, and a tan suede interior.
The second case has a more familiar holster design, with a leather flap that slips into a leather band. Mine is black with red stitching and a silver suede interior. I call it the Blackhawks case because I chose the colors for the 2015 Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks hockey team.
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Pen of the Day: Parker 51 Plum
Parker 51 Plum with fine nib. This particular Parker 51 is the color Plum, which was produced only for about a year or so. No, you can’t tell by looking at the photograph, which is how I chanced upon mine. The color is so dark it tends to look black, brown or burgundy in photographs. It was entirely by accident, then, that I bought this on eBay. Even in real life, however, the Plum color isn’t particularly noticeable. However, I’ve always liked writing with the 51’s straight-forward, business-like fine nib, no matter the pen’s color.
I’m using Pelikan Edelstein Amethyst, Pelikan’s 2015 ink of the year. It’s a red-leaning purple with a soft, friendly look and beautiful shading. It seems to clean up easily for a purple ink. I’m smitten. Because it’s a limited edition ink, it won’t be around forever, and I’m sorely tempted to buy a bottle.
One Minute Ink Review: Waterman Serenity Blue
Waterman Serenity Blue (formerly known as Florida Blue): A standard blue ink of medium saturation, Waterman Serenity Blue will not wow, like more showy blues, but it is a workhorse that has stood the test of time. Washable, not water-resistant.
An everyday ink? Yes.
(Here begins an occasional exercise, the brief review. I got the idea from a friend who thinks that most reviews could be four sentences or less. While I naturally gravitate to Dickensian length, I thought it would be fun to try.)
Power Failure
Summer brings warm weather and good cheer, but where I live, also fierce storms. Due to a lightning strike last week, our power went out, and stayed out most of the day Sunday. The good news is that it’s now back. Hello, internet. Welcome back, air conditioning. But the bad news is that some of our appliances were fried. So things are a little busy here just now. We especially miss the refrigerator and freezer.
How Much Ink Does That Pen Hold?
How do you know how much ink a pen holds? The easiest quick-and-dirty way for me is to fill the pen completely with water, then empty the water into an empty ink vial.
This is how much ink an Aurora Optima holds.
Pen Review: Aurora Optima
The Aurora Optima is one of my very favorite pens, which probably is obvious from the photo above. I don’t really consider my Optimas a collection, because for me it’s really a workhorse pen, so it made sense to get a few of them. Of course I exceeded “a few” some time ago. But since I probably use at least one Optima daily, I’d like to review the pen and consider what makes it stand out for me.
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Fountain Pen Follies 